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NYFW designers see tension with new Kanye West schedule

By Don-Alvin Adegeest

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Fashion

London - A last minute announcement by Kanye West's Adidas-sponsored label Yeezy to show during New York Fashion Week has ruffled more than a few feathers.

It will be the label's second season, with a catwalk and performance scheduled for 12:00pm on Wednesday. The slot clashes with designers Naeem Khan and Anne Bowen, who have been planning their shows with the CFDA for weeks.

For the lesser-known brands, it will be difficult to secure media coverage when the paparazzi will be more interested in the celebrity coverage of West's show. Selling images of celebrities to publication is a paparazzo's bread and butter, so you can hardly blame them for shifting allegiance.

Whilst Naeem Khan is yet to comment about sharing Yeezy's last minute slot, Anne Bowen has responded by moving her show to Thursday, September 17 at 12:30.

Speaking to WWD, Bowen stated: “We have been prepping for a year for this at considerable financial, labour – and commitment - cost to our company. Our show date has been scheduled for months and has been on the Fashion Calendar for weeks. We went through all the proper channels to make this a reality. And just yesterday we learned that Kanye West is having a show at the same time on the same date as ours.”

“Kanye knows he is a media sensation and it is just not ethical to do this. It’s like we are David and he is Goliath. We have put our heart and soul into our show, and should not be stepped on like this,” Bowen continued.

“In order for our show to have any significance, we now have to move our date and time which is a logistical nightmare,” Bowen said. Following West’s actions, Bowen has filed a complaint to the CFDA calendar, who apparently were totally unaware of West showing his collection on the runway this year.

Speaking to WWD, Steven Kolb, president of the CFDA, said: “There was no listing on the Fashion Calendar, and we didn’t know about it. We can’t avoid conflicts unless we know someone’s doing it.”

Shortly after speaking to WWD, Kolb reached out to the Adidas public relations team, who are yet to comment.

Kanye West
Yeezy