Paris Fashion Week is no stranger to headline-making moments, but 424’s Spring/Summer 2027 menswear show was the talk of the town for reasons beyond the collection itself. The Los Angeles-based label kicked off its runway with influencer Clavicular, a move that immediately divided fashion followers and was slammed by commentators, journalists and social media users. The controversy has reignited the debate of whether controversial runway castings are good for fashion or just chasing online attention.
Clavicular’s 424 runway debut shifts attention away from the collection
424 creative director Guillermo Andrade introduced Clavicular as the opening model for the brand’s SS27 presentation, a decision that quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of Paris Fashion Week.Fashion commentator Lyas was among the first to react publicly. Posting from the front row, he shared a video while raising his middle finger toward the runway. His caption read, “Misogynist, homophobic and racist clavicular walks @424inc.”The post quickly gained traction and attracted responses from several figures within the fashion industry. Fashion editor Brenda Weischer commented, “tomatoes tomatoes,” while writer and editor Pierre A. M’Pelé described the experience as “even worse than a front row seat.” Influencer Hanan Besovic also joined the discussion, writing, “I’ll add mine too,” alongside a middle finger emoji.The discussion took off on social media, but the focus became less about the clothes themselves. In many of the Instagram comments on the show images 424 later posted, people focused more on the casting decision than on the collection, a sign of how one controversial appearance came to dominate the public conversation.Some questioned whether the decision was meant as an artistic comment on modern beauty culture or just a way to create engagement. Others said the casting opened the door to conflicting interpretations without a clear message from the brand.
Ragebait trend in fashion is attracting more criticism
The response to 424’s runway has also ignited a larger conversation about fashion’s growing dependence on viral moments.The runway shows have always had theatrical performances to surprise the audience. Examples from history, like Alexander McQueen’s robot-painted dress or Maison Margiela’s offbeat presentations, became memorable because they reinforced the creative vision of each designer.What some critics say is that instead of innovation, modern runway spectacles are increasingly based on controversy. Others argue that brands are relying on polarising personalities and unexpected stunts to cut through the digital noise, rather than designing conversation.Supporters of this view say that although controversial casting choices may grab headlines, they risk overshadowing months of creative work that has gone into a collection. Much of the online conversation for 424 focused on the opening model rather than the clothes on the runway.The incident also highlights the growing power of social media in fashion. A single runway appearance can dominate the news cycle in a matter of hours, garnering millions of views. This level of exposure can be good for a brand’s visibility, but it also makes you wonder if attention is the right measure of success.As Paris Fashion Week winds down, the talk about 424’s show isn’t over by a long shot. One thing was clear, whether audiences viewed the casting as an artistic statement, a marketing ploy or an unnecessary distraction. The biggest runway story in fashion today isn’t always about the clothes.
