What’s fashion — much less fashion week — without shopping? Now you can shop for a good cause, thanks to IMG’s NYFW: The Shows.
Yes, The Shop @ NYFW: The Shows is back! This retail pop-up shop is open to the public from 12 – 5PM Friday until Sunday.
NYFW: The Shows has partnered with WME|IMG’s philanthropic partner UNICEF USA to integrate a socially conscious t-shirt bar featuring designs from eight prominent designers, including:
Prabal Gurung
Alice + Olivia
Adam Selman
Naeem Khan
Bibhu Mohapatra
Cynthia Rowley
Marchesa
Anna Sui
T-shirts are exclusively for sale at The Shop, selling for $48 each. 50% of purchase price will be donated to UNICEF USA, in support of the organization’s global education work.
50% of purchase price will be donated to UNICEF USA
As part of the partnership, they will be introducing the #ModelCitizen campaign encouraging everyone to help make the world a better place for children this Fashion Week. Prabal Gurung’s t-shirt is the official “UNICEF” t-shirt, bearing the campaign name (Model Citizen) across the front.
Where:
859 Washington St.
New York, NY 10014
Hours of Operation:
Friday, September 8 – Sunday, September 10
12PM – 5PM
What the world need now, is love, sweet love.” So sang Burt Bacharach in 1965. And the words are possibly truer today than ever.
Some of the wisest people on this subject have noted that, interestingly, you can’t really take hatred out. You can only put love in.
To that end, the House of Dior is launching a viral charity initiative with its “Love Chain,” that calls on each and every one of us to answer this crucial question: “What would you do for love?”
For every #DiorLoveChain post, $1 will be donated to WE Charity, the charity division of WE Movement (formerly Free The Children).
for every #DiorLoveChain post, $1 will be donated
The campaign is being led by Natalie Portman, who is also the face of Miss Dior. The Miss Dior fragrance, created in 1947 from a legendary Christian Dior directive (“Make me a fragrance that smells like love.”), was recently updated by master perfumer François Demachy.
How it Works
The idea of #DiorLoveChain is simple: film your answer to the question, “And you, what would you do for love?” and then post it with #diorlovechain, from August 27th onwards.
film your answer to the question, “What would you do for love?”
Your answer should end with you nominating your loved ones to continue the “Dior Love Chain” by posting their own answers to the question.
Your answer should end with you nominating your loved ones
The Dior Love Chain Supports WE Charity
Following the initiative of Natalie Portman and the House of Dior, for every Dior Love Chain post, $1 will be donated to WE Charity, the charity division of WE Movement (formerly Free The Children).
This Canadian organization is a global network which supports education, health care, and clean water initiatives in developing countries with the aim to help break the cycle of poverty and child exploitation.
The WE Charity supports education, health care, and clean water initiatives
Now present in numerous communities in nine countries across Latin America, Africa, and Asia, WE Charity currently supports 200,000 children in education programs, has provided 30,000 women with the tools to become financially independent, and provided access to clean drinking water and medical care to almost a million people.
Today, the Dior Love Chain and Natalie Portman are committing to a WE Schools initiative in Kenya, which aims to provide education for young girls.
Led by fashion icons such as Anna Wintour, celebrity and fashion culture have become a merged commodity in recent years. The union has brought a new level of visibility to fashion, but it’s also proven a powerful marketplace for entertainment icons to spread their brands, engage with followers, and create a business that’s stable and sustainable.
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 12: Anna Wintour attends HSN Presents Serena Williams Signature Statement Collection Fashion Show at Kia STYLE360 New York Fashion Week at Metropolitan West on September 12, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Thomas Concordia/WireImage for Style360)
Led by David Manning, A-List Communications has been at the forefront of how these celebrities present their collections to the general public for some time. After all, this marks the thirteenth consecutive year A-List has participated in New York Fashion Week events, and the third year of the company’s partnership with Kia Motors, the title sponsor of the Kia STYLE360 experience.
This year’s schedule will be held September 11 – 13, and will include a veritable who’s who among the fashion, design, and entertainment industries, from Eva Longoria and Kristin Cavallari to Andy Hilfiger, to name just a few.
We spoke to David Manning about their upcoming NYFW season.
Interview with David Manning
Q: How has Kia STYLE360 grown over the years?
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 18: David Manning visits the WireImage portrait studio at the Tribeca Film Festival Films “About Alex,” “Gabriel,” & “Match” Tribeca Press Day At The Carlton Hotel Hosted With Fiji Water And Dobel Tequilaon April 18, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Thomas Concordia/WireImage)
Each year we continue to build our credibility and expertise in the fashion community, which allows us to attract a growing audience of fashion influencers and fans wanting to attend Kia STYLE360 — and, more importantly, designers who want to show with Kia STYLE360.
Early on, our show sizes were about 200 guests and we did about 4 or 5 shows. We’re now doing over 9 shows, each with attendance double that number.
We’re now doing over 9 shows with attendance double that number.
We also could easily extend the number of days we show, which likely will be the plan in 2018.
Q: Why has STYLE360 chosen to partner with the celebrity names it has so far?
We’re finding more and more celebrity brands growing in influence, and the more easy path for them is push their sales and messaging online and across social media.
more and more celebrity brands are growing in influence
At Kia STYLE360, we’re pushing to find ones who want to take an extra leap and put the clothes and brand on the actual runway and big stage of NYFW, and explore this dynamic.
Brands this year like Eva Longoria collection and Bad Butterfly with Vanessa Simmons and Candice Cuoco are debuting on the runway, so we’re thrilled … as we have been for debuting runway shows from many other celeb designers like Serena Williams, Avril Lavigne, Daisy Fuentes, etc.
Q: What can people expect from Kia STYLE360’s shows this year?
Kia is showcasing their new 2018 Kia Stinger sports car which is their fastest production car to date, and I think that echoes the spirit of what Kia STYLE360 is doing this year.
Kia is showcasing their new 2018 Kia Stinger sports car, which is their fastest production car to date
We have a more aggressive schedule of fashion shows, presentations, and cocktail parties. That’s really going to lift the tempo of fashion week and it really creates more of a party atmosphere for September, including a few live performances by some cool musical acts.
As always, we’re going to have a bold mix of celebrity guests, fashion industry elite, and access for fashion fans. Sponsors like Chapstick, Deep Eddy Vodka, Essentia Water, and Day Owl Rosé are going to have fun activations for guests arriving to the shows.
More About the Events
In addition to hosting the event space, this year Kia will showcase their own design prowess through an up-close look at the all-new 2018 Kia Stinger, a head-turning fastback sports sedan penned by automotive industry icon Peter Schreyer.
As a modern interpretation of a Gran Turismo, the Kia Stinger was honed on Germany’s legendary Nürburgring circuit, and promises to be the highest-performing production vehicle in company history.
The Kia Stinger will be offered with multiple engine and drivetrain configurations when it goes on sale in the U.S. later this year.
“Much like the designer collections debuting next month on the Kia STYLE360 runway, the Kia Stinger is all about passion, style, craftsmanship and attention to detail,” said Saad Chehab, vice president of marketing communications, Kia Motors America. “New York Fashion Week is the nultimate design event and with the worlds of automotive and fashion being so closely linked, it is the perfect place for Kia to showcase our most inspired design yet.”
the Kia Stinger is all about passion, style, craftsmanship and attention to detail
Kia’s passion for design and obsession with craftsmanship is also embodied in this September’s line-up of fashion shows and festivities for Kia STYLE360.
In addition to Kia, ChapStick®, the experts in lip care, has also renewed sponsorship to present the expansion of the ChapStick® Total Hydration Moisture + Tint Collection, which now features four new shades – Hello Bordeaux, House Red, Pink Nude and Flaunt It Fuchsia.
In celebration of the expanding Moisture + Tint collection, ChapStick® will step in as the official cosmetics partner and utilize Fashion Week lead makeup stylist, James Vincent, to prep the models’ lips for the runway throughout the week. Fashion show guests will also be invited to stop by the ChapStick® lounge where they’ll be able to try out new ChapStick® Total Hydration Moisture + Tint shades, create a custom GIF and charge their mobile devices.
Other renewing sponsors generously supporting the September 2017 season include Not Your Mother’s® hair care, who will style all fashion shows by lead hair stylist Michele Carrillo and her NYM branded professional-stylist team. California award-winning wine producer, Line 39 Wines by O’Neill Vintners and Distillers returns as well and will pour its fine selections of varietal wines and new Day Owl Rosé across all Kia STYLE360 fashion events and parties. Pressed with minimal skin contact, Day Owl is a light and bright Barbera Rosé, featuring juicy fruit flavor thanks to cool fermentation in stainless steel tanks. Fruit is sourced from select vineyards in Madera County, the Central Coast, and Paso Robles.
The official hotel partner for the third consecutive year is Row NYC, conveniently located near the Kia STYLE360 fashion pavilion at 700 Eighth Avenue. The art-driven, New York-centric hotel will provide its elegant brand of hospitality and accommodations to celebrity and VIP guests. New York City hotspot and fashion model sanctuary Bagatelle NYC, one of New York’s trendiest restaurants, will again serve as official restaurant partner hosting Kia STYLE360’s evening fashion parties.
Welcomed new sponsors to the program this September include Essentia Water who will keep guests hydrated and refreshed at all events. Essentia’s proprietary ionization process creates a supercharged ionized alkaline water that has scientifically shown to be more effective at rehydrating and its beautifully designed PET bottle that is BPA (bisphenol A) and phthalate free will be collected for recycling after each event. Also a new sponsor this year, Deep Eddy Vodka will be hosting its delicious handcrafted spirits across all Kia STYLE360 age 21+ events. Born in Austin, Deep Eddy Vodkas are column-distilled 10 times using corn, the finest Texas water and real, all natural fruit juices and essential oils. Nothing but smooth, clean vodka reaches the bottle to deliver an award winning taste.
“Each year, I have the daunting task of trying to outdo last year’s fashion events and this year, I think we’ve done it with an exciting lineup of high profile designers and bold corporate brand partners coming together to make this season one of our best ever,” states Executive Producer & Owner, David Manning, A-List Communications.
All fashion shows will again be staged at the two-level Metropolitan West located at 639 West 46th Street with special integrations including live streaming of shows, 360 degree virtual reality broadcasts, and Facebook live streams along with its usual parade of celebrity guests and musical performances to be announced closer to fashion week.
For more information on this season’s designers, to get inside access, view runway trends, special promotional offers, and watch behind the scenes celebrity interviews as well as live streaming from the runway, please visit /.
We’ve come a long way in terms of how we get our fashion fix these days. Gone are the days of waiting for the quarterly fashion magazines to come out so we can see what we should be wearing. These days we have instant access to all the hot new looks that designers are coming up with. Well, almost instant. We generally have to wait a few hours before we see the looks as they hit the runway, but all of this could be changing forever with the introduction of virtual reality fashion shows.
Instead of trawling through websites to find our favorite shows, we are going to be able to watch them live, as they happen, and as if we are sitting in the front row. But how?!
A lot of designers are introducing 360 VR to their shows as a way to get people closer to the designs than ever before. Although this is brand new technology and we’re not entirely sure what it will look and work like, we’re already very excited about this. Not much has been said yet about what we can expect, but here’s what we think you can look out for.
Giant VR headsets may not be necessary to appreciate these stunning shows in full 360 vision. The apps that these shows are going to be streamed to will probably have the choice of watching either with headset gear or without. This is great news for those who don’t want to sit there with a big piece of equipment on their heads, as they will just be able to turn the phones in the direction they want to look, or even swipe their fingers on the screen to look around with. It’s the advent of virtual fashion in every way.
There is also some expectation that viewers will be able to zoom in on certain aspects of the runway, getting better looks at the model and what they’re wearing. Although this is merely speculation, we saw a similar thing happening at the NYFW earlier this year. Viewers were able to pinch their screens in order to get better looks at the fabrics and closer looks at shoes or accessories. Although we don’t know for certain, this is something we would sure like to see happen. Imagine being able to zoom right in on your favorite accessories or shoes, getting closer to the action then you ever thought was possible.
One thing that is for definite, however, is how this will change the face of the fashion world as we know it. No longer will you have to be Anna Wintour or a Kardashian to get front row sightings of all the latest designers’ work. It will make fashion far more accessible to those who wouldn’t ever necessarily get to see these things otherwise. It brings fashion back to the ground, where normal people get to experience the same thing as those big names do. This can only be a good thing, as VR fashion shows will get more people interested in the world of fashion and give them access to a world that they didn’t think they’d ever have access to.
If you’ve ever wanted the rare opportunity to see some of Rei Kawakubo’s sartorial works of art up close you’ve been formally reminded: Labor Day Weekend is your last chance.
If you’re anything like us, we know you’re busy prepping for New York Fashion Week, but few people can argue the importance of Rei Kawakubo in the international fashion landscape (or indeed, in fashion history).
Her way of looking at things is decidedly deconstructionist, looking at the space between forms: rather like the Buddhistic concept of śūnyatā, or the emptiness at the center of being; or the Humean idea that identity, itself, is not codified or certain.
Her way of looking at things is decidedly deconstructionist
The exhibition, which features around 140 examples of Kawakubo’s womenswear designs, is an exciting chance to learn more about her destruction of the binary, as she unravels our ideas of both fashion and identity.
she deconstructs our ideas of both fashion and identity
The exhibition examines Kawakubo’s fascination with interstitiality, or the space between boundaries. In Kawakubo’s work, this in-between space is revealed as an aesthetic sensibility, establishing an unsettling zone of visual ambiguity that challenges conventional notions of beauty, good taste, and fashionability. A thematic exhibition, rather than a traditional retrospective, this is The Costume Institute’s first monographic show on a living designer since the Yves Saint Laurent exhibition in 1983.
The exhibition examines Kawakubo’s fascination with the space between boundaries
On Friday, September 1, MetFridays: In-Between Fashion will feature a fashion design contest showcasing the work of graduate and undergraduate student designers directly inspired by the exhibition. A panel discussion with Greg Foley, Shelley Fox, and Phil Oh, moderated by Andrew Bevan, will focus on street style as a global phenomenon. Visitors can also participate in drop-in art-making activities, and the popular fashion illustrator Holly Nichols will be drawing on-site. There will also be a dance party with music by DJ Reborn in the American Wing Café.
This MetFridays event takes place at The Met Fifth Avenue from 5 to 9 p.m. and is free with Museum admission.
The Costume Institute gives thanks to Apple, Condé Nast, Farfetch, H&M, Maison Valentino, and Warner Bros. for their support of the exhibition and benefit.
The exhibition is featured on the Museum’s website, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via #MetKawakubo and #CostumeInstitute.
Here at FWO, we like to think of ourselves as just a small player in a grand tradition of speculation as to which NYFW shows will live stream.
Indeed, that was FWO’s primary mission back when we started in 2012. So we know finding out which shows will live stream can be a daunting prospect, at best. But every season we do our best to comb through web pages for NYFW, London, Milan, and Paris, looking for live stream information. (Other streams, such as for Milan and London, thankfully, are sent to us.)
that was FWO’s primary mission when we started in 2012
When we can’t find information, we triangulate from past data, plus use a divination rod in conjunction with some solstice-tracking work, creating an astrological-type chart that looks something like this:
See? No big deal.
Based on this handy-dandy chart, co-created with Druids, we speculate that most IMG shows held at Skylight Clarkson will stream.
So we’ve marked these shows in green on the NYFW schedule.
However, we’ll continue to update as we get closer to New York Fashion Week.
NYFW: First Stage Brings International Talent to NYFW
NYFW is a funny thing. Unlike the other Big 4 fashion capitals, New York attracts plenty of young and international talent. (This is true of London, as well, but to a smaller scale.) No matter how you look at it, NYFW is filled with what is often referred to as “emerging talent.” (Even if they’ve already “emerged” back home.)
NYFW: First Stage is a new creation from IMG, the creator of NYFW: The Shows and the force behind MADE. According to the website, New York Fashion Week: First Stage was created as a platform to give global designers the opportunity to show at New York Fashion Week, “whether they are debuting in the U.S. for the first time or looking to make new global connections and further their presence in this market.
New York Fashion Week: First Stage was created as an opportunity to show at New York Fashion Week
As of this article’s writing, designers slated to showcase at NYFW: First Stage include Bella Ivory, Charlotte Seen, Cindy Monteiro, David Ferreira, Galtiscopio, Indonesian Fashion Hub, Irina Vitjaz, Just In Case, Kur Collection, Nina Tiari, Sechs Element, Talisha White, and Vaishali S.
You can see bios for all of these designers, as well as when they will be showing, here. (We’ve also listed them on the NYFW schedule, where the PR companies or designers have sent them to us.)
Most shows will be held at the Dream Downtown. But check the full schedule at IMG to be sure.
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(Main image: design by Dian Pelangi, who will be showing as part of the Indonesian Group Show on Sept. 7 at noon.)
House of iKons During London Fashion Week, September 16th 2017 Millennium Gloucester London Hotel
Founded by Savita Kaye under Lady K Production, House of iKons has been supporting designers and good causes since its launch in 2014.
Savita Kaye’s ambition is for House of iKons to be a global brand, known for launching emerging designers. Working with global media partners has enabled House of iKons shows to be aired worldwide to millions of viewers.
In addition to House of iKons during London Fashion Week, shows have taken place in Los Angeles, Beijing, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi, and partnered with official Budapest Fashion Week in April 2017. Negotiations are in progress with a show in Singapore April 2018.
Designers have been signed to departments stores, boutiques, wardrobe for music videos, and worked with major celebrities such as JLo, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, and Tyra Banks, to name but a few.
House of iKons was created as a platform to launch emerging designers to the next level. Models and presenters who have taken part with the House of iKons shows in London, Dubai, and Los Angeles have also benefited by working in TV and film.
House of iKons was created as a platform to launch emerging designers to the next level
As well supporting new emerging fashion creatives, they have also supported emerging music artists, giving them a platform to perform and providing exposure via events in London and abroad.
House of iKons is working with a number of charities and organisations providing internships and work experience in fashion, media, event planning and filming.
This season House of iKons will support The Sharan Project, a national registered charity that supports women who have experienced domestic violence, forced marriage, honour abuse, and other forms of violence against women and children. They work in partnership with NGOs, police forces, the legal and private sector, and various government departments in UK and worldwide.
Founder of The Sharan Project Polly Harrar said, “We are delighted to be the chosen charity for House of IKons to help raise awareness of violence against women and children.”
As an ambassador for the charity, House of Ikons CEO Savita Kaye seeks to raise awareness of these issues through her own experiences of domestic abuse, how it affected her, and how she has now moved on to help others.
Savita said: “All forms of abuse against women and children must STOP — not just here in UK, but globally.”
This season’s events are sponsored by Sugar 2.0, JK Academy, BadBoy Supplements, Shamima Henna Bar, and BAQ.
We’ve got some special stuff in store this season: the usual live streams, but also some live reporting from New York and Paris on our Instagram, @fashionweekonline.
Don’t have a press pass for New York? Have no fear. There are a number of open-to-the-public opportunities. And have you checked out NYFW: The Experience, yet? (And no, they aren’t paying us to say that. We just think it’s cool.)
Either way, you may consider the live streams your personal press pass: and best of all, you can watch them at work. (Hey, we don’t judge.) (Now we’re just waiting for this whole VR thing to take off, so we can bring it to you virtual.)
But one thing at a time.
Take a look at the NYFW schedule, then get set for London, Milan, and Paris.
Zara Umrigar’s fashion career began at the age of 7.
She would watch her mother, renowned Indian wear designer Sabita Dhanrajgir Umrigar at work, and began sketching at an early age.
After pursuing her higher studies at the London School of Economics, Zara completed her time in London with a detailed course in Fashion Design at The London College of Fashion. Upon her move home to India, she worked under her mother for two years before launching her own couture label: Zara Umrigar.
Q: When did you know you wanted to be a fashion designer? How did your mother Sabita Dhanrajgir Umrigar influence you?
Fashion and art was always a passion of mine, and I knew from a young age that it would be a part of my future.
I grew up watching my mother design and create beautiful Indian wear with the most intricate hand embroidery. I was always in awe of her passion and the intricacies that went into making each piece.
I grew up watching my mother design and create beautiful Indian wear
I soon developed an undying love for all things couture and learned that true beauty lies in the details. Above all, it was about making dreams come true. Creating an outfit for someone that would reflect who they are, and a moment that would become a memory for them.
Q: What are your other influences? Your work definitely has an Old Hollywood / Bollywood glamour.
I love portraying different sides to a woman and blending both strong and feminine aspects in each design. I try to express the contrasting sides to life and human beings, while showing how beautifully all aspects of it can come together. I have always been inspired by Old World Glamour, which is dying in the world we live in today.
I have always been inspired by Old World Glamour
My aim for each creation is to really help bring to life an era that has gone, and mix it in with the modern world we live in today.
I grew up visiting the palace in which my maternal family was raised and where many of them continue to live. From its detailed carvings, statues, and art, to it’s beautiful grandeur, it sparked my love for anything Old World, vintage and handmade.
I grew up visiting the palace in which my maternal family was raised
Q: When are your dresses meant to be worn? Who is the “Zara Umrigar woman?”
The Zara Umrigar woman is brave, passionate, elegant and glamorous. I would say our outfits are best suited to cocktail parties, weddings, and red carpet events.
Q: Your garments have painstaking detail. Tell us about the process of creation. Which elements are handmade, and how long does it take to make a full dress?
The process of creation is intense, exciting, and even overwhelming at times. I immerse myself completely in each collection, and believe in perfecting every detail of anything I create. Mood boards, sketches, embroidery patterns, and swatches become my life as I work toward my inspirations for each collection. Drawing out embroidery designs and watching them come to life is enthralling.
Drawing embroidery designs and watching them come to life is enthralling.
Pushing boundaries, and telling a story through these designs is the best part of it all. It takes an unfathomable number of hours, patience and effort to hand-embroider each of these outfits, requiring a team that is highly skilled and devoted to what they do.
I mix in various different types of hand embroidery into each piece, and keep the cuts classic … aiming to make them timeless and unique. We usually take one month to make an embroidered gown and sometimes two if it’s a custom order.
Pushing boundaries and telling a story through these designs is the best part of it all
Q: You’re very educated, having attended the London School of Economics, and the London School of Fashion. How has your education helped you as a business person and as an artist? Are there any pitfalls to formal education in fashion?
Studying and exploring different fields not only taught me how to create the pieces I envisioned, but also helped me gain the knowledge I needed to run my own business, proving to be invaluable to me. In a few short years I launched stores across India and have had my pieces worn by some of the biggest actors in both Hollywood and Bollywood.
In a few short years I launched stores across India
While my course in fashion was a short, detailed one, that taught me many technical aspects that went into making each piece, I’d have to say that what I learned on the job taught me most of what I really know today. Nothing compares to what you learn when you are not afraid to fail and find your way.
Nothing compares to what you learn when you are not afraid to fail
Q: Tell us about what we can expect to see at your upcoming Paris Fashion Week show.
My SS ’18 collection is inspired by the planet, celebrating its beauty while also shedding light on the parts of it that are dying and becoming extinct. Staying true to my love for couture, you can expect intricacy, elegance and glamour!
you can expect intricacy, elegance and glamour
Q: What do you see for the future? What are your ultimate goals?
In the near future, I hope to have my brand at big department stores across different countries, while my ultimate goal is to have independent luxury stores all over the world, making it an experience for every person who walks in.
I hope to continue to express myself through fashion, and hopefully find ways to use it, to spread awareness, and make a change.
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Zara Umrigar’s Paris Fashion Week show will be September 28, 2017.
Some of the wisest people on this subject have noted that, interestingly, you can’t really take hatred out. You can only put love in.
