New York Fashion Week Opens

- New York Fashion Week was first established in 1943 by publicist Eleanor Lambert as "Press Week." It was designed to showcase American designers to the media, who were unable to travel to Paris during World War II. - It is considered one of the "Big Four" international fashion weeks, alongside London, Milan, and Paris. The modern, centralized version of the event was created in 1993 by the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). - The biannual event generates a significant economic impact for New York City, estimated at nearly $900 million annually. This figure surpasses the economic impact of major sporting events like the U.S. Open tennis tournament and the New York City Marathon. - In addition to established names, the Fall 2026 season is also spotlighting emerging talent, with several new designers making their debut on the official CFDA calendar. - Other notable shows on the Fall 2026 schedule include Marc Jacobs, who presented a collection focused on architectural shapes and tailoring, and Proenza Schouler, which debuted the first womenswear collection from new designer Rachel Scott. - A significant change is on the horizon for the event; the CFDA has announced that beginning with the September 2026 shows, animal fur will no longer be permitted in collections shown on the official New York Fashion Week schedule.