Holding a fashion show during Paris Fashion Week is not something that can be done simply by wishing for it.
Don't be fooled by the fact that Paris Fashion Week lasts for a week and hosts hundreds of shows, making it seem like a very inclusive event.
In reality, Paris Fashion Week is essentially an opportunity for the fashion industry to collectively promote themselves. Once they've worked hard to build their brands, they naturally don't want other brands to take a share of their success.
Therefore, Paris Fashion Week operates on an invitation-only system. Only individuals who receive an invitation from the organizing committee are eligible to participate in the official main shows of Paris Fashion Week.
The organizing committee itself is naturally composed of so-called fashion masters, and behind these masters are various fashion brands. Through these invitations, they can effectively keep many brands at bay.
However, this restriction is generally aimed at brands. For individual designers, there are not as many obstacles. As long as they are willing to spend money, even an unknown fashion designer who has just graduated from university can get the opportunity to showcase their work at Paris Fashion Week.
Qu Wei had spent several years in Paris herself and was naturally familiar with these rules. She had expected that applying for the qualification to participate in a show under her own name would not be a problem, especially since she had specifically hired an agency to handle it, which was akin to paying a "road toll" to the organizing committee. Yet, she was still blocked.
With only five days left until the fashion week opens, and the exhibitor list to be finalized in two days, Qu Wei's blockage at this point means she is very likely to be excluded from the fashion week and unable to participate.
All the effort and thought Qu Wei had put into her preparations in Paris for so long have gone to waste. It's no wonder Qu Wei felt like cursing.
Just as Qu Wei was contemplating how to continue her tirade, she heard a familiar voice say, "Let him refund our money, we're not doing this anymore!"
"You're here!" Qu Wei glanced at Huang He and then said, "I told him to refund the money long ago, but he said the money had already been used to help us maintain relationships. He won't refund it!"
"Something like that!" Huang He's eyebrows shot up. Preventing their participation was one thing; that was their right. But not doing the job and refusing to refund the money was a major problem.
"Tell him he must refund the money!" Huang He instructed his translator, who then translated Huang He's words.
"No, that's impossible!" the agent proudly stated. "Your money has all been used by us, and we cannot refund it!"
"You didn't accomplish the task? How has the money been spent?" Huang He asked.
"I've already given the money to the committee members. As for why they accepted the money and didn't do the job, I'm not sure!" the agent said. "Regardless, your 300,000 has all been spent by me, not a penny left."
"Why should I believe you've given the money to the committee members and haven't embezzled it personally?" Huang He retorted. "Either refund the money now, or find a way to prove to me that you've given the money to the committee members, but the Paris Fashion Week committee is unwilling to give us an invitation."
"I have no obligation to show you..." Before the man could finish speaking, dozens of strong and powerful bodyguards silently surrounded Huang He. Each of them was armed.
This was Huang He's good habit: whenever he traveled abroad, he always hired fully armed security companies to protect his safety.
"Gulp!" The agent swallowed hard, then said with a smile, "Sir, I truly tried my best to run errands for you, and I really gave them the money. By all rights, the committee should have issued an invitation, but I don't know why they took my money this time and refused. I can't do anything about it."
"I swear to God, everything I'm saying is true!"
"I don't care about all that. Either you refund the money now, or I'll strip you naked and let dogs surrounded by Spanish flies spend a night with you, then take photos and videos, add your identity and address information, and publish it online..." Before Huang He could finish speaking, the man, who had been aggressive moments ago, was so terrified that he immediately shouted, "I'll refund the money, I'll refund it right away!"
"Please have these two escort him to the bank to withdraw the money! The money will be considered a tip for the brothers!" Huang He said to two bodyguards behind him. The bodyguards nodded, looking at Huang He with immense gratitude. What an excellent boss.
"By the way, why wouldn't the organizing committee give us an invitation? They must have a reason, right!" Huang He asked curiously.
"I heard it's because of Princess Vivienne's gown in the first half of the year!" the agent said with a wry smile. "That gown was a huge hit and embarrassed many brands. So, when they heard the designer of that gown was coming to hold a show, they told the organizing committee to reject her."
"So that's how it is!" Huang He nodded, then said, "If the organizing committee took your money but didn't do the job, and you can't get a refund, then you should cause trouble for the organizing committee."
"I see you likely have some friends behind you. If the organizing committee takes money and doesn't act, then you and your friends will have a legitimate reason to extort a large sum of money from the organizing committee yourselves!" As Huang He finished speaking, the agent's eyes lit up.
That's right, he had only thought about how to default on the debt, but he hadn't considered that he could use this incident to extort money from the organizing committee. After all, the mafia in Paris is even more terrifying than the Italian Mafia. His own backing gang would surely be happy to have a legitimate reason to extort a large sum of money!
Then he could recoup all his lost agency fees!
Soon, the agent was escorted by the bodyguards to withdraw money.
"How was it? I got your money back for you. Am I amazing!" Huang He said smugly.
"What's the use of you being amazing? Our show still can't be held!" Qu Wei said dejectedly.
"I'm very curious, Paris is so big, and during Paris Fashion Week, can't you find a place to hold your own show without caring if the organizing committee invites you?" Huang He asked, puzzled.
"Of course, they can't control that. But if there are no reporters covering it, no celebrities coming to photograph it, then what's the point of holding it?" Qu Wei rolled her eyes.
"In fact, the most important thing during Paris Fashion Week is not whether you hold a show, but whether there are celebrities, reporters, and media coverage!" Qu Wei sighed.
"During Paris Fashion Week, a large number of aristocrats, bourgeoisie, and wealthy individuals, and most importantly, their wives and mistresses, will come to watch the shows and look for designs they fancy! Once a significant number of them favor a particular design, it will first trigger a wave of pre-orders in European high society!"
"Then, combined with reports from various fashion media and journalists, it will influence the entire trend circle, the middle class, and eventually, the style will become a bestseller, bringing reputation to the platform behind it."
"Many luxury brands in Europe became famous this way. For example, Chanel rose to prominence and became one of the most famous luxury brands today after Chanel's designs created a sensation at Paris Fashion Week, leading high-society individuals to eagerly seek her out for custom-made outfits."
"While we can find a place to hold our own show, it won't attract many celebrities, and very few reporters will come to cover it. In the end, it will just be a self-indulgent event!" Qu Wei said.
"So, if we get an invitation from the organizing committee, will people come to watch?" Huang He asked, not understanding.
"Naturally!" Qu Wei nodded. "Although hundreds of shows are held during Paris Fashion Week, the shows can essentially be divided into two types. The vast majority are brand shows."
"They don't really care about the invitations from the organizing committee; it's the same with or without them. But this is because brand shows have their own connections and are themselves members of the organizing committee. Many brand customers and a large number of reporters will attend spontaneously."
"We are different. We don't have this accumulation, and we don't even have enough clothes to put on a brand show. Brand shows are clearly impossible for me."
"Then the remaining shows we can participate in are the main shows of Paris Fashion Week, which are personally organized by the committee. One is held every evening during Paris Fashion Week."
"The main shows, in name, do not invite brands to participate but rather invite designers from all over the world. However, these designers are basically supported by brands, so this is actually a stage for major fashion brands to compete directly and showcase their brilliance."
"It is the most famous venue during Paris Fashion Week, with the most celebrities and reporters, and ultimately the most watched shows. I want to participate in such a main show. As long as I'm given a few minutes of display time, I can let the whole world see the stunning beauty of Hanfu!"
"It's just a shame they won't even let me in the door, they just blocked me!" Qu Wei said, on the verge of tears. "To think I specifically came to the Tuileries Garden in advance to scout the location and see how to match the scenery with the clothes. All of it was in vain."
"No, I'd say your entire trip to Paris has been in vain!" Huang He quipped. Qu Wei could only roll her eyes.
"Don't worry for now. Let me go see a friend, she's local, and maybe she'll have a solution!" Huang He patted Qu Wei's shoulder, offering comfort, and left without looking back. Qu Wei could only gaze wistfully at the magnificent Tuileries Garden and then leave dejectedly.
The friend Huang He mentioned was, of course, our Princess Vivienne. Upon learning that Huang He would be attending, Princess Vivienne directly invited him to meet at her accommodation.
Huang He was initially reluctant to go, but now that Qu Wei was in trouble, Huang He had to make the trip and see if he could "sell his looks" to help the unfortunate Qu Wei.
[After resting for two days, starting tomorrow until the end of the month, there will be four updates daily.]