New York City was founded 400 years ago—a place that would become the capital of American fashion, the birthplace of the CFDA, and the originator of Fashion Week as we know it today.

With four centuries of influence, NYC has helped shape history and continues to inspire the world—and one example of that is New York Fashion Week.

When CFDA founder and famed publicist Eleanor Lambert came up with the genius idea for New York Press Week in the early 1940s, her visionary mind created the blueprint for other major fashion capitals Paris, Milan and London to follow suit. Undoubtedly, that vision could only be Founded By NYC.

The CFDA is proud to join NYC Tourism + Conventions’ “Founded By NYC” campaign, which celebrates New York City’s 400th anniversary in 2025 and the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026. The campaign highlights the rich history, incredible innovation, and vibrant cultures of the city’s five boroughs and its people, from its Indigenous Lenape past to the diverse communities that have given it shape and helped the city thrive.

You’ll find CFDA on the streets of our city, in bus shelters and LinkNYC kiosks from Sept. 5-16, highlighting our groundbreaking streaming partnership NYFW Live at Rockefeller Center, which opens the American collections to consumer audiences.

From Thursday, September 11 through Tuesday, September 16, Rockefeller Center will be the only destination – physical or digital – where the public can watch NYFW shows. Screenings will take place at the iconic Rink and Channel Gardens.

See you there!