PARIS, Jul 1, 2001/ --- If artists are any good at predicting the future, then politicians and opinion makers who laugh off European youth’s anti-globalization mood may be in for a surprise. Raf Simons’ spring/summer collection shown Sunday in Paris seemed purposely designed with a riot in mind.

The militant models all covered their faces and sported sweatshirts and fatigue pants covered in agit-prop expressions. Three days ago in Milan, the emperor of Italian fashion, Giorgio Armani, spoke out against globalization, complaining that world leaders were "frightening because they only think of themselves and little of ordinary people."

Since Seattle witnessed violent street protests two years ago, every major international conference has occasioned violent protests by a coalition of anti-globalization protesters, ecologists, students, labor activists and anarchists. Simons’ invitation came with the following: "Woe unto those who spit back on the fear generation. The wind will blow it back…"

Staged in the playground of a prestigious French high school, the show was lit by one giant bulb held by a long cable. The models circled the audience at a tantalizing distance. For the finale, the boys lit flares and marched around.

If designers, like Shelley says of poets, are the unacknowledged legislators of the universe, then the powers that be are in for another youth explosion.

Raf Simons

Raf Simons

Raf Simons