A day after the end of Men's Fashion Week, Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2018 week kicked off on Monday with a presentation by fashion label Schiaparelli.

Its latest offering featured intricately embroidered pieces and patterns inspired by the Maasai people from southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. The label's design director, Bertrand Guyon, said he aimed to combine European and African elegance with the line.

Unusual fabrics, including shredded plastic bags, were interwoven with silk. A long pink silk dress featuring a heart-shaped top made a dreamlike impression on the catwalk.

Schiaparelli is one of the few houses that includes older models in its shows, an aspect adding a down-to-earth touch to an otherwise otherworldly presentation. 

Read more: How men's fashion reflects a 'fake news' and #MeToo world

Fashion from the 3D printer

Iris van Herpen uses a 3D printer to bring her designs to life. The Dutch designer experiments with the latest technologies to create her avant-garde collections.

Instead of traditional fabrics, she works with metal strips, transparent tulle and plastic. Her experimental designs make her a Paris Haute Couture Week regular.

The prêt-a-porter collections feature more traditional designs. Louis Vuitton, Miu Miu and Junko Shimada were among the houses showcasing their latest lines on Monday.

The Parisian Haute Couture week ends on Thursday, while Women's Fashion Week is set to take place from February 26 to March 6.

sw/eg/ (with dpa)