The Fashion Statement: Farewell, Bryant Park

by Kristin Young (RSS feed)
Feb 11th 2010 at 9:00AM

Fashion weeks gets underway here in New York today but, even before one model could place a stiletto on a crisp white catwalk, the mood was bittersweet.

That's because this week will be the final time the collections will be unveiled in the Bryant Park Tents. Bryant Park management had long been locking horns with fashion week producers, complaining that American fashion's biggest spectacle was growing too large and restricted public access to the park. In September, the shows will move to Lincoln Center's Damrosch Park, a venue that can better accommodate the twice-annual event.

The shows have been held at Bryant Park since 1993 catapulting more than a few designers' and models' careers and fostering many more memories. Several fashion insiders took the time to reflect recently and the Tents will be adorned with their quotes. Here, a preview:

"I began modeling in 1965 when there were only shows in Paris. When Bryant Park started, fashion became a world event. It was exhilarating." -Lauren Hutton

"Bryant Park became the beacon of what New York fashion stands for-an industry that's fearless, tireless, and always moving forward." -Anna Wintour, Vogue

"Bryant Park became the heartbeat of fashion twice a year... we will miss it!" -Diane von Furstenberg

"Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is when all of New York comes together to shine a light on its family of designers. We share a runway, a calendar, an audience-and of course, the spotlight. As a result, it has given us a world presence. There's no better way to support our industry than when we stand together as one." -Donna Karan

"I'll always have fond memories of the Tents in Bryant Park, it was one of the earlier highlights of my career." -Gisele Bündchen

"I propose that a plaque be mounted in the park as a legacy: 'The Bryant Park Tents 1993-2010 branded New York as the indisputable Fashion Capital of the World.'" -Tim Gunn

"We just rolled our racks over from our office like a big caravan... the simplicity of it will be missed."-Anna Sui

"The first real show I ever had was here in Bryant Park. Now, there's nothing that makes me more excited/nervous than seeing the Tents rise twice a year." -Cynthia Rowley

"I've spent hours in the Tents working as a model with some of the icons of American fashion. Showing my collection on the same runway was surreal-humbling and honored are the words that come to mind." -Erin Wasson

"Style, fashion, and the Tents, now part of the folklore history of New York City." -Norma Kamali

And, finally, this from the woman who organized it all....

"The Tents at Bryant Park succeeded and triumphed beyond my wildest expectations. I am so proud of how they became the lightening rod for fashion in America." -Fern Mallis, IMG Fashion

Tags: Bryant Park Tents, BryantParkTents, Diane von Furstenberg, DianeVonFurstenberg, Donna Karan, DonnaKaran, Lauren Hutton, LaurenHutton, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, Mercedes-benzFashionWeek, New York Fashion Week, NewYorkFashionWeek, Norma Kamali, NormaKamali, Tim Gunn, TimGunn

Filed under: The Fashion Statement

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Bxboy56 Feb 12th 2010 1:59PM

I for one am glad the event is leaving the park. The "PARK" is not an appropriate place to hold an event like this. As a park lover and someone who works two blocks away, I am inconvenienced by this event by the loud generators running twenty four hours a day. The obstacles I have to climb over, and the storage containers and the parking problems for commercial vehicles in that vicinity. I think the "few fashionistas" are clearly a minority. Let them move to another venue....

MIchael Mc Manus Feb 12th 2010 8:58AM

Prior to the event and public return, this was called Needle Park. Why? H was so easy to purchase there.
Time to reconsider the slight inconvenience to the pulbic and reconsider chasing an economic booster to the park and city

stacknef Feb 12th 2010 9:38AM

"Needle Park" is actually on 65th and Broadway I believe, which is closer to Lincoln Center where the new fashion shows will take place.

dunkallday Feb 12th 2010 9:54AM

Let's change the venue to the homeless tents in East Harlem. That should give it an economic boost and soon they will be opening up stores like Cartier, Fendi, and Nieman-Marcus there.

MIchael Mc Manus Feb 12th 2010 10:31AM

I used to drive a truck in Manhattan as a college kid, Late 1970s.
That was needle park. IF there is another, no problem, but that was one real sh$$ hole back in the day.

Susan Feb 12th 2010 10:57AM

Funny, I thought Needle Park was Thompkins Sqaure Park on the lower east side..

Susan Feb 12th 2010 11:00AM

Funny, I thought Thompkins Square Park on the lower east side was regarded to be Needle Park!!

Bill Feb 12th 2010 9:09AM

I am not from New York but I think I understand the feeling of loss. One tends to wax nostalgic about the closeness of the old way and the fear that expansion will bring a lack of intimacy. If I may, I liken it to the feeling that country music fans felt when the Grand Ole Opry moved to the larger venue of the Ryman auditorium. It did not take long for fans to realize that nothing changed except the number of people fans.

jvpkelly Feb 12th 2010 9:24AM

Regarding the "Needle Park" comment, you know your history except for one thing: The park had been cleaned up for a decade before Fashion Week was ever held there. Although, I do agree that the slight inconvenience is well worth the publicity and money that is brought into the local area, especially at times like these.

Pierpoint Windsor Feb 12th 2010 11:31AM

Daaaaahlins! Needle Park, Broadway @ 64-5th streets was the original, the name stuck after the movie and then other spots throughout the city were given the name for exactly the same notoriety-the orignal however was cleaned up decades ago...As for those GD tents. Y, as in WHY the H did all those designers not take a few minutes, take some dye and sray designer logos all over them? Fashion week, haute couture of rags most women will never wear and the majority cannot afford. As for those who do, spending upwards of fifty thousand to hundreds of thousands for one item one rag no matter the designer is shameful. Fashion does not equate to style-the entire thing is a hedonistic orgie feeding frenzy for extremely jaded vacuous rag purchasers and designers few of which deserve our attention. Once when young I had clothes designed practically on my bod and wore many before even stars had them. Nice to still have some great 'pieces' but hey, instead of Bergdorf's, Hemes etc. try E-BAY! Here's to ya love 'em all-kiss kiss!

d.arun16 Feb 15th 2010 12:51PM

Hi please furnish with latest fashion desions

gjb Feb 12th 2010 12:12PM

Who cares.

barbara Feb 12th 2010 12:28PM

I could not care less

depotofam Feb 12th 2010 3:14PM

I am happy to see it go. It was not a "slight" inconvenience to the neighborhood. During the winter months children ice skate there. During the warmer months it has a great lunch crowd with backgammon games and a great lawn for sunning. In the weeks prior to and immediately after the fashion weeks the public park is not available to the public.

NYC has many great private venues to hold the show. The Javits convention center, The grand ballroom at the Waldorf Astoria hotel and the piers on the Hudson river to name a few.