Behind Paris Haute Couture Week: Standing at the Pinnacle of Fashion, Craft, and Art—Their Brilliance Fueled by Talent and Hard Work

This episode is Amber’s “lazy edition,” as she was busy flying to Paris Haute Couture Week. It brings together interviews with three friends previously featured, all of whom occupy unique, indispensable roles during Haute Couture Week:Mariano Moreno — a prodigiously talented designer, recognized by international media as an emerging force in haute couture;Ruslan Ev — a world-renowned fashion show producer who transforms abstract creative concepts into breathtaking stage narratives;Olga Godina — makeup team director, who pioneered the “GWT Beauty Silk Road”.Since Charles Frederick Worth introduced the concept of haute couture in 1868, Paris Haute Couture Week has remained at the apex of global fashion, art, and craftsmanship.The French Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture maintains an official membership list, present a haute couture collection each season to qualify for full membership. Well-known to Asian fashion enthusiasts, Balmain, Chanel, Christian Dior, Giambattista Valli, Givenchy, Jean Paul Gaultier, Maison Margiela, Maison Schiaparelli, Stéphane Rolland all appear on the 2025 membership list. Notably, Stéphane Rolland is also a key designer for the 2026 Barcelona Bridal Week.In the new season of Paris Haute Couture Week, Mariano Moreno draws inspiration from the poetic imagery of Charles Baudelaire and the tension defined in Les Fleurs du Mal.This exclusive presentation will take place at the legendary Parisian restaurant Lapérouse, famous for its scratched mirrors—once used by socialites to verify the authenticity of jewelry gifts from lovers—carrying memories of desire, power, and survival.Behind every haute couture show, besides designers, there are show directors, makeup team directors, hair directors, stylists, atelier teams, backstage managers, stage and lighting designers, music directors, models, photographers and media teams, fashion buyers, and VIP client services. Hödi Communications and the podcast Ladies Odyssey interviewed multiple backstage members to understand how the team collaborates, ensuring each show is executed flawlessly from concept to runway.Ruslan Ev, as show director, translates designers’ abstract creative concepts into complete stage narratives. He oversees runway flow, model sequence and pacing, and coordinates lighting, music, set design, and video elements, ensuring a coherent visual and emotional experience. Traveling between Milan, Paris, New York, and Singapore Fashion Weeks, he assists designers from China, Indonesia, Brazil, Russia, Egypt, Spain, and elsewhere in bringing local cultural symbols to the international stage. He also founded a men’s fashion week in the U.S. Ruslan believes the most extraordinary part of his work is the diversity and convergence of talent:“You are constantly immersed in the flow of creative energy, surrounded by love, beauty, and inspiration.”Olga Godina, makeup team director, defines the show’s makeup direction, shapes character aesthetics, and ensures the overall look harmonizes with hair, wardrobe, and the collection’s theme. She has worked with European royalty and global artists on worldwide tours, active across Paris, Milan, New York, and London Fashion Weeks. She also pioneered the “GWT Beauty Silk Road”, blending travel and aesthetics into international collaborations, continuously exploring new possibilities in the fusion of Eastern and Western creativity.Paris Haute Couture Week is not only a stage for designers to showcase creativity but also an artistic laboratory for the collaboration of producers, show directors, makeup teams, and ateliers. The professional coordination of each role ensures precise execution and visual impact for every haute couture show. What Paris Haute Couture Week demonstrates is the diversity, creativity, and ultimate craftsmanship of global fashion—bringing the cultural richness and design intelligence of the world together in a single city.More Indispensable Roles Behind the Scenes