THE FACTS

Description: A week long celebration of fashion in Boston.

Mission: To market and promote fashion in Boston; to acquire, assemble and distribute information regarding fashion in Boston; to act as a liaison between local industry factions involved in the sectors of community service, education, tourism and the local economy.

Goals: Create and coordinate a well organized, easy to access, informative system that increases the visibility of fashionWEEK efforts in Boston. Develop a fashionWEEK structure that allows for a balance between creativity and consistency while fostering a sense of community among those who are involved each year.

Concept: One week of fashion related events throughout Greater Boston that serves as a platform for both established industry professionals and aspiring newcomers to showcase the great wealth of local talent.

Overview and brief history: fashionWEEK was founded in 1995. It has received an official proclamation from the Mayor’s office that officially declares it fashionWEEK in the city of Boston, along with letters of support and citations from the Governor of Massachusetts. In 2001 the Governor issued a proclamation declaring it fashionWEEK in the state of Massachusetts.

fashionWEEK BOSTON CONCEPT: A BRIDGE

Each fashion week throughout the United States and Europe has an identity. New York is the voice of the modern. Paris is the home of couture. London is the setting for the cutting edge of fashion. With Boston in such close proximity to a major fashion city like New York, it is important to cultivate a strong identity without losing sight of the fact that it is not a competition. Boston can build a place for itself with the multi-billion dollar international fashion industry.

What does Boston’s annual week of fashion have going for it? What sets it apart from New York and other fashion centers? Why would local designers not choose to travel down to New York to do their shows? Why would designers outside of the Boston area come here to do their shows?

Boston can be a very instrumental starting point for new designers as many established have proven. fashionWEEK BOSTON can play a role in making it easier for the next generation of talent. Within the years since it’s inception it has already helped to make both the local industry and individual designers more visible and accessible to both the press and the public.

Without the pressures of a big city like New York, designers (as well as photographers, models, etc.) can develop an identity, build relationships with the press and utilize Boston as a bridge to the rest of the fashion world. This also affords retailers the opportunity to provide special events and unique products of interest to their local client base as well as strengthen their ties to the community. This is true whether or not a company is based in Boston, so long as it has a presence here.

Boston has most everything a big city has to offer in addition to the warmth and charm of a small town. It is also considered to be one of the most European cities in the United States both aesthetically and also in part because of the tremendous college population comprised of students representing countries all around the globe. In many ways, looking at Boston in terms of a "college town" is a helpful perspective for those building a fashion related career for themselves here. Just like being in college, developing a career in Boston affords the opportunity to be challenged, define an identity and prepare for the future.