Why LA Fashion Week has, for the most part, disappointed

By

Chenu Alexis

Published
Oct 19, 2022

Taken over this year by the event agency N4XT Experiences, and its president Ciarra Pardo, Fenty's former creative director, the new edition of LA Fashion Week, renamed LAFW, promised an unprecedented event under the sign of beauty, technology and eco-responsibility. But on the ground, the event failed to impress. 
 

Although the event got off to a good start with an inaugural show orchestrated by Maxwell Osborne's label AnOnlyChild. The brand attracted a cool audience, including many celebrities, and invited its guests to discover a relaxed fashion inspired by Jamaica. However, the rest of the event was disappointing, to say the least. With only two days of shows and four parties, the shortened Los Angeles Fashion Week schedule was lacking. 
 
Lacking in coherence, the selection of brands and designers, mixing lingerie, ready-to-wear and couture, raises questions. No major label on the program, except for the presence of Guess, who came here to celebrate its 40th anniversary during a flat party and Levi's, whose participation was limited to a collaboration. 

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The event attracted a large number of unknown brands, some sponsored by the Asian Journal group. These brands included Chris Nick or Francis Libiran, which seemed to have arrived at LAFW by the greatest of coincidences. Others brands came from Instagram and mediocre communities, like Attachments - not to be confused with the Japanese label Attachment - led by two very young designers and whose collection "Worst Generation" was not the revelation of the year.

Relying more on her New York network than the one she has in California, the president Ciarra Pardo, who lives in New York, managed to convince 3 New York labels to participate in the affair. AnOnlyChild, which seeks to develop its network of retailers in California, the lingerie brand Fleur du Mal which has a boutique in Los Angeles and came here to celebrate its 10th anniversary, and Gypsy Sport, whose fashion show opened to diversity, finally brought a little pep, glamour and humor to the event.
 
Poorly represented, the brands created in Los Angeles or California could be counted on the fingers of one hand. Local denim specialist Shay Sudry's brand Revice, did not get a standing ovation, while Sami Miro Vintage, with its creative and upcycled denim collection, saved the day with a collaboration and a film signed with Levi's.
 
On the program, Delta Airlines got out attention for a moment, out of curiosity. In association with actress Issa Rae, the airline unveiled its first fashion collection. A curation rather than a collection the American actress, played stylist for the evening, composing a silhouette for the modern traveler made up with 6 independent brands. "A line for style and comfort" explained the company. One that should certainly not make fashion history.