Gucci is among many brands, companies and organizations that have canceled or postponed their events in South Korea after a stampede killed 154 people over the weekend.
On October 29, partygoers took to the streets of the capital Seoul to celebrate their first Halloween weekend since the pandemic restrictions were lifted. According to multiple reports, tens of thousands of people poured into the narrow streets of Itaewon district, causing a crowding that claimed a number of lives. Following the incident, President Yoon Seok-youl declared national mourning until November 5, with many events being canceled or postponed to a later date.
Luxury fashion house Gucci, which was due to present its “Cosmogony” collection at the city’s Gyeongbokgung Palace on November 1, announced it would cancel the show. Taking to Instagram, the Kering-owned brand said in a post, “We send our deepest condolences to the families and friends of all those affected by the tragedy in Itaewon, Seoul, South Korea.”
The collection was first unveiled in Italy’s Castel del Monte in May, with the Seoul show being the first in Korea to be helmed by Gucci’s Creative Director Alessandro Michele. As the New York Times reports, around 500 international and local guests, including diplomats and celebrities, are expected to attend the event.
Dior, which counts a number of Korean artists among its ambassadors, also expressed its condolences on social media. In a post, the French fashion label wrote: “The House of Dior sends its deepest condolences to all those affected by the tragedy at Itaewon in Seoul, South Korea.”
This translated and edited post previously appeared on FashionUnited.uk.