In 2008, the four leading global fashion week organizers – the Council of Fashion Designers of America, British Fashion Council, Chambre Syndicale, and Camera Nazionale della Moda – met and agreed to adhere to what is now informally called the “Second Thursday Rule” whereupon New York Fashion Week will always start on the second Thursday of February and September.
New York: 2nd Thursday – 3rd Thursday
London: 3rd Friday – 4th Tuesday
Milan: 4th Wednesday – following Wednesday (1/2 day)
*since this agreement, Milan has become one day shorter, now finishing on Tuesday each season
Paris: To commence the same final ½ day of Milan and continue for 9 days
All four fashion capitals have kept to this agreement, to date, and the U.S. will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
As you may have read, the dates for showing the Spring/Summer 2013 Collections are now being disputed. Milan is claiming that the agreement was for three years only. This is not the case; the agreed-to schedule was always meant to be a long-term/permanent one.
By nature of the calendar, some years the second Thursday of the month occurs early in the month, other times it is later. For September 2012, the second Thursday start provides New York with extra time since the shows will start the week after Labor Day.
Thus, Spring/Summer 2013 Collections will be as follows:
New York: Thursday, September 13– Thursday, September 20, 2012
London: Friday, September 21 – Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Milan: Wednesday, September 26– Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Paris: Tuesday, October 2– Wednesday, October 10, 2012
While the Camera Nazionale della Moda in Milan has expressed displeasure with the late start for September, we do not feel that New York should shift earlier. Our colleagues at the British Fashion Council support this decision, as they cannot change their dates either.
At this time, Milan currently plans to organize their shows from Wednesday, September 19 – Tuesday, September 25, which is in direct conflict with New York and London show dates.
The Council of Fashion Designers of America, as well as the British Fashion Council, will continue to honor the agreed upon dates through the 2012 calendar year. We are in discussions with all parties involved and believe that it is only fair that we all honor the existing agreement.