Volunteer | Rise NYFW (2024)

FAQs

Is it hard to get invited to NYFW? ›

Like I said in the beginning unless you're a top-tier blogger or a magazine editor, chances are you're going to have to request tickets to get invites to shows. Now, some shows do their NYFW ticket requests in-house (i.e themselves) and some brands hire PR agencies to manage their attendee list for NYFW.

Fashion Week Volunteer Jobs

The fashion week volunteer's job is to help with all the practical tasks to make sure that the show goes smoothly. Most of the time working as a volunteer at a fashion show means working as a backstage dresser, so mainly taking care of dressing up your model.

Each season, they publish a list of contacts for influencers to reach out for show invites. The Fashion Week Contact list includes 400+ contacts (current season contacts, PR agencies, and past season contacts. The Fashion Week Invite Outreach costs $350.

Volunteer Jobs at Fashion Week

One of the main roles will be to help dress the models in their assigned looks, otherwise known as a backstage dresser. As a backstage dresser, a model will be allocated to you along with the 2-3 looks they will be wearing during the show.

NYFW includes two types of shows: Industry and open-to-the-public shows. Unless you're a buyer or work in press, it is unlikely that you'll be able to snag a seat to the heavy hitters. However, you can find info on public shows here.

Transparently, I have never been paid “to attend NYFW”. NYFW itself is more of a title for the week of events so there is not some higher power out there recruiting people and paying them to attend (at least to my knowledge) 😅.

Even asking all volunteers to wear a bright yellow or red t-shirt would work. If your event has a theme, volunteers can wear matching headbands or hats (such as Santa hats or Easter Bunny Ears). Other ideas include large sombreros, cowboy hats, glitter hats, top hats.

The stars shined bright in the front row – and on the runway – at New York Fashion Week. Scroll through for all the celeb sightings at this year's NYFW, starting with a surprise appearance by Beyoncé and mom Tina Knowles at the Luar fashion show on Feb. 13, 2024.

Do influencers get paid to go to fashion week? ›

A brand that is doing a runway show pays an influencer to attend, wear the clothes, and post. 2. “Third Party Contract” = This is when a brand that's not having a runway show (think skincare, beauty, jewelry, even car services) pay an influencer to use their product/service during fashion week.

The runways at New York Fashion week are looking a little more mature this year. The state of New York passed a law in October that classified models under the age of 18 as child performers in an attempt to curb use of 14-year-olds on the runway.

Coaching a sports team, teaching literacy courses or running a committee will be an outstanding addition to your resume, under the category of leadership experience. Check your local YMCA for opportunities to work with both adults and children.

Shorts and skirts should be no shorter than the fingertips when standing in a relaxed posture. Pants should not be visibly bagging below the waistline. Shirts should cover the midriff, back and chest. Sleeveless shirts and tank tops are not permitted.

Being a Fashion Week volunteer gives you the opportunity to get your foot in the door of this highly exclusive industry. When it comes to getting any job or internship, your network matters. This is particularly true in fashion, where word of mouth is a primary method of finding new talent or getting hired.

Casting calls are often posted on major fashion show productions, each designer also posts casting calls, modeling agencies have access to that information, your fellow models from prior years of experience know locations, times, and who and what so common practice between models to share information.

While most of the runway shows for major brands, like Coach and Michael Kors, are by invitation-only for editors, buyers, stylists and other fashion industry players, there are still ways for the general public who are interested in fashion to attend and participate in New York Fashion Week.

She noted that more than 230,000 people attend the fashion shows annually, while when combined with industry trade shows and showroom visits, the number increases to more than 500,000.