Gone are the days of the supermodel catwalks, the haute couture designers. Today’s New York Fashion Week is all about survival and NYFW’s September 2020 show’s that it is a survivor!
This year, the coronavirus restrictions added even an extra challenge to an already struggling industry. How exactly can Runway Fashion shows happen since large gatherings in New York are prohibited and social distancing still applies?
But heck, we are New Yorkers and it takes a lot to defeat a New Yorker! So on with the show.
Complying with New York state guidelines NYFW went virtual as well as live this year. On Wednesday, August 25, Governor Cuomo issued a press release stating that NYFW will feature “live and virtual programming in strict compliance with New York State Health and Safety guidelines, including outdoor events capped at 50 persons and indoor events at 50 percent capacity and no spectators.”
He went on to say, “The pandemic is far from over, but we’re proud to support event organizer IMG in moving forward with NYFW, in adherence with strict state public health guidance. Safety, as always, is our top priority and we commend the hosts, and all participating designers, for their innovative, New York Smart solutions to bring this event to life.”
The virtual portion of the event included stylized videos of designer’s work as well as interviews. Carolina Herrera was honored as being a four-decade NYFW participant with an intimate, never-seen-before conversation broadcasted globally called, THE CONVERSATION: Carolina Herrera & Wes Gordon.
Those fortunate enough to tune in online could witness NYFW royalty show off their wares via a YouTube Live Stream platform displayed on NYFW.com or https://runway360.cfda.com. The event began on Sunday, September 13th, and will officially run until September 17th. But I actually see designers exhibiting until the 30th on the CFDA website.
In celebration of the BLM, it seems that the opening day featured designers from Harlem’s Fashion Row, (Kristian Loren, Kimberly Goldson, and Richfresh). Jason Wu’s collection started the event right and in the days to come NYFW featured designs from the classics such as Coach, Anna Sui, Badgley Mischka, Vivienne Hu, Jason Wu, Nicole Miller, Proenza Schouler, Tom Ford, and Christian Siriano. Categories like EMERGING TALENT introduced fresh talents like C+ plus Series, Frere, Claudia Li, PH5, Private Policy, and Kim Shui.
And categories labeled LGBTQ+ TALENT & NONBINARY opened the door for Apotts, Theophilio, Stan, and Ka Wa Key. And “SPOTLIGHT ON” sessions celebrated multi-cultural talent under the diverse categories of Black Talent, Latinx Talent, and Asian Talent. Speaking of diversity the fashion collective Concept Korea returned to NYFW with three NEW, talented, and aspiring designers, WNDERKAMMER, ul:kin, and JARRET.
Other talents that placed a mark on today’s fashion were: ADEAM, Aknvas, Bibhu Mohapatra, Bronx and Banco, Chloe Gosselin, Chocheng, Christian Cowan, Cinq a Sept, Faith Connexion, Jonathan Simkhai, Lavie By CK, Libertine, Marina Moscone, Maxhosa Africa, Monse, Oqliq, Raisavanessa, Rebecca Minkoff, RVNG Couture, Studio One Eighty-Nine, Tadashi Shoji, Tanya Taylor, Tiffany Brown Designs, Veronica Beard, and Victor Glemaud.
This was truly a first for NYFW and fashion weeks in Milan and Paris followed suit. To broadcast designer shows and films, workshops, talks and virtual insider access to designers meet-and-greets and viewing parties was no small endeavor. We must applaud the pre-production team for working so quickly and implementing the whole production whether online or live without a hitch. Sponsors BMW, Visa, and American Express showed great faith under these trying times. And for now, these types of events seem to be the new norm. So as businesses around the world look to video production houses and services to keep their events alive, know that an online live event is only as good as it’s content. And NYFW definitely serves up great content.
