Coronavirus affects business in different fields, and Ralph Lauren is the latest designer brand to cancel a show because of the coronavirus health crisis. The us brand said a runway event scheduled for late April at an unspecified location in New York had been cancelled as the outbreak continued to spread. As of Wednesday morning, there had been more than 94,000 confirmed cases worldwide and at least 3,200 deaths.
“Given the current uncertainty around the world regarding the new coronavirus, out of respect for our team, partners and consumers, we have determined to cancel our fall 2021 show as a precautionary measure,” a Ralph Lauren spokesman said. “Our main concern remains their health and safety.”
Ralph Lauren did not take part in New York Fashion Week. Since September 2016, the brand has opted to host “see now, purchase now” shows. Meanwhile, FN’s sister publication, WWD, reported that Ralph Lauren outlet online was planning to get out of that format by showcasing its fall 2021 collection in the spring.
The firm participates in an increasing list of designers that have either postponed or done away with their fashion shows in recent weeks. On Monday, Gucci told FN that it had canceled plans to host its cruise 2021 event, which was scheduled for May 18 in San Francisco, because of the “as a precaution, the outbreak of the coronavirus has caused persistent uncertainty.”
The cruise calendar as a whole seems to be in flux: Prada decided to postpone its cruise show, which had been scheduled for May 21 in Tokyo, while Chanel is still arranged to show its collection on May 7 in Capri, Italy, and Dior plans to host an event on May 9 in Lecce, Italy.
Fashion weeks in Tokyo, Shanghai and Seoul have been cancelled or postponed because of the effects of the coronavirus. Some showrooms were also reported to have closed early, although purchase reservations are usually extended until mid-March, after many retailers issued travel restrictions or bans on employees.