The American fashion community turned out in full forceWednesday nightto toast the start of New York Fashion Week.
Everyone from CFDA chairman Thom Browne and Michael Kors to Anna Sui, Tory Burch, Kenneth Cole, Stan Herman, Vera Wang, Lafayette 148’s Emily Smith, and a long list of emerging brands and leading industry figures such as Linda Fargo, Gena Smith, Andrew Rosen and Yehuda Shmidman lifted an espresso martini — the evening was sponsored by Starbucks — high atop the city at the Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center.
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Thanks to the CFDA’s partnership with Rock Center, the public can also be part of the action again this season. Three screens will be set upat the Rink and Channel Gardens, presented by Genesys, to stream shows fromThursday to Sept. 16.
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Among the designers slated to participate areAlexander Wang, Anna Sui, Calvin Klein Collection, Christian Siriano, Coach, Jason Wu Collection, Michael Kors, Norma Kamali, Off-White, Simkhai, Todd Snyder and Ulla Johnson.
Model Anok Yai and international musical artists Peso Pluma and Young Miko will serve as CFDA’s official ambassadors to NYFW Live at Rockefeller Center this season.
“Since its 1962 founding, the CFDA has promoted the creativity and excellence of American fashion designers. Our streaming partnership with Rockefeller Center continues this mission, bringing the excitement of New York Fashion Week to the wider public,” saidSteven Kolb, CFDA’s president and chief executive officer.
Browne was in high spirits at the kickoff cocktail event. “New York is here, New York is strong,” he said. “The creativity is unparalleled and everyone needs to stand up and take notice.”
He said he believes the CFDA is “stronger than ever,” and credited Kolb as “an unsung hero” who champions both the veteran and emerging design talent in this country. “New York is strong and the creativity is stronger than ever.”
Kolb believes this season is special due in part to the mix of “big names, emerging talent and international brands” on the calendar.
He also pointed to the three screens that will be streaming shows, an increase from two the last time, which he believes will make this season “more accessible to all New Yorkers.” He singled out the participation of some popular brands including Jason Wu, Off-White and Ralph Lauren as another draw for consumers.
“We have a really good mix,” he said. “Anybody who says New York doesn’t hold its own globally is wrong.”
He added that for him personally, the statue of Prometheus above the Rockefeller Center ice skating rink is his muse. “He’s bold and action-oriented, which is what we all need to be right now.”
On Thursday morning,Browne, Genesys chairman and CEO Tony Bates, Cynthia Rowley, Willy Chavarria and other designers cut a ribbon at Rock Center to celebrate the official start of the week and the launch of NYFW Live.
