Los Angeles Fashion Week Jumps Into a New Season in the Heart of Hollywood
Los Angeles Fashion Week is going Hollywood, kicking off Wednesday with a slate of programming being held at a central location — a production studio — perfect for hosting its multiformat events with a full roster of L.A. designers.
“It’s definitely going to be a lot different than last year,” said Ciarra Pardo, one of the cofounders of N4XT Experiences, the live-event company that is the organizer and owner of LA Fashion Week, a trademarked name. “Last year we were split up between three locations. This year, 95 percent of our programming is set in one location.”
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That’s NYA Studios, formerly Goya Studios, a production and event facility in the middle of the happening-once-again neighborhood filled with new hotels, rooftop bars, nightclubs and highly touted restaurants.
NYA Studios encompasses two buildings that house a 77-seat cinema where panels, chats and film screenings will be held, a nearly 12,000-square-foot, high-ceiling event space, a contemporary lounge and a coffee bar. There are also studios for runway shows and presentations by the diverse range of designers, including more established names and more up-and-coming, youth-oriented or community-focused brands.
New this year are certain sections open to the general public to join in. “You do have to sign up for specific shows, presentations or chats, but we do have an open campus to experience. However, you must RSVP for those opportunities,” said Pardo, who is also the president of LA Fashion Week, and formerly was chief creative officer of Rihanna’s Fenty.
Visitors can explore the BeautyLab, a collaborative venture with Lancôme, which is a partner of LA Fashion Week. It highlights the latest innovations in beauty technology and sustainability. There will also be a retail experience in partnership with software company SAP, which allows people to shop the collections of select participating designers. An open art collection is also available to the public.
This year, nearly 60 percent of the 28 designers participating in LA Fashion Week are from L.A., a fairly high ratio compared with previous LA Fashion Weeks where there was a sizable international and out-of-town participation rate.
Kicking off the event, which goes from Wednesday to Oct. 22, is L.A. fashion company Imitation of Christ, relaunched in 2020 by Tara Subkoff. It will stage one of the few off-site presentations Wednesday evening at The Hole, a contemporary art gallery. The arty vibe is in keeping with the label’s creation of upcycled pieces layered with meaning.
One of the big attractions this year is Sergio Hudson, who has dressed former First Lady Michelle Obama and Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as Beyoncé, Blake Lively, Keke Palmer and many more.
He will be front and center on Thursday evening with a capsule collection of spring 2024 looks. This is his first show in L.A. He had an extensive runway show for his fall ‘23 collection in September during New York Fashion Week with a see now, buy soon business model. But he is transitioning back to a regular buying season.
“I was going to do a photo shoot to show the spring collection, and then this opportunity came along. And Los Angeles was perfect to show the collection because it is very summery, white and crisp,” he explained. “My inspiration is summer in the Hamptons. That feel of being on vacation and yachting.”
There will be some traditional suiting, for which he is known, and dresses that will make up the casual formal looks that also take a nod from Los Angeles, where he resides.
Returning to the LA Fashion Week runway for a third year is Rio Uribe, whose genderless Gypsy Sport label is inspired by subcultures, including the Chicano style of his youth. The designer used to be based in New York but returned to his native Los Angeles in 2019. Next year, he is changing the name of his label because some people objected to the word “gypsy.”
Last month, Uribe showed at New York Fashion Week after being absent for a few years. But he is dedicated to the L.A. fashion scene. “We have built such a great community in Los Angeles. New York doesn’t feel like home anymore,” he said. “LA Fashion Week is still growing. It hasn’t reached the amount of hype or popularity or reference as New York Fashion Week. But what stood out for me is when Gypsy Sport started in New York, we were really big underground, but not necessarily with the press or the fashion community. And that is what is happening with L.A., and it feels great.”
Other designers participating in LA Fashion Week include Sami Miró Vintage, which again will be presenting its collection in a film screening similar to last year, after having shown fall 2023 at New York Fashion Week. L.A.-based Kwame Adusei is setting his collection apart with a runway presentation at his West Hollywood store.
Other designers presenting will include L.A.’s Tadashi Shoji, whose collection of cocktail and evening dresses will be seen in a digital presentation on Friday afternoon.
LA Fashion Week has been implementing digital and film presentations more than most fashion weeks, which is a nod to future ways of exploring fashion. L.A.-based No Sesso, designed by Pierre Davis and Autumn Randolph, who have shown their work at Miami’s Art Basel, will be the closing the runway shows on Sunday afternoon.
This is only the second season and second year that LA Fashion Week has been organized by N4XT Experiences. Under the company’s guidance, fashion shows will only be presented in October. The spring season will be reserved for a beauty, health and wellness festival called BeautyDays, set to take place in New York and Los Angeles.
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