The Catwalk- A Narrow Road To Fame

The catwalk is every designers’ dream. It’s where they showcase their latest collections, parading the designs with grandeur and extravagance. It is an honour for models to walk the catwalk; it is essential to put in lots of work to impress audiences and appreciate the opportunity.

What is a catwalk? How did it come about?

The term catwalk is English (like most fashion industry words)- it literally means a walkway that connects the components of scaffolding or the building of a stage. Workers would use the narrow path to get from site to site. The best way to use it was by placing your feet exactly in front of each other- this method is called a laced gait. Because the way the workers would climb and move was really similar to a cat, the walkway was called a ‘catwalk’ after them.

Construction workers or runway models?

The name is now one of the only similarities between construction catwalks and fashion catwalks. Catwalks are still elevated, but much wider than before, so that the model can walk properly. Models also walk similarly to the past construction workers, placing their feet directly in front of one another. This creates a beautiful swing of the hips and makes the strut look smooth and sleek, just like a cat. The word ‘catwalk’ is never normally translated as it has the same meaning in every language: an elongated platform that extends into the auditorium and raises a model to the viewing level of the audience.

Every seat is the best seat!

This elevation works to make every detail of a collection visible. Every audience member, be it journalists, photographers or potential buyers, should have an unobstructed view of the model and their catwalk. This gives them a clear vision of the collection so they can easily report, photograph and place offers after the show. People who have a closer relationship/are more important to the designer sit closer to the catwalk for a better view. The less important someone is, the further back they sit, though they can still see all the action. Because they are always visible, models therefore must be convincing and walk with confidence. During catwalk training , models often fall over or slip- catwalk floors are slippery and uncomfortably high-heels and stiff movements can be dangerous! 

Catwalking like a professional

Some models use the analogy that the catwalk is like a cat. They can be soft and tender but can also unexpectedly bite or scratch. Like how owners must learn the personality and tendencies of their cats, models must understand the catwalk to gain enough confidence to walk it. There are also simple but effective tricks to avoid the typical mistakes when starting out on the catwalk.

Take on the challenge and learn to master the catwalk by registering online at starboxx. We look forward to hearing from you!