You're listening to Comedy Central.

It's New York Fashion Week, the semi-annual event when designers show their collections

to the world so fast fashion brands can decide which styles to rip off.

But unlike wet subway seats, Fashion Week hasn't always been in New York institution.

It's had a long walk down the runway to get where it is today.

It all started in France in the 1600s, which might not surprise you, but back then, Paris

was very much not known for fashion.

The French were about as stylish as a crock wearing a fanny pack.

At that time, Madrid was actually the fashion capital of the world.

And thanks to their tiny toppies, they could actually fit into all the sample sizes.

But everything changed for France when Louis XIV was, you know, kingified.

Louis turned France into a major power, and he wanted the threads to show it.

For him, fashion was essential to the monarchy's prestige.

I mean, no one wants to be executed by a guy wearing cargo shorts.

Louis' obsession built up France's fashion and textile industry and soon turned Paris

into the world's center of fashion, which by default made it the world's center of cocaine

in Bicci Gossip as well.

It was under Louis that France established the idea of showing fall designs in the spring

and spring designs in the fall.

So you can thank him for that trendy coat you're wearing in August.

France continued to dominate the fashion industry for centuries, until World War II, when Paris

was under German occupation.

...