First Circus Spring/Summer 2025 Haute Couture Show Théâtre Mogador, Paris
With “First Circus”, Julien Fournié delivers far more than a traditional haute couture collection he opens the doors to his inner universe. On the grand stage of Théâtre Mogador in Paris, the couturier known for his visionary storytelling unveils a fantastical, rebellious, and joy-filled celebration of individuality, dreams, and freedom.
A Theatrical Manifesto of the Self
“I’ve just turned 50,” Fournié declares, “and I now feel completely free to reveal what has always driven me enthusiasm, dreaming, dancing, partying… Everything that’s been a part of me since childhood.” With this new collection, he doesn’t merely design clothes — he creates characters, larger-than-life personalities pulled from the depths of his imagination and placed into haute couture form.
Inspired by films, cartoons, and 90s music, the “First Circus” collection is rooted in deeply personal experiences. As a teenager targeted by violence and harassment, Julien took refuge in his bedroom, where superhero figurines, manga icons, and enchanted princesses offered him solace. Today, those childhood guardians return to life in dazzling couture, reborn as powerful archetypes: a goddess in a cyborg trench coat, a subversive white rabbit turned luxury dealer, a shattered Joker, a black-and-white movie clown, a mirror-crossing princess…
Each look could step out of a futuristic animated film, yet here they are, walking a Parisian stage, blurring the boundaries between imagination and reality.
Haute Couture as Immersive Art
With mastery acquired over 16 years of dedication, Fournié alongside exceptional artisans and the finest craftspeople offers an ultra-luxurious interpretation of these imagined personas. Each ensemble is an original work of textile art, meticulously constructed with multi-layered fabrics, bold colors, and striking embellishments. The silhouettes are architectural, expressive, and unapologetically theatrical.
This is not fashion as usual. It is Haute Couture at its most liberated and independent, far from fleeting trends. Fournié’s vision is of a couture that dares, plays, and embraces narrative and joy. A couture for those who have the freedom and the audacity to wear stories stitched in fantasy.
An Ensemble Cast of Art and Heart
True to the spirit of a circus, this collection is also a collective performance. The runway becomes a stage for not only models but also opera singers, actresses, dancers, and artists, all celebrating creativity together. The show featured radiant appearances from Audrey Fleurot, Marina Viotti, Ashley Scott, Déborah François, Cédric Le Gallo, and many others individuals whose charisma and artistry brought each look to life.
Special thanks go to Wilfried Bernard, who choreographed the show, and to the dancers who transformed the runway into a vibrant, living theater.
A Joyful Rebellion
“I’m not just designing garments,” says Fournié. “I’m sharing the joy of dreaming, sketching, sewing, and performing.” In “First Circus”, Julien Fournié reclaims fashion as a space of emotional expression, creative freedom, and pure delight.
Through this spellbinding show, he invites us into his dreamworld a realm where fantasy reigns, couture dances, and the child within the artist takes center stage.
Long live the Dancing Couturier.
