I was born in Pittsburgh, right around the corner from the University of Pittsburgh and "The Original Hot Dog Shop --The Dirty O." My family has plenty of history there. My mom worked at the downtown Gimbles. The company was once the largest department store chain in the country and innovator of the Thanksgiving Day Parade four years before its rival, Macys.
When I visited my grandfather, my Dad, my brother and I would drive home at night and I loved passing by all the lit up buildings, bridges and signs. There was the giant Clark Candy bar sign that blinked letter by letter "C," "L"... My other grandfather built his own house that sat on a hill with a huge picturesque window revealing the entire city skyline.
Pittsburgh made me the city girl that I am. It was my first love. But like all first loves, sometimes you out grow each other and it becomes painfully apparent that you need to move on.
I wanted to work in fashion. I left Pittsburgh in 2002 to move to New York City. Since living here, I have worked at top magazines and fashion companies. These opportunities never would've presented themselves to me if I would've stayed in the Steel City. I've competed with the best of the best young ladies and men who also left their cities and small towns to join the top-tier creative professionals that chase dreams in only cities like New York, London, Milan and Paris can offer.
But with the world wide web and every kid with a computer blogging about fashion, including myself-- an intermittently employed freelancer--will New York continue to be the fashion mecca of America?
New York City is waving good-bye to its last fashion week in the infamous Bryant Park. Will changes to what used to be an exclusive industry event turn the Lincoln Center version into nothing more that a massive Madison Square Garden style celebrity stalking event?
Fern Mallis, Vice President of IMG, which produces the event told the LA Times back in February, "I don't see why we couldn't attach that element, if for no other reason than the fact that we will be at a place that has the capacity to sell tickets." The element she is referring to the recent flood of interest in the fab world of fashion from the general public.
Is this a good idea? For IMG who is dreaming of a larger profit margin, maybe so. The larger Lincoln Center Space would provide 87,000 square feet, compared to the 70,000 square feet at Bryant Park. That's enough room for sponsors Palm, TRESemmé, McCafe...and even Starbuck sif they were interested in tying themselves to swank runways.
I contacted a representaive at IMG. I was curious as to what kind of revenue fashion week generates now. Where will the extra money go if the catwalk becomes more like a red carpet at Lincoln Center? I was told that "We won’t be announcing any details in regards to the LC move until after the New Year." So, IMG, I didn't forget. I'm crossing off the days on my calender and will soon be hounding you like a good little reporter on January 1st. And "the LC?" Are we already giving the high art old people pavillion a cool, young hip nickname?
Do industry veterans, media and buyers of collections really want to sit near a screeching teen who just saw dreamy Penn Badgely walk by? Furthermore, do designers want more phone calls from Ron Jeremy's people requesting invites for a front row seat? Shudder.
Mercedes-Benz Presents Fashion Week Spring 2010
Maybe this is why small cities are spawning their own versions. In part, they plan to bank off the glamorous, elite, aristocratic world of fashion.
But there may be a shining light in all of these "other" city fashion weeks as well. Could it be a return to the focus on creativity? Is it now turning into just a bunch of people lined up to watch Lindsay Lohan throw Juliette Lewis' front row' seating card on the floor? Quick, name the show where that diva fit took place! My point exactly.
You may have heard about Detroit, Chicago and LA putting on their own runway shows. Did you know Austin, Boston and Cleveland have their own as well? Yes, I said it- Ohio. Can Pittsburgh and other cities spawn talent that thrives only in their own cities without the eventual move to New York? Will one week a year support the arts, talents and ambitions of independent designers in small cities? Or, is it just like the direction the shows in New York are heading -- just another opportunity to collect on the glorified "Gossip Girl", "Devil Wears Prada" image of fashion. What will the the publicizing of the industry and rezoning of the garment district mean for New York City's dominance as a fashion capital of the world?
These questions will be answered in time, I suppose. Until then, Lamont Jones, fashion editor of the Pittsburgh Post Gazzette and assistant director/marketing manager of the Steel City fashion week, I will be expecting my invites in the mail. I plan to cheer on fashion in my birth city the way yinzers do for the Steelers, but if I see one model sporting a black and gold authentic NFL jersey, Im out and I wont be back!
