The business of fashion, I repeat, is no small matter. No small matter by any means. This industry has built nations, escalated people to positions of power and employed entire families. These very families have dominated the fashion industry for generations and have gained worldwide recognition and respect for their place in the business.
Take for example Condé Nast, the global giant of magazine publishing. The corporation is credited as the originator of lifestyle magazine publication and especially known for the iconic fashion magazine Vogue. At the helm is editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, the official face of the glossy that will forever be the standard to which all strive to be.
The impact of the industry is visible everywhere. Vanity Fair formed an alliance with The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences also known as The Oscars, demonstrating the height of influence fashion has on society and the arts.
New York Fashion Week is branded by luxury automobile manufacturer Mercedes-Benz and has shown how two powerhouses can combine forces to succeed as a growing force in the industry.
What may have started out as a simple platform to give American designers a place to showcase their work has turned into an international venture that has benefited not only the targeted subjects -- the designers, but has helped the hotel, food, and entertainment industries as well. It has made icons out of ordinary people. Legends of greatness have emerged as a part of history. It has inspired the lost, the undecided and the dreamers.
While Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City may not seem monumental to some, it is the golden fashion child to the rest of the world. It has inspired the masses to believe in the simple fusion of art and creation. And it has allowed American fashion to be viewed as a viable business.
This past year I had the honor of becoming a permanent part of fashion history. The documentary The Tents was released featuring artists and giving them the opportunity to voice what fashion week has done for the designers, artists, producers and me, the manicurist. Unscripted, upfront and honest, our voices were heard and our stories shared. Through the documentary's release, the contribution we each make added to the successful movement through this historical journey.
We hope you continue to support and believe in the next generation of rising artists. In the passing of the torch I choose to continue to document and give voice to the extraordinary people in my field.
This is my way to give back. This is my way of saying thank you.