For the first time in five seasons Helmut Lang decided not to stage a runway show in men’s fashion season that will take place in Paris next month.

“To show men’s and women’s has always been our identity. I thought it was a good time to go back to the original format and not show men’s in Jan particularly as the men’s and women’s shows (in Paris) are four week apart, ” Lang explained to FWD.

Some may view such move as an economy measure from the Italian Prada Group, who obtained the remaining 49 percent stake in Helmut Lang and full control of the New York-based design company. However, a Prada spokesperson denied such rumors and insisted that it was simply a “creative decision made by the designer himself” and that it “was in no way determined by financial or ecomomic factors”.

Lang has included men’s looks in his womenwear collections previously, and skipping the French men’s season is understood as an attempt to avoid crossing the Atlantic twice in winter with large numbers of his staff.

According to FWD, the House is still working on the question of presenting the men’s clothing to the fashion critics, considering making available visuals through CD ROMs or DVDs.