INSIDE: ANNA WINTOUR ON THE BIG NIGHT POWER SHOPPING IN NEW YORK THE MAYORS SPEAK EVENTS FROM PARIS TO BEIJING, MILAN TO MOSCOW CELEBRITY SPOTTING WA SPECWIAL REPDORT fashion’s night out An international party celebrating style on four continents. 4A WWD, A SPECIAL REPORT, SEPTEMBER 8, 2009 mayoral proclamations The heads of four fashion capitals tout the big night. new york bets on the future milan’s green connection NEW YORK — In public appearances with the fashion Business Services continues to work with local area Letizia crowd, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is often Business Improvement Districts in all five boroughs Moratti the first to jest about his lack of style. But his involve- on ways to promote retail and shopping.” ment with Fashion’s Night Out is far from lighthearted. Once the dust settles on Fashion’s Night Out, city of- All too up-to-speed with how many New York- ficials will size up the event with participating stores. based businesses are ailing or just trying to stay afloat, FNO could “very well” become an annual event, due Bloomberg had no cause to pause after Vogue editor in to the strong response from retailers and the fashion chief Anna Wintour and Diane von Furstenberg, presi- industry at large, Bloomberg said. dent of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, Beyond offering attendees an array of events and spot- approached him a few months ago to propose the lighting some of the city’s design talent, the evening citywide extravaganza. The mayor described is aimed at encouraging shoppers to open the fashion industry as “a vital part of the their wallets to bolster the economy and city’s economy.” celebrate Seventh Avenue, Bloomberg Though he did not specify, New said. There is also a charitable com- York’s economy is the largest re- ponent for New Yorkers — a cloth- gional one in the U.S. and ranks ing drive that will benefit the NYC second internationally to Tokyo. AIDS Fund and a T-shirt sale Bloomberg did note how the ap- that will benefit the National parel industry employs more September 11 Memorial and than 175,000 New Yorkers and Museum, he added. generates more than $1.6 billion Michael As for whether New York in annual tax revenue. Fashion Bloomberg will see a resurgence in ap- week alone reels in more than parel manufacturing in the We want all the Milanese, not 232,000 visitors from all over the wake of the worldwide finan- “ world and generates more than cial fallout, as some analysts only insiders, to be proud of the $466 million in visitor spending. have suggested, Bloomberg was “As importantly, it contributes not sold on the prospect. city’s fashion industry. so much to the city’s creative atmo- “U.S.-based manufacturing in ” sphere and energy, which is a big rea- many sectors has been declining for — Letizia Moratti son why so many people want to live and years, and apparel is no exception to the MILAN — Like most major cities whose economies have work here,” Bloomberg said. trend,” the mayor said. “It’s not realistic to dwindled in the downturn, Milan is looking forward to The mayor, who successfully lobbied for an think New York City will see a return of large-scale some consumer-driven action. amendment to the city’s term limits law and is campaign- apparel manufacturing, but we are very optimistic about Mayor Letizia Moratti described the chance to par- ing for his third consecutive term, will be front-and- the future of the fashion industry in the city and we are ticipate in Fashion’s Night Out as one that “couldn’t be center at the evening’s kickoff festivities at the Queens committed to ensuring that the industry has the manufac- missed, since fashion is Milan’s creative and productive Center Mall, before dropping by several stores to catch turing resources it needs to grow and thrive here.” force, equating work and income for the territory.” some of the fanfare. In total, 800 retailers in the five bor- He also addressed — however obliquely — the sta- Citing fashion and design as creation and beauty, Moratti oughs will be participating, the result of a concerted ef- tus of the Garment Center’s proposed rezoning, which believes notion affects everyone’s tastes and habits. fort between NYC & Company, the city’s marketing, tour- has been an ongoing source of contention with some But Moratti’s upbeat attitude goes beyond fashion, ism and partnership organization, and fashion industry longtime apparel industry tenants who have suggest- as the mayor’s team has masterminded Adopt a Tree, executives. Given the breadth of activities, the mayor ed city officials and developers are raising rents to an eco-friendly initiative conceived especially for Fashion’s Night Out. It is part of a larger green project that ranks high on Moratti’s priority list, aimed at planting 500,000 trees to make the city greener and more homogenous with the suburbs. A large number of the 377 names participating in FNO have agreed to back Adopt a Tree by donating a IANNACCONE AS percentage of their sales from Thursday. Twenty per- M cent of sales from the FNO T-shirts will be donated. THO Based on the proceeds, the city will decide how many BY trees to plant. YORK “It’s an alliance between creative beauty and environ- mental beauty that we strongly advocate,” said Moratti. NEW Thanks to the event, Moratti believes both the Milanese and tourists will discover the true face of the AQUINO; fashion system, one that needs to “surpass an elitist ap- JOHN proach and communicate with people.” BY She also wanted to highlight the importance of fash- ion for Milan and for Italy in general and is happy to PHOTO be doing so in such a fun manner. “We want all the BERG Milanese, not only insiders, to be proud of the city’s M fashion industry,” said Moratti, adding that Italy and LOO B fashion are inseparable, citing such other Milan initia- tives as an exchange program with New York’s Fashion [The apparel industry] contributes so much to the city’s creative Institute of Technology. — Alessandra Ilari atmosphere“ and energy, which is a big reason why so many people want to live and work here. ” — Michael Bloomberg will be ferried to his destinations instead of jumping on squeeze them out of the neighborhood. “We’re work- the subway as he routinely does to get to City Hall. ing through a solution with all of the Garment Center Bloomberg, who is the majority stakeholder in the stakeholders. We’ve always said the Garment Center financial software services company that he founded should remain and prosper as the center of the fash- and bears his name, knows the power of capitalism, ion industry, and we will continue to act to preserve especially in trying financial times such as these. He its critical core,” Bloomberg said. was the eighth wealthiest American with a net worth Whether the city will put into place a Made in NY of $16 billion in last year’s Forbes 400 list. incentive for fashion remains to be seen. “Over the “This is an incredibly tough economic environ- coming months, we will continue to work with leaders ment. It’s going to take increased consumer confidence in the fashion industry, designers, manufacturers and MAESTRI E and spending to turn things around. From the city’s other stakeholders to see what we can do to promote D standpoint, we’re doing everything we can to encour- the industry more successfully. We want to ensure that age tourists and residents to support New York City’s the industry remains healthy and can prosper in New DAVI BY retailers, reignite consumer spending, and boost the York City,” Bloomberg said. local economy,” he said. “And the Department of Small — Rosemary Feitelberg PHOTO WWD, A SPECIAL REPORT, SEPTEMBER 8, 2009 5A WWD.COM london’s designer showcase pumped up in paris LONDON — Boris Johnson, London’s PARIS — Christophe Girard, deputy initiative, 13 cities will participate. It’s exuberant mayor who’s famous for mayor of Paris, is no stranger to night- a great initiative. getting around the city on his bicycle, time events, given his involvement in the said while he’s not an avid fashion annual Nuit Blanche, or White Night, WWD: How do you think Fashion’s Night follower, he does value the impact of when countless Paris galleries, muse- Out will boost retail in Paris? fashion retail on the city’s economy. ums, city halls and even swimming pools C.G.: During Nuit Blanche, galleries, “Even though no one would ac- open their doors all night to visitors. bookshops, restaurants, cafes and mu- cuse me of being particularly well As a result, he has enthusiastically seum shops sell well. Fashion lovers dressed, I appreciate this stuff embraced the idea of Fashion’s Night will enjoy shopping in their favorite and I understand the vital impor- Out and is sure fellow Parisians will join stores for their favorite designers with tance of supporting it,” Johnson him in his nocturnal visit to the city’s so- the night lights in the background. told WWD. “[Fashion] is not just called Golden Triangle. Designer stores something that makes London one on Avenue Montaigne, Rue François WWD: How important is the fashion re- of the most attractive, vibrant cit- 1er and Avenue George V will stay open tail business for Paris? ies to come and live and work in, of until 11 p.m., hosting cocktail parties C.G.: Paris remains the capital of course it earns huge sums of money and special previews of their fashion, where every design- in terms of exports.