CT fashion leader Bivans offers insight into NHFW and FWCT: Runway events kick off Monday

by MIKE CHAIKEN

New Haven Fashion Week kicks off Monday nearly every night for a week.

CTFashionMag caught up with Travis Bivans, artistic director for New Haven Fashion Week ( NHFW ) and Fashion Week Connecticut ( FWCT ), so he could give fashion fanatics an insight into what to expect over the next few nights.

Q). Why do you consider New Haven a “fashion kind of town?”

A). To our platform every town is a fashion town. New Haven has quickly become the hot bed of art for the state of Connecticut. Even though artists exist all over the state, New Haven seems to have a higher concentration of artists.

We created New Haven Fashion Week to fashion creatives a place they can look to in order to be seen and advocated for.

Q). Last year was well-received. But rather than stand still, you shook things up for this year? Why the need for change?

A). Yes. WELL-RECEIVED! We were both shocked and excited that the city was happy to embrace the fashion community so openly.

Accelerated growth and maturity is needed. Connecticut is playing catch up globally when it comes to fashion connection and amplification.

Our team’s (Fashion Week Connecticut) soul mission is to put Connecticut’s name and industry in conversations and space where we haven’t been centered or took up space before.  At New Haven Fashion Week, our goal is to make sure New Haven is a conduit for mature brands and businesses to not only take advantage but represent Connecticut’s talent and capability to hold global attention.   

Q). Give us an elevator pitch about what each night is all about and what guests can expect on the runway.

First off, Teth-ered on Oct. 6?

A). Teth-ered, the community connecting showcase. An exhibition of high fashion and excellence will push open the door of creativity and is a closing show that is our actual opening show.

Q). The Merchants Runway on Oct. 7?

A). Lost in New Haven –the location of this show — is a museum that celebrates the historical culture of New Haven and its global accomplishments!

Vendors from all over Connecticut and different parts of New England take center stage along with our runway. This is an overstimulating zone of history to fashion.

Q). Fashion Palette on Oct. 8? You’re returning to the Four circles and a Square alley, 964 Chapel St., New Haven. Why did that work for you well enough last year that you’re heading back.

A). Fashion Palette in Four Circles in a Square alley makes sense. The alley is an artistic palette itself. Attendees get it. The alley has the soul of art. So, we wanted to bring something to Chapel Street that people can understand and get behind.

Q) Union of Style on Oct. 10?

A) A collection of high fashion, haute couture, high art… what else do I have to say AND it’s free.

Q) Cita Park on Oct. 11?

A) Construct Zone is a new format for a show. This show combines higher street wear with upcycled fashion.

The creativity shown in this show is something that needs to be photographed.

Q) What designers are participating?

A) Come to our shows and find out.

Q) What models are participating?

A) This year we accepted double the number of models we typically take. We wanted to exhibit more faces and give brands the opportunity the ability to show fuller collections.

Q) What locations have you chosen (and by what criteria)?

A) Boathouse, Four Circles and a Square alley, City Hall, Lost in New Haven and Cita Park.

Q) Moving onto Fashion Week Connecticut (which was to follow the week after NHFW). That seems in transition with the fashion moved away from the runway. You’re dubbing it a week of Lookbook work.

A) Transition? Who told you that? Ha! No Fashion Week Connecticut will come back in 2027 with a mission that’s partially complete.

Q) How will the Lookbook approach work?

A) We will feature up to 11 premier stores and designers from around Connecticut. Packaging up an editorial lookbook that will be shopped globally, giving stores and designers the ability to experience different markets. We don’t take our role as an industry leader lightly. The market has shown us a lot of trust, so we want to make sure the market understands that we understand them.

Q) After this year’s approach, what are you hoping for next year?

A) We are actually in the process of working in 2027. It takes a solid year to produce a great fashion week over a good one. We want to pack all of our runways with memorable experiences for all supporters and attendees. Next, we want to engage people on deeper levels and connect with needed resources to supply the market with free to use resources.

New Haven Fashion Week opens Monday, Oct. 5 with Teth-ered at 7 p.m. at the Canal Dock Boathouse, 475 Long Wharf Dr., New Haven.

On Wednesday, Oct. 7, The Merchants Runway will be held at 8 p.m. at Lost in New Haven, 80 Hamilton St., New Haven. Doors open at 4 p.m.

Fashion Palette will be held Thursday, Oct. 8 at 8 p.m. outdoors at Four circles and a Square alley, 964 Chapel St., New Haven. It is in the alley next to this address. Since the event is outdoors dress appropriately. If it rains or the temperature is too cool, it may move indoors to New Haven City Hall. Any change will be announced beforehand.

Union of Style will be held Saturday, Oct. 10 at 8 p.m. at New Haven City Hall, 165 Church St., New Haven.

The week will close out on Sunday, Oct. 11 at 3 p.m. with Cita Park presents New Haven Fashion Week at Cita Park, 265 South Orange St., New Haven.

For details, visit New Haven Fashion Week | Fashion Week Connecticut | Mon, Oct 5, 2026 | New Haven