From June 7 to 14, Marseille is hosting its first sustainable Fashion Week. It’s the perfect opportunity to (re)discover the Phocaean city through committed events, eco-friendly fashion shows, and iconic venues transformed for the occasion.
First Slow Fashion Week
Thought of as an alternative to traditional Fashion Weeks, which are considered elitist and polluting, this Marseille fashion week focuses on inclusivity, sustainable innovation, and the celebration of emerging designers. Here, “everyone knows each other but doesn’t care about being known”: the energy is collaborative, not competitive.
With more than thirty free events open to the public, including workshops, performances, fashion shows, talks, and pop-ups, Marseille is clearly stating its ambitions: to become a Mediterranean hub for conscious fashion. The Slow Fashion Week is led by BAGA, a Marseille-based collective that brings together around a hundred brands, designers, stylists, artisans, and activists of circular fashion. The goal: to give visibility to local talent while bringing a sustainable dynamic to the French fashion scene.
7 days to (re)discover Marseille differently
A selection of (mostly) free places and events not to miss:
Starting Saturday, June 7, at La Vieille Charité in the Panier district, a challenge focused on upcycling kicks off, featuring talks followed by the launch party for this one-of-a-kind week organized by the BAGA collective.
On Sunday, we head to higher ground for the first fashion show of this inaugural edition: Les Mains de Mamie at the seaside NHOW Hotel. Later in the evening, the final show of the weekend will take place at the Cloître St Jérôme, hosted by the Héritage collective.
On Monday, head to the iconic Corniche Kennedy, with its panoramic view of the Mediterranean, where Maison Cléo will present the “La Gâtée” show. A breath of sea air and a feast for the eyes. From the seaside, follow the port and dive into the lively bustle of La Canebière, making your way toward the Palais Longchamp in the Cinq-Avenues district. Behind this neoclassical monument lies a garden that will exceptionally host a performance by Jade Tekhil.
On June 10, get hands-on and create this summer’s must-have: the pareo with Salé at Bowie, a vintage boutique just steps from Cours Julien. All this ahead of Thursday’s fashion show at Mucem, in collaboration with Studio Paillette.
On Wednesday, dive into a full day of workshops, three to choose from, by reservation followed by a visit to an exhibition of your choice. Sneaker Spirit recommends NOIR FLUO at SCRATCH in the 5th arrondissement.
From June 12 to 14, Charlotte Denner, one of the co-organizers of this Slow Fashion Week, will unveil her creations made from kombucha.
Celebrate at the release party for PURR, a swimwear brand, held at Cabaret Aléatoire in La Friche la Belle de Mai. The perfect chance to discover this iconic venue blending culture, community gardens, restaurants, and shops, including a bookstore and the new VEJA retail space.
This Slow Fashion Week is also an invitation to wander through the streets of Marseille in search of second-hand gems at DIGGER CLUB, the Maggy Market, or while joining the Slow Fashion Run treasure hunt organized by the collective.
With its popular roots, bubbling creativity, and Mediterranean outlook, Marseille is making a name for itself. Ethical, collaborative, and proud. This very first edition of the Sustainable Fashion Week could well be a turning point for the industry and give Marseille a leading role in the fashion of tomorrow.
Is the mistral ushering into a new era for fashion? We’ll know soon enough.
To register for events and stay up to date with the latest news from this Slow Fashion Week, follow @slowfashionweekmarseille, @villemarseille and @baga.colectif.
Article by Julie Boone.
