This week, everyone will be talking about Tom Ford‘s plans to take New York Fashion Week global, the arrival of new tariffs and Revlon’s search for a buyer.
- Tom Ford has made boosting New York Fashion Week’s global profile a priority since assuming the role of CFDA chairman earlier this year
- The CFDA shortened the NYFW schedule to five days and partnered with brands to provide flights, hotels and cars for international editors
- International attention is key for New York to compete with Paris, which has attracted some prominent American designers in recent years
Tom Ford‘s project to elevate the American fashion industry’s global standing faces its first big test this week. His biggest change to fashion week was to lop a couple days off the schedule, but behind the scenes the CFDA is making other overtures to international editors and influencers, from free flights and car service to a kickoff dinner with Ford and emerging designers.
This is a multi-season process. Success will be measured not just by the number of foreign attendees, but also whether they carry word of lesser-known designers to their international audiences. That promise of global exposure would then be used to convince the next Virgil Abloh that he or she can find fame and fortune in New York rather than Paris.
The Bottom Line: Looming over the proceedings is the CFDA’s ties to Stephen Ross, the real estate developer whose fundraiser for President Donald Trump sparked outrage in the fashion community. Though no fashion week events appear to be taking place at The Shed in Ross’ Hudson Yards development, the developer’s wife, Kara Ross, remains on the CFDA board.
