Fashion centers like New York City boast some of the nation’s premier fashion design schools, such as the Fashion Institute of Technology, Parsons School of Design, and Pratt Institute. Additionally, LIM College specializes in marketing and merchandising training.
Cara finds herself excited and daunted at the prospect of leading big fashion toward more sustainable practices. She firmly believes that change must start somewhere – and believes this change begins now!
1. New York City
New York City is known as the fashion capital of the United States and serves as an economic center. Over 40 million visitors annually flock to its tourist spots – making New York one of the world’s top tourist spots with vibrant cultural activities that occur day and night!
The Garment District has long been an integral part of New York history and today serves as an active tribute to that legacy. Beginning as a garment manufacturing hub during the early 1800s, it provided ready-made clothes to slaves on Southern plantations farms – this proved more cost-effective than having their workers create clothing during off hours when production could resume in New York.
Today the district serves as an incubator of designers, production facilities, warehouses, showrooms, and fabric and materials suppliers. It is home to three of the country’s premier fashion design schools–FIT, Parsons School of Design, and Pratt Institute–and other specialty schools, such as LIM College, which specialize in business aspects of fashion. Furthermore, some leading New York fashion brands such as Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren, and Calvin Klein all maintain headquarters here.
Many industry professionals fear the Fashion District losing its manufacturing base would be devastating for its status as an essential fashion hub, but New York City is taking steps to promote and attract new manufacturers; efforts include offering designers who source at least 75% of their fabrics and merchandise from local vendors a “Made in NY label.”
New York is world-renowned for its diversity and cosmopolitan outlook, drawing visitors from around the globe. Residents come from a diverse mix of ethnicities and cultures, most residents being foreign-born. New York is an urban center model, home to iconic landmarks like Times Square, Radio City Music Hall, and St Patrick’s Cathedral – making this city irresistibly alluring.
2. Paris
Paris is widely considered the fashion capital of the world. Since King Louis XIV hired top designers for his royal court wardrobe in the 17th century, fashion has continued its evolution and growth within Paris; many styles we wear today owe much of their design (or manufacture) back to France, even if manufactured elsewhere.
Paul Poiret and Gabrielle Chanel of Paris revolutionized women’s clothing during the 19th and 20th centuries by creating feminine, adaptable lines. This was an incredible revolution, allowing women to express themselves freely with dresses they wore – such as Chanel’s LBD, first sold commercially in 1920, which has since become an essential wardrobe item worldwide.
In the 1980s and 90s, Paris fashion flourished. This was due to both revitalized Paris-based brands such as Louis Vuitton and Hermes and global designers choosing Paris as a platform to display their collections.
Paris Fashion Week occurs each year in this bustling fashion hub of boutiques and department stores specializing in high-end fashion, offering luxury designer labels like Rochas, Vuitton, Hermes Balenciaga, and Yves Saint Laurent, among many others. Paris Fashion Week will also take place annually here.
One of the city’s premier department stores, Le Bon Marche, is Europe’s most prominent and offers various brands and products. Another prestigious department store in Paris is Galeries Lafayette, with its beautiful glass dome houses high-end brands for both men and women and beauty products.
Alongside these well-known stores, Paris also hosts several other fashion centers. Notable districts include Presqu’ile, with its fashionable malls and streets and being home to the Paris Fashion Institute; Marais is another well-known Jewish quarter, while Montmartre hosts artists. Paris also boasts several high fashion magazines like Elle.
3. Los Angeles
Since 1928, Los Angeles’ Fashion District has been an epicenter for clothing production and retail. Formerly known as the Garment District, warehouses specializing in women’s and men’s wear began appearing around 1928 – later known as warehouses that housed fashion students. Now known as simply The Fashion District, today its vibrant atmosphere boasts rows of mannequins in rows standing beside thousands of boxes being shipped daily into and out from it; students from around the country attend nearby FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising), while fashionistas browse latest collections by boutiques or showrooms!
While most stores in the District serve the wholesale trade, Santee Alley and several retailers open to the public offer apparel and accessories at 30-70% discounts to the general public. Furthermore, it hosts one of the most sought-after designer showroom sample sales every last Friday of each month – providing bargain hunters with a veritable feast!
At the intersection of Beverly Hills and West Hollywood lies this luxurious mall featuring over 90 stores specializing in luxury, contemporary, and fast fashion favorites – such as BCBG, Intermix, and 7 for All Mankind boutique brands – for you to shop until your heart’s content. Take a break from shopping by taking advantage of their 14-screen movie theater or enjoy an enjoyable vintage tram ride – there’s sure to be something here for every fashion taste!
This fashionable marketplace specializes in trendy apparel and accessories, while some stores carry an eclectic selection of memorabilia and quirky home furnishings. There are also numerous beautiful restaurants and cafes where visitors can stop for a quick bite. Book lovers may also wish to stop at high-end bookseller Taschen to browse its vast collection of titles on film, pop culture, and art.
The Fashion District is accessible via the 110, 101, and 10 freeways. It has parking on nearly every block – with surface lots or structures offering surface lot parking or facilities on almost all blocks. The Fashion District app, available for both iOS and Android phones, provides parking information based on your current location; allows you to save your parking spot; searches businesses within a 100-block radius; includes walking tours, driving directions, and other district details.
4. Tokyo
Tokyo is an incredible fashion destination with abundant shopping spots, from upscale malls like DiverCity Tokyo Plaza to street fashion in Harajuku. This metropolis truly has something for everyone!
DiverCity Tokyo Plaza, situated on Odaiba Island, offers shoppers from Adidas to Vans an unparalleled shopping experience. Additionally, dining and entertainment options will satisfy everyone, such as one of the world’s largest Gundam statues or its giant rainbow bridge observation deck!
Harajuku, Japan’s mecca for teenage culture, boasts an eclectic and eccentric atmosphere. Takeshita Street features shops selling everything from used clothes and accessories geared toward young adults to trendy designers like A Bathing Ape as well as toy collectible stores selling products tailored specifically towards this age bracket. Additionally, backstreets contain subcultures of their own, with many small boutiques selling collectible toys or selling used clothing from used sources.
Omotesando is an oasis for fashionistas. The streets boast luxury stores like Tods and trendy boutiques offering the latest Japanese styles. Rei Kawakubo has a flagship store, Yohji Yamamoto, specializes in her uniquely styled but wearable clothing lines for men and women – it is well worth seeing.
Ginza offers the utmost in upscale shopping. Home to luxury brands like Balenciaga and Pandora, featuring eye-catching modern buildings designed by leading architects. For something more modern, visit Ginza Six (GSIX), which combines cutting-edge Japanese design with luxurious brands.
Outside the city center is Kuramae, an updated warehouse district offering leather products, traditional clothing, and notebooks you can customize with dye to complement your outfit.
Makuhari district offers discount shopping within half an hour’s ride of Tokyo Station on the Keiyo Line, with over 140 high-end and mid-range stores from Brooks Brothers to Seiko available – ideal for stocking up on clothing or accessories at significantly discounted rates!