New York Fashion Week
New York Fashion Week (NYFW), held in February and September of each year, is a semi-annual series of events in Manhattan typically spanning seven to nine days when international fashion collections are shown to buyers, the press, and the general public. It is one of four major fashion weeks in the world, collectively known as the "Big Four", along with those in Paris, London, and Milan.[1][2] The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) created the modern notion of a centralized "New York Fashion Week" in 1993, although cities like London were already using their city's name in conjunction with the words fashion week in the 1980s. NYFW is based on a much older series of events called "Press Week", founded in 1943.[3] On a global scale, most business and sales-oriented shows and some couture shows take place in New York City.
New York Fashion Week
Clothing and fashion exhibitions
Semi-annually
Manhattan, New York City (primarily at Skylight Clarkson Square and Industria)
United States
1943
A centralized calendar of citywide events (including those affiliated with WME/IMG) is kept by the CFDA,[4] and was acquired from calendar founder Ruth Finley.[5] The annual economic impact of New York Fashion Week upon New York City was estimated at US$887 million in 2016.[6]
Consolidation as "7th on Sixth"[edit]
In 1993, the Council of Fashion Designers of America, CFDA, led by president Stan Herman and executive director Fern Mallis,[10][11] consolidated the citywide events known as "New York Fashion Week" by staging them in a cluster of white tents in Bryant Park.[12][13][14] The event was branded with the trademark "7th on Sixth".[15]
Internationally, most business and sales-oriented shows and some couture shows have taken place in New York City since 2010. The emphasis, however, has perennially been financial. New York's LGBT fashion design community contributes very significantly to promulgating fashion trends, and drag celebrities have developed a profound influence upon New York Fashion Week.[16]
Current location[edit]
The primary location for New York Fashion Week is Spring Studios at 50 Varick Street in Lower Manhattan. Locations have included a waterfront carnival, converted railway terminals and a former post office.[35]
No "official" New York Fashion Week[edit]
In spite of CFDA's claim to run the "official" New York Fashion Week calendar,[49] and as further purported by publications such as Women's Wear Daily,[50] it has been pointed out in publications such as The Fashion Law that CFDA has "little, in any, legal rights in the NYFW name".[51] Therefore, trademark rights remain unclear, at best.
Trademark litigation[edit]
In 2013 Fashion Week Inc., founded by business executive Trisha Paravas, registered the trademarks "New York Fashion Week", "NYFW" and "NYFW The Runway Shows" to use in conjunction with the production of its consumer-based fashion shows after realizing the current slate of New York Fashion Shows were invitation-only and designed for industry professionals and media.
Trisha Paravas launched bi-yearly shows in December 2013 and initially called them "New York Fashion Shows". After her first few shows drew increasing interest, she decided to rebrand it. At the time, Paravas claimed there was no trademark filed for "New York Fashion Week", and filed for "New York Fashion Week" trademark, along with the abbreviation "NYFW".[52]
The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) lacked registrations for the "New York Fashion Week" trademarks, and tried to cancel Fashion Week Inc's registrations. Nonetheless, the CFDA was unsuccessful in its effort to have Fashion Week, Inc.'s "New York Fashion Week" trademark cancelled.[53][54]
On June 28, 2016, Fashion Week Inc. and its CEO Trisha Paravas filed a lawsuit for $10 million against CFDA and WME-IMG for trademark counterfeiting, trademark infringement, false designation of origin, dilution, and unfair competition.[55][56][57][58]
On August 12, 2016, the court denied Paravas and Fashion Week Inc.'s motion for a preliminary injunction.[59] Judge Koeltl held that although Fashion Week, Inc. does have rights in the New York Fashion Week trademark, those rights are "limited" to "online entertainment ticket agency sales". On the other hand, the court held that the CFDA and WME IMG enjoy rights in the mark for the "broad ambit of organizing and producing fashion shows".[60]