The first fashion shows made their appearance at the initiative of visionary French designers such as Charles Worth (1825-1895) and Paul Poiret (1879-1944). At the end of World War II, names such as Christian Dior, Pierre Balmain and Hubert de Givenchy then contributed towards making Paris the world capital of fashion. At the same time, on the far side of the Atlantic, the foundations of Fashion Week, then known as "Press Week", were being laid in New York.

We had to wait, howev-er, until 1973 to attend the very first fashion week with the legendary "Battle of Versailles" in which ten French and American designers confronted each other. Milan, New York and London were the first to  keep up with the French capital, thus forming the "Big Four". While they now enjoy a mo-nopoly, the four capitals of fashion are no longer the only ones to hold Fashion Weeks. There are, in fact, no fewer than 140 worldwide! Including the Monte-Carlo Fashion Week (MCFW), held twice a year. Launched in 2013 by Federica Nardoni Spinetta, President of the "Chambre Monégasque de la Mode", it became one of the Principality's major events in just a few years.

Shining the spotlight on cruise collections, beachwear and cocktail lines, the Monte-Carlo Fashion Week also stands out for its emphasis on sustainability in fashion. In the Middle East, the Arab Fashion Week focuses on pre-collections and Ready Couture, a concept halfway between ready-to-wear and "haute cou-ture". Founded in 2015 by Lebanese model Jacob Abrian, the Arab Fashion Week is held every six months in Dubai. In 2021, the 10th edition hosted its very first fashion shows for men.