WHAT IS A FASHION CAPITAL???????

Fashion Capital is a city where the fashion industry has a relevant and important
position for the local economy. Production and exporting of fashion goods, as well as fashion
events like fashion weeks, trade fairs and awards, boosts its economy and raises its annual
revenue, positively influencing other sectors of the local economy, like the service sector.

Besides this it has an active entertainment and cultural scene, attracting tourists and
consumers not only because of fashion but also because of its leisure variety. With an active,
vivid, strong, unique sub-culture, it can inspire not only fashion professionals, but also the
people in the city, turning the street style and the street culture into an essential characteristic.
This mix of fashion, business, entertainment, culture, and leisure makes a city attractive and
internationally recognised as fashion centres for their unique and strong identity,
differentiating themselves due to specific characteristics.

On the basis of above characteristics, world have many leading fashion capitals out of which
New York, London, Paris and Milan are the soul of the fashion industry. They are the source
of new innovations and latest trends. According to a 2010 survey the top ten fashion cities are
as follows:-

Rank City Region

1 New York North America
2 Hong Kong Asia
3 London Western Europe
4 Paris Western Europe
5 Los Angeles North America
6 Milano Western Europe
7 Sydney Australia
8 Miami North America NEW YORK
9 Barcelona Western Europe
10 Madrid Western Europe

WHY NEW YORK IS CONSIDER AS A FASHION CAPITAL???????

The city is known for its chic street, business wear and its designers. Along with it, it is also
known for its good entertainments in musicals, interesting tour sites and various museums.
New York City is recognised for its big cosmopolitan population, liberalism, and business
central worldwide. It has millions of different cultures, most famous fashion shows are held
here and also it has broadways shows, top restaurants, famous clothing shops and different
boroughs. The busy and cosmopolitan society brought the qualities of the city to make it as a
fashion capital. The city has produced many great designers, mostly known for the street and
daily wears. New York City has been a huge cultural hot spot that interests people from
around the world.

Different boroughs, such as SoHo, the Upper East Side and Greenwich have been is
notorious for its trendsetters and fashionistas for centuries. In terms of imports, New York is
the most desired marketplace to sell goods of all types. It is the home for major fashion
publications which include Vogue, Glamour, Elle, Women's Wear Daily, Lucky, GQ,
Esquire, Harper's Bazaar, and Vanity Fair, the most gorgeous models, the best public
relations firms and the wealthiest social elite. Some of the country's best fashion design
schools are located in New York, and many designers have built their company headquarters
and flagship stores there.

With over 5000 fashion showrooms, New York has reigned as America’s fashion capital for
over a century. The fashion industry has a sales volume of $14 billion, including $12 billion
in wholesale apparel sales. Indeed it was recorded to have 125,000 visits by out-of-town
apparel buyers, generating an estimated $100 million for New York City hotels, restaurants,
transportation services and other non-apparel businesses. New York fashion industry
generates over $14 billion in annual sales sets design trends which are mirrored worldwide. It
is a $55 billion industry that employs 175,000 people, accounts for 5.5 percent of the city’s
workforce and generates nearly $2 billion annually in tax revenues.

The core of the industry is Manhattan's Garment District, where the majority of the city's
major fashion labels operate showrooms and execute the fashion process from design and
production to wholesaling Most fashion originates in the vicinity of Seventh Avenue on
Manhattan Island in the New York City. Seventh Avenue gives its name to the whole
garment district, which is bound by 34th and 40th streets and 6th and 9th Avenues. Crowed into
this area are over 2500 manufacturers and contractors. No other city has a comparable
concentration of fashion businesses and talent in a single district.

New York is remarkable as a fashion capital not just for it vibrancy, but also for its
innovation and diversity. It has the greatest concentration of design talent in the world. Its
wealth of fashion design schools ensures a steady flow of fresh faces and new ideas that
continually reinforce New York’s place at the forefront of fashion innovation. In fall and
spring of each year, fashion designers, buyers, merchandisers, and managers from around the
globe make the pilgrimage to New York City (NYC) to see the classic and avant-garde, sleek
and ostentatious designer collections for the upcoming season.

Fashion Week occurs twice a year, some shows are held in the famous tents in Bryant Park,
while others are spread out across the city, at art galleries, showrooms, and even nightclubs.
It is a heady time, filled with runway shows during the day and parties in the evening.
Established designers cement their legacies and recent design school grads get the chance to
put their burgeoning talents on display for tastemakers.

FASHION HISTORY:-

New York City's rise to fashion prominence began near the end of the 19th century, as new
technologies increased the speed at which clothing could be produced. New York was a main
center of this new manufacturing. According to New York's Lower East Side Tenement
Museum, by 1910, 40% of men's clothes and 70% of women's clothes were made in New
York City.

Early in New York's history, there were many custom dressmakers producing couture
garments for their (mostly wealthy) clients. Styles changed, though, and the less-tailored
clothing of the 1920s and '30s did not require precise fits. Most Americans opted for ready-
to-wear instead. The demand for ready-to-wear clothing produced in New York continued
through the middle of the 1900s. In 1950, one in 10 people in New York City worked in the
garment industry. Many of the high-fashion houses in New York City continue to work with
local garment producers because they can offer high quality and fast turnaround times.
FASHION TRENDS: - NEW YORK is known for its chic street casuals and business wears
or formals. It concentrates more on ready to wear than haute couture.

Major designers of New York are:-

1 - Donna Karan. 2 - Calvin Klein.

3 - Louis Dell 'Olio. 4 - Ralph Lauren.

5 - Nicole Miller. 6 - Oscar de la Renta.

7 - Isaac Mizrahi. 8 - Richard Tyler.

9 - Vera Wang 10- Bill Blass

HONG KONG

WHY HONG KONG IS CONSIDER AS A FASHION CAPITAL???????

Hong Kong is one of the two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of
China and the other one is Macau. It is a city vibrant with dynamism and has gained its
influences mainly from the Chinese, Asian and Western civilization. The province allocates
itself within the Sinic cultural heritage specifically the post-Confucian moral values where it
seems to confine to. The local natives take part in designing the native arts and artifacts,
which is one among the thriving culture of Hong Kong. It is a city of beautiful vases, majestic
embroidery, ancient pots, silk garments, musical instruments, seals, opium pipes along with
historical photographs.

Architecture designing is yet another cultural aspect of this province. Hong Kong is known
for its tall skyscrapers that are shaped in creative architecture. Ieoh Ming Pei's Bank of China
Tower as well as the Kowloon Walled City is some of the stylized modelled architecture that
has been beautifully designed.

It has emerged as a truly hip fashion hub in Asia, setting new parameters for the trendy and
style-savvy, and everybody else who wants to sport the latest and greatest.

The talents of young, up-and-coming designers are being nurtured and their collections can
be found along with those from top international couturiers and fashion houses at most of the
city's upmarket malls and prime shopping areas.
The twice-annual Bangkok Fashion Week and numerous trade fairs held throughout the year
have helped significantly to raise the style bar and, along with fine, value-for-money
workmanship and beautiful textiles like pure silk and cotton in abundance, the stage has been
set to be fabulously in vogue.  

Bangkok is a true treasure trove when it comes to fashion. Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton,
D&G, Hugo Boss, Christian Dior and other world-class labels are housed by Bangkok's
upscale shopping malls like Siam Paragon, The Emporium, and Gaysorn Plaza. For those
with limited financial resources, fret not. Bangkok also offers unending supply of quality and
inexpensive clothes virtually everywhere, be that in malls, small sois, and local markets and
even on the streets.

FASHION TREND:-

Fashion in Hong Kong reflects the fashion in China. So the Chinese traditional dresses are
very popular among the people in Hong Kong.

There are three types of traditional Chinese dresses and these are the pien-fu, the ch'ang-p'ao,
and the shen-i. Also people of this country connect some specific colors to the different
seasons. They believe that green is the color of spring, red signifies summer, white is the
autumnal color and the color black represents winter. So the fashion in the Hong Kong
centres on these colors throughout the year.
 LONDON

WHY LONDON IS CONSIDER AS FASHION CAPITAL???????

London is the vibrant capital of United Kingdom. Its numerous local attractions magnetize
millions of tourists every year. Besides its spectacular attractions, the city is also renowned
for its unique art and antiques that are displayed in its museums. The city is known for great
sites for old English architectures, and urban gathering places, such as Leicester Square,
where they hold world film premiers. London’s architects bring attentions; the Palace of
Westminster, Tower of London, and Tower Bridge are the noticeable attractions. The city has
various cultures existing peacefully. A blend of contemporary style and old times magic can
be experienced in the city. This makes London as a fashion capital. Fashion statements and
trends that are set up in London are followed all over the world. Anna, Ritva Westenius,
Roland Mouret and Danielle Scutt are some renowned designers of London. Christopher
Bailey of Burberry, and Alexander McQueen, London's McQ's founder has created London
to spark as one of the classic and thrilling fashion capital.

London college of Fashion is one of the best colleges in the world that offers specialization
in fashion education.

It is from these influences of culture that shapes London as a truly global and cosmopolitan
fashion capital. Its talent pool of designers and exclusive brands draw upon the finest
materials its empire had to offer then and now.

One can experience vintage fashion or the latest in contemporary designs from large designer
stores to quaint boutiques. Brompton Cross, fondly known as the Tiara Triangle; Burlington
Arcade an extravagant emporium of luxury; Dover Street Market for quaint and unique
oddities; Sloan Street for Top End Brands; South Molton Street for the proverbial ‘street
paved in gold’ or Westbourne Grove for charming boutiques. Numerous brands such as Next,
Marks and Spencer, Gap, Russell and Bromely and Body shop are operating in this region.

There are several Fashion events in London. Fashion shows, Fashion Films and photograph
exhibitions are some of the events. Stylish Boutiques and Studios of London elucidate all
these places in a unique way. London fashion week, off- schedule initiatives and graduate
Fashion week are some of the most awaited events. Fashion shows organized in London are
admired by all for its rapid pace, talent and sleek creativity. Designers look forward to this
event and explore new directions and fashion statements. Designers from all over the world
showcase their exclusive piece of work in these shows. One should visit this city of glamour
and fashion once in a lifetime know the rich lifestyle and dazzling aura that is prevalent here.
The British capital has built its strength on generating new talents and promoting young
designers. Already dotted with some of the best fashion schools in the world -- Central Saint
Martin’s and the London College of Fashion, to name but a couple -- the city and its fashion
industry have systematically backed initiatives like NEWGEN, which this year allowed 25
designers to exhibit their creations in Somerset House, the main venue of London Fashion
Week, and Fashion Forward, which gives a financial prize and business support to three
selected designers.
With opportunities looming, young creative talents are flocking to London to get their big
break, and a chance to showcase their work in front the cream of crop.

FASHION TREND: - . London fashion is known for classic, casual and formal luxury
clothing for people all around.

PARIS

WHY PARIS IS CONSIDER AS A FASHION CAPITAL???????

Paris is the first and the most influential fashion capital of all in the world. It became a
fashion capital because of its beautiful boutiques, the couture houses and top designers. The
city is also known for great architects like Eiffel tower, the Arche de Triophme, Place de la
concorde and food. The people can enjoy operas, dances and theatres in the city. It became to
be the top fashion capital due to its history of the fashion fanatic royalties. The city produced
many famous designers and fashion houses which gained tremendous popularity all over the
world. Karl Lagerfeld for the House of Chanel and Marc Jacobs of Louis Vuitton are one of
the most top designers that made the brands more popular.
Nearly all French fashion top brands have their main store on Avenue Montaigne or rue du
Faubourg Saint-Honore, both near Champs Elysees Avenue. The Saint-Germain des Pres
district on the left bank has many French designer stores. These are scattered in streets around
rue de Sevres with its flagship luxury department store Le Bon Marche. More recently, the
rue des Rosiers in Le Marais emerged as one of Paris foremost fashion streets.

The city is the home or headquarters to many of the premier fashion houses. The Paris
fashion houses attract many foreign designers. The expression “Haute couture”- in France, is
an officially confined name, this is to assure certain quality standards. In Paris you can find
the Paris Fashion week take place twice a year, after the London Fashion week. Paris attracts
fashion firms throughout the world. The world greatest jewelers are all in Paris creating
fashion to the peak in jewelry too. A lot of affordable fashionable clothes from various
famous brands could be found in Paris.

The city is mainly known for its houte couture. There is a very famous street in Paris 8th
arrondissement - Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore. The Palace Elyse is on this street. On this
street, there are many Houte Couture shops. The older generation foreigners might feel quite
at home of the Haute Couture shops. Now, these Haute Couture shops still exist, and they are
still selling Houte Couture, but today at very limited volume: there are only 2000 women in
the world buying Houte Couture every year. Houte Couture is not a profitable business today.
Houte Couture companies are making money with their “by-products" They are selling “prêt-
porter- ready to wear clothes, perfume and cosmetics, watches and jewellery, and so on. One
can find top quality clothes, shoes, bags, and leather goods here. Though these are not real
Houte Couture, the quality is guarantee, and the price is much lower than real Houte Couture.
 The street “Rue du Faubourg
Saint-.Honore” palace Elyse is also on this street.

FASHION TREND:-

French fashion is known for its elegant designs such as black dress. And also other fashion
innovations, that includes the two-tone sling back pump, the two-piece tweed suit and a range
of clothing that is both elegant and unconstrained. French fashion had a crave for black dress
as the reason that a single black dress can be worn casually with flats and a sweater or may be
changed into evening wear with high heels and a gaudy handbag or scarf. There are many
dress mode existing today, but French women normally choose clothing that is close apt, but
not astringent. Black and white clothing is craze for French women, to be worn seasonally.
The white blouse in its many incarnation from classic button-down to peasant-like Bohemian
can be added to the costume all together or worn with a pair of black pants-consider glossy
black denim or black suede.

With French fashion, in shape of the clothing is awfully important. Whatever your body type,
be sure to wear clothing that fits you quite good, and this is a hallmark of French style. On
average, most of an outfit spins in the order of a dominant color, like black, with even other
neutral colors are also been introduced. A three-piece collection might include a brown
leopard-print skirt, a white blouse, and a beige cardigan. When in nights in town French
fashion do take in lavender cocktail dress adorned magenta-colored scarf and amethyst-
beaded handbag. Tone on tone colors is typical a Paris color choices for everyday wear.

In Paris most of the neutral colors-beige, white, black, or navy are only for daily wear, whilst
reds, purples, or more gaudy garments are worn only at night. When talking on the French
fashion accessories do include the black leather belts-one with silver and one with gold
buckles-black and white high heels and black and white handbags.

The lack of sweats and very casual clothes is also evident on the streets of Paris – the
Parisian crowd seems to simply be a more professional.

MILAN
 WHY MILAN IS CONSIDER AS A FASHION CAPITAL???????

Milan is a city located in Italy known for their famous Italian designers. Milan is one of the
largest cities in Italy. Milan has famous recognition for its food, patriotism for sports,
religion, and popular tourist sites, such as the Milan Cathedral, The Duomo, the third largest
church in the world. The city has produced many luxury brands from various designers and
became one of the fashion centrals of the world. Giorgio Armani and Gianni Versace have
created a mega fashion empires from their fashion houses they created, Armani and Versace,
respectively.

The range of retail outlets in Milan runs from the high fashion boutiques, to small shops,
department stores, supermarkets, discount outlets, and street markets. Some parts of the city
even have a specific character as regards shopping.

The heart of the luxury shopping area in Milan is Via Montenapoleone, Via della Spiga and
Via Sant’Andrea, elegant streets that together with Via Manzoni, Via Borgospesso and Via
Santo Spirito are the outer limits of the famous Fashion Quadrilatero. Designer clothes from
people such as Gucci, Versace, Luis Vinton, Pravda, Valentino, Cartier, Tenino Crisco and
D&G fill the shop windows.

There are four important streets in the city that are almost entirely dedicated to shopping;
Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Corso Buenos Aires, Via Torino and Corso di Porta Ticinese. Here
brands such as Max Mara, H&M, Zara and Furla. Corso Buenos Aires, one of the longest
streets in Europe and is even more commercial.

Here you can find most of

the major Italian fashion
brands, such as Valentino,
Gucci, Versace, Prada,
Armani and Dolce &
Gabbana, are currently
headquartered in the city.
Numerous international fashion labels also operate shops in Milan, including an Abercrombie
& Fitch flagship store which has become a main consumer attraction. Milan also hosts the
Milan Fashion Week twice a year, just like other international centres such as Paris, London,
Tokyo, and New York. Milan's main upscale fashion district is the Quadrilatero della moda
(literally, "fashion quadrilateral"), where the city's most prestigious shopping streets (Via
Monte Napoleon, Via della Spiga, Via Sant'Andrea, Via Manzoni and Corso Venezia) are
held. The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the Piazza del Duomo, Via Dante and Corso Buenos
Aires are other important shopping streets and squares. Mario Prada, founder of Prada was
even born here, helping to cultivate its position as a world fashion capital.

Via
Manzoni
Via Monte Napoleon, one of the top
fashion streets in the world and in the Via della Spiga
"Milan Fashion Quadrilateral" Corso Venezia
FASHION TREND: - Milanese fashion is regarded as being practical, but elegant and
highly refined at the same time, concentrating more on stylish ready-to-wear clothes, rather

than extravagant haute couture.