Alexander Wang To Break Away From The Conventional Fashion Week Calendar

Alexander Wang will not show his spring/summer 2019 collection during New York Fashion Week in September. Instead, the American designer will adopt a new biannual schedule with collections presented in June and December.

In response to Wang’s move, and the fluctuation the global fashion week schedules are currently experiencing, the CFDA has put into motion plans for an official summer/winter fashion season.

“I could see it happening this summer,” Steven Kolb, CFDA president and CEO, told WWD. “I could see a collective of maybe five or so brands that have the right adjacency and might align to it… Alex is one of many designers the CFDA has spoken to about the idea, and we support him in this business decision. There are others who are part of this idea.”

Proenza Schouler, Sies Marjan, Altuzarra, Rodarte and Thom Browne have reportedly joined the conversation, however Kolb has noted that should a June/December season be actioned, it would not replace the traditional September/February schedule. He also noted that the CFDA has not yet discussed the shift with the other international fashion organisations, including the British Fashion Council, the Chambre Syndicale and the Camera Nazionale della Moda.

“I am very much looking forward to showing in June in New York,” said Wang of the business move, which will see his collections go to market twice a year, instead of four, with more frequent, strategic product drops throughout the season.

“We have been exploring many different approaches to our product launches through collaborations such as Adidas Originals and special capsules to measure customer response,” the designer explained. “Our shows will reinforce our brand’s DNA to our global customers and fans while we continue to be focused in our product offering. This new cadence will allow us to speak to our global customer in different conversations that are not limited to just fashion week twice a year.”

Wang will still show his autumn/winter 2018 collection in New York on February 10th at 8pm at an undisclosed location.