After weeks of speculation, Davis Factor of Smashbox Studios confirms to the LAT that its partnership with IMG to put on LA Fashion Week will end after this season, which begins Sunday. After 10 seasons and five years partnering, Factor told the paper: “My opinion is that they just didn’t have the time to dedicate toward cultivating this event on a year-round basis. Nothing against [IMG], but I think that New York is their big focus and it’s difficult with everything they have going on all over the world. It would be hard for them to do L.A. on the level they do New York. My brother and I can.”
Factor also said that things were not looking good once they began discussing moving venues six months ago: “We talked about moving it out of Smashbox, possibly downtown or possibly to Hollywood, to take it to the next level, and at the end of the day I don’t think IMG was ready to do that.” Part of their agreement is that IMG will not produce a Fashion Week, so what IMG's presence will be next season in unclear. As for Factor and his brother and co-owner of Smashbox, Dean, they're looking to move to Hollywood next season, although nothing is secured: “We’re going a completely different route—something different than the runway show lineup we’re doing now.”
· IMG, Smashbox to part ways after L.A. Fashion Week [LAT]
· LA Fashion Weak: LA Fashion Awards Cancelled [Racked]
· Rumor Has It: LA Fashion Week On Its Last Legs [Racked]For more stories from Racked LA, go to la.racked.com.
