Edited by Lester Brathwaite
“Glenda Bailey‘s not going to go to Richmond, VA, fashion week.” This quote from CFDA CEO Steven Kolb basically sums up the fashion industry’s attitude when it comes to fashion weeks outside of the big four: New York, London, Paris and Milan. Fashion is elitist, with the haves being vastly outweighed by the have-nots. A small cadre of editors, designers, photographers, stylists and — most importantly — businessmen control this billion dollar industry, but the cracks are beginning to appear in the facade. Milan’s breaking rank and challenging the fashion week calendar and in response Condé Nast has vowed that no Vogue editors will be in attendance should Milan continue its catwalk of impertinence. China is outspending both America and Europe in the luxury sector and many brands are opening stores in the Far East to meet this ever-expanding market. Then there are the some 100 other fashion weeks around the world, showcasing local young, up-and-coming and often, rather talented designers who, while not garnering the attention of Harper’s Bazaar‘s esteemed editrix in chief, are contributing to their own cities’ and countries’ burgeoning fashion industries.
