Change is underway for one of the world’s most prominent fashion week’s
Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week. Not only will the event move to a new
“downtown” location this September from the Lincoln Center, but the title
of the semiannual fashion event is set to become New York Fashion Week
following the exit of its title sponsor Mercedes-Benz.

After months of speculation the luxury vehicle manufacturer has come
forward and announced the end of it’s long-term partnership with the
fashion event, which will be over after the upcoming event in February.
However, Mercedes-Benz’s exit from New York Fashion Week does not mean the
end of the company’s involvement with the city’s fashion scene.

WME-IMG, owner of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, is said to be in the final
stages of negotiations to take over rival fashion event, Made Fashion Week,
owned by the co-founder and creative director of Milk Studios Mazdeck
Rassi, Jenné Lambardo and Keith Baptista. The deal is predicted to be
rounded off in time for September’s fashion week and the partners are
believed to continue working together with Mercedes-Benz Fashion week as
consultants.

MBFW to go on as New York Fashion Week in an undisclosed location in
September

IMG’s exit from the Lincoln Center is said to have been a long time coming,
with a number of problems concerning the venue and the event’s location
coming to surface as early as 2013. The departure was hastened after a
lawsuit was filed by community activists stated the MBFW tents in Damrosch
were a violation of the public-trust doctrine. Last month saw the City of
New York, the New York City Departments of Parks and the Lincoln Center
agree not to renew contracts with IMG.

After announcing the end of their partnership sponsoring New York Fashion
Week after the upcoming event next month, a spokeswomen for Mercedes-Benz
Fashion Week revealed plans to work with more than one sponsored title
event. “Our relationship with fashion is not ending, and we do support
fashion globally,” said the spokeswoman to WWD, highlighting their
sponsorship of other fashion weeks in Sydney, Istanbul and Berlin.

“We maintain a top-tier portfolio of events. We routinely review those
events for return on investment and general engagement. In general, it’s
important to note that fashion and design are key pillars for
Mercedes-Benz, and we will support fashion well into the future. Globally,
Mercedes-Benz supports more than 50 fashion engagements in 30 countries.”
American Express has also announced the end of its sponsorship with
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and will not sponsor the February presentations,
but will continues sponsoring Made Fashion Week New York.

News surrounding Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week potential acquisition of Made
New York Fashion Week have lead to a series of debates concerning the
future of the rival event, as both fashion weeks operate under a opposite
ideals. MBFW is known for charging participating designers large fees to
show on its official schedule, whilst Made New York, which was first
founded during the recession as an alternative fashion week for designers
who were unable to show at the traditional venues, provides space, make up,
lighting, sound and lighting free of charge for participating designers.
Click Here: Italy Football Shop