fall 2009

Who Is AWOL This Fashion Week?

Drumroll, please: Fashion Week officially kicks off tomorrow. Finally! But are you ready? Because, unfortunately, not everyone’s onboard. Let’s thank the economy for that. Already, designers are compensating for their mounting financial problems by cutting invite lists (Marc, Zac), choosing low-key presentations (Vera, Betsey), or finding ways to show online (Halston). But then (dun dun dun) there are those who aren’t showing at all. One cancellation after another is the tangible realization that the recession sucks. Below we’ve compiled our list of the designer-AWOL crowd. We can only hope they return next season, restored and ready to rock a runway again. In the meantime, you can stop checking your in-box now — these invites aren’t coming.

LISTED AS CANCELED
Benjamin Cho: “For the first time I thought it was a little bit obnoxious to throw a fashion show for myself,” he says.
Francis by Christian Francis Roth: The designer just “came back” last season, and now he will do a look book instead of a runway or presentation.
Gap: Patrick Robinson and his Gap crew won’t be showing until April.
Hanii Y: The label is “holding off” on a runway show or presentation.
Mikhael Kale: All of his samples got damaged in transit, forcing a last-minute cancellation.
Rory Beca: Designer Rory Edelman is a no-show.
Rubin Singer: We hear that the designer didn’t feel like the time was right to do anything too extravagant.
Sari Gueron: Canceled her show citing the recession; instead will do showroom appointments only.
Steven Alan: He’s growing — new store, new collaboration — just not a show.
Sue Stemp: The designer told us she can’t do a show this season.
Willow: Sydney-based Kit Willow won’t be making an appearance Stateside — on the runway, at least.

MISSING IN ACTION
Malo: We’re not sure why, but this label is missing!
Peter Som: It hasn’t been an easy year for Peter. When we caught up with him in January, plans were still up in the air. Weeks later, they still are.
Thom Browne: He wanted to show in Europe, so he did — and insists he didn’t snub New York.

Who Is AWOL This Fashion Week?