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FUR INFORMATION COUNCIL OF AMERICA PRESS RELEASE, APRIL 12, 2003
Fur Hits the Runway for Fall 2003 with "Fur Rhythms"
With presentation of the "Fur Fashion 2003: Fur Rhythms" show on April 8 in New York City, there is no doubt that fur is a "must have" fashion item for the coming season, according to Keith Kaplan, executive director of the Fur Information Council of America (FICA), which organized the show. Sponsors included the North America Fur Association, American Legend and Saga Furs of Scandinavia. Magazine sponsors included Vogue, W, Harper's Bazaar, Elle, Departures and Robb Report.
The "Fur Fashion 2003: Fur Rhythms" show featured more than 100 looks by some of today's most exciting and innovative designers including: Adrienne Landau; Ann Dee Goldin; Ben Kahn; Byte by Giuliana Teso; Cary Granston Bullard for Jean Crisan Furs; Cassin; Cynthia Rowley; David Goodman; Alexis & Gianni for Petras Furs; Eric Gaskins for Miller & Berkowitz; Dominic Bellisimo by ITA Ltd.; Tom Moriber for Miller & Berkowitz; Louis Dell' Olio for Le Gar; Oscar de la Renta for Alixandre; Royal Chie; Sorbara Furs; The Leon Hall Collection for John Kyros Furs; Vera Wang; Zandra Rhodes for Pologeorgis; Zuki; and Evelyn Paswall for Imperial Sable.
Variations in musical themes provided a background for each of the key trends in fur fashion as they were paraded down the runway. Beginning with "Whites and Pales", then followed by "Weekend Luxury", "Mod", "Urban vision", "Seasonless", "Nomadic", "Black and white" and "Luxe" the unique characteristics of each grouping were complemented by the particular musical vibe. Also highlighted throughout the show were the broadening array of men's fur fashions and the first collection of fur fashions designed exclusively for plus size women by Leon Hall.
From the sophisticated stylings, luxe furs and understated embellishments of "weekend luxury" to the 60's inspired geometrics and bold stylings of the "mod" collection, "The variety of fur fashion has never been stronger," noted Kaplan. "It's exciting, it's innovative and it's dynamic. For women and men, across all age and lifestyle demos and across a broad range of price points there is a tremendous offering of fur fashion for the coming season." Raw edgy sensuality in full-length furs, vests, hats and ponchoscharacterized the "nomadic" looks while rich colors and detailed embellishments defined the new "luxe" furs. For the "Urban vision" it's all about breaking the rules as varsity jackets with a colorful blend of numbers and letters in sheared mink or beaver led the way. The "Seasonless" collection presented new silhouettes in lightweight furs and trims that can translate from day to night and across all seasons.
GLAMOR IS BACK! While much is made of the stodginess of "your grandmother's fur", traditional styles do not have to be dull! This white sheared mink with Russian lynx trim might have been made to frame the face of a 1950s Hollywood starlet. Instead it was created by Zandra Rhodes for Pologeorgis Furs, and debuted in New York just this April.
What others are saying about Fur Fashion 2003: Fur Rhythms
Rosemary Feigelberg of Women's Wear Daily (April 15, 2003, "Fur's Early Show a Hit") described the "attitude wrapping the fur industry these days" as "buoyant". She added, "With solid sales this stormy winter, snow falling last week and plenty of fur on designer runways, furriers are feeling upbeat."
WWD also reported what other attendees were saying about Fur Fashion 2003: Fur Rhythms:
- Larry Schulman, vice president of Alexan-dre Furs, which makes Oscar de la Renta's fur collection: "It was an incredible represen-tation of what's being done in the industry, from clean, modern and classic to young, fun, interesting looks."
- Larry Schulman's father Edwin, president of Alexandre Furs: "I thought it was wonderful."
- Miss New York, Tiffany Walker: "When it was minus 35 degrees in upstate New York, fur really kept me warm."
- Anne Dee Goldin, president of Goldin Feldman: "It seemed to me like they really had it together. It is very difficult to pull to-gether a trade show as a fashion show. From an editorial standpoint, it was far better timing having the show in April."
- Sandy Parker Reports (SPR, Volume 27, Issue 8, April 14, 2003) noted that FICA's "Fur Rhythms" was a "press event held pri-marily as an editorial photographic oppor-tunity to enable the fashion magazines to meet their early-fall production deadlines" and "drew high praise from the trade." SPR reported that the show was "made more entertaining by a musical introduction by singer Liz Callaway, a concluding act by Jennifer Holiday, who won a Tony for her role in the Broadway musical Dream Girls, and a mid-stream surprise appear-ance by comedienne Joan Rivers. The rare inclusion of plus-sized models in flattering garments also drew applause from both the trade and press."
For more information on North American fur fashion, design, manufacturing and retail, visit the Fur Council.