The initiative was brought together in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and its effects on the fashion and retail industries worldwide.
The group is formed of 11 launch partners including Joseph Altuzarra of Altuzarra, Brandon Maxwell, Jason Wu, LaQuan Smith, Alexandra O’Neill of Markarian, Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim of Monse, Prabal Gurung, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler, Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte, Sergio Hudson and Telfar.
Each partner has committed to showing their collections across New York for the next three seasons.
Coinciding with the announcement, IMG announced a new partnership with Afterpay by serving as the presenting sponsor for New York Fashion Week (NYFW): The Shows, beginning September 2021.
“Our industry has faced countless setbacks during the pandemic, but our collective resilience is unparalleled,” said Leslie Russo, president of IMG’s Fashion Events and Properties.
“With our new partners at Afterpay, we are proudly committing to not only reignite the commerce and creativity showcased at America’s most critical fashion industry event, but revitalize New York’s fashion and retail sectors at large.”
