On May 30th last year, Balenciaga released a short film for its 2024 Spring Collection in Paris. Set to the music of French song Sous le ciel de Paris by Edith Piaf, it depicts Parisians basking in the bright sunlight. Suddenly, a heavy downpour ensues, yet people continue to go about their daily activities unperturbed, clad in their shimmering, expensive evening gowns.

Nobody could predict, a year later, the downpour from the film would turn into reality, this time in Shanghai instead of Paris.