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Fashion Week in New York City
Series Looks Behind the Scenes at the Style Industry

audio iconHear a report from NPR's Rick Karr on designer knockoffs.

Wenlan Chia

Wenlan Chia, whose Twinkle label makes its Fashion Week debut.
Credit: Courtesy Wenlan Chia




Wilson Chan (aka Mr. Wilson DJ), mixing runway music.
Credit: Courtesy MAO Public Relations


A selection from Nanette Lepore's fall lineup

A selection from Nanette Lepore's fall lineup.
Credit: Courtesy Nanette Lepore



Silver shoe with moire ribbon and ankle strap

For Edmundo Castillo, who designed this silver shoe (priced at $450 a pair), his shoes come alive when they're worn.
Credit: Courtesy Edmundo Castillo


Sept. 15-19, 2003 -- As Fashion Week begins in New York City, Morning Edition kicks off a five-part series examining the business and spectacle of the style industry.

The series follows a young designer as she prepares a show alongside the biggest names in the business, explores what goes into making great music for models to parade to, reveals the secrets behind fashion trends, looks at why designs aren't protected by copyright laws, and checks out what it really means to be well-heeled.

Monday, Sept. 15
More A Designer's First Big Show
Jeff Lunden follows designer Wenlan Chia as she prepares for her first big fashion show. What's involved, why is Fashion Week important and what are her expectations?

Tuesday, Sept. 16
More Runway Music
An integral part of the spectacle of style, music helps communicate the designer's vision and underscores the points he or she needs to make... as well as getting the models moving and the audience primed to buy. How do designers chose their music and what will they be using this year? How do designers select music for a show? NPR's Neda Ulaby reports.

Wednesday, Sept. 17
MoreForecasting the New Black
This year's black is...? A few times a year, companies you've probably never heard of come out with the colors, shapes and fabrics that will dominate retail stores around the world. Are they predicting the future or stating the obvious? NPR's Elizabeth Blair profiles David Wolfe, one of the most respected trend forecasters in the business.

Thursday, Sept. 18
More Designer Knockoffs
Some clothing designers are watching this week's fashion shows in New York with an eye to knocking off their competitors' designs. The fashion business is rife with unauthorized copying, but it's relatively free of infringement lawsuits seen in the music industry. NPR's Rick Karr reports.

Friday, Sept. 19
MoreFancy Footwear
Why do women have a "thing" for shoes? The consequences of wearing these mega-buck, mega-high-inched stilettos often include a trip to a podiatric surgeon for enhancements to better wear those unnatural foot wraps (the price one pays for looking fabulous). Karen Michel reports.


In Depth

MoreSept. 16, 2003: Fall Fashions with Vogue's André Leon Talley

MoreSept. 12, 2003: Textile Manufacturing Shifts Overseas

MoreAug. 28, 2003: 'What Not to Wear'

MoreAug. 11, 2003: Watching 'Tweens' Go Shopping

MoreAug. 5, 2003: Marilyn Monroe's Plus-Size Body Myth

MoreMarch 21, 2003: Oscar Fashion

MoreJan. 28, 2003: A Biography of Ralph Lauren

MoreJan. 24, 2003: American Sweatshops, Here and Abroad

MoreDec. 17, 2002: Commentary: Feed the Models

MoreNov. 5, 2002: Fashion in Film

MoreOct. 29, 2002: Biography of fashion editor Diana Vreeland

MoreOct. 21, 2002: Hip Hop Fashion

MoreSept. 14, 2002: Underwear Through the Ages

MoreJune 13, 2002: Remembering Bill Blass


Web Resources

The Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Web site




   
   
   
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