Fashion took over the streets of York this year as York Fashion Week delivered its biggest programme to date.
Funded through phase two of the Vibrant and Sustainable High Street Fund, York Fashion Week launched a year-round programme designed to bring more activity, creativity and collaboration into the city centre.
Known for its runway shows, workshops and installations, York Fashion Week has grown into a major platform for the city’s creative sector, helping independent designers, retailers and emerging brands connect with new audiences.
The funding helped expand activity outside the traditional fashion week format, creating more opportunities throughout the year for creatives and businesses to take part.
One of the highlights of the programme was York Fashion Week’s first outdoor runway show at York Museum Gardens, bringing fashion into the heart of the city and attracting new audiences into York’s public spaces and high street.
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said:
"Our high streets are where our communities come together. That’s why I’m backing creative ideas from the people who know their area best with my High Street Fund.
“By supporting York Fashion Week, we’re securing a year-round programme that brings new energy to York’s high street through fashion events, creative showcases, retail support, and collaboration across the industry
“This is one of 66 projects we’ve supported across York and North Yorkshire helping to transform our high streets into vibrant destinations that residents and visitors will want to return to again and again.”
Nicky Hayer, Creative Director at York Fashion Week:
“This was our biggest season of York Fashion Week to date. We welcomed more guests and were able to support more creatives, than ever before. We also hosted our first ever outdoor show, right in the middle of York at York Museum Gardens. All of which couldn’t have been achieved without the Vibrant and Sustainable High Street Fund.
“Because of the fund we created an impactful platform for over 340 creatives including designers, retailers, models and stylists. The fund changed a lot of career paths in just a few months.
“We’re in our ninth year and our plans for the next 12 months are bigger than we could have imagined thanks to not the fund itself, but the team who came with it. The additional support has been game changing for us and we can’t wait to show everyone what we’re going to do next!”
Further information on the Vibrant and Sustainable High Street Fund can be found here.
