Fashion Week Tents at Bryant Park

It has been rumored that organizers of New York fashion week are going to announce that next year, Fashion Week will be moving from Bryant Park (where Fashion Week has been held for the last 15 years) to Lincoln Center.

Apparently, park management has been complaining for years about the invitation-only shows had grown too large and were restricting access to the park. Although Fashion Week was welcomed in 1993, when it started, there have been many clashes between Fashion Week organizers and the park’s management company.

The problems escalated in 2006 when the Bryant Park Corporation ...continue reading]]>

Fashion Week Tents at Bryant Park

It has been rumored that organizers of New York fashion week are going to announce that next year, Fashion Week will be moving from Bryant Park (where Fashion Week has been held for the last 15 years) to Lincoln Center.

Apparently, park management has been complaining for years about the invitation-only shows had grown too large and were restricting access to the park. Although Fashion Week was welcomed in 1993, when it started, there have been many clashes between Fashion Week organizers and the park’s management company.

The problems escalated in 2006 when the Bryant Park Corporation announced it would no longer allow the shows to take place in the park because the shows were interfering with plans to operate a skating rink in the winter and public use of the main lawn in the summer. Designers and editors (including Anna Wintour) then begged Mayor Michael Bloomberg to intervene and allow them to hold the shows there, at least temporarily.

Plans for the move to Lincoln Center are not finalized however, as we do not know if they plan to have tents in Lincoln Center as well. One such proposed idea was to put tents on either side of the theatre, with a corridor between them. However, that corridor means that guests might have to walk about a block between each show.

About 63 designers are expected to present their fall 2009 collections in the park starting on Feb. 13, although hundreds of other shows are scheduled at galleries and event spaces around Manhattan. The event generates $466 million in visitor spending each year, according to the New York City Economic Development Corporation.

Tents at Bryant Park

Last year it was announced that Fashion Week would be moving from its usual location in Bryant Park to Damrosch Park in Lincoln Center. Since this is the last year fashion week will be taking place in Bryant Park, designers are taking full advantage, and Ruth Finley, who creates the fashion calendar, says the Mercedes-Benz Fall Fashion Week 2010 is being booked quickly.

Last year, despite some designers pulling out because of the recession, there was still a record-breaking 299 shows and presentations. This year promises to be even bigger.

Apparently the biggest problem with the move from Bryant ...continue reading]]>

Tents at Bryant Park

Last year it was announced that Fashion Week would be moving from its usual location in Bryant Park to Damrosch Park in Lincoln Center. Since this is the last year fashion week will be taking place in Bryant Park, designers are taking full advantage, and Ruth Finley, who creates the fashion calendar, says the Mercedes-Benz Fall Fashion Week 2010 is being booked quickly.

Last year, despite some designers pulling out because of the recession, there was still a record-breaking 299 shows and presentations. This year promises to be even bigger.

Apparently the biggest problem with the move from Bryant Park to Damrosch, is the fact that it’s a whole 20 blocks away. According to New York Magazine, “It is bound to be quite a trek to 62nd Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues, but Lincoln Center has already made strategic moves to make the fashion crowd feel right at home. Next month, Vogue alum Stephanie Winston Wolkoff will start in her new role as Lincoln Center’s director, fashion week. She will be the liaison between Lincoln Center and the fashion industry, including designers, retailers, the Council of Fashion Designers of America and IMG Fashion, which organizes Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.”

So what’s behind the sudden move? Supposedly,  the management at Bryant Park has been complaining for years that the shows have gotten too large, and are invitation only, which restricts access to the park.

One must wonder what there is to complain about, because Fashion Week is the biggest thing Bryant Park has to brag about – not to mention that Fashion Week generates about $446 million in visit spending each year… You’re welcome, New York City…