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This season, New York Fashion Week is embracing the future, warts and all.
Throughout the past week, shows have tapped into current moments. Whether through metaverse activations, NFT drops, or commentaries on the global climate crisis, fashion brands have proven that once-distant concepts are happening right now.
As Glossy reported yesterday, Alo debuted its Aspen Collection on Monday evening, in tandem with NFTs. The latter served a dual purpose as an authentication certificate and as a pass, permitting access to perks from Alo Yoga. NFT novices were able to buy the NFTs by providing their email addresses, clearing an otherwise cumbersome hurdle that has slowed the proliferation of NFTs to everyday people. Later, on Monday evening, Kim Shui held a “decentralized” runway show in Vanderbilt Hall within Grand Central Station. Shui said she wanted to provide access to NYFW to people who typically would not attend. Commuters were able to glimpse the show from specific vantage points.
“We could say I grew up decentralized. I was born in the United States but grew up in Italy, and my parents emigrated from China. We’re trying to open [the show] up to our customer base — the women who wear our clothing — and allow them to actively participate in the runway, which I don’t think we’ve seen before [at NYFW],” said Shui.
That participation came in the form of crowdsourcing via social media. A model walked the runway wearing a pixel print garment from 784 submissions of original photos, such as selfies and landscapes.Those who contributed to the garment’s development had a chance to win a “key to NYFW,” an NFT unlocking the opportunity to attend the show. Even the soundtrack to the show was crowdsourced and woven into the music: The brand created a hotline in partnership with Tidal, where people could leave a voicemail on a personal anecdote that was embarrassing but now someone loves.
“I hope for a stronger sense of community and coming together. I want fashion to be more accessible,” said Shui.
On Tuesday, L.A.-based sustainable brand Foo and Foo made its NYFW runway debut. At the helm of the 5-year-old brand is Elizabeth Hilfiger, daughter of Tommy Hilfiger. Inspired by individuals’ unique responses to heat and the warming environment, the collection featured textile collaborations with the brand Techniche, which makes cooling workwear for various industries. Though climate scientists have in the past pointed to 2050 as a deadline for reversing or preventing the worst of climate change, the reality is that it is here and now.
As the show notes stated, “As we face climate change, Foo and Foo acknowledges the term’s duplicitous definitions and surreptitious manifestations, which in turn signal that the cultural climate is also in flux.”
“I would love to have more eyes on the brand so that we can be the [go-to] sustainable, utilitarian American brand, because we have such fun ideas and would love for more people to see them and be able to wear them,” said Hilfiger. “I am such an environmental nerd. I’m constantly checking the weather and freaking myself out about climate change.”
Other NYFW activations are touching on futuristic concepts, with The Nolcha Shows producing a two-day showcase on the 69th floor of the 3 World Trade Center on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday featured runway shows for sustainable, ready-to-wear and Web3-native brands, while Wednesday will offer a panel discussion on Web3 and its impact on the fashion industry.
Vogue iterates on Fashion’s Night Out with Vogue World
On Monday night, in a callback to the mid-aughts, Fashion’s Night Out extravaganza, Vogue debuted its Vogue World event in the Meatpacking District, taking over an entire block of West 13th Street. Celebrating the publication’s 130-year anniversary, the main attraction was a fashion show that became available to shop immediately. Attendees included Michael Kors, Proenza Schouler’s Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, Batsheva Hay, and Zac Posen, among many others. Notably, editors from the magazine curated their favorite looks from Fall 2022 for the fashion show, including those by Balenciaga, Dior, Bode and Christopher John Rogers. But more than that, there were also dance performances, and Lil Nas X rose from his front-row seat next to Anna Wintour to deliver a performance of “Industry Baby.”
Spotted
On Monday evening, models Taylor Hill and Coco Rocha dined at Don Angie in celebration of the one-year anniversary of beauty brand Rose Inc. Tuesday, Karlie Kloss participated in a fireside chat during a Therabody event in Chelsea.
