How to Use an eSim
Attending Fashion Week abroad is about front-row glamour and fabulous after-parties! It’s also about staying online when it matters most! From sharing your favourite runway moments in real time to coordinating with your team between shows, reliable internet can make or break your experience. The problem? Roaming fees can make your eyes water or scramble to find a local SIM. That’s where eSIMs come in. they’re the modern traveller’s best-kept secret. They’re quick to set up, work across the major fashion capitals of the world, and let you focus on the clothes, not whether or not you’ve got a connection.
Why Staying Online Matters
Fashion Week moves fast. Blink and you’ve missed the moment. Fashion Weeks move so fast and audiences expect immediate updates. Staying connected means being able to post in real time. A live snap from the runway is worth much more than one posted hours later. You can keep your audience engaged and increase your relevance on social media which thrive on speed!
It’s imperative to keep up with your networking and your team, especially if you’re actually participating in Fashion Week, not just attending! Behind every show is a team of professionals from stylists and make-up artists to to publicists and event staff. Schedules change, calls come through, and last-minute invites happen. Being reachable keeps you in the loop.
Meanwhile, anything can happen in a day, from tricky transport to language barriers. International travel during Fashion Week comes with all manner of challenges! Think overbooked hotels, overcrowded transport systems, and of course language barriers. Online maps, GPS and translation apps can save your day. Staying connected helps you navigate the chaos of international fashion week events.
Even more than that, you really want to avoid nasty surprises. Roaming bills? No, thank you. When youre uploading videos, roaming charges can really add up! eSIM data plans keep your costs under control. Having a practical alternative to stay connected means you wont come home to a massive bill! You’ll be able to focus on the event, worry free.
Why Everyone’s Talking About eSIMs
eSIMs are built right into your phone, so you don’t have to find a paper clip to swap in a new sim card and swap out our Aussie one to stay connected at your latest international fashion destination. No fiddly cards or store hunts. Just scan a QR code, or download a prover’s Ap and you’re good to go. You can even keep your regular number while using a local data plan. An eSIM can hold several operator profiles at once. For example, you could keep your regular number active while adding a temporary data plan for international use. Phones with eSIM capability let you switch between these profiles in the settings menu without physically swapping anything. How perfect is that for for globe-trotters who hop between Paris, Milan, New York and Tokyo?! All these fashion capitals are already connected to the GSMA, the global trade body for mobile phone carriers.
They’re also safer than public Wi-Fi (no snoopers on your hotspot!) and they’re now supported by most major carriers worldwide. Mobile networks connected through an eSIM rely on encrypted channels similar to those used in regular SIM-based connections. They’re the sleek, no-drama way to stay connected and that’s exactly how Fashion Week should be.
Practical Checklist for Fashion Week Travelers
The following checks address the technical challenges you’ll face when staying connected at Fashion Week abroad.
Manage eSIM Priority to Avoid Data Dropouts
Dual-SIM devices sometimes route push notifications through the primary SIM even when the eSIM handles data. At Fashion Week, this can trigger micro-dropouts.
On iOS, set your travel eSIM as the “default data line” and disable “allow cellular data switching.” On Android, disable “dual SIM dual standby” in settings. With this, all traffic is routed onto the eSIM, eliminating background interruptions during live streams.
Configure Multiple Profiles for Seamless Coverage
High-volume travelers often underestimate how carriers handle cross-border handovers. A regional EU plan works if you’re attending both Paris and Milan shows, but note that Italian carriers may deprioritise foreign eSIM traffic at peak hours.
Adding a secondary profile from a local Italian operator ensures stable upload speeds when roaming slows. Most modern phones can store five to eight profiles, so set these in advance and switch in settings → cellular/mobile data as needed.
Benchmark Your Data Speed Before Posting
Fashion Week venues frequently experience “cell breathing.” 5G cells shrink under heavy load, dropping connections from 300 Mbps in the morning to under 5 Mbps during runway hours.
Run a quick test on apps like nPerf or Ookla Speedtest before attempting video uploads. If upload drops below 2 Mbps, queue content for later or switch to LTE, which often performs better in congested stadium-like spaces.
Tune Camera Settings to Match Network Reality
Posting 4K clips is unrealistic when venue networks collapse. Shooting at 1080p, 24 fps with HEVC encoding reduces file size by up to 40% compared to 4K30 without noticeable quality loss on Instagram or TikTok.
If available, use your phone’s built-in “optimise file size” toggle. You can then post in real time rather than waiting for stalled uploads to clear.
Control Data Drain From Background Apps
During runway coverage, background sync can silently burn through your allowance. Cloud photo backup alone can consume 2–3 GB per show day.
Use per-app data restrictions (settings → mobile data → app data usage on iOS/Android) to block Dropbox, Google Photos, or OneDrive until you reconnect to hotel Wi-Fi.
Build a Redundant Connection Plan
Even with a top-tier eSIM, some venues are notorious for black spots. For example, the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris and parts of Hudson Yards in New York have dead zones.
Carry a secondary eSIM from another provider or a local prepaid SIM as backup. Some media teams bring a MiFi router loaded with multiple profiles, which can bond connections for steadier throughput.
Anticipate Carrier Verification Requirements
Some providers freeze high-traffic accounts until KYC checks clear. If you plan to redeem SC-equivalent credits or top up larger bundles mid-event, upload your ID and proof of residence before
A Few Smart Tips In a Nutshell
- Activate your eSIM before you leave the airport — it only takes a minute.
- Keep a second profile ready in case your main network gets patchy.
- Test your data speed before posting those backstage clips — if it’s slow, switch to LTE or queue it for later.
- Turn off background uploads until you’re on hotel Wi-Fi — your data allowance will thank you.
Fashion Week is about being present, prepared, and perfectly in the moment. With an eSIM, you’ll never miss a message, a post, or that impromptu invite to an after-show party. It’s definitely your best friend when you’re heading overseas for Fashion Week.
Featured image: Morgane Leisser
See more: What Paris Fashion Week is Really Like
