It looks like New York Fashion Week finally has not one, but two new venues to call home. Announced this morning, IMG has selected Skylight at Moynihan Station and Skylight Clarkson Sq. to be the latest spaces for the week-long fashion event. Both venues have been used during NYFW in the past, hosting shows from designers such as Ralph Lauren, Proenza Schouler, Phillip Lim, Tommy Hilfiger, Prabal Gurung, Rag & Bone, Hugo Boss and Joseph Altuzarra.
Unlike the Lincoln Center, which basically kicked Fashion Week out in February due to a court-ruling stating that IMG Fashion failed to comply with city charter by using the space for “non-park purposes,” the Skylight venues have been chosen with the help and full support of the community and city government, including Mayor Bill De Blasio. While there’s no word yet on how long the newest contracts are for, it may be a short stay—as plans to move to the Culture Club in 2018 are still underway.
“From the hundreds of thousands of jobs it creates to the billions of dollars of economic impact generated each year, the fashion industry contributes so much to New York City, and I’m thrilled that New York Fashion Week will bring so much excitement and energy to its new homes at Skylight Clarkson Sq. and Skylight at Moynihan Station,” Mayor de Blasio said in a statement. “My administration will continue efforts to ensure that New York City's working designers and manufacturers—and those aspiring to join that community—have the support they need to make it here, and continue to grow NYC as the fashion capital of the world. Today’s announcement is an important step in that direction.”
In addition to having the blessings of city officials, IMG also partnered with designers, producers, partners and journalists to select a space that would be a unique backdrop, something versatile enough to showcase each designer’s vision. “As IMG prepares to evolve New York Fashion Week, we are focused on creating the best possible experiences that extend beyond a physical location and moment in time,” said Mark Shapiro, Chief Content Officer at IMG. “We’re looking forward to reintroducing the industry to a showcase of creative talent, style and innovation that made the New York runways famous. Part of this showcase involves staying close to inspirational hubs for fashion, art and music, and we’ve found great new homes for that in Skylight at Moynihan Station and Skylight Clarkson Sq.”
