Giorgio Armani 2.0

Phil Butler,

on January 27, 2007,

When will we know the Web 2.0 has arrived? When high fashion meets high tech!

I think it may be safe to say Web 2.0 has arrived when Giorgio Armani broadcasts haute couture live on msn.com! Armani fans did not have to scramble for tickets to his latest fashion show, as the world famous Italian designer took the fabulous show to everyone with an Internet connection on Wednesday.

Hollywood actresses Cate Blanchett and Katie Holmes sat and watched from the front row of a Paris art museum as the 72 year old Armani paraded models across the runway. Holmes and Tom Cruise were married last year, and Holmes wore one of Giorgio Armani's bridal creations for the event. Holmes commented on several of the dresses in this year's collection as Internet viewers looked on from MSN. Armani stated that:

"It is the pinnacle of creativity and craftsmanship, which has always been a closed world to all but a few. Now through the democracy of the Internet we can provide a front row seat for everyone."

The MSN broadcast was the first time an haute couture show had ever been available online. Other designer labels have been broadcast over various networks, but the Armani web cast indicates the popularity of the Internet as a media device like no other designer show could.

"I think the more fashion is available to more people the more exciting it becomes," Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of U.S. Vogue, told Reuters earlier in the day at the show of French designer Jean-Paul Gaultier.

The show received brilliant reviews and praise from a host of the fashion world's most influential people. Internet viewers did not catch all the action though! They clearly missed the delectable dinner of truffle risotto that Armani threw for several hundred guests after the show.

Web 2.0 Impact

In a year of firsts, we are seeing a constant migration of entertainment, news, business, technology, art and essentially culture on to the Internet. This certainly does not mean that the whole world is going to stay home and watch their computers, but it is a validation of the Internet and Web 2.0 as a viable and valuable platform for society. It is also an indication that business is seeing the web for the potential that the "dot com" era proclaimed.

Armani represents a venue that has typically been reserved for the ultra wealthy and privileged in society. By bringing this part of our culture to the masses in such a way, the fashion industry is demonstrating its new look. We might call all of this fashion 2.0 I suppose. It is good to see such quality content introduced in to the web. I think it is safe to say Web 2.0 is here.