The Mission
Boston Fashion Week was founded in 1995. The week of fashion related events throughout Greater Boston serves as a platform for both established industry professionals and aspiring newcomers to showcase the great wealth of local talent.
It has received an official proclamation from the Mayor’s office every year that officially declares it Boston Fashion Week in the city, along with letters of support and citations from the Governor of Massachusetts. In 2001 the Governor issued a proclamation declaring it Boston Fashion Week in the state of Massachusetts.
BFW was designed to market and promote fashion in Boston; to acquire, assemble and distribute information regarding fashion in Boston; to act as a liaison between local industry factions involved in the sectors of community service, education, tourism and the local economy.
Boston Fashion Week has created and coordinated well organized, easy to access, informative systems that increases the visibility of their efforts in Boston throughout the years. It has also developed a structure that allows for a balance between creativity and consistency while fostering a sense of community among those who are involved each year.
"A strong arts and cultural sector is vital to the future of New England's economic growth and competitiveness."
The Creative Economy Initiative
A New England Council Report, June 2000
The Creative Economy Initiative a study sponsored by the Massachusetts Cultural Council shows how important a role the arts play in New England. The study sites that the creative industries is a larger cluster than those normally seen as a driving force in the region (health technology and computer software) employing 245,000 (3.5 percent of the regions work force).
"Massachusetts has long believed that culture builds community"
MCC’s Executive Director, Mary Kelley
The Bridge
Each fashion week throughout the United States and Europe has an identity. New York is the voice of the modern. Paris is the home of couture. London is the setting for the cutting edge of fashion. With Boston in such close proximity to a major fashion city like New York, it is important to cultivate a strong identity without losing sight of the fact that it is not a competition. Boston can build a place for itself with the multi-billion dollar international fashion industry.
What does Boston’s annual week of fashion have going for it? What sets it apart from New York and other fashion centers? Why would local designers not choose to travel down to New York to do their shows? Why would designers outside of the Boston area come here to do their shows?
Boston has most everything a big city has to offer in addition to the warmth and charm of a small town. It is also considered to be one of the most European cities in the United States both aesthetically and also in part because of the tremendous college population comprised of students representing countries all around the globe.
In many ways, looking at Boston in terms of a "college town" is a helpful perspective for those building a fashion related career for themselves here. Just like being in college, developing a career in Boston affords the opportunity to be challenged, define an identity and prepare for the future.
The beauty of Boston’s unique approach to a week celebrating fashion is best defined by two things, which have been true since its inception in 1995. First, the commitment to community building and second, the understanding for a need to evolve with each year.
Fashion is art. Fashion is culture. Fashion is communication. And now in Boston, fashion is community. Above and beyond the hype and glamour that drives fashion, what really brings together the many artists who participate in "the week" locally is a sense of community.
With this in mind the cultivation of the fashion arts locally is a sound concept that promises to benefit the community as a whole, affecting education, culture, community services and tourism as well as the economy.