Fashion shows have long been a staple of the fashion industry, serving as a platform for designers to showcase their latest collections to buyers, media, and the general public. However, the origins of fashion shows can be traced back much further than the glamorous events we know today.
The concept of fashion shows as we know them can be traced back to the medieval period in Europe, when wealthy individuals would display their wealth and status through their clothing and accessories. One way they did this was by incorporating clothing and textiles from other cultures into their wardrobe.
One such culture was the Moors, a Muslim civilization that ruled over much of Spain and parts of Portugal in the 8th to 15th centuries. The Moors were known for their sophisticated fashion sense and their use of luxurious fabrics such as silk and linen. When European crusaders captured Moorish castles, they often seized these luxurious textiles as part of the spoils of war.
Upon returning home, these crusaders would show off their plunder to the commoners, including the exotic clothing and textiles from the Moors. These displays were likely the precursor to the fashion shows we know today, as they served as an opportunity for the wealthy to flaunt their wealth and for the general public to see and potentially purchase these luxurious goods.