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After a hiatus the New York Fashion Walk of Fame is back! The nominations
have been made and the ballots are out.
In 1999, the Fashion Center BID brought together a distinguished group
of fashion editors, retailers, historians and museum curators to create
the Fashion Walk of Fame, the first and only permanent landmark that pays
tribute to American fashion. The fashion industry had long discussed such
an idea, but it took FCBID leadership to bring this important project
to life.
Over the course of the three year project, 24 notable New York designers
were given this honor and decorative plaques honoring these designers
are embedded in the sidewalks along the East Side of Seventh “Fashion” Avenue
from 41st Street to 35th Street. Each plaque displays an original sketch
by the designer, a brief description of the designer’s contribution
to fashion and the designer’s signature.
This year only one living and one deceased designer will be chosen. From
a ballot of 35 candidates, 145 industry professionals will vote to determine
the 2008 honorees.
The Fashion Center BID will host a star-studded Induction Ceremony in
early 2008, during which the plaques will be 08 unveiled and the Fashion
District community will pay tribute to the designer honorees.
The Ballots:
The ballot lists the designer “finalists” who have been chosen
by the Fashion Walk of Fame Selections Committee from among over 100 eligible
candidates. Industry professionals will vote to determine the two designers
from this list who should be the next to be inducted into the Fashion
Walk of Fame. Selection is one from list of living designers; one
from a list of deceased designers.
The Selections Committee determined the criteria for nomination as follows:
The designer must be an American designer with a showroom in New York,
or clearly be identified as a New York designer; The designer must have
been in his/her own business for a minimum of 10 years; The designer must
have been a moving force in the industry, have made a powerful impact
on fashion through innovative design or use of materials, or have significantly
changed the way in which America dresses.
Nominees:
Living Designers:
- Carolina Herrera
- Michael Kors
- Judith Leiber
- Bob Mackie
- Mary McFaddin
- Isaac Mizrahi
- Narciso Rodriquez
- Ralph Rucci
- Arnold Scaasi
- Anna Sui
- Isabel Toledo
- Diane Von Furstenberg
- Vera Wang
- Yeohlee
- Zoran
Deceased Designers
- Donald Brroks
- Tom Brigance
- Hattie Carnegie
- Oleg Cassini
- Liz Claiborne
- Herman Delman
- Anne Forgarty
- Sophie Gimbel
- Elizabeth Hawes
- Mr. John
- Muriel King
- Anne Lowe
- Vera Maxwell
- Clare Potter
- Nettie Rosenstein
- Carolyn Schnurer
- Adele Simpson
- Valentina Sally
- Victor Ben
Zuckerman
To oversee the selection process for induction,
The Fashion Center BID established a Fashion Walk of Fame Selections Committee
as follows: Valerie Steele, Chairperson; Nichole Fischelis; Harold
Koda; Kim Hastreiter; Marylou Luther; Phyllis Magidson; Patricia
Mears; Lavelle Olexa; Sally Singer.
To ensure the utmost integrity in the final selection of inductees, ballots
have been sent to 145 fashion industry business leaders, historians, archivists
and curators.
Past inductees include:
2000 – Geoffrey Beene, Bill Blass, Calvin
Klein, Ralph Lauren. Halston, Rudi Gernreich, Claire McCardell, Norman
Norell
2001 – Oscar Del La Renta, James Galanos, Donna Karan, Pauline
Trigére, Bonnie Kashan, Giorgio Di Sant’ Angelo, Charles
James, Anne Klein
2002 – Stephen Burrows, Marc Jacobs, Betsey Johnson,
Norma Kamali, Lilly Daché, Perry Ellis, Mainbocher, Willi Smith
The winners will be announced in early 2008.
To see more about previous inductees, click here.
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