Hasta La Ideas

West siiide! A rendering of the new home of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.

The countdown is on to the Lincoln Center debut of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, which will take place September 9 to 16 in Damrosch Park. IMG today unveiled plans for the relocated event, which will feature enhancements to the tents, the ability to stage additional presentations, and access to major transportation routes. Come September, showgoers and designers will find a less chaotic lobby, modified runway theaters and modular designer spaces that support advanced production capabilities, as well as new decor, increased venue/runway sizes, and seating enhancements. In addition to the usual three runway venues (The Theatre, The Stage, and The Studio will replace Bryant Park’s Tent, Promenade, and Salon, respectively) a new fourth presentation space will host designer presentations, industry forums, and press conferences. An expanded web presence is also in the works. All of the improvements won’t translate into increased venue costs for designers, which IMG says will remain the same as in previous seasons. Mercedes-Benz has renewed an agreement to remain the event’s title sponsor for the next three years, but one Fashion Week staple won’t be making the move uptown. Fern Mallis is stepping down from her post as senior vice president of IMG to start her own consulting firm, WWD reports. “It’s something I have been thinking about for a while,” said Mallis, who joined IMG in 2001. “When we were planning the move to Lincoln Center, it felt like closure. It’s time for a new adventure.”

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