Paris Haute Couture Week concluded on Thursday with designers blending bold creativity, fantasy and advanced technology, as major fashion houses sought to revive the luxury industry after a two-year slowdown.

The week's most anticipated event was Pierpaolo Piccioli's debut couture collection for Balenciaga, attended by celebrities including Demi Moore, Cynthia Erivo and Gigi Hadid. Piccioli showcased dramatic balloon-shaped gowns and feathered designs before closing the show with Hadid in a striking rooster-feather creation. He received a standing ovation alongside his atelier.

Across four days, 30 fashion houses, including five first-time participants, explored themes of body transformation, fantasy and innovation. Designers experimented with revealing, concealing and reshaping the human figure while incorporating new materials and technologies, even as they stressed the enduring value of handcrafted couture.

Major labels including Balenciaga, Dior, Chanel and Armani Privé introduced collections under new creative directors, hoping to boost demand in the recovering luxury market.

Technology also featured prominently. Balenciaga used 3D body scans and lab-grown silk, while Iris van Herpen incorporated thousands of hand-blown glass beads and experimental techniques. Schiaparelli combined handcrafted silicone and unusual materials to create sculptural designs.

Despite embracing technological innovation, designers consistently emphasised that haute couture remains rooted in craftsmanship, with handmade artistry continuing to define fashion's most exclusive creations.