The enthusiasm leading up to fashion week has slowly dissolved through the years…
And part of that may or may not be attributed to fashion influencers. From pure observation, I firmly believe that fashion blogs allow people like us to navigate what once felt like a secret treasure hunt. Now that more and more of the general public is able to attend shows, the less people care about them, but they still hold high value. There’s been a lot of talk about what the future of fashion week might become… We’ve heard the lamentations of Vogue Editors who refuse to mask their sentiment towards bloggers strutting to and fro shows.
But why does any of this hold relevance? I’ve asked the question myself – and if you haven’t figured it out, here’s why fashion week matters to influencers…
Industry Credentials. If you’re able to attend fashion week, you’re viewed as a fashion insider. It increases your possibilities of being shot by street style photographers, which often result in magazine features. Note that magazines today love sending out designated photogs who purely scout and shoot people who they find worthwhile. Sometimes, one feature is all it takes to garner the attention and credit needed to propel you forward. The more shows and seasons you attend, the more you parlay your appearance into fame. You’re then able to use these attendances as leverage for working with luxury brands and attending more exclusive shows (like Marc Jacobs and Alexander Wang) or charging higher rates!
Build Relationships & Make Connections. We always hear, “you’re only as good as the people you know” – and this holds particularly true in the fashion industry. NYFW is an excellent time to build relationships and make connections because PR reps, managers, and agents from across the world are flying in to attend shows! The more you can show your face, the better impact you can make connecting with these individuals. There’s so much volatility in the fashion industry that you never know who’s left what company to go work for a new company – and you just never know who so and so might be able to introduce you to. Fashion week matters in this sense because it makes you more connected than ever which only opens up the doors for more opportunities.
So, how was I able to attend Taoray Wang’s SS18 show? I mentioned in this post that I met up with Tina for a free shoot and she was able to get me into the show as her photographer. Key lesson: Work hard, be kind, and connect authentically.
Taoray Wang SS18 shot by me.
