Rockefeller Center has quietly become its own fashion ecosystem
Lately, there has been a lot of talk about New York Fashion Week's tricky logistics and high show production costs. This past week, a new venture, KFN, unveiled a solution to reimagine the shows to become beneficial to designers by revenue-generating auxiliary events for consumers. The group has many areas of Manhattan on its target list of participating venues, one of which is Rockefeller Center.
While long home to some of New York's biggest attractions such as The Rainbow Room, NBC, and its famous skating rink, Rockefeller Center, in recent years, has already transformed its unique complex of buildings to attract top chefs and fine dining establishments, designer and luxury retailers, with added attractions such as its Top of the Rock. Designers have been attracted to the centralized plaza for its grandeur to hold seasonal fashion shows and, in part, thanks to accommodating hosts. With a bevy of transport options and a myriad of spaces that allow for individual creative expression, Rockefeller Center has already proposed itself as a central location for New York fashion shows.
In the last six years, its popularity has picked up speed. Several New York designers have used many of the architecturally stunning venues at Rock Center, as it is affectionately known. It's also by design on the part of parent company Tishman Speyer and Rock Center's management.
"Rockefeller Center is a cornerstone of New York's cultural and commercial life — a platform for today's most innovative designers, a beloved retail destination, and a driving force in the city's fashion landscape. With unparalleled amenities, iconic surroundings, and a built-in community of world-class tenants, it's more than a location. We've created a unique platform where distinct brands can push boundaries, and visionaries can create a name," said EB Kelly, senior managing director of Rockefeller Center.
Starting at one of the most iconic spaces, The Rainbow Room, designers such as Prabal Gurung, Pamela Rolland and LaQuan Smith have staged shows there, the latter for several seasons, and made the most of its dramatic features, such as the curved staircases that lead into the main floor of the circular space.
Buzzy brand Eckhaus Latta and Monse showed collections in the Art Deco-infused 45 Rock lobby; Raul Lopez of Luar chose the Center Plaza for his evening show; while it hosted Flippers, Victor Glemaud held his show there, complete with a roller skating posse; Alexander Wang used the rink as a show location; as did Paul Andrew for a shoe presentation; Collina Strada held a show in a basement space that seemed to double as party venue; Todd Snyder, who designed the uniforms for the restaurant Le Rock, had his Spring 2025 show at the trendy eatery as his first return to the runway in five years.
According to a company spokesperson, it's a one-of-a-kind ecosystem. In Snyder's case, he has a flagship retail location at the Center. Snyder also plucked fellow Rock Center retailer Armando Cabral to star in an upcoming advertising campaign.
Jonathan Cohen held his Fall 2025 show in the 620 Studio, which resembles a photo studio, and found the experience positive.
"Our experience with Rock Center was amazing and streamlined. They gave us a blank canvas to work with. They even let us shoot our campaign in space the week before. From an attendee perspective, we got many positive reactions to the location, which everyone said was easy to get to, which is always a plus! Having Stephanie Mark there, who understands fashion week better than most, was also very smart on Rock Center because she understands what it takes to make a show/presentation happen," Cohen told FashionNetwork.com
A hidden gem, Radio Park, is a private park on top of Radio City Music Hall. According to the company, no one has shown there, but they are looking for the right fit to show there first. Photo shoots are also possible at Rock Center. Ralph Lauren shot its holiday ad campaign at the Top of the Rock.
The CFDA has already been a formidable partner to Rockefeller Center. It debuted a first-to-market partnership in September 2024, where all NYFW shows are streamed to the public in the Rink.
The partnership inauguration followed the 'Fashion for Our Future March,' which convened in Bryant Park; thus, many attendees of both headed north to the ribbon cutting at Rockefeller Center —reminded again of its central location—which Anna Wintour, Michael Kors, Thom Browne and Tory Burch attended.
Rockefeller Center partnered on the first CFDA X Google Shopping branded NYFW bus that proved a godsend to editors. Additionally, the CFDA has led fashion designer talks with Henry Zankov and Rachel Scott of Diotima, and the official Fall 2025 NYFW kickoff event, co-hosted by Browne and Burch, was held at Rockefeller Center's Bar65 which had some guests braving cold weather to enjoy its terrace.
"New York Fashion Week is a pivotal cultural moment for the city, and the CFDA wanted to create a singular destination and partnership to stream the shows and bring the creative excellence of American fashion to a wider public audience," said Steven Kolb, CEO of the CFDA, adding, "Thanks to our great partners at Tishman Speyer, we selected the iconic Rink at Rockefeller Center to make it happen. From fashion students to designers' families and teams to passersby and tourists interested in fashion, the streaming experience was a big success and an exciting new initiative for American fashion."
Since its inception in 1933, pillars of creativity have been equal to its commerce aspect. Thus, NYFW's celebration of American fashion and its creative expression aligns with this history.
"Architecture, art, design, and fashion have been fundamental to Rockefeller Center since it was built nearly a century ago, and our expression of each has continued to evolve. We intentionally integrated the fashion world into our recent campus redevelopment, ensuring we were looking at our retail landscape, gathering spaces, office customers, and partnerships to encourage established and emerging names to make a home here," Kelley said.
Of course, fashion is a 365-day event for retail, another aspect of the business Kelley is keen to support.
"Our recent revitalization has established Rockefeller Center as a place where New York-based emerging businesses meet iconic global brands. Where entrepreneurs like Nell Diamond of Hill House Home are side by side with a timeless classic like Tiffany's, it all comes together as the city's most dynamic place to dine, shop, and work, a global capital for history, design, and culture that's always evolving. It's an exciting moment for the Center and its creative community, and there's a bright future ahead."
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