Dior Presses Valentino To Compensate Over Fashion Show That Affected Business
By Mikelle Leow, 11 Jul 2022
Video screenshot via Valentino
Valentino made a grand entrance at its #ValentinoTheBeginning show on Friday, taking to the Spanish Steps at Piazza di Spagna in Rome to flaunt its latest in haute couture. Its vision panned out gorgeously—the showcase turned the fashion world’s heads and made headlines. All this, however, appeared to be at the expense of another Maison.
As first reported by WWD, the retail manager of Christian Dior Italia wrote a letter to Valentino that night asking to be paid €100,000 (US$101,480) for inhibiting foot traffic at the Dior location facing the Spanish Steps.
Video screenshot via Valentino
Dior purportedly stated that Valentino had reassured retailers in the vicinity that the fashion show would be beneficial for their businesses. Unfortunately, this was “not reflected in any way,” as per the letter seen by the fashion news outlet.
The couture show took place on a Friday, a typically busy day for Dior, said the French luxury label. Instead of driving more customers to the boutique, though, Dior said Valentino’s stunt “amplified” its losses and blocked patrons from passing through. As a result, the store “remained empty” during the early afternoon, according to the letter.
Valentino is expected to pay up the amount in 15 days. If the Italian fashion house doesn’t oblige to the request, it would have to face “necessary measures” taken by Dior to “protect its rights.”