by MIKE CHAIKEN
CTFashionWeek.com
There will be a New York Fashion Week this fall.
However, like many of the fashion events during the COVID-19 pandemic, some designers will be turning to the web to show off their collections.
However, some collections will be shown in real life with a lucky few fashionistas getting to forego the web and check out the latest collections IRL (in real life)
The Council of Fashion Designers of America announced the schedule of designers for NYFW, which will run from Sept. 13-16.
In a press statement, the CFDA said, “The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on American fashion, slowing down the supply chain and temporarily shutting down many business operations and brick-and-mortar retail. To address the concerns of the fashion industry, we created the innovative RUNWAY360 digital platform (runway360.cfda.com), which allows brands the flexibility to show their collections in a variety of formats and at a time that works for them, and engages domestic and international press, consumers, and retailers, most of which are not currently able to travel to New York.”
The fashion festivities in New York will open Sunday, Sept. 13 with the Jason Wu show at 5 p.m. It will conclude on Wednesday, Sept. 16 with the Tom Ford show at 7 p.m.
Other participants in the CFDA shows include Harlem’s Fashion Row’s virtual fashion experience, Alabama Chanin, Alice + Olivia, Anna Sui, Badgley Mischka, Bibhu Mohapatra, Carolina Herrera, Chromat, Claudia Li, Dennis Basso, Eckhaus Latta, Jonathan Simkhai, LaQuan Smith, Marchesa and Marchesa Notte, Marina Moscone, Naeem Khan, Nicole Miller, Veronica Beard, and Zero + Maria Cornejo. There will be 10 new names on the schedule: Aknvas, Anne Klein, Colleen Allen, Dur Doux, Duncan, Frederick Anderson, Frère, Imitation of Christ, Oak & Acorn, Venicew, Wiederhoeft and Wolk Morais.
Menswear will be part of the events for NYFW this year. Ten menswear designers including CFDA members David Hart and Timo Weiland will participate in what will be called New York Men’s Day.
In another announcement, IMG, owner of NYFW: The Shows, which headquarters at Spring Studios for fashion week announced a hybrid version of the fashion event. There will be live shows before the public as well as virtual shows.
Participants in the IMG shows include ADEAM, Aknvas, Badgley Mischka, Bibhu Mohapatra, Bronx and Banco, C+ plus Series, Chloe Gosselin, Chocheng, Christian Cowan, Cinq a Sept, Claudia Li, Christian Siriano, Concept Korea, Faith Connexion, Frere, Jason Wu, Jonathan Simkhai, Kim Shui, Lavie By CK, Libertine, Marina Moscone, Maxhosa Africa, Monse, Nicole Miller, Oqliq, PH5, Private Policy, Proenza Schouler, Raisavanessa, Rebecca Minkoff, RVNG Couture, Studio One Eighty Nine, Tadashi Shoji, Tanya Taylor, Tiffany Brown Designs, Veronica Beard, Victor Glemaud and Vivienne Hu.
In a press statement, IMG added, “To complement designer activations, IMG will continue to curate and host culturally-enriching conversations beyond the shows at Fashion Week, transitioning this season’s events to the digital realm. Virtual talks and Q&A’s will feature the creative catalysts, compelling topics and campaigns driving fashion forward.
The press statement said IMG “has worked closely with New York officials and key event stakeholders to deliver a combination of live and virtual fashion shows, presentations, programming and experiences to advance designer’s businesses during the American industry’s most critical marketing period.”
The press statement said all IMG events will adhere to the latest official health and safety guidelines, as the wellbeing of the fashion community remains paramount.
NYFW.com will be expanded and enhanced for the upcoming season to feature more live streamed runway shows, exclusive designer content, cultural programming through NYFW: BTS, and designer archives than in seasons past.
With the changes, IMG said in its statement, the general public will be able to “engage in social activations” during the week and throughout the year by following @NYFW across Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has upended the global fashion industry and hit New York particularly hard,” said Steven Kolb, Chief Executive Officer of the CFDA in a prepared statement. “Fashion week is a critical time when brands are able to connect with press, retailers and consumers, and I’m proud of how quickly the CFDA pivoted to support the needs of the industry by creating RUNWAY360.”
“In the face of unprecedented challenges and uncertainty within our industry, the American fashion community has once again come together to support each other and prove its resilience,” said Kolb in his statement.