New York’s Fashion Walk of Fame

′Think New York and you’ll think either theater, fashion or finance.  Theater has Broadway, finance has Wall Street with its iconic bull, and fashion has Seventh or Fashion Avenue.

Did you know that Fashion Avenue has a Fashion Walk of Fame?

Established in 1999 by the Fashion Center Business Improvement District (BID), the Fashion Walk of Fame celebrates American designers who have influenced fashion worldwide. Twenty-eight designers have been inducted into the Walk of Fame to date. Each has a bronze plaque that is engraved with a description of the designer’s contribution, and an original sketch. Each bears the designer’s signature. The plaques are embedded in the sidewalk on Fashion Avenue from 35th to 41st Street.

Plaques commemorating designers on Fashion Walk of Fame
Fashion Walk of Fame

Sidewalk plaque Rudi Gernreich Fashion Walk of Fame
Rudi Gernreich
Halston plaque Fashion Walk of Fame
Halston
Fashion Walk of Fame - Calvin Klein
Calvin Klein
Giorgio Di Sant'Angelo plaque, Fashion Walk of Fame
Giorgio Di Sant’Angelo
Geoffrey Beene plaque Fashion Walk of Fame
Geoffrey Beene
Perry Ellis plaque on Fashion Walk of Fame
Perry Ellis
Willie Smith plaque on Fashion Walk of Fame
Willie Smith
Donald Brooks' plaque, Fashion Walk of Fame
Donald Brooks

Also on Fashion Avenue is an 8-foot Judith Weller bronze sculpture, called The Garment Worker – a tribute to the area’s history in the garment industry – as well as a giant needle and button. Some New Yorkers still call the Fashion Center or Fashion District, the area from 34th to 42nd Streets between Fifth and Ninth Avenues, by its old name, the Garment District.

Sculpture of a garment worker, Fashion Walk of Fame
Fashion Ave – The Garment Worker
Giant Needle and Button near the Tourist Info Center on Fashion Walk of Fame
Fashion Ave – Needle and Button
Fashion Avenue / 7th Ave street sign, Fashion Walk of Fame
Fashion Ave Street Sign

The plaques commemorate the following designers: Ralph Rucci, Donald Brooks, Diane von Furstenberg, Liz Claiborne, Oscar de la Renta, John Galanos, Donna Karan, Paul Trigere, Bonnie Cashin, Giorgio Di Sant’Angelo, Charles James, Anne Klein, Stephen Burrows, Marc Jacobs, Betsey Johnson, Norma Kamali, Lilly Dache, Perry Ellis, Mainbocher, Willie Smith, Geoffrey Beene, Bill Blass, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Halston, Rudi Gernreich, Claire McCardell and Norman Norell.

To view the plaques, download a map and head over to the Fashion Walk of Fame on Seventh or Fashion Avenue east side from 35th to 41st Street.

Have you strolled the Fashion Walk of Fame?

This is my submission to Travel Photo Thursday, which is organized by Nancie at Budget Travelers Sandbox. Be sure to head over and check out more photos from locations around the world.

This week, I’m also linking up with the Friday Daydreaming series organized by Becca at Rwethereyetmom. Hope to see you there! 

34 comments on “New York’s Fashion Walk of Fame

  1. What a great way to celebrate New York’s fashion industry. I missed this when I was in New York…looks like I might have to go back!!

  2. NYC is one place that I haven’t visited and can’t wait to go! My daughter would love to explore the New York Fashion Walk of Fame.

  3. I have seen the monument of the Garment Worker and the Needle and Button, so I guess that means I have been there 🙂 Although I don’t remember the plaques nor did I recognize most of the names (you can tell what a fashion-monger I am)!

  4. So interesting and I’ve never heard of this Walk of Fame. I guess I’ve never ventured to this part of NYC. I’m not too caught up with fashion designers so I had to google a few of the names 🙂

  5. This is so cool! I didn’t even know it existed! Thanks!

    I am trying to get Friday Daydreamin back up and running again – asking everyone to link up their favorite post of the week – hope you can link up this week! Thanks!

  6. Hi Marcia

    Although fashion isn’t my thing, I can appreciate how significant this is for people who love fashion.

    I like NY’s penchant for districts.

    I like the old fella with the sewing machine. My Nan used one of those, preferring it to the the whizz-bang electric ones. They are tricky to use as you have to keep peddling whist concentrating on the sewing.

  7. We used to have one of those when I was very little. I still remember the time I “sewed” my finger and gave my mother the scare of her life. You’re right: they’re tricky but I got the hang of it and made my first outfit when I was around eleven.

  8. I didn’t either, Becca. It’s one of the things I love about NYC, there’s always something to discover.
    I’ll head over and link up.

  9. If you click on the photos, you’ll see a little bio of each designer.
    I didn’t know some of them either — had to look them up.

  10. The plaques were installed in ’99, Debbie, but if you’re not looking down you’d have missed them, like I did.
    Look out for them next time you’re in NYC.

  11. Great, glad you like it, Leigh.
    Depending on when your cousin went to Parsons, I’m sure she’d have seen the plaques and the needle/button.

  12. Must admit I’ve never thought much about New York and fashion, somehow the focus here seems to be Milan and Paris. But then I don’t know a whole lot about fashion. A fun thing to discover, that fashion walk 🙂

  13. Hi Marciam,
    Wow!! What an enthralling way to celebrate the fashion industry. The pics are just way too awesome. I loved this particular picture of needle and button. Each and every picture carries a uniqueness. Thanks for the share.

  14. So funny, cause I’ve walked down this street countless times and never really paused to look at the plaques before! I’m going to have to stop being such a rushed New Yorker next time;-) Thanks for sharing!

  15. You’re welcome, Jess. We’re always so rushed and focused, we never look down.
    Hope you remember to check them out next time you’re on 7th Ave.

  16. Nice post! This is a totally overlooked sight of New York, I feel. I’ve live in NYC for 8 years and actually used to step over those but never really took the time to look at it. Thanks for making me stop. =)

  17. You’re welcome, Christine!
    I think like most people in NYC, we always look straight ahead. I don’t know how many times I walked down 7th Avenue and never saw them too.
    Anyway, thanks for visiting and leaving a comment.

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