What the Heck is Fashion Week?
Photo Credit: Stylecaster.com
By: Kendall Becker
Ah, it’s that time of year again — Fashion Week! Every influencer, editor and fashion lover alike seem to post endless runway looks and street-style ootd’s on the ‘gram, but why? Well, let us explain…
What exactly is Fashion Week?
Traditionally, Fashion Week is the time when designers present their collections for the next season to the fashion community in hopes of getting their designs in retail stores and featured in the media. It’s also a time for networking within the fashion community and a time to celebrate hard work!
When is it?
The traditional fashion schedule revolves around two major seasons: Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter. Spring/Summer collections are shown in September and Autumn/Winter collections are shown in February. There’s also smaller seasons in-between: Pre-Fall and Resort. Many designers are no longer sticking to the traditional “fashion calendar” and show their designers whenever it is suitable for them throughout the year, but this isn’t the norm as of yet.
Where is it?
Fashion Week happens in all of the major fashion cities around the world! The most notable are New York, London, Milan and Paris. New York Fashion Week is based out of Spring Studios but many designers show in other locations around the city.
Who attends?
Many people attend fashion shows for different reasons! Most commonly, editors and influencers attend for press coverage opportunities, stylists scour for potential pieces to pull for shoots and celebrities, buyers attend to see what pieces they’d like to buy for their stores, trend forecasters are there to formulate their guidance for upcoming seasons, celebrities attend to support the designer (and bring some press buzz!), even high-profile shoppers can snag an invite and, of course, friends and family are there to support their loved ones showcasing their work! The brand’s in-house public relations team or an external agency hosts the shows and events.
Seems glamorous! Why do people talk about it being exhausting?
Fashion Week is almost never a “week” long —if you attend every city, it can be over a month— and the days often start in the early morning without ending until late at night. Schedules are typically packed with back-to-back shows, presentations and events. It’s important to make time to eat, drink plenty of water and sleep to avoid burning out.
How can someone get involved?
If you’re a student or someone starting out in the industry, we recommend looking for volunteer/internship opportunities with designers, PR companies or influencers! There’s so much to do and almost everyone could use a helping hand. We promise you’ll learn a lot no matter what side of the industry you’re on. If you’re a fashion lover but don’t want to pursue a career in the industry, keep an eye out for open-to-the-public events. WWD and Fashionista post round-ups of fun and free events every season!
Some other articles we thought you might love…
follow us on instagram!
@makingmanhattanofficial
