New York Fashion Week will kick off the month-long fashion show season next Wednesday (Feb 11), at a time when some US labels are finding new popularity even as the luxury industry struggles with a global slowdown.
Among the closely watched runway shows will be Ralph Lauren and Coach, both of whom have bucked the trend and are enjoying strong demand, with preppy styles in and some shoppers opting for more affordable handbags after sharp price hikes at the likes of Chanel and Dior.
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Efforts to reform New York Fashion Week are underway after the event suffered from a decline in sponsorship from big brands, with some large labels opting to stage shows outside the usual calendar.
"It is our goal to make it easier for designers to be able to show a collection and not have to worry about where do we get the funds," said Imad Izemrane, co-founder and CEO of N4xt Experiences, which has been working on improving New York Fashion Week.
Changes already implemented in September included setting up a central venue for shows to avoid visitors crisscrossing the city and getting stuck in traffic.
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Ralph Lauren's show takes place on Tuesday (Feb 10) at the Jack Shainman Gallery, ahead of the official start of New York Fashion Week on Wednesday (Feb 11) when designer Rachel Scott will show her debut collection for Proenza Schouler.
Among the other names on the agenda are Carolina Herrera and Michael Kors, while young Romanian designer Lorena Pipenco will close the week with her brand Pipenco's debut show.
Overall, some 60 labels will host runway shows or designer presentations at NYFW, which runs from Feb 11 to 16. – Reuters
