Guns against Pens, How the Fashion World reacted to I am Charlie

Yesterday, 7 January was one of those days written in the files of the history with black ink and red blood. It was one of those days when we all surrender to emotions and solidarity. In the name of a global manipulation, the little pen was defeated by the big gun right at its home. And, France was hit in its heart, right on its symbols. Two masked gunmen entered the offices of the magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris yesterday morning and shot a douzen of people, journalists and policemen: symbols of freedom of speech, of security and stability. So, all these principles were attacked at a struck of a gun. In the spirit of solidarity, people around the globe followed the campaign that is looking for freedom of speech, liberty and the courage to stand against atrocities. Many people put on their social networks' accounts images with Je Suis Charlie (I am Charlie) as a sign of solidarity and fidelity to Republican principles and global humanity. More than this, is a human cry against all the barbaries in the world. 

"France is in shock today, the shock of an attack, because this is a terrorist attack, there is no doubt about it, on a newspaper that had been threatened several times and that was under protection as a result," French President François Hollande told reporters at the scene of the shooting.

Paris got under terror and retailers started to feel the risk. Still, brands and people continue to live their lives as usual. Many people got out of the stores and looked at the police cars that started to spread onto the roads. It was the state of shock. Marketers begin to see this as a negative impact for the luxury market, especially for the China tourists coming to Paris. 

Fashion designers like Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, Nicolas Ghesquière, Pierre Hardy, Yaz Bukey, Simon Porte Jacquemus, Aurélie Bidermann, model Caroline de Maigret and singer Lou Doillon, all expressed their support to the Charlie Hebdo, to the freedom of speech by posting Je Suis Charlie on their social accounts.

At the end of this month, the Fédération Française de la Couture du Prêt-à-Porter des Couturiers et des Créateurs de Mode will host its fashion shows. They did not responded or commented towards this.

... It was guns against pens!  Crime against creativity and freedom of expression! They used guns with powders against pens with charcoal and sent bodies to death. But one thing they forgot: bodies may dissapear, spirits never die!

And Charlie spirits are very much alive!

Editor Andra Oprea