Looks like Fashion Week is being kicked out of Bryant Park as early as the fall 2007 shows in February. Why? Part of the reason is the decade long clash between Bryant Park and IMG, the owner of New York Fashion Week. Between the time it takes to set up, host Fashion Week, and then the break down the tents, the public has limited access to the park for several weeks. Also, over the years as Fashion Week has gotten bigger, it is starting to outgrow Bryant Park’s smaller location.
Despite the general public’s need for park time, the fashion world is fighting to stay in the park. “Nothing else is as good,” said Vogue’s Anna Wintour. She reportedly wrote to Mayor Bloomberg asking him to keep the shows in Bryan Park.
There is talk to moving the shows to Lincoln Center, a much larger location with some downsides. With the shows there, the New York Times reports that tents on opposite sides of the theater would require guests to walk a city block between shows.
I hope the shows don’t move – besides that the fact that it’s only a hop, skip, and a jump away from the Pierce Mattie Media Oasis, it’s been a long standing tradition since 1993 to have the shows in Bryant Park. IMG either needs to find a better location than Lincoln Center, or keep it in the park!