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With custom-made playlists and star sound designers, music has become a central player on the runway. Far from mere background, it sets the tempo of the shows and gives collections their energy, signature and lasting impression.
Today, it is impossible to imagine a runway show without music. It is an integral part of the catwalk experience, shaping how the clothes are perceived and remembered. Whereas tracks once flowed without much cohesion, major fashion houses now rely on true soundtrack creators such as Michel Gaubert and Frédéric Sanchez, renowned for their ability to craft immersive, tailored soundscapes. Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Prada and Hermès entrust them with composing or selecting the music for their shows, enhancing each collection.
Their role is to translate the spirit of a season into sound, crafting a musical landscape that complements the visual narrative, amplifies the models’ presence and captivates the audience. Within a single show, you may hear pop hits, reimagined classical pieces, industrial sounds or original compositions created exclusively for the runway. Music does more than accompany the show: it drives the rhythm, sets the mood and sometimes creates a striking contrast with the garments’ aesthetics.
Sound as Storytelling
Some shows are remembered as much for their soundtracks as for the collections themselves. For Chanel and Dior, Gaubert often crafts intricate mixes, blending electronic beats, sampled voices and classical pieces to enhance the show’s narrative. Meanwhile, Sanchez has designed subtle soundscapes for Prada and Hermès, combining city noises, minimalist electronic music and retro melodies.
More recently, brands have embraced collaborations with artists, live performances or DJ sets on the runway. In 2024, designer Raul Lopez (Luar) teamed up with a producer to create an original soundtrack, giving the show a unique sonic identity. At Burberry, references to British music culture appeared through rock or electronic selections, evoking the energy of music festivals. Silence can also make an impact: a sudden pause, a break in the soundtrack or an unexpected transition draws attention to a key look or moment, creating a dramatic, almost cinematic tension.
An Immersive Experience
Fashion and music now function as two languages that intersect and inspire each other. The runway soundtrack can become as iconic as the collection itself. Tracks played on the catwalk are often shared and requested on social media, with some playlists released exclusively by the fashion houses, extending the experience beyond the show.
The rising importance of music meets a clear expectation: to make the runway an immersive, sensory and memorable experience, somewhere between artistic performance and collective experience. It also reflects fashion’s ambition to reach a broader, younger audience, eager to share these sound clips online or listen again after the show.
Music has become the guiding thread of a season.
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