The Tents; The Evolution of New York Fashion Week

As New York Fashion Week starts to rear it's perfectly cut and dyed bobbed head, it's interesting to think about how it got to be such an amazing, intense and extremely important event in the world of fashion. I remember first moving to New York when I was eighteen years old, eager to go to real fashion show. I attended my first official fashion week show that same year. I went to the Monarchy collection show at the tents in Bryant Park. Monarchy is not a brand I was particularly a big fan of, but I would've done anything to get to be in those tents. Finally getting in to the place I've seen in photographs and read about it felt like a dream come true. There I saw the most well dressed people I had ever seen, camera flashes sparkling every room, and gorgeous celebrities stepping out of fancy cars. It was amazing and a feeling that has remained with me anytime I attend a show.

Today, Lincoln Center is the primary venue for most New York Fashion Week Shows. Like the collections shown there, it exudes elegance, glamour and everything high fashion is known for. However, many thought the tents at Bryant Park were eternal and were a bit upset that they would cease to exist. The reality is fashion changes and evolves all the time....and so does the industry. There was a time when New York based designers showed at warehouses and night clubs around the city. It wasn't always the highly organized and convenient event that it is today.

The evolution of New York fashion week is an interesting one, and one that the Documentary channel chose to tell the story of. Director James Belzer and Cinematographer Marcus K. Jones catalogue the birth of New York Fashion Week, its expansion and finally its move out of Bryant Park, fashion week’s home since 1993, to Lincoln Center, and what the future holds for this epic week.

Told with exclusive behind the scenes footage and intimate interviews with top fashion players such as: Betsey Johnson, Carolina Herrera, Donna Karan, Glenda Bailey, Hal Rubenstein, Tommy Hilfiger and Zac Posen, to name just a few. Great commentaries are also featured with Carson Kressley, Patrick McMullan, Michael Musto and Robert Verdi, adding humor to the mix. THE TENTS is a tantalizing must-see - a unique chance to see behind the scenes at the the fashion industry's biggest event.

The Tents airs on Documentary Channel September 8th at 8pm ET/PT. If you really love this industry, I know you'll love the film. I highly recommend it.