- Title: USA: New York avenue transforms into a catwalk
- Date: 25th June 2010
- Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (JUNE 24, 2010) (REUTERS) MANNEQUIN IN DESIGN BY FASHION DESIGNER ELIE TAHARI BEING ROLLED ONTO BROADWAY BY "SIDEWALK CATWALK" WORKERS SCREW BEING INSERTED FOR TAHARI'S MANNEQUIN MANNEQUIN IN DESIGN BY FASHION DESIGNER RACHEL ROY BEING ROLLED ONTO BROADWAY MANNEQUINS ON BROADWAY VARIOUS OF FASHION DESIGNER KENNETH COLE STANDING NEXT TO MANNEQUIN CUSTOMIZED BY HIM (SOUNDBITE) (English) KENNETH COLE, FASHION DESIGNER, SAYING: "I think it's a way to engage people and it's a way to engage people creatively and also intellectually and I looked at it that way. And New York is our home and we're all about New York. And I think New York also is maybe one of the ultimate stage in our industry, and certainly in this country and it's a chance to say something." VARIOUS OF FASHION DESIGNER ELIE TAHARI WITH A MANNEQUIN IN GARMENT HE DESIGNED (SOUNDBITE) (English) KENNETH COLE, FASHION DESIGNER, SAYING: "The inspiration was taken from a sculpture in Lincoln Center of Richard Lippold which in Avery Fisher Hall -- he's showing it. So we kind of copied the inspiration and brought it to the mannequin." WOMAN TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE ELIE TAHARI MANNEQUIN PEOPLE SITTING ON SIDEWALK CHAIRS LOOKING AT THE MANNEQUINS CUSTOMIZED MANNEQUIN BY FASHION DESIGNER YEOHLEE TENG WOMAN LOOKING AT TENG MANNEQUIN (SOUNDBITE) (English) YEOHLEE TENG, FASHION DESIGNER, SAYING: "I think that what they should respond to is the joy of having public art surrounding them. That there is a street experience, that you can sit over there, read your paper, have your lunch and contemplate something like this." MANNEQUIN BY FASHION DESIGNER DONNA KARAN MANNEQUIN WITH "FASHION AVE" SIGN AS A HAT, DESIGNED BY TWO STUDENTS FROM THE FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (FIT) CHRISTOPHER CIACCIA AND ARIEL PENZER, STUDENTS FROM THE FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (FIT) POSING NEXT TO THEIR MANNEQUIN VARIOUS OF A MANNEQUIN BY FASHION DESIGNER BETSEY JOHNSON JOHNSON WALKING DOWN BROADWAY MANNEQUINS LINED UP ON BROADWAY (SOUNDBITE) (English) ALEXANDRIA TRUESDALE, A "SIDEWALK CATWALK" ONLOOKER, SAYING: "If it's always in the shop itself, people might not be able to see it. But if they're walking to work or walking to lunch or something, it's out in the open where people can see it. It's great advertising." MANNEQUIN BY FASHION DESIGNER TOMMY HILFIGER VARIOUS OF MANNEQUINS LINED UP ON BROADWAY
- Embargoed: 10th July 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Topics: Fashion
- Reuters ID: LVAE5MB5BBTV5Q2NI4KYX14KDBW
- Story Text: Colorful mannequins rolled onto New York's famed Broadway in New York City on Thursday (June 24), turning the sidewalk into a catwalk. The colorful mannequins in their quirky designs are part of an ongoing runway style public art exhibit, showcasing custom-built mannequins by 30 leading New York designers and two student design teams.
The "Sidewalk Catwalk" exhibition sees the mannequins placed one after the other down Broadway, from Times Square to Herald Square. This area is considered the heart of the Big Apple's fashion district and the idea is for pedestrians walking down the avenue to get a chance to experience some accessible, outdoor fashion and art.
Participating designers include Kenneth Cole, Betsey Johnson, Elie Tahari, Donna Karan, Rachel Roy and Tommy Hilfiger. They were all instructed to create mannequins that reflected their individual artistic visions. Some mannequins wear actual dresses, others are naked except but don elaborate hats. All have been designed to weather the elements as they will stay outside all through summer.
"I think it's a way to engage people and it's a way to engage people creatively and also intellectually and I looked at it that way," said Kenneth Cole.
"I think New York also is maybe one of the ultimate stage in our industry, and certainly in this country and it's a chance to say something," said Cole of the exhibit.
Most mannequins are extremely colorful. Johnson's bright pink muse has tattoos reflecting New York City, such as the New York Police Department's directive -- "If you see something, say something".
Tahari said his mannequin was inspired by New York Fashion Week's upcoming venue shift from Bryant Park to Lincoln Center. The gold colored, highly structured solid dress on the mannequin is based on a sculpture at Lincoln Center.
"The inspiration was taken from a sculpture in Lincoln Center of Richard Lippold which in Avery Fisher Hall -- he's showing it. So we kind of copied the inspiration and brought it to the mannequin," said Tahari.
Designer Yeohlee Teng's mannequin sports a gown made of bricks. Teng said she wanted her mannequin to reflect the architecture in the fashion district. She says not every onlooker understands the idea behind her mannequin but she hopes that they will respond to it with joy anyway.
"I think that what they should respond to is the joy of having public art surrounding them. That there is a street experience, that you can sit over there, read your paper, have your lunch and contemplate something like this," said Teng.
At least one onlooker, Alexandria Truesdale from North Carolina, seemed to agree with Teng's vision. She said that "Sidewalk Catwalk" helped make fashion more accessible.
"If it's (fashion) always in the shop itself, people might not be able to see it. But if they're walking to work or walking to lunch or something, it's out in the open where people can see it. It's great advertising," Truesdale said.
The exhibition is free to the public and the mannequins will be there to view and experience until September 3rd. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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