Elie Saab, Rabih Kayrouz and Kristina Fidelskaya to take part in Paris Fashion Week

A preliminary schedule for the autumn / winter 2021-22 shows has been released

Models pose backstage before Elie Saab's autumn / winter 2019-2020 women's ready-to-wear show during Paris Fashion Week in 2019. The designer will return to Paris Fashion Week in March. Reuters

A provisional calendar for Paris Fashion Week's autumn / winter 2021-22 shows has been released.

Taking place from March 1 to March 9, the format of the ready-to-wear presentations has yet to be confirmed and will only be specified once the final schedule is revealed.

At this point, it seems unlikely that there will be many live events, with fashion houses likely to favour digital presentations that range from filmed, socially distanced catwalk performances without an audience, to short narrative films.

Only three designers from the Middle East are slated to take part in the March event. Elie Saab will unveil his latest collection at 3.30pm on Saturday, March 6. On the same day, fellow Lebanese label Maison Rabih Kayrouz will present its autumn / winter 2021-22 line at 10.30am, while Dubai’s Kristina Fidelskaya will follow at 11.30am.

Saab’s presence comes after the designer decided to withdraw from Paris Haute Couture Week in January, as Lebanon imposed a strict curfew to combat a spike in coronavirus cases.

At the time, Elie Saab Jr, the brand’s chief executive, said: “The haute couture collection is ready, but there’s the whole shooting logistic, which is quite complicated. We decided to take a small break and wait for the right time to shoot it and to present it to the public.

“What we’ve seen in recent weeks in Lebanon is an important escalation of cases and an important scarcity in hospital beds and hospital tools such as respirators. Things are really getting out of control, so we have to be cautious, we have to be responsible."

Georges Hobeika followed suit, announcing that it would push its haute couture presentation back to "more serene and happier times".

Zuhair Murad also pulled out of the event two days before it was scheduled to unveil its spring / summer 2021 couture collection, saying: "We thank you for your kindness, support and understanding as we look forward to scheduling the show in a near and peaceful future."