New York Fashion Week may be scrambling to find another major sponsor since Mercedes-Benz pulled out earlier this year, but the forthcoming NYFW: Men’s seems to have no problem finding new backers. This morning, the CFDA confirmed that Cadillac has officially signed on as the first automotive sponsor for the inaugural men’s fashion event. In a contract that will last for two seasons, the luxury car brand will be joining previously-announced sponsors DreamWorks, Shinola and Amazon.
Cadillac has been dipping its toes into fashion as of late—they previously sponsored New York Men’s Day (held during Women’s NYFW) and hosted Public School’s Fall/Winter 2015 runway show in their new offices this last February. This season they will take a more interactive role which is rumored to include participating in a number of branded events and providing Cadillacs to shuttle attendees to and from shows.
"I am very much interested in taking Cadillac into the world of fashion," Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen told Bloomberg. "The whole idea of beginning to strengthen Cadillac's position as a lifestyle brand is very much central to our mission. This is a good start. It should be interpreted as a clear statement of intent that we will walk with a heavy footstep in the fashion world."
The first set of New York Fashion Week: Men’s shows will run from July 13-July 16 at skylight Clarkson Square in Manhattan. And it’s gearing up to be a pretty impressive event—so far a number of major designers have signed on including Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, John Varvatos and Rag & Bone, just to name a few.
