John Varvatos Joins New York Fashion Week: Men’s

by Harry Sheff
John Varvatoa and Steven Kolb, CFDA CEO.
John Varvatoa and Steven Kolb, CFDA CEO.

John Varvatos will join New York Fashion Week: Men’s this July, marking a return to New York after showing his collections in Milan, Italy for the last 13 seasons. His spring 2016 collection runway show will close Fashion Week on Thursday, July 16.

“From the time I started my brand in 2000, the timing between NYFW and the menswear calendar was never truly aligned,” Varvatos said in a statement. “After eight years of showing in NY, I moved my show to Milan and gained a global audience. We’ve shown there for the past seven years and it’s been a wonderful experience and a real boost for our international growth. Last month, we opened a store in my hometown of Detroit and we received such an overwhelmingly positive response that it made me want to bring the fashion show back to New York. I am very excited about coming home to help launch the first ever NYC menswear week!”

CFDA chief Steven Kolb added, “John Varvatos is quintessentially American, a leading menswear brand, a global success, and the CFDA is proud to welcome John back home. Having him show during New York Fashion Week: Men’s solidifies our efforts and emphasizes the importance of New York City as an international influence on the business of menswear.”

The CFDA announced in February that it would produce a separate Fashion Week for the menswear market starting July 13-16 this year. So far, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein Collection, Michael Kors, Rag & Bone, Public School, Billy Reid, Todd Snyder, Michael Bastian, Ovadia & Sons, Robert Geller, Duckie Brown, Patrik Ervell, Timo Weiland and Kent & Curwen have signed on.