Betsey Johnson Spring 2009

Seeing that it costs designers $150,000 to $200,000 for a fashion week show, it makes sense that if they are not convinced that people will shop, they will not take that chance.

Betsey Johnson and Carmen Marc Valvo are the newest designers who have decided to cancel their shows and do something different.

DKNY, Vera Wang, and J. Mendel had already announced plans to skip Bryant Park. Johnson will still stage either a presentation or a show for her fall line but hasn’t settled on a location. Valvo is considering showing his collection at an intimate cocktail party for about 200, which would enable the house to cut costs by 50 percent.

“‘Stores are cutting back on sending buyers to the shows, there’s less and less press coming,’” says Mr. Pulice [the designer's VP of Communications], who noted that the designer’s September fashion show drew 25% fewer retail buyers and press than usual.”

Not showing at Fahion Week worked for Victoria Beckham, didn’t it? She showed her line by appointment and it has worked thus far.

Share/Save