Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Closes the Tents for the Last Time

From February 11th to February 18th, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week celebrated its final season in Bryant Park, moving in September to its new home at Lincoln Center.

The now iconic Bryant Park Tents were adorned with quotes from fashion industry insiders sharing their memories of how the event has impacted the world of fashion and changed the lives of both designers and industry professionals alike. The official program of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week was filled with quotes from influential designers and fashionistas reflecting on the 18 years of fashion at Bryant Park and the move to Lincoln Center.

According to model Karolina Kurkova, “The Tents weren’t just a location. They were a place that symbolized fashion and a community.” Fashion consultant Tim Gunn proposes that “a plaque be mounted in the park as a legacy: ‘The Bryant Park Tents 1993-2010 branded New York as the indisputable fashion capital of the world.’” Next season, the community will spread its wings and rebuild itself at a different New York City cultural center.

This September, the shows will take place for the first time at Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park, a move that puts the event squarely in its place as a cultural landmark and that allows the event to adapt to a new century. Just as many are sad to see the Tents move from their original home, several fashion icons are eager to witness the evolution of Fashion Week to a fresh scene. Designer Tracy Reese says, “Bryant Park will always have a special place in my heart. Showing in the Tents meant ‘You made it’! I’m looking forward to the future of Lincoln Center and showing my collection in a distinguished setting immersed in culture, history, and beauty.”

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is an IMG event.