A Look Back at Fashion Month's Many Runway Crashers
Photo: Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images
Runway mishaps — whether a slippery stage taking down models, unexpected wardrobe malfunctions or sign-wielding catwalk crashers — are a rite of passage. Remember Gisele Bündchen looking unfazed as a PETA protester waved a "Gisele Fur Scum" sign on the Victoria's Secret runway? Or when a French YouTuber crashed a Chanel runway before Gigi Hadid escorted her off the stage mid-show?
Though hardly a new phenomenon, runway crashers were especially busy this season, successfully infiltrating the Coach, Burberry, Gucci and Hermès Spring 2024 runways. Starting off at one of New York Fashion Week's biggest shows, a duo of crashers interrupted Coach with one protester holding a "Coach: Leather Kills" sign and the other in full body paint mirroring the exposed muscles of a skinned animal conveying the same message.
Days later, off the runway, a PETA supporter attended a VIP meet-and-greet event after the Michael Kors show and wielded a sign calling the use of angora — fabric made from an angora rabbit's hair — torture. (Back in 2017, Michael Kors announced that the brand would no longer use fur by the end of 2018.)
The fashion crowd, and the PETA protesters, then headed to Europe. Crashers at Burberry and Gucci, also both PETA activists, held up similar signs: "Burberry: Animals Are Not Clothing" and "Gucci: Ban Exotic Skins." For PETA's final fashion month stunt, one of its activists crashed the Hermès runway in Paris, but this time fashion influencer Bryan Yambao (@bryanboy) snatched the protester's sign mid-walk. A second Paris Fashion Week incident was narrowly avoided: Outside of Louis Vuitton's runway show in Paris on Oct. 2, French YouTuber Jeremstar was arrested and carried away by police for protesting against the use of exotic skins.
Recommended Articles
This season's rise in runway crashers has led many inside the fashion industry (and those keeping up with the viral moments on social media) to ask: How are they getting into these exclusive shows?
In an interview with GQ fashion writer Samuel Hine, PETA's Director of Outreach Communication Ashley Byrne wouldn't divulge how the group snuck into the invite-only events, but she revealed that the organization intentionally increased runway crashes in a push to advocate against the use of leather and angora now that fur has largely been expelled from the fashion industry.
Last week, fashion editor Louis Pisano tweeted a screenshot from a Close Friends Instagram story allegedly selling seats to the most exclusive fashion shows. Is this rumored lucrative side business how PETA gains access to the high-profile shows?
The New York Times reported that, in order to pull off the Hermès catwalk crash, PETA campaigner Teodora Zglimbea surveyed the brand's runway location (the Garde Républicaine) the day before the show; the day of, she was "wearing a wristband given to production staff members who require backstage access," per writer Jessica Testa. Zglimbea told Testa that Claudia, the PETA volunteer who actually crashed the runway, was taken to a police station for questioning, but was not arrested or charged for the disturbance.
As we continue to ponder how crashers got in, take a look back at all the season's runway crashers, below.
Coach
On Sept. 7, Coach held its Spring 2024 show at the New York Public Library and two PETA activists crashed the runway – one with a sign reading "Coach: Leather Kills" and the other in full body paint.
Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images
Photo: Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images
Michael Kors
During a VIP meet and greet event after Michael Kors' Spring 2024 runway show on Sept. 11, a PETA protester interrupted the event with a sign reading, "Michael Kors: Angora Is Torture!"
Photo: Courtesy of PETA
Burberry
Gucci
In Milan, a PETA activist crashed the Gucci runway on Sept. 22 with a "Gucci: Ban Exotic Skins" sign before being escorted off the catwalk.
Photo: Gabriel Bouys/AFP via Getty Images
Hermès
Louis Vuitton (Almost)
Want the latest fashion industry news first? Sign up for our daily newsletter.
