Paris Fashion Week: Internet divided over terrarium dresses containing real butterflies

Breaking away from the all-black trend this season, Takahashi crafted a mystical collection. As the lights dimmed, three models emerged in glowing strapless dresses

With the score from Wim Wenders’s ‘Wings of Desire’ playing in the background, the brand’s creative director, Jun Takahashi, sent models down the runway at The Undercover Spring 2023 show in a collection clearly inspired by the angelic theme of the 1987 romantic fantasy. As the lights dimmed, three models emerged in glowing strapless dresses. Their transparent skirts doubled as terrariums, holding real garden flowers and lively butterflies that danced around. It’s worth noting that the butterflies were promised a post-show release.

The background music carried symbolism, drawing from the German film that portrays angels offering comfort and hope to Berlin’s people. Similarly, these celestial creations offered a moment of fashion escapism amid the sea of typical, everyday ensembles presented this season.

Breaking away from the all-black trend this season, Takahashi crafted a mystical collection. The dresses featured transparent shrouding and sheer organza tailoring.

However, not all netizens were particularly impressed by the use of live butterflies in the runway show and took to social media to express their disappointment.

A user wrote, “GROSS! Live Butterflies in 2023?? They would have been dead long before you attempted to ‘release them’ after. No one thought of a better idea within the company to go viral. A basic Beehive outfit with live bees promoting ‘save the bees’ would give you the same ‘shock’ factor you are looking for!”

“Did you use animals for your talent-free collection to enhance it? how tasteless,” another user commented.