Catwalk : The Art of the Fashion Show A-Z

The book explores the fashion show as a cultural phenomenon and an artistic practice. Lavishly illustrated and polyphonic in its approach, it traces the evolution of the runway from early salon presentations to the digital spectacles of today. Historical photographs, rare archival materials, and contemporary image series provide insight into the creative processes of leading fashion houses including Balenciaga, Chanel, Dior, Gucci, Maison Martin Margiela, Issey Miyake, Prada, Viktor & Rolf, and Louis Vuitton.

Accompanying essays and interviews shed light on the fashion show from multiple perspectives: model Małgosia Bela shares her experiences on international runways; sound supervisor Michel Gaubert reveals how music and rhythm shape atmosphere and dramaturgy; curator Andreas Murkudis reflects on the curatorial and commercial decisions that define key collections. Fashion historian Caroline Evans examines the social roles of the fashion show, Cathy Horyn analyzes its impact on contemporary fashion, and Valerie Steele situates it within a global cultural context.

Catwalk is both a visual archive and a theoretical companion – a book that reveals how fashion becomes a cultural event beyond fabric and form.

Contributions by Atlas of Shows, Jens Balzer, Salomé Dudemaine, Jochen Eisenbrand, Caroline Evans, Kirsty Hassard, Vésma Kontere Mcquillan, Katharina Krawczyk, Svetlana Panova, Olivier Saillard, Julien Sanders, Geraldine Julie Sommier, Carla Sozzani, Valerie Steel, Marketa Uhlorova, Barbara Vinken and Iain R. Webb

Interviews and text contributions by: Atlas of Shows, Jens Balzer, Małgosia Bela, Caroline Evans, Robert Fairer, Michel Gaubert, Inge Grognard, Emmanuel Heimann & Paul-Emmanuel Reiffers (La Mode en Images), Cathy Horyn, Sam McKnight, Giulio Margheri (OMA), Giulia Mensitieri, Andreas Murkudis, Lucien Pagès, Schohaja, Carla Sozzani, Valerie Steele, Marketa Uhlirova, Barbara Vinken, Iain R. Webb, and others.