“DOES FRANCE FEAR INNOVATION?” asks Imran Amed, the Canadian-British founder of Business of Fashion, an influential website that started as a blog. Turns out that anti-Uber strike coincides with the week for men’s fashion shows.

Only in Paris would it be acceptable (or logical) for taxi drivers to go on strike and block train stations and airports and think it would create support for them amongst the public. Harassing Uber drivers who are just trying to do their jobs and haranguing customers who should have the right to choose how they get around only does their cause a disservice. Instead of inconveniencing a whole city, they should offer a better service, use technology and get with the times.

When I recounted my situation on Instagram, the response from the BoF community came fast and furious.

“Think about the people that have to live with that nonsense everyday,” commented Le Monde’s Carine Bizet.

“Absolutely typical of the French Government who do not acknowledge the fashion industry as something REAL,” added Lady Amanda Harlech, muse to Karl Lagerfeld.

Indeed, not only was it a terrible start to Fashion Week, it also made me wonder about what is happening generally in France — one of the most important nodes in the global fashion industry — and the country’s archaic and self-defeating approach to innovation and change.

Worth a quick read.