(10 Apr 1995) English/Nat
American fashion designers are switching from the catwalk to television to sell their latest collections.
Viewers can watch the fashion parade in their own homes – or even out on the streets on special wide-screen T-Vs.
A fashion show on New York’s Times Square giant T-V Jumbotron?
It’s not the standard fare New Yorkers are used to seeing on the city’s famous big screen T-V.
But this show definitely had the crowds stopping.
High-fashion is no longer just runway models showing new clothes for potential buyers.
Fashion shows are now full-blown television events, complete with sneak-peeks behind the scenes.
Models cannot be content with just looking good on the runway. The have to look good for television.
Fashion now even has it’s own American cable T-V network, giving designers a new outlet.
Cynthia Rowley, who’s clothes were featured on the Times Square show, says T-V is a way of exciting fashion shoppers.
SOUNDBITE: “New Yorkers have been seeing all this, but they never see what goes on inside. It’s like this private, mysterious thing. And it’s such a shame because if they could see what went on behind the scene, and see what was happening there, they would be much more excited about next season’s clothing.”
SUPER CAPTION: Cynthia Rowley, Fashion Designer
Designers say T-V has already begun affecting the way they make their clothes.
Clothes have to emphasize visuals over texture for the viewer.
Designer Todd Oldham, who has done work for M-T-V, says this can be a difficult task.
SOUNDBITE: “So when we design for television, we had to make things so the fabrics were identifiable with your eyes. Your, your erasing a textile quality and replacing it with a visual. And that’s a trick.”
SUPER CAPTION: Todd Oldham, Clothing Designer
Some industry observers scorn the TV-fashion marriage, saying the designer’s message can get lost.
SOUNDBITE: “I have a bit of a problem with it because I don’t necessarily feel it’s very well edited and it goes out into places like Omaha, Nebraska and basically frightens everyone who buys clothes.”
SUPER CAPTION: Liz Tilberis, Harper’s Bazaar
But don’t tell that to those who took in the Times Square show.
SOUNDBITE: “Fashion now is pretty much pop-culture and you see models becoming actresses and becoming very popular people. There’s no reason why it doesn’t belong on TV.”
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop, Dale Tarza
SOUNDBITE:
“You got New York, the fashion capital of the world. The media capital of the world. What other way better to do it than on 42nd street?”
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop, Traci Anderson.
A sentiment shared by many who took in this 42nd street fashion extravaganza.
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