Taking place this season from 11-16 September, the schedule for the New York Fashion Week 2025 includes over sixty shows and presentations — with Michael Kors opening Spring Summer 2026. The biannual event generates nearly $900 million in economic impact for the city of New York, per the official state records.
New York Fashion Week
New York Fashion Week 2025 will feature more than sixty catwalk shows and presentations—with additional collections being presented digitally and by appointment. Anticipated shows include Altuzarra; Prabal Gurung; Collina Strada; Tory Burch; Off-White; Alexander Wang; and Coach. They will be joined by Calvin Klein, Cynthia Rowley, Diotima, Jason Wu, Kate Barton, Tory Burch, and Who Decides War, among others.
Newcomers to the New York Fashion Week 2025 line-up include 6397, Amir Taghi, Dwarmis, Lii, Maria McManus, Nardos, Raúl Peñaranda, Rùadh, and SC103. 2025 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists Ashlyn, Bach Mai, Bernard James, Don’t Let Disco, Gabe Gordon, Heirlome, Jamie Okuma, and Meruert Tolegen will hold activations.
“The collections this September represent the resilience and dynamism of the city through a global lens”, Joseph Maglieri, CFDA Director Of Fashion Week Initiatives, said in a statement. “With great returns to the calendar, visiting brands from around the world, and a new guard of rising talent finding their rhythm and stride, New York Fashion Week continues to be a gateway for discovery, creativity, and storytelling representing the spirit and independence of American fashion.”
One of the most ambitious proposals slated for this season includes a network of ten venues set within a fifteen-minute perimeter of each other, offered free of charge for participating designers. In recent years, the shows have been scattered around the city. Let’s take a closer look at the history and legacy of New York Fashion Week, how it fuels the economic engine of New York City, and of course, the runway schedule!
The Impact of New York Fashion Week on the City
Per the website of the New York State: New York State’s fashion industry is responsible for approximately $25 billion in wages. New York City — a world renowned fashion industry leader — generates $20 billion in wages per year through the fashion sector… Fashion Week in New York City generates nearly $900 million in economic impact, and New York City is also home to more headquarters of fashion designers and fashion retailers than any other city in the United States.
Held biannually in February and September, New York Fashion Week is part of the Big Four and one of the most highly anticipated events in the fashion industry. It impacts tourism, retail, and hospitality as fashion designers, models, retailers, celebrities and media from around the globe come together in the city to check out the latest collections from established fashion brands and emerging talent.
One of the most significant economic boosts that New York Fashion Week brings is tourism. Visitors often save for months to splurge in the city during this week, resulting in a surge in hotel bookings, restaurant reservations, and retail. Per The Zoe Report, NYFW significantly raised tourism, booking hotels to capacity, and local businesses and restaurants enjoying increased revenue.
NYFW also generates a substantial number of job opportunities, benefiting over 180,000 professionals—from event planners and makeup artists to caterers and security personnel. The iconic event plays a crucial role in New York City real estate revenue from multiple venues for runway shows, presentations, and parties, across the city. For example, Chanel rented out Lucky Chance Diner as an exposure opportunity to promote their new fragrance.
New York As A Fashion Capital
New York became a fashion capital during World War II when Paris was temporarily cut off from global fashion. American designers began to flourish, focusing on practical and stylish ready-to-wear. The rise of Seventh Avenue as the Garment District in the twentieth century reinforced New York’s status. Recognised for its fast-paced environment and cosmopolitan vibe, New York is the epicenter of American fashion. It is home to iconic fashion brands like Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, and Donna Karan, whose designs have shaped global trends. The city’s fashion identity is rooted in practical and modern design, reflecting the fast-moving, urban lifestyle of its inhabitants.
New York Fashion Week
What sets New York apart is its ability to merge fashion with business on an unprecedented scale. The city is a hub for retail and commerce, boasting flagships for luxury brands, boutiques, and thriving e-commerce. Fifth Avenue, one of the world’s most famous shopping streets, epitomises New York’s commercial fashion appeal. Additionally, the fashion industry employs tens of thousands, spanning fashion designers, models, retailers and manufacturers. This integration of artistry and business solidifies New York as a vital player in the global fashion economy.
Another feature of New York’s fashion prominence is its celebration of diversity and individuality. The city’s cultural melting pot fosters creativity and inclusivity, allowing fashion designers to draw inspiration from traditions, subcultures, and personal stories. This is evident in the diversity of its runway shows and street-style. Moreover, institutions like the Fashion Institute of Technology and Parsons School of Design have nurtured groundbreaking talent such as Marc Jacobs and Tom Ford.
New York’s synergy of commerce, creativity, and inclusiveness ensures its lasting influence on the global fashion landscape. Per McKinsey, ‘Within the United States, New York City has one of the country’s highest concentrations of fashion sales, talent, and employment. Activities related to fashion—which we define as fashion retail, wholesale and distribution, along with textile, apparel, footwear and jewelry manufacturing—contributed more than $50 billion in direct sales, $45 billion in indirect sales, and more than 130,000 jobs in 2022.’
History of New York Fashion Week
The bi-annual New York Fashion Week, created in 1993 by the Council of Fashion Designers of America, has a high-wattage runway schedule with fashion collections shown to buyers, fashion media and guests. Today, the economic impact of New York Fashion Week is estimated at $887 million.
Per Vogue: “Before the advent of the Second World War, Paris had been the epicentre of fashion: where buyers and press alike flocked, keen to know what the couturiers were producing next. The French capital powerfully dictated trends, with plenty of US-based fashion labels copying what first appeared across the Atlantic. However, as war continued across the globe and Paris remained under German occupation, an opportunity emerged for the Americans to establish their own design credentials.”
The precursor to New York Fashion Week was “Press Week,” which began in the Forties. It was organised by fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert as the means of showcasing American fashion and diverting attention from French fashion during World War II. Local fashion talent was taken seriously, with American designers including Claire McCardell, Hattie Carnegie and Norman Norell acknowledged in magazines like Vogue. By the mid Fifties the event was referred to as “Press Week of New York”.
Lambert was involved, helping to set up the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 1962, to ensure recognition of the US fashion industry from a cultural and economic perspective. And the shows just kept getting bigger and better. From Lambert’s protégé Halston’s events… to Diane von Furstenberg showcasing her now ubiquitous wrap dresses, the 1970s saw plenty of glitz and innovation.
Over the decades, the shows established America as a fashion force, debuting Oscar de la Renta and Ralph Lauren. By the Nineties fashion journalists and buyers were exhausted due to shows taking place in different venues. In 1993, the Council of Fashion Designers of America– led by president Stan Herman and executive director Fern Mallis- took over the organisation of NYFW and consolidated the citywide events by staging them in Bryant Park. This brought structure and professionalism to the event which was branded with the trademark “7th on Sixth”.
NYFW expanded its reach throughout the late twentieth century and attracted top fashion designers, runway models, and fashion editors. In 2001, “7th on Sixth” was sold to IMG. The exhibit was canceled in September 2001 in light of the 9-11 terrorist attacks. In 2007 Mercedes-Benz became title sponsor and in 2010, IMG- Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week New York left Bryant Park, relocating to the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. And, from September 2011, New York designers began live-streaming shows.
In 2013, IMG and its New York Fashion Week events were sold to William Morris Endeavour and Silver Lake Partners for an estimated $2.3 billion. In January 2015, Mercedes-Benz announced its departure as title sponsor. Producer Kanye West announced he would take over sponsorship. In March 2015, WME- IMG announced that it had acquired MADE Fashion Week, which takes place during WME-IMG’s events. In 2015, IMG’s events were moved from Lincoln Center to Spring Studios. The years that followed were a time of great advance, with designers including Rodarte, Thakoon, Jason Wu, Prabal Gurung and Alexander Wang.
These days fashion designers are increasingly returning to off-site presentations. With the rise of the internet and social media, it has also become more accessible to the public. Per W: “NYFW increasingly emphasized diversity and inclusivity, with designers showcasing a wider range of body types and ethnicities on the runway.”
Throughout its tenure- and moving forward- NYFW plays a crucial role in shaping the American fashion industry, providing a platform for both established and emerging fashion designers to showcase their collections to a global audience. As Sex and the City’s Carrie Bradshaw stated, “Every year the women of New York leave the past behind and look forward to the future. This is known as Fashion Week.”
Runway Schedule
Thursday, September 11
Runway Shows / Presentations:
11:00 AM – Michael Kors Collection
12:00–2:00 PM – Norma Kamali
1:00 PM – Lafayette 148
2:00 PM – Kate Barton
4:00 PM – L’Enchanteur
5:00 PM – Simkhai
6:00 PM – Collina Strada
7:00 PM – LoveShackFancy
8:00 PM – Grace Ling
9:00 PM – Theophilio
Friday, September 12
9:00 AM – Maria McManus
10:00 AM – Area
11:00 AM – Private Policy
12:00 PM – Calvin Klein Collection
1:00 PM – Advisry
2:00 PM – Fforme
3:00 PM – Ashlyn
4:00 PM – Off-White
5:00 PM – Christian Siriano
6:00 PM – Campillo
7:00 PM – Sergio Hudson
8:00 PM – Wiederhoeft
9:00 PM – SC103
9:30 PM – Alexander Wang
Saturday, September 13
9:00–10:00 PM – Marina Moscone
10:00 AM – Tibi
11:00 AM – Altuzarra
12:00 PM – Meruert Tolegen
1:00 PM – Lapointe
2:00 PM – Anna Sui
3:00 PM – Alice + Olivia
4:00 PM – Eckhaus Latta
5:00 PM – Prabal Gurung
6:00 PM – Todd Snyder
7:00 PM – Khaite
8:00 PM – Kim Shui
9:00 PM – Who Decides War
Sunday, September 14
10:00 AM – Ulla Johnson
11:00 AM – Vettese
12:00 PM – Aknvas
1:00 PM – COS
2:00 PM – Sandy Liang
3:00 PM – House of Aama
4:00 PM – Gabe Gordon
5:00 PM – Jason Wu Collection
6:00 PM – Monse
7:00 PM – Bach Mai
8:00 PM – KidSuper x Brooklyn Borough Hall
9:00 PM – Jane Wade
Monday, September 15
10:00 AM – Toteme
11:00 AM – TWP
12:00 PM – Zankov
1:00 PM – Dennis Basso
2:00 PM – Coach
3:00 PM – Tanner Fletcher
4:00 PM – Diotima
5:00 PM – Bibhu Mohapatra
6:00 PM – Tory Burch
8:00 PM – Luar
Tuesday, September 16
9:00 AM – Nardos
10:00 AM – Amir Taghi
11:00 AM – Bevza
12:00 PM – Kallmeyer
1:00 PM – Andrew Kwon
2:00 PM – PatBo
3:00 PM – Lii
4:00 PM – Frederick Anderson
5:00 PM – Pamella Roland
6:00 PM – Elena Velez
7:00 PM – Agbobly
8:00 PM – LaQuan Smith
Emerging Talent
fforme Fall Winter 2025
Emerging talent is the beating heart of New York City’s creative pulse. Many global names got their humble starts in the bustling city, so the bi-annual showcase acts as a window into the future of fashion. Everyone is talking about Jamaican designer Rachel Scott who recently joined Proenza Schouler as the creative director — Proenza Spring 2026 will be a collaboration between herself and the atelier. In 2023 and 2024, Scott was honoured with the CFDA Emerging Designer and Womenswear Designer of the Year awards, respectively. In April, she won the 2025 Fashion Trust U.S. Award for ready-to-wear.
A label to watch out for is Fforme, co-founded by Nina Khosla and Laura Vazquez in 2021. The quiet luxury label was initially designed by Paul Helbers but he was succeeded by Frances Howie—former assistant for Alber Elbaz, then creative director of Lanvin. Another interesting label is Patricio Campillo, who worked as a fashion journalist, stylist, and art director before becoming a self-taught designer in 2015. In 2017, Campillo founded his eponymous label, rooted in his Mexican heritage and subtly subversive silhouettes.
2025’s CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Finalists — Ashlyn, Bach Mai, Bernard James, Gabe Gordon, Don’t Let Disco, Heirlome, Jamie Okuma and Meruert Tolegen will show their talents under stage lights, while L’Enchanteur, led by Dynasty and Soull Ogun, will make its NYFW runway debut.
How to Get Involved: Attending NYFW
The general public and industry professionals cannot attend the by-invitation shows at New York Fashion Week. However, Rockefeller Center and the CFDA with the support of presenting partner Genesys will stream the runway collections to consumers. Rockefeller Center will be the only destination – physical or digital – where the public can watch NYFW shows. Screenings will take place at Rink and Channel Gardens.
Designers Alexander Wang, Anna Sui, Area, Brandon Maxwell, Calvin Klein Collection, Christian Siriano, Coach, Collina Strada, COS, Eckhaus Latta, Jason Wu Collection, Kallmeyer, KidSuper, Lapointe, Michael Kors, Nardos, Norma Kamali, New York Men’s Day, Off-White, Rachel Comey, Ralph Lauren, Sergio Hudson, Simkhai, Tibi, Todd Snyder, Tory Burch and Ulla Johnson are among the runway shows confirmed to stream throughout the six-day event.
“Since its 1962 founding, the CFDA has promoted the creativity and excellence of American fashion designers. Our streaming partnership with Rockefeller Center continues this mission, bringing the excitement of New York Fashion Week to the wider public. We are thankful to our partners at Tishman Speyer as well to Genesys, which made NYFW Live at Rockefeller Center possible this season,” said Steven Kolb, CFDA CEO and President.
“We are honoured to partner with NYFW Live at Rockefeller Center because great fashion and great experiences share a common thread: they make people feel seen, understood and inspired,” said Tony Bates, chairman and CEO of Genesys. “Genesys is helping luxury brands harness AI-powered experiences to deliver moments that are as personal and memorable as the designs themselves.”
Jasmeen Dugal is Associate Editor at FashionABC, contributing her insights on fashion, technology, and sustainability. She brings with herself more than two decades of editorial experience, working for national newspapers and luxury magazines in India.
Jasmeen Dugal has worked with exchange4media as a senior writer contributing articles on the country’s advertising and marketing movements, and then with Condenast India as Net Editor where she helmed Vogue India’s official website in terms of design, layout and daily content. Besides this, she is also an entrepreneur running her own luxury portal, Explosivefashion, which highlights the latest in luxury fashion and hospitality.
