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East Coast vs. West Coast Turf War
By admins | July 14, 2009
image via Steven Meisel
No, we aren’t talking about rap music rivalry here, but rather fashion week. As a New York based blog we rarely write about our West Coast sister city LA, and when we do the results aren’t so pretty. However, upon hearing the news that LA’s March fashion week has been canceled, we felt the need to address it. It’ll come as no surprise to our readers that we believe, as the US fashion capital, we should be hosting the only true American fashion week. Between the fact, that most designer’s showrooms are located here, plus the Garment Center as the heart and soul of the industry is here, plus all the major fashion publications and PR firms are headquartered here, makes this town the ideal fashion week spot. As for Los Angeles, they have lost all of their corporate support, as well as, many of their designers. According to the Wall Street Journal, “Apparel manufacturing is one of L.A.’s largest employers, but the city’s most famous designers, including Monique Lhuillier, Trina Turk, and Laura and Kate Mulleavy of Rodarte, show their wares in New York. Mr. Obando credits his first shows in L.A. with showing him the ropes. But when he started showing in New York three seasons ago, he says the impact was immediate. “Sales appointments were up 500%,” he says.” Bottom line, LA maybe great for consumer shopping, celebrity attention, and red carpet publicity, but the money and business of fashion happens here!
We are, of course, well aware that ours is a biased opinion and we do feel a twinge of sadness for West Coast fashionistas losing this event. So, we decided to get the opinions of some non-NYC based fashion bloggers. We asked them to tell us how they feel about the canceling of LA’s fashion week and here are their replies.
Liz – It’s Unbeweavable – Los Angeles
I was not at all surprised when LA Fashion Week was cancelled. As an LA girl who works in the industry, of course I want to say that I am disappointed, but I am honestly not. When I think of fashion week, I think of NYC, of Bryant Park, of the excitement in the air, of the anticipation of what is going to come down the runway. LA Fashion Week was a great way for LA based designers to show their work, and while I definitely support that-as there are so many designers nationwide who’s collections are worth press and attention, I feel there are other avenues and venues where this can be done. I have been lucky enough to attend both Fashion Weeks and NYC’s had my heart pounding…I couldn’t believe I was there! LA’s did not have the same effect on me, as I don’t feel the talent was up to par with NYCs. I hope I don’t get hateraid regarding this, as I always support LA, but on this issue, I’ve got to say-it’s all about NYC!
Erica – Unfunded – Southern California
I think the canceling of L.A. fashion week is unfortunate. I do think we need two major fashion weeks, one in L.A. and one in NYC, because each coast has something different to offer, and I think it’s important to break up the monotony. I can only hope that L.A. fashion week will be as successful as NYC fashion week, but I think it’s important that we start showcasing more L.A. indie and emerging designers. High fashion and more established designers will always have a place in NYC. We have a lot to offer, and not everyone gets to see or appreciate that all the time.
Betsey – A Few Goody Gumdrops – Boston
Being from Boston, I doubtfully would fly to LA for fashion week. Having said that, I can only assume that many Californians would not fly to NYC for fashion week. I think it is very important to have shows on both major fashion coasts. Obviously, NYC is closer for me but there is so much style coming out of LA and a different fashion perspective. LA is just as important a fashion city as NYC, representing the latest styles and trends. You see all sorts of people in both major “fashion” cities and it is an injustice to entertain fashion on just the east coast! I think given the right amount of exposure and preparation an LA fashion week would be extremely successful especially from a blogger’s point of view. Many of the girls I blog with are from LA.
Marie – Shop Diary – Los Angeles
I feel that the cancellation of L.A. Fashion Weak (no typo there!) in March is indicative of the shift from the long held tradition of runway shows to alternative formats such as videos (Viktor & Rolf) or presentations. The fashion cycle is getting shorter and runway shows are becoming passé. With that said, it is more advantageous for fashion designers to show in New York than in Los Angeles. New York Fashion Week kicks off the major RTW fashion weeks (New York, London, Milan and Paris) when store buyers’ coffers are still full and interest is at its peak. L.A. Fashion Week shows at the tail end, after Paris, and buyers have already spent their budgets.
Here is more related scoop;
Topics: fashion shows, new york | 22 Comments » 
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July 15th, 2009 at 1:46 am
Not even being American I don’t really have any bias either way, but I do agree that having both weeks is valuable as the US is such a large country with so much talent that there are surely many who are missed out in NYC’s week that are still worthy. Also the 2 cities are such opposities in style, it’s apples and oranges really.
July 15th, 2009 at 7:10 am
Personally, I think it’s sad that in all of North America NYFW is the only major fashion week, and it’s not even the best of the fashion weeks. That says more about the American attitude towards fashion than anything, really.
It would be nice to have the West Coast fashion industry taken seriously, but I don’t feel that they’ve really earned it quite yet. So many of the designers flock to NY because it’s nearly impossible to get work unless you’re designing jeans and steetwear, hiking gear, etc…all of which the West Coast does very well.
Quite honestly, culture has more to do with it than anything, even business people dress casually to work and formality in all forms really isn’t cultivated, which plays a big part in what clothes people buy, and in turn what fashion designers can make a living creating.
July 15th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
[...] Ahh, the never ending battle between LA and NYC over who owns the fashion turf. 39th and Broadway is an excellent fashion blog dedicated to east coasters (but read worldwide) who work in the fashion industry. They love their NYC fashion and I, of course, love my Southern Cali fashion and I have, on many occasions, taken to their comments page to make this known (all in good fun, of course)! After hearing of the cancellation of LA’s upcoming fashion week (supposed to have happened in March), they were awesome enough to ask a few fashion bloggers their opinon on the situation – and I happened to be one of those bloggers. Check out their article and my opinion: East Coast vs. West Coast Turf War. [...]
July 15th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Thanks for including my opinion! This is probably my favorite topic in fashion – NYC v. LA. Awesome.
July 15th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
I think that it sucks that fashion week was canceled in LA. Although NY hates to admit it, LA has it’s own fashion sense, whether you think it’s good or bad it still exists. We have a huge amount of local designers who want to reach the goal of showing their line on the LA runway one day. I’m confidant we’ll bounce back and have a revival of LA fashion week next year!
July 15th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Of course, I’m torn over this issue because I’m originally from LA and although I have been living in New York for over 10 years now, I do feel a small thrill when I hear about interesting new designers cropping up in LA… Naturally, I’m a bit sad that LA has lost its fashion week, but am I surprised? No.
July 15th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Thanks for including me…I loved reading the other opinions! Such a great topic! XO
July 15th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
Yeah, this is not surprising news. Bad for the LA fashion community, but I’m in agreeance with Liz of It’s Unbeweavable.
July 16th, 2009 at 7:06 am
[...] 39thandbroadway.com – NYC vs LA – The Fashion Week Debate [...]
July 16th, 2009 at 10:55 am
Great insights from everyone and a huge thank you to all the bloggers who participated!
July 17th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
[...] 39thandbroadway.com – NYC vs LA – The Fashion Week Debate ? Fabulous Finds Gal – Who doesn’t love a gorgeous [...]
July 18th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
I’ve been in LA for seven years and seen a lot of changes in the industry here. Having worked for one of the largest jewelry manufacturers in the US, I can say that LA wasn’t the hub of their business, even though they were headquartered here. The majority of our business took place in New York during market. LA market weeks were lack luster at best. I would love to see LA Fashion Week succeed but don’t really think it’s feasible at this point. There’s too much fragmentation.
Designers, PR firms, Bloggers (anyone attached to the LA fashion industry) need to form more cohesive bonds and organizations to successfully pull it off. But how can that happen when some of the most reputable designers won’t work with smaller brands and organizations or embrace new media’s effects on the way brands market themselves?
New York is more receptive, look at last February’s InsideTheTents.com, organized by Yuli Ziv. Live blogging in Bryant Park? Fantastic!
By comparison to live tweets during NY Fashion Week, I was one of the only people tweeting during LA market last month. I was the only one with a video camera doing interviews. And during that time, the only people that gave me the time of day as a fashion blogger where designers who’d flown in from Hawaii or the Southwest.
I’ve started several groups and have organized meet ups for industry people in LA and I’m going to do my best to perpetuate closing the gaps while I’m in LA (as I’m now splitting my time between LA & NYC).
But for fashion week, I don’t think LA is the right place. And hopefully I don’t get shot for this post.
July 19th, 2009 at 3:36 am
[...] 39thandbroadway.com – NYC vs LA – The Fashion Week Debate [...]
July 19th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
[...] 39thandbroadway.com – NYC vs LA – The Fashion Week Debate [...]
July 19th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
[...] & Broadway: East Coast & West Coast Turf Wars: Does LA Need A Fashion Week? – No, this isn’t Biggie vs. Tupac, but it’s the must read of the [...]
July 19th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
I would like to say that although LA Fashion week is not going to be funded by Smashbox and IMG like normal it is not over. The week will still go on like normal and schedules can be found. I actually blogged about this earlier and did extensive research on the matter and just want to say that LA Fashion week isn’t over yet.
LA is a great place for upcoming designers to have their first shows and then after they learn the ropes there New York should be the next stop. LA is more laid back and not as centralized. Actually I’ve heard recent grumblings about starting up some LA based social networks for fashionistas even though I’m not there. LA has a different appeal than New York and I just don’t want people to think that to be an American Fashion Week you have to do it like NYC.
July 20th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
I always though of LA Fashion week as a younger, less mature cousin to NYC Fashion week. It’s the fashion week that shows Lauren Conrad as opposed to Alexander Wang. It’ll be sad if talented designers don’t get the necessary exposure as a result of it being cancelled, but I’m sure they’ll find other outlets. And maybe if fewer Lauren Conrad types show collections at fashion week it’ll become easier to see through the clutter for true talent.
July 21st, 2009 at 2:50 am
[...] 39thandbroadway.com – NYC vs LA – The Fashion Week Debate [...]
July 21st, 2009 at 3:20 pm
http://www.jcreport.com/intelligence/business/040509/fashions-westward-march
July 22nd, 2009 at 1:54 pm
LA Fashion Week can be a great venue for emerging designers to show their talents. However, the main problem is not the designers (yes, there will always be good shows and bad shows, that’s a part of runway) but rather with the clientele attending these shows.
I attended LA Fashion week two years ago and was appalled at the way people were handling themselves. It was as if they didn’t even care about seeing the clothes and were most interested in what party they could get into and what giftbag they could get their hands on. While parties and giftbags are a fun bonus of fashion shows, if you’re not there for the designs then I don’t really know what you’re doing. It doesn’t matter how many times your picture ends up in “944″ magazine! FASHION week is supposed to be about the CLOTHES!
Perhaps Smashbox and IMG simply realized that without the support of the people attending, LA Fashion Week will never grow into the money machine, industry super -market that NYC is.
Olive
http://www.VisforOlive.blogspot.com
August 4th, 2009 at 11:52 am
NY seems a bit more serious about fashion
December 31st, 2009 at 8:47 pm
I have never been to either fashion week but based on what I’ve read so far, New York has it on lock anyway. Maybe shifting to the MAGIC in Las Vegas? Good point about the bad timing of fashion week LA. If it’s going to be held when the buyers have already picked up the vast majority of their lines for the seasons, it’s no wonder LA usually falls short. And I have seen at MAGIC how some people can be at the runway shows just for social reasons. Stuff like that hurts the credibility of shows and often sends buyers off to more serious venues and shows. Don’t forget, it’s still about the money. My 2 cents from a shirt illustrator LOL!