Fashion show crashers are nothing new during runway shows — but a particular incident is going viral at New York Fashion Week currently.
On Thursday night, editors, influencers, stylists and more filled the New York Public Library in Manhattan for Coach’s spring 2024 fashion show. The notable event celebrated a decade of creative director Stuart Vevers at the helm of the American fashion brand, making it a true landmark occasion. However, in more dramatic style, the event also included show crashers from PETA who stepped onto the catwalk — one virally wearing red and black body paint — to protest the brand’s use of leather.
“The color tone matches the collection, so I wasn’t really sure what it was until I saw them being dragged out,” jewelry designer George Inaki Root, who witnessed the protest unfold from the front row, exclusively told FN. “My initial thought was, ‘How did they get in?’ So I wasn’t sure if it was a PR stunt or not, to be honest. The audience seemed surprised, but also calm.”
Across Instagram Stories videos and Tweets from fashion insiders like Tyler McCall, Mario Abad and Alexander Fisher, an audience member in a black coat was seen rising during the show — and quickly removed her outfit to show the aforementioned body paint, which read “Coach Leather Kills” atop red muscles to create a skinned appearance. She was joined by a second protestor, who strutted while carrying a sign reading the same statement, plus a third individual who filmed the protest; soon afterwards, all were removed by security guards. PETA simultaneously responded with a press statement, released as the fashion show was taking place.
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“Today’s conscientious consumers know that the future of fashion lies in innovative vegan materials, not in cows’ sliced-off skin,” PETA’s executive vice president Tracy Reiman said in the statement. “PETA is shaking up Coach’s catwalk to drive home the message that leather belongs in the annals of history, not in designers’ current collections.”
Though this isn’t the first time PETA has crashed a fashion show — viral moments throughout the early 2000’s included protests at Dior and Victoria’s Secret runways — it’s certainly made waves from its reappearance of the crashing act itself. Aside from comedian Marie Benoliel being halted by Gigi Hadid at Chanel’s spring 2020 show in Paris, there haven’t been major runway crashers in recent years — which makes PETA’s protest appearance at Coach the first widespread crash of the 2020’s. Whether the stunt accomplished any goals, influences similar attempts or tightens fashion show security in the future remains to be seen.
NYFW is held in New York City in September, marking the start of Fashion Month. The spring 2024 season will see a calendar of fashion shows and presentations from a range of designers, including Ralph Lauren, Christian Siriano, Proenza Schouler and more. The occasion will also include numerous parties and activations from brands like Aldo, J.Crew, MCM and more.
Footwear News has reached out to Coach for comment and will update this story as it progresses.
About the Author:
Aaron Royce is the Digital Editor for Footwear News, where he writes stories on trending news, celebrity style, collaborations and in-depth profile interviews. Prior to joining Footwear News, Aaron wrote and interned for publications including PAPER, Grazia and the Daily Front Row. He currently holds a B.S. in mass communications from Virginia Commonwealth University.
