Times Square Fashion Week 2023: A Resounding Success with 10,000 Attendees

NYC, Sept 12th, At Times Square Fashion Week 2023 took over Times Square NYC September 12th with the largest attendance in NYFW that included over 10,000 in attendance.

Times Square Fashion Week™ originally made history in 2020 by Dee Rivera and her vision in 2019 wanted to turn the famous Father Duffy Square Red Stairs into a symbol of the changing landscape of New York Fashion Week when fashion week stopped and NYC was frozen. 2020 was a defining year for the fashion industry. Slowly but surely, the Big Apple has gained its fashion statement since and has moved forward in their comeback .

In September 2020, Times Square Fashion Week™ gave a taste of the new normal in the midst of a global pandemic and brought a glimmer of hope to fashion insiders, designers, and VIPs who gathered in the heart of New York City’s Times Square. Featuring seven talented designers on deck, as well as creative artists, New Yorkers welcomed this fashion show, the event which became a slam dunk in moving fashion forward safely.

Times Square Fashion Week, now in its fourth year, has continued to champion the resurgence of fashion in New York, both locally and globally. It was in September 2020 that the event provided a glimpse of the "new normal" in the midst of a global pandemic, offering a ray of hope to fashion insiders, designers, and VIPs who gathered in Times Square. Featuring seven talented designers and creative artists, this fashion show served as a beacon of progress and safety.

Times Square Fashion Week™ is on its 4th year and is continuing to move fashion forward by spreading the word globally and locally that fashion in New York is not dead! 

New Indie collections were a mix of wearable and whimsical. Times Square Fashion Week landed at Father Duffy Square  once again hosted by NYC Philanthropist & Socialite Jean Shafifroff wearing couture red and keynote speakers included Manhattan Borough President , Mark Levine and Assemblywoman Rebecca Searight who presented each designer with Proclamations for NYC. 

This one day event featured Australian designers from down under, Yukon Alaska and Tennessee in full frontal fashion from brands including Merci Dupre Clothiers with Envirem presented by Christina Rahm and DRC Ventures, Outer by Simone  Zleao, Teddy McRitchie Design by Teddy McRitchie and Yukon Indie designer Kaska Dena Designs by Natasha Peter.

Designers Share what inspired them for The Collections for 2023

New to the Runways was Outer SimoneZ Leao the designer shares,  "Outer is inspired by the tension between the uniqueness of the individual and the collectiveness of the society and the environment in which they are immersed. My designs come to life as a response to her own textured textiles, following an unconventional sculptural process of garment construction. Making use of folding, draping and pattern alignment with minimum seams, Outer creates exquisite, elegant and comfortable garments to enhance a person's personality. "

Upcoming Designer, Teddy McRitchie Design is a Avant-Garde collection titled ‘Kaleidoscope’ which was inspired by some of his favourite designers. The collection uses recycled inner bike tubes and heat-distorted organza. 

Continuing on the Runway was Merci Dupre Clothiers with Envirem by Christina Rahm shares, " I named the Collection after my children, Duquesne, Preston, Crider, and Merritt Ella, is not just about clothing and fashion, the main mission of the Collection is around health and the evolution of our species. This year the collection is very high end and couture including each piece can be worn in so many ways. It's a travel collection and clothing that protects you at the same time. My Team really took time to create a Collection that can be worn from day to evening.

From the Yukon, Kaska Dena Design "My collection is named after my Dena name “ DenaSqwella” which refers to hard worker. Natasha says "I wanted to create something that was meaningful to my Dena name as it belonged to my great great great grandmother. "

New to the Show was an activation from MetaburnettNYC featuring a multi-faceted fashion tech experience that had models walk with designer collections and QR Codes pre show where attendees had a chance to win a $500 Swag Bag. 

Afterwards, the catwalk was open to the audience to walk the runway and get to WIN BIG with our VIP Deluxe Giveaway!

At the mic was MC Lindsey Higgins who had a chance to entertain guests and Dee Rivera, Producer and Founder of DCG Media Group welcomed VIP attendees and press as she shared the evolution of Times Square Fashion Week and the opportunity to discover new collections while ensuring that Times square Fashion Week opens doors to all Designers  and gives NYC and tourist a taste of diversity and inclusion in NYFW.

Images courtesy of Paul Bruinooge & Patrick McMullan

Times Square Fashion Week 2023 was not just a fashion event; it was a celebration of the fashion industry's resilience, creativity, and commitment to moving forward. With its record-breaking attendance and diverse showcase, it demonstrated that fashion in New York is very much alive and thriving.