L.A. Fashion Week Gearing Up for March

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios organizers have set March 19–23 as the dates for the Fall 2006 run of catwalk shows at Smashbox Studios in Culver City, Calif.

The applications to be included in this season’s lineup are due by Jan. 9.

Last season, the Oct. 16–20 event featured the Spring 2006 looks of 36 designers, from newcomers such as Antik Denim to long-time fashion participants such as Sue Wong.

This is the ninth L.A. fashion event organized by 7th on Sixth, a division of sports management giant IMG, which also puts on Olympus Fashion Week in New York and the Sunglass Hut’s Swim Show produced by Lycra in Miami.

The cost to rent two of the smallest venues at Smashbox is going up $250 this season to $1,750 to $3,750 for the Lightbox, which seats 146, and $2,750 to $4,750 for Stage One, which seats 296 people. The cost to rent the Main Tent, which seats 567, is increasing $500. It will now be $4,000 to $6,500. Rates depend on what time of day the fashion shows are held.

“It’s a lot better than what it costs in New York for fashion week,” said Christina Neault, production manager for 7th on Sixth.

In New York, runways at the upcoming fashion week, scheduled Feb. 3–10, will rent for $26,000 to $46,000, Neault said. —Deborah Belgum