Classical Greek era to Hollywood affairs: History and evolution of the magical red carpet

Award shows or events have become the epitome of celebration, glamour, and recognition across the globe, with personalities in dazzling gowns and sharp tuxedos. These events have become more than just honouring the talented; they are all about showcasing the latest style trends and turning fashion into an art form. However, amidst the paparazzi shots, one thing that remains the same is the inclusion of a vibrant red carpet.

To understand how red carpets became so popular in the fashion and entertainment world, it’s necessary for us to go back 2,480 years and enter the ancient Greek world.

The first mention of the red carpet
The most popular version of the origin of the red carpet is linked to Greek playwright Aeschylus, who mentioned a red carpet showcase in ‘Agamemnon’, released in 458 BC. It is said that in ‘Agamemnon’, Clytemnestra, the wife of the main protagonist, speaks all about the floor turning red with crimson broideries for the King’s path. However, some fashion historians come with a point of contention, calling the shade to be rather purple.

The text translated in simple English from a verse of Agamemnon states, “Cover the ground for the king to walk soon with the red carpet. Let all the ground be red where his feet pass, and justice, previously absent, bring him home to the hearth he bought; he would never return to.”


Was the shade always red?
Many historians still believe that the shade was purple, rather than red, as it was a rare colour because of its expensive pigment and was known as ‘tyrant purple’. Described as the royal colour after the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453, it simply changed to a deep purplish red called ‘blata’ by the Greeks. It means ‘the colour of coagulated blood’.

During the first Elizabethan era in England, the colour purple was soon reserved only for royalty. However, till the 1760s, royals started to use deeper shades of purple, which transformed into maroon using red dyes, and till the 19th century, the vibrant shade of red became a symbol of status.



The red carpet treatment
The red carpet treatment soon landed in modern society, with popular European aristocrats using it to elicit their status in society via hosting extravagant balls and fashion events. It soon became a widespread practice and was adopted in various social circles, used for events such as weddings, receptions, art shows, and balls.

A full-blown red carpet event included carriages arriving with elite class members in chic gowns, with the printed press covering the happenings in newspapers. The red carpet, therefore, became a symbol of status for the elite, something the commoners had no access to.

Then Hollywood happened
Theatre magnate Sid Grauman, founder of the Chinese and Egyptian theatres in Los Angeles, was the first person to use a red carpet for a Hollywood premiere in 1922. To promote his $1 million film ‘Robin Hood’, he went all out and hosted a red carpet event with stars ascending and media capturing their appearances.

Red carpet and the fashion industry
During the 1994 Golden Globes red carpet, actress Joan Rivers was asked a simple question, ‘Who are you wearing?’, and since then, a red carpet moment has become an essential part of every fashion event. The late '90s and early 2000s saw the peak of red-carpet fashion, where women loved to talk about their designers, silhouettes, and inspirations. This worked like lightning in bottles for the labels as well, with media covering every little detail.

Soon, fashion brands became more invested in the red carpet business and saw the moment as a good advertising opportunity. In 2019, the Cannes Film Festival red carpets generated around $101 million in media impact value for multiple designer labels and brands, making the fashion industry happier than ever.

However, the introduction of social media and paparazzi culture is to blame for the decline of chic red carpet affairs, but major award nights in India and globally still use a bright red carpet, taking us back to the retro Hollywood days.


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