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The FCBID has created a variety of initiatives designed to promote the district and its diverse tenant base, including the Fashion Walk of Fame and Art + Design in the Fashion District.
PORT AUTHORITY PARTNERSHIP The FCBID continues to collaborate with the Port Authority on a variety of projects. In an effort to improve the pedestrian experience on the Port Authority block between 41st and 42nd streets, the FCBID installed panels in Port Authority ground floor space, displaying fabrics donated by Mood Fabric and a panel promoting the Fashion District and the FCBID’s Fashion District Source Book.
The Terminal also asked the FCBID to coordinate their Tunes in the Terminal program during December and February. Tunes in the Terminal is a series of musical performances, similar to the subway music series.
FASHION WALK OF FAME® At the urging of the fashion industry and the public, the Fashion Walk of Fame selections committee was reconvened this year, after a 5-year hiatus, to consider nominations for the next designers to be inducted into the Fashion Walk of Fame. The Fashion Walk of Fame is the only landmark that celebrates the fashion designers who established New York as a world fashion capital. It honors each with a commemorative plaque installed along Seventh Avenue. The Walk serves as a tourist attraction and streetscape element. This year a ballot of 35 nominees, including both living and deceased designers, was distributed to 114 industry leaders and professionals. In April it was announced that Diane von Furstenberg and the late Liz Claiborne had been chosen as this year’s inductees. They will be honored at an event in Summer 2008, when their commemorative plaques are unveiled.
DISTRICT HISTORY Having completed research on a detailed history of the Fashion District, the FCBID has created a commemorative history book that will be available to the public at the Information Kiosk. Along with the history, the FCBID is also working on a tour of the district for the public, which will include a tour booklet. The tour will showcase important landmarks and buildings in the district. Given the great interest in this topic, the FCBID is also actively pursuing collaborations with various NYC museums, in the hopes that this information might also be made into a public exhibition.
KITE FLIGHT The FCBID’s third annual Kite Flight event took place on September 23 on the roof of the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Kite Flight is one of New York City’s most colorful and unique events, and has grown considerably in popularity to become a much-anticipated annual affair. Four hundred children and families enjoyed this year’s event.
Participants included artists from Materials for the Arts and fashion designers who conducted free workshops to assemble and decorate the kites. Performances included music by Louie & Subanda and flying yoga demonstrations by OM Factory. An interactive concert, face painting and refreshments were also part of the festivities.
The FCBID thanks the participating and sponsoring organizations including: Children for Children Foundation, Free Arts NYC, Lower Eastside Girls Club, Materials for the Arts, M&S Schmalberg and Tinsel Trading Company. And special thanks, once again, to the Port Authority for allowing use of its space.
ART + DESIGN IN THE FASHION DISTRICT The FCBID’s fourth annual Art + Design in the Fashion District, a weeklong festival, took place October 15 – 21. The festival, which attracts thousands of visitors to the Fashion District, celebrates the vibrancy and creativity of the neighborhood that is not only a global center of fashion, but has also emerged as a center of cultural and artistic life.
The Festival featured over 200 events, 175 participants and 50 venues during the seven-day period. Over 3000 individuals attended the events. As in years past, the festival kicked off with a free outdoor concert on the plaza at 1411 Broadway, followed by Off-Broadway performances, gallery exhibits, avant-garde performance art and behind-the-scenes visits to artists’ studios. In addition, pottery, papermaking and printmaking were on display. Most of the events held during the festival were free of charge.
One of the most unique aspects of the festival was the creative use of district loading bays as exhibition spaces. The renowned arts organization, chashama, presented 8 exciting performance art installations by emerging New York City artists in loading bays throughout the district, as well as in chashama’s own window performance space. Light installations by Lightswitch were on display in three locations throughout the district, including the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
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