The Louis Vuitton Cruise 2025 fashion show did not receive a warm welcome in Barcelona on Thursday as hundreds of Spaniards protested the event held at the city's most historic park. Riot police were deployed and multiple arrests were made following clashes between police and the protesters, who were mostly left-wing, according to The Telegraph.
The group blocked the entrance to Park Güell, where the French fashion brand was launching its latest collection, to protest overtourism in the area.
Local residents said the fashion show was their final straw after the city closed the park for multiple days leading up to the event. Millions of tourists visit Barcelona annually, and Antoni Gaudí's Unesco historic Park Güell has drawn them in, leading to concerns from the locals about congestion. As a result, protests began.
Streets surrounding the park swelled with chants of "Our neighborhoods, not your catwalks." They also unfurled a banner that read: "Stop tourism invasion."
The protesters, which included the city's former left-wing mayor Ada Colau, also performed a mock fashion show and took over a street to conduct a parody catwalk.
"Barcelona must not go back to the old-fashioned model where we have events that privatize public spaces," said Colau, according to The Telegraph.
Authorities said seven police officers were injured after clashing with protesters. Multiple arrests were made but authorities did not indicate how many people were arrested.
The Louis Vuitton fashion show brought in a star-studded audience. Actresses Emma Stone, Sophia Turner, and Ana de Armas attended the event. While many protested, not everyone was displeased with the French fashion company bringing revenue to the city.
Raquel Gil, Barcelona's councillor for economic development, said the show was "a great opportunity for the entire fashion sector in Barcelona and Catalonia."
The group blocked the entrance to Park Güell, where the French fashion brand was launching its latest collection, to protest overtourism in the area.
Local residents said the fashion show was their final straw after the city closed the park for multiple days leading up to the event. Millions of tourists visit Barcelona annually, and Antoni Gaudí's Unesco historic Park Güell has drawn them in, leading to concerns from the locals about congestion. As a result, protests began.
Streets surrounding the park swelled with chants of "Our neighborhoods, not your catwalks." They also unfurled a banner that read: "Stop tourism invasion."
The protesters, which included the city's former left-wing mayor Ada Colau, also performed a mock fashion show and took over a street to conduct a parody catwalk.
"Barcelona must not go back to the old-fashioned model where we have events that privatize public spaces," said Colau, according to The Telegraph.
Authorities said seven police officers were injured after clashing with protesters. Multiple arrests were made but authorities did not indicate how many people were arrested.
The Louis Vuitton fashion show brought in a star-studded audience. Actresses Emma Stone, Sophia Turner, and Ana de Armas attended the event. While many protested, not everyone was displeased with the French fashion company bringing revenue to the city.
Raquel Gil, Barcelona's councillor for economic development, said the show was "a great opportunity for the entire fashion sector in Barcelona and Catalonia."
Louis Vuitton is one of the corporate sponsors supporting the forthcoming America's Cup yachting competition in Barcelona later this year.
