How much does it cost a designer to show at New York Fashion Week? The short answer: It depends.
With the exception of select fashion insiders — those directly involved in negotiating each component that goes into a fashion show (and maybe some of the people who compile their invoices and expense reports) — few people actually know how much it costs to show at New York Fashion Week. While Lincoln Center recently disclosed the costs of its various show spaces, there are a slew of other expenses that factor into a designer’s final tally: There are models, PR, production, styling, hair and makeup, at a minimum. And most of those costs vary based on several factors.
We spoke with a few of our industry friends to get the real scoop on how much showing at fashion week can cost. Here’s the rundown.
Venue:
Venues, on average, can range from $15,000 to $60,000. The latter is what it costs to show at the Theater at Lincoln Center (its largest venue). Lincoln Center’s other venues range in price from $15,000 for The Hub, to $47,500 for The Stage. Off-site venues can in some cases cost less, say, if it’s a small off-the-beaten path gallery space. Or it can be more if, for example, it’s a custom space at Spring Studios, which Ralph Lauren spends two to three weeks constructing every season.
Styling:
Most designers place a lot more importance (and cash) on stylists than you might think. Of course, this varies — some designers may style a show themselves, or have someone in-house do it. Others may use stylists they have on retainer throughout the year. But, a top-tier stylist can earn as much as $8,000 per day to style a show — which can potentially be a 10 to 14-day job. Of course, not all stylists command those types of fees. A designer could secure someone less in-demand for around $10,000 total.
Fashionista.com has the full story.
Founded in 2007, Ladybrille® Magazine is a California based pioneer digital publication demystifying the image of Africans in the west through contemporary African fashion and celebrating the brilliant woman in business and leadership, with an emphasis on the African woman in the diaspora. Our coverage includes stories on capital, access to markets, expertise, hiring and retention, sales, marketing, and promotions.
