THE FASHION REPORT
September 29, 2020
Fashion Week was a little different this year.
Why? I think we all know the answer to that question.
A lot of people, fashion industry professionals and fashion fans alike, stressed about whether or not the September Fashion Weeks would even happen; historically, Fashion Week is crucial for luxury brands to show off their new collections and get some attention from the press. Fortunately, the industry is chock-full with creatives who know how to make things happen.
New York Fashion Week officially began on the 12th of September with a press launch from The Fashion Diary, being not only the first event of NYFW but the first virtual event. This came after at least seven days of International Digital Fashion Week, which was how the global industry came together to showcase their designs in a safe way.
Sunday, September 13th brought the first day of the Black In Fashion Council Showroom. The showroom was dedicated specifically to Black designers and artists in the industry, and was especially important this year with the civil rights movement currently happening in the United States. Also notably on Sunday was the United Together Fashion Show, and in-person events from designers such as Jason Wu, Anthony Rubio, and Markarian.
On Monday, the industry showcased its activism by holding a “Fashion’s Power to Create Change” seminar, followed by a screening of House of Cardin and a slew of designers, including Carolina Herrera, Wolk Morais, and Dur Doux.
Tuesday was “New York Men’s Day,” and so several houses presented their collections of menswear. The day was not exclusive to menswear, however, and it did host some of the most recognizable names of the week. Ana Sui and Rebecca Minkoff were just two on the famous-list, and both were followed by Prabal Gurung who was presented by the Fashion Institute of Technology, one of the best fashion schools in the world that resides right in Manhattan.
Wednesday, the last “long” day, saved the so-called-best for last; Tom Ford. Tom Ford was one of the only super well-known luxury fashion houses to participate in New York Fashion Week. Many of those cult favorite fashion brands, like Michael Kors, made the decision to sit out Fashion Week this year, while others struggled to find a financial balance from the turmoil of the pandemic.
And…Thursday brought New York Fashion Week to a screeching halt. The events ended for viewers promptly at 3 PM, and that was it. Fashion Week didn’t even last a week.
Despite its oddness, its lack of tradition, its unexpected circumstances, perhaps the creators who made Fashion Week happen this year should be commended. While some brands didn’t even try, many did, and put their whole hearts into it. This year offered the spotlight to smaller brands, which could be an interesting way to spin fashion events in the future.
While I do praise 2020’s NYFW, I also have hope for 2021. For the love of fashion, let’s make it good.