What Is a Catwalk? The Basics of Catwalk Modeling

A catwalk, also known as a runway, is a footway akin to a long, slim, and bridgelike structure. At many contemporary fashion shows, the catwalk serves as the central stage upon which models put their clothing on display.

If you consult a British or American English dictionary, you’ll see the term “catwalk” can also refer to similar structures outside the world of fashion. For instance, it might also refer to a narrow bridge between buildings and railroad cars.

Catwalk modeling originated in midcentury department stores rather than at glitzy fashion shows. Local fashion models walked down narrow runways to help shoppers see how the clothes looked on a moving body. In the 1960s, catwalks became a staple of high-profile fashion shows. By the ’80s and ’90s, catwalk modeling had become the de facto choice for major fashion designers to debut their new styles and clothes to the world.

In both American and British English—as well as in Dutch and Norwegian—people use the term “catwalk” to refer to the long gangways models use. Consult this word list for a few more alternatives in different languages:

• Laufsteg: While laufsteg might sound like a new word to you, it’s what the Germans have called these narrow walkways for years. If you ever attend a fashion show in Berlin, expect to hear this term instead of catwalk or runway.
• Pasarela: This Spanish translation of catwalk can also mean gangplank or runway. Pasarela sounds quite like the words “passarela” (in Portuguese) and “passerella” (in Italian) due to the three languages’ sharing similar Latin origins.
• Podium: In English, the word “podium” refers to a stand or lectern at which people give speeches. In French, the word takes on the English definition of catwalk. In a broader sense, the French also use the word “podium” to refer to stages in general. Passerelle is another common synonym for catwalk in French.

These narrow pathways are now mainstays of the fashion and modeling worlds. These are just a few of the reasons why designers insist on using catwalks to model their clothes:

• To debut clothing: Designers use catwalk modeling as a chance to debut their new styles. By coordinating with models, they can help set trends and start new fashions right on the runway.
• To show clothes in motion: When you see something on a rack or in an advertisement, you can’t grasp how it might look as you walk in it yourself. As models walk down these narrow platforms, they enable audience members to see how the clothes look in motion. Catwalk modeling gives consumers more insight in this regard.
• To emphasize points of focus: If you watch examples of catwalk shows online, it becomes apparent these bridges allow crowds to fixate on certain aspects of clothing at certain times. Models pause and pose at various points down the runway, allowing people to see each set of garments from every possible angle.

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