A fashion cat(walk) fight recently occurred between Dior and Valentino, but why?

Models applaud at the end of Valentino's "The Beginning" Autumn/Winter 2022 couture collection show on the Spanish Steps. Photo: Reuters

The fashion industry is a competitive one indeed. A row even errupted between two very prominent fashion houses in Rome, Italy, recently.

When Valentino held its grand couture show on the legendary Spanish Steps last week (July 8), it apparently did not sit well with rival brand Dior.

Dior requested 100,000 euros in compensation, saying that its clients were blocked from reaching the store. The Dior boutique is located near the Spanish Steps and it seems that Valentino's show negatively impacted its foot traffic.

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Customers were alleged to have been refused access too, as there were barriers set up for the event.

Valentino's big showing drew a huge crowd, which included film stars and fashion figures such as Anne Hathaway, Anna Wintour, Naomi Campbell, Andrew Garfield and Kate Hudson.

According to Reuters in a story dated July 13, Dior fired off a first letter to Valentino shortly after the show. The news agency said that Dior later decided to withdraw the demand for compensation.

Citing a second letter from Dior, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters that the French fashion house was backing down "in light of the friendly relationship between the two maisons".

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Pretty anticlimatic, but it shows that rivalry between fashion brands can sometimes simmer and bubble up to break out of the seemingly calm surface.

Famous fashion houses are known to try and keep a cordial relationship among themselves. Some of the known labels have even collaborated in the past.

In May, Fendi and Versace collaborated to create two separate collections that combine signature elements and time-honoured codes from their fashion houses.

Last week saw the Jean-Paul Gaultier label release couture creations designed by Olivier Rousteing of Balmain. It was part of a series, of which sees the label recruiting "guest designers".