New York Fashion Week officially begins this Friday, featuring not only runway events but also a rally promoting voter participation. The “Fashion For Our Future” procession will take place from Macy’s to Bryant Park, encouraging the fashion community to engage in democracy.
Festivities begin two days earlier with events by international brands. Uniqlo will host an exclusive unveiling for its new creative director, Clare Waight Keller. Armani will showcase a collaboration with Kith, while Sacai and Jacquemus will have department store openings at Bergdorf Goodman and Nordstrom. The week will also feature a Villa Zegna concept dinner near the Guggenheim Museum.
The two major shows this week come from American designers Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger. Ralph Lauren’s show will be in the Hamptons, far from Manhattan, while Tommy Hilfiger will present his collection on a retired ferry docked at Pier 17.
Ralph Lauren’s show is set in a secret location in the Hamptons on Thursday afternoon. It follows his successful show from last year, which combined elements of bohemian style with New England barns and Rocky Mountain chic.
Tommy Hilfiger’s show will take place on Sunday evening aboard the MV John F. Kennedy, a retired Staten Island ferry. Known for its outdoor promenades and open-air decks, the ferry will be docked under the Brooklyn Bridge, offering a unique setting.
New York Fashion Week’s shows will be spread across various locations, including Chelsea art galleries, Wall Street banks, and even a Lower East Side cemetery. Despite a challenging year for fashion, international brands continue to see New York as a vital market. The Paris-based house of Alaïa will stage a Friday evening show, and Swedish brand Cos and Dutch designer Ronald Van Der Kemp will also present collections.
“New York City is a global hub of design and innovation, and NYFW embodies this,” said Steven Kolb, CEO of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). According to Kolb, 98 brands are listed on the calendar for the event, including both international and American designers.
Kolb will participate in the “Fashion For Our Future” march on Friday, along with over 1,000 people from the American fashion industry, including designers, models, and students. The rally aims to raise awareness about the importance of voting in the upcoming election. “With NYFW’s global reach, this event highlights our commitment to voting and societal issues,” Kolb stated.
Additionally, the CFDA is launching a new initiative at Rockefeller Center, allowing the public to view live and recorded runway shows for free. The screenings, from September 6 to 11, will take place at the iconic Rink at Rockefeller Center.
For the first time, the CFDA is introducing a shuttle system to help editors, buyers, and other professionals navigate shows happening across multiple boroughs. Sponsored by Shop with Google, the shuttle will operate daily, providing much-needed transportation during the busy week.
Manhattan remains the central location for most shows, although Brooklyn continues to attract designers. Tory Burch, for example, will present her collection at The Refinery, a former sugar factory in Brooklyn.
The event will also showcase emerging talent. Several designers from the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund will debut their collections during the week, including Taylor Thompson, Grace Ling, and Jackson Wiederhoeft.
In addition, the Supima Annual Design Competition will feature work from eight students from American design schools, each presenting five fabric types made from American supima cotton.
New York Fashion Week promises not only high fashion but also a platform for advocacy and creativity, solidifying its place as a global event in the fashion industry.
Related topics:
