Men’s Fashion Week underway in New York

For the first time, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) is hosting a fashion week in New York solely for menswear. New York Fashion Week: Men’s is already underway in New York at Skylight Clarkson Sq. until July 16.F

In years past, menswear designers have been forced to show alongside women at New York Fashion Week, but the eight-day spectacle takes away focus on the menswear, only focusing on womenswear. Many designers show a handful of men’s looks alongside the women’s looks, but the looks are never as memorable.

The decision was made to have a separate men’s fashion week earlier this year due to the focus on menswear growing exponentially over the last few years. The event in New York joins other major biannual menswear shows in Paris, Milan and London.

Over the course of the four-day week, 60 designers are planning on showing their Spring/Summer 2016 collections, including Thom Browne, John Varvatos, Duckie Brown and Orley. The event has also drawn European designers such as Balmain, Hermès and Lanvin.

This is the second attempt at a men’s fashion week in New York, after an effort was started in 1995, but fizzled out by 2001. This time, menswear sales have increases tremendously, and so has the interest in men’s fashion, so the many believe this event will prove successful and further strengthen New York as a fashion capital.

“Today, it’s the men who are ready for their close-up, and New York Fashion Week: Men’s will only strengthen New York City’s role as the fashion capital of the world,” says Alicia Glen, New York City’s deputy mayor for housing and economic development.

New York Fashion Week: Men’s takes place July 13-16. Shows can be viewed at style.com.