Designer Are Moving West: Los Angeles Is Now The Fifth Fashion Capital Of The World

As more big-name designers root themselves in Los Angeles, the city increasingly has become essential to the global fashion business.Designers also are continuing to choose L.A. for showing their collections over traditional fashion capitals of Paris, New York, London, and Milan.

“I had a really great time with our casting out there. The way that they wear clothes and wear fashion is just different…there may be one version of L.A. style on my Instagram, but there are so many different types of people. It makes me excited to think about,” said Rachel Comey, an independent designer based in New York.

It is well known that American fashion designer, Tom Ford, has recently been running advertisements for positions in L.A., where his women’s design team is based. His men’s design studio still remains in London, however.

Other brands making the switch are: Rachel Comes, Tommy Hilfiger, Rachel Zoe, and Rebecca Minkoff. Tom Ford, Hedi Slimane for Saint Laurent, and Stella McCartney already moved to L.A. – but this past season, the city experienced an exceptional amount of runway activity.

“Los Angeles is coming into its own as a serious fashion destination, attracting serious talent in the process,” The Cut stated. “The land of possibility, it turns out, is also the land of instant gratification.Clothes available for immediate purchase have been a popular theme for the season’s L.A. offerings.” Much of the immediate indulgence stems from festivals and constant warm weather, an indication that leaves one with a year-round summer feeling.

According to Career Group Companies, “one reason to flee west is the changing landscape: the cost of living in NYC has skyrocketed over the past decade, while incomes have stagnated. The average rent in L.A. is 40-50% lower than in N.Y.C., L.A. salaries offer more take home pay.”

Not nearly as popular as New York’s Fashion Week, the Los Angeles Fashion Week occurs biannually in March and October each year. “L.A. is more about emerging designers than huge names,” the Los Angeles Times stated.