New York Fashion Week isn’t in a rut, per se. It’s reflective of the realities of the current industry, which is dealing with the impossibilities of running an independent fashion label today. It also mirrors the state of the country: instability reduces appetite for risk.
Runway collections aren’t so much used as the full extent of artistic expression anymore; the pieces could strut right off the catwalk to the sales floor. Every buyer I spoke to gushed over the Khaite show — they’re excited to get their hands on it.