Rapper Kanye West has managed to offend some folks during New York Fashion Week.
Imagine that.
The star added a last-minute show to NYFW to present his Kanye West X Adidas Originals Collection on Wednesday — which did not endear him to some other designers. Anne Bowen told Women’s Wear Daily that the move left her scrambling for other plans to launch her streetwear collection, Nomad VII by Anne Bowen, as her showing was booked as the same time as West’s.
“We have been prepping for a year for this at considerable financial, labor- and commitment-cost to our company,” Bowen said. “Our show date has been scheduled for months and has been on the Fashion Calendar for weeks. We went through all the proper channels to make this a reality.”
West is often known to make a splash, and Bowen called him out for using his celeb status to make the bold move with the seemingly impromptu show.
“Kanye knows he is a media sensation and it is just not ethical to do this,” said Bowen, who moved her show to Thursday and lodged a complaint with the Council of Fashion Designers of America Fashion Calendar. “It’s like we are David and he is Goliath. We have put our heart and soul into our show, and should not be stepped on like this.”
Designer Naeem Khan is presenting his evening wear collection at the same time as the West showing and told WWD that he was not concerned about the conflict.
“I am confident that the fans of the brand and those in industry who truly appreciate the art of design and craftsmanship will come out to support us,” Khan said. “I am thrilled with the new collection and we are looking forward to a great show.”
Council of Fashion Designers of America president Steven Kolb told WWD that his organization was not aware of the West show beforehand and that the event had not been listed on the calendar.
