Fashion has always had its fair share of politics. On Friday morning, to kick off New York Fashion Week, it also got political by staging a rally to encourage voting. The Fashion for our Future march. The CFDA and Vogue organized it as a nonpartisan to boost voter turnout and featured current First Lady and Democrat Dr. Jill Biden as its keynote speaker.
The former schoolteacher has long befriended the industry, which is widely regarded as a Democratic voting bloc, partially due to its New York center and the values held dear by the inclusive, creative community.
After an impassioned speech by Aurora James, a CFDA Chairman and co-founder of The Fifteen Percent Pledge, and introduction by designer Thom Browne, the First Lady kicked off her speech with a story about being a young college student in the late 70s who ‘almost didn’t vote for this young senator’ and a few later when the then waist-length hair blonde went on her first date with The President.
“I took one look at his perfect suit and leather loafers and thought, ‘thank god, it’s only one date,” she recalled, admitting by the end of dinner she was pleased that she did end up voting for him. She also revealed that her parents were Republicans and that Biden only won by 3,000 votes.
“Clothing gives us the power to make a statement without saying a word, but this year, we must first wear it, say it, march for it, and then do it, vote!” she encouraged.
She reminded the crowd about the impact of elections.
“They are freedom for our children to learn without fear, hate, and without gun violence. This week, we saw yet another shooting. We stand with Georgia in sorrow and prayer, but we also cannot accept these school shootings as a fact of life; we must ban assault rifles,” she urged.
“I know you care about the freedom to make your own choices, be who you are, love who you love, and the freedom you have for creative expression. These freedoms are at risk because of court decisions, book bans, and shrugs of apathy when people forget the power of the vote. Let’s remember this: the next president will appoint new Supreme Court justices, the next senators confirm them, and our children will live with those consequences, but you get to decide; elections matter,” she continued.
She reminded the crowd—which consisted of Michael Kors, Tory Burch, Todd Snyder, Wes Anderson, Peter Som Bach Mai, and actress Joey King, among others—of how the industry banned together during the AIDS crisis and to help fight Breast Cancer and lauded Browne as not only a ‘fellow Pennsylvanian’ who is also making civil engagement chic; James for her indomitable spirit to see a new future and told Anna Wintour, “No one has shaped this industry more than you have but you haven’t stopped and now you are shaping the world. The President and I value your counsel and friendship, and with all my heart, thank you for being such a powerful force for good,” she said, as she urged the crowd to vote and help others to do so. “We can vote our way to a future where freedom really does ring,” she concluded.
Starting from one iconic New York location, Macy’s, the 1,000-plus crowd that also included garment center workers, press, retailers, students, and others donned T-shirts donated by Old Navy, carried U.S. flags, and held placards slash fans with the Fashion For Our Future logo as they marched north on Broadway led by Prabal Gurung on the bullhorn urging chants of “vote.”
Next, the marchers turned eastward towards another iconic spot, Bryant Park—site of the original 7th on 6th show tents—where Secret Service and TSA agents scanned participants through metal detectors to hear the First Lady speak.
James started the ceremony alluding to the industry dreamers who came here to pursue fashion.
“The idea of a free and prosperous land is exactly what you make of it, whether you are a designer, bus driver, lawyer, or shoe designer, and each contributes to collective liberation. We have seen it threatened before and cannot let that happen again. Us dreamers are still the underdogs in this election; we will not win unless this passion that brought us here to NYC becomes contagious and inspires others to vote,” she cautioned.
She urged everyone to reach out to at least ten people to encourage a voting plan, citing Michelle Obama’s ‘truly do something’ statement.
As Browne egged everyone on to chant ‘Vote, vote, vote,’ as he pointed out, “Fashion is not what we wear but powerful voice and platform for what we stand for; having unity, supporting democracy and peace are vital,” he urged, adding that the CFDA has supported the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, and the Iamavoter initiative, among other groups.
Post-speech CFDA president, Steven Kolb, pointed out several issues on the upcoming November ballot that are important to the industry.
“It’s different for smaller to bigger designers, but among them are trade policies, tariffs, the economy, it’s a challenge keeping the US out of a recession, manufacturing, understanding, support, sustainability, production, labor, immigration and safety and security for workers. They need to know that when hiring for factories and workers in stores, they can ensure a fair wage so they have safety, security, and housing for employees. They need to afford to live in New York,” he said.
After the First Lady spoke, the event wound down, and the CFDA executive teams headed further uptown to Rockefeller Center to inaugurate a debut New York Fashion Week Livestream screen on the famous plaza.
Wintour, Kolb, Browne, and EB Kelly, senior managing director, Tishman Speyer, and head of Rockefeller Center, did a ribbon cutting along with Michael Kors and Tory Burch.
Speaking to FashionNetwrok.com, Kelly shared the impetus for the new addition to both.
“NYFW is a celebration of the best things in NY: creativity, beauty, culture, artistry, and design, and no place where that is embodied more than Rockefeller Center; it’s the beating heart of NYC,” she enthused, noting that New Yorkers will revel at the chance to sit ‘front row’ to watch shows in front of the famous Prometheus Statue and legendary 30 Rock.
Several Rockefeller Center locations, such as the iconic Rainbow Room, have been used by designers Prabal Gurung and LaQuan Smith, among others, while Collina Strada recently showed at Hero on a lower level of the Art Deco mini-metropolis located In Midtown. When asked if Rock Center would be a contender for a centralized fashion week, Kelly admitted she couldn’t predict the future but conceded the ingredients were there.
“We are standing in front of Todd Snyder’s incredible, beautiful store that he did such a good job with, and he is having his show at Le Rock on Sunday and prepping it here at Studio Gather. There isn’t a place where you could have and do all of those things at the same time and place,” said Kelly.
While that may be true, Hudson Yards is another place that holds designer retail, theaters, auditorium spaces, conference rooms, and other types of office meeting room space.
Browne has routinely shown there, as well as Dion Lee and Who Decides War. Coach, Simkhai, and Aknvas are among the designers, who are showing there this season.
According to some sources in the industry, there is a gunning by the almost ill-fated luxury shopping, dining, and cultural center on Manhattan’s West Side to become the next Bryant Park or Lincoln Center.
It adds to the centralized show hub debate plaguing the American fashion industry of late due to the tricky logistics of far-flung shows in outer boroughs. So far this season with some strong urging, it appears most designers are choosing to stay in Manhattan and new shuttle bus sponsored by Google Play is easing transport for industry professionals without expense accounts.
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