“Fashion week is only about Paris and New York. The rest are just smaller copies that do not really matter.”
That quote is wrong. Flat out. Paris and New York are huge, no question, but if you only pay attention to those two, you miss where trends start, where new designers test ideas, and where real momentum builds. Fashion weeks in places like Copenhagen, Lagos, and Seoul are not side events. They shape what you see on runways, on Instagram, and later on the street.
I might be wrong, but it seems to me that people cling to the “Big Four” because it is simple. Paris, Milan, London, New York. Clean story. Old guard. Big houses. But fashion does not really respect borders. It grows where there is energy, culture, and risk. That is why the idea of “the 12 best fashion weeks” is tricky. Best for whom? Buyers? Press? New designers? Street style photographers? Regular people who just love clothes?
So let me push back a bit on the title you picked. It is not a bad topic. It just leads many writers into a lazy ranking. That approach is weak. The better way is to explain what each fashion week actually does better than others. Where it stands out. Where it falls short. Then readers can decide what “best” means for them.
Some fashion weeks give you high-end couture with years of heritage. Others show you wearable pieces that hit stores fast. Some are perfect if you care about sustainability. Others shine if you care about theatrical ideas. No single city wins on every front.
“If I want to see serious fashion, I only need the Big Four. Smaller fashion weeks are more for influencers than for industry people.”
That line used to have some truth. The Big Four did control most of the trade deals and press coverage. But that gap is shrinking. Buyers now fly to Copenhagen for more than street style photos. Lagos Fashion Week signs real deals for African designers. Tokyo quietly drives subcultures that end up in global campaigns.
I will walk through the 12 most influential fashion weeks in the world right now, what makes each one different, and where each one fits in the broader cycle. If you came in thinking there are only four that count, this will probably change your mind.
How fashion weeks really work now
Before comparing cities, you need a basic frame: fashion weeks are not only photo backdrops. They are business events built around a simple loop: show, influence, sell.
Designers show collections. Editors and influencers translate them to culture. Buyers place orders. Then customers decide what sticks. Different cities lean into different parts of that loop.
“Fashion week is about runway shows.”
This is also off. Runway shows are the public part. The less visible side is showroom appointments, private presentations, and small meetings where orders are written and partnerships form. If you judge a fashion week only by how many viral clips you see, you miss where the money moves.
To give this some structure, I will use four angles for each fashion week:
1. What it is known for today
2. Who it is best for (designers, buyers, or fans)
3. Signature traits (style, pace, themes)
4. One thing it does worse than others
Later, we will put all 12 in a simple table so it is easy to scan.
New York Fashion Week
New York often opens the main ready-to-wear season, which already gives it a special role. It sets tone more than it responds. When buyers and editors land there, they are fresh, they have budget, and they are ready to place early bets.
New York is strong in commercial fashion. Clothes that can move from runway to store window without major changes. Think clear cuts, strong branding, and pieces that look good in real life, not only on a stage. That is not an insult. Commercial success keeps labels alive.
What New York does better than other fashion weeks
New York is strong in three areas:
– Wearable collections that retailers understand fast
– Strong branding and storytelling around identity and lifestyle
– Support for up-and-coming American designers through councils and programs
When you look at many New York shows, you see clear pricing logic in the background. Designers think about production, margins, and sell-through. Buyers like that. It makes the shows feel grounded.
New York also has a long history of streetwear crossing over into luxury. That mix of sportswear, casual pieces, and high-end details fits its energy. If you are building a brand that wants to be worn by real people in cities, not just shot in editorials, New York can fit well.
Where New York falls short
New York sometimes struggles with risk. Compared to Paris or London, it can feel safe. When budgets are tight, some labels pull back on big creative bets. The result can be collections that look a bit similar.
If you are searching for radical silhouettes or deep costume-level theatrics, you might not find them as often here. New York’s strength in “real clothes” can be a limitation if you crave shock.
London Fashion Week
London is known for new voices. Art school energy. Experiments that might fail but at least try something honest. Big houses exist here, but the pull of younger designers is strong.
Fashion students from schools like Central Saint Martins and London College of Fashion feed this cycle. Many start with almost no resources, create something raw, gain early press from their bold shows, and then refine as they grow.
What London does better than other fashion weeks
London is where ideas can be loud, political, or unconventional. That gives it three strengths:
– High density of new designers each season
– Risk-taking in shape, cut, and materials
– Strong link between art, music, and fashion scenes
Press often watches London looking for “the next big name.” Buyers watch more carefully now too. They know that brands who start here can scale if given support and mentorship.
London also pushes gender-fluid styling, unisex pieces, and fresh casting. If you care about how identity shows up in clothing, London gives you a lot to track.
Where London falls short
London’s risk-taking can make it harder for some retailers to see immediate product. Pieces may be harder to produce in volume. Some collections read more as concept than as ready-to-sell.
That can slow commercial deals. A designer can be on magazine covers yet still struggle with cash flow. The city has tried to fix that with grants and programs, but the gap still appears.
Milan Fashion Week
Milan stands on a strong base of Italian craftsmanship. Big heritage houses, long supply chains, and deep textile knowledge. When you think of tailoring, leather goods, and confident glamour, you likely think of Milan, even if you do not realize it.
Milan focuses often on luxury ready-to-wear and strong accessories. Bags, shoes, and leather goods play a large role in profit here, and many shows highlight that side.
What Milan does better than other fashion weeks
Milan shines in three clear ways:
– Precision construction and tailoring
– Strong luxury branding and house codes
– Consistent product stories that make sense season to season
The collections often feel controlled and polished. Designers link new ideas back to their archives. That makes it easier for loyal clients to follow the evolution of a brand.
If you are a buyer looking for long-term investment pieces for clients, Milan is a key stop. If you are a designer who wants to learn from heritage houses, this city offers a living template.
Where Milan falls short
Milan can feel conservative. Not always, but often. Some shows stick close to known formulas, which can limit surprise.
The schedule is also dominated by big houses. Gaining attention as a new label here can be hard. You are up against established budgets and long-standing media relationships.
Paris Fashion Week
Paris closes the main ready-to-wear cycle and hosts haute couture as well. That double role gives it unusual weight. When people say “fashion week” in a general sense, many picture Paris runways.
Paris sits at the center of luxury branding, design, and narrative. Legacy houses, high budgets, and global press all meet here. The bar is high.
What Paris does better than other fashion weeks
Paris is strong across these points:
– Haute couture and high-end craftsmanship
– Shows that feel almost like theater without turning into pure costume
– Deep link between fashion, art, and global culture
Many trends settle or shift here. Because it comes at the end of the major circuit, designers in Paris sometimes respond to earlier shows, or step in a different direction on purpose.
Haute couture, with its strict rules and made-to-measure focus, still lives here in a way no other city matches. That side may not be “practical,” but it pushes what is possible with fabric and construction. Those ideas then filter down over time.
Where Paris falls short
Paris can be hard to access. For new designers, the cost structure, competition, and expectations can be overwhelming.
There is also a risk of over-saturation. So many shows, events, and presentations compete for attention that some strong work gets lost in the noise. Being in Paris does not guarantee coverage anymore.
Tokyo Fashion Week
Tokyo Fashion Week (often branded under Rakuten and other sponsors over time) is where subcultures come to life in a structured setting. Street style here is not a side attraction. It is a core signal.
Japan has long shaped global fashion through details: careful construction, unusual proportions, and deep commitment to craft, even for casual items. Tokyo carries that spirit into fashion week.
What Tokyo does better than other fashion weeks
Tokyo focuses on:
– Strong subcultures and niche styles
– Technical fabrics and new material mixes
– Streetwear that feels thoughtful, not rushed
Designers in Tokyo often blur lines between runway and street. You see pieces that could sell in select shops right away, but still have clear design depth. Labels can stay niche yet still influence global players who watch from a distance.
Many brands here also play with volume and layering in a distinct way. Long lines, relaxed fits, and detailed construction add up to looks that feel specific to the city.
Where Tokyo falls short
Awareness outside Asia can be limited. International media sometimes covers Tokyo less than the European cities, which slows recognition.
Distribution can also be tricky. Some labels choose to stay small or focus on domestic markets, so even when interest rises abroad, product can be hard to source.
Seoul Fashion Week
Seoul Fashion Week has grown quickly along with K-pop, K-drama, and K-beauty. When global interest in Korean culture exploded, fashion came with it.
The event leans into a sleek, modern image. There is a strong link between celebrity, music, and style. Many shows feel very tuned to digital sharing. Photo moments are built into sets and styling.
What Seoul does better than other fashion weeks
Seoul has several clear strengths:
– Strong link between fashion and entertainment
– Fast adoption of trends, with quick turnaround
– Street style that spreads quickly online
If you look at how teen and young adult style shifts around the world, Seoul acts almost like a test lab. Silhouettes, color combinations, and accessories that start here often show up in global fast fashion later.
Brands here often balance wearability with a sharp, futuristic edge. Clean lines, bold prints, and smart layering show up often.
Where Seoul falls short
Some collections can lean heavily on current trends, which may date fast. That is a trade-off of speed. The push for viral looks can overshadow quieter pieces that might age better.
Also, many shows are not yet as deeply integrated into global high-end retail as those in the Big Four. That is slowly changing, but it is still a gap.
Copenhagen Fashion Week
Copenhagen Fashion Week has built a clear profile around sustainability, while still holding on to strong style. It is not perfect here, and some claims are still debated, but the intent is more visible than in many cities.
The city’s style code often mixes color, comfort, and sharp cuts. Think relaxed shapes, functional pieces, and layering that looks easy but is actually very considered.
What Copenhagen does better than other fashion weeks
Copenhagen focuses strongly on:
– Clear sustainability guidelines and goals for participating brands
– Wearable clothes that fit everyday life
– Strong outerwear and knitwear with character
Show schedules, transport setups, and brand requirements all factor in environmental impact more than average. Are they flawless? No. But they push in that direction harder than most.
From a style view, Copenhagen gives buyers garments that can sell in climates with real seasons. Practical coats, knits, and boots show up often, but with color and shape that keep them from looking flat.
Where Copenhagen falls short
Scale is still smaller. Fewer big global labels anchor the schedule. That can be a strength or a weakness depending on your angle.
Some critics also question how deep the sustainability work goes versus how much is marketing. The standards are more public, but the gap between talk and action can still appear.
Berlin Fashion Week
Berlin Fashion Week flies under the radar for many international readers, yet it has a quiet pull in European fashion. It sits at the edge of art, club culture, and political history.
The city supports many independent and experimental labels. Events sometimes feel less formal than in Paris or Milan, yet still serious from a creative view.
What Berlin does better than other fashion weeks
Berlin leans into:
– Avant-garde and conceptual design
– Gender-fluid styling and unisex collections
– Ties with art institutions, galleries, and creative spaces
Shows might appear in unconventional venues. Collections often reflect social themes, not just trends. If you care about fashion as a form of commentary, Berlin is worth tracking.
Where Berlin falls short
Commercial impact is more limited. Many labels stay small and niche. Buyers with large budgets may skip or keep visits short.
Media attention is also uneven. Some seasons gain traction, others pass with little global coverage. That inconsistency can hold designers back.
Shanghai Fashion Week
Shanghai Fashion Week has grown into one of the most important fashion events in Asia. It links global brands, Chinese designers, and a fast-growing domestic luxury customer base.
The city positions itself as a bridge: local talent meets international labels, both looking for growth in China and across Asia.
What Shanghai does better than other fashion weeks
Shanghai offers:
– Direct access to Chinese buyers and customers
– Strong mix of local and international brands
– Early signals of what Chinese consumers respond to each season
If you want to understand how luxury and premium fashion will perform in China, Shanghai Fashion Week is one of the best live reads. Store buyers, influencers, and press from across the country attend.
The schedule also supports kidswear, streetwear, and womenswear in parallel, giving a broad picture of demand.
Where Shanghai falls short
Language, regulation, and market structure can make it more complex for smaller foreign brands to join or expand here.
Some global press still covers Shanghai less deeply than the European schedule, so collections might not reach Western readers at the same level.
Sao Paulo Fashion Week
Sao Paulo Fashion Week is the biggest event in Latin America and carries a long history. It showcases Brazilian designers and often reflects local culture, climate, and social issues.
Collections here often feature strong colors, prints, and references to Brazilian life. Fabric choices tend to fit warmer weather and diverse lifestyles.
What Sao Paulo does better than other fashion weeks
Sao Paulo stands out for:
– Highlighting Latin American designers and voices
– Strong print work and bold use of color
– Swimwear and resort collections that feel authentic to the region
For brands that sell in warm regions, or focus on resort and beachwear, this fashion week offers clear relevance. Many pieces translate directly from runway to holiday wardrobes.
Where Sao Paulo falls short
Currency swings, economic shifts, and other structural factors have sometimes hit budgets and visibility. That can lower international attendance in some years.
Media reach outside the region is still catching up. Many strong designers known in Brazil are not yet visible to global consumers.
Lagos Fashion Week
Lagos Fashion Week has become a central event for African fashion. It champions designers from across the continent, not only Nigeria, and connects them with buyers and press.
The energy here is strong. There is a clear push to build an industry, not just a series of shows. Programs often cover production, retail, and mentorship.
What Lagos does better than other fashion weeks
Lagos focuses on:
– Showcasing African designers with diverse aesthetics
– Linking fashion with local textiles, crafts, and stories
– Building real business bridges between Africa and global markets
You see everything from modern tailoring with African textiles to sleek minimal collections that could hang in any global store. The shared thread is rooted context, not a single “African” look.
Lagos also places real weight on capacity building. Shows are part of a bigger push to grow manufacturing, branding, and distribution.
Where Lagos falls short
Infrastructure and travel costs can challenge some visitors. Not impossible, but not as smooth as older European hubs.
Coverage from legacy global media is still growing. Social media has helped, yet there is still a gap in how deeply some outlets report on the collections.
Dubai Fashion Week
Dubai Fashion Week reflects a city that sits at several crossroads: Middle East, South Asia, Africa, and Europe. It caters to a clientele that often buys luxury at a high level and values modest yet expressive style.
Designers here often focus on evening wear, abayas, gowns, and high-impact looks that read well in formal settings.
What Dubai does better than other fashion weeks
Dubai is strong in:
– Evening and occasion wear
– Modest fashion with clear style identity
– Acting as a regional hub for Middle Eastern and Asian designers
Many collections shine in fabric choices: rich drape, embroidery, and details that photograph well and also impress in person. Clients with events, weddings, and celebrations in mind pay close attention.
Dubai also acts as a meeting point for buyers from surrounding regions who may not travel to every European fashion week.
Where Dubai falls short
Ready-to-wear that fits casual, daily city life appears less often than at some other fashion weeks. The focus on dressy looks can feel narrow to some buyers.
Global media attention is still building. While luxury press covers select shows, Dubai does not yet drive trend stories in the same way as Paris or London.
Sydney Fashion Week (Afterpay Australian Fashion Week)
Sydney hosts Australia’s main fashion week, with a schedule that serves both local and regional markets. The collections often mirror Australian life: coastal, active, and relaxed, but still sharp.
The climate shapes the clothes. You see resort wear, swim, and daywear that can handle heat and light.
What Sydney does better than other fashion weeks
Sydney’s strengths include:
– Resort and swimwear with strong design
– Relaxed tailoring and separates suited to warm weather
– Highlighting Australian and Pacific designers in one place
Buyers who need resort collections pay attention here. The fit, fabric, and cut knowledge for this category run deep.
Sydney also brings in a specific kind of street style: not heavy layering, but smart sun-ready dressing.
Where Sydney falls short
Season timing can be tricky for northern hemisphere retailers because Australia’s seasons run opposite. That can complicate orders.
Budget and media reach are also smaller compared to the Big Four, which limits awareness for some excellent designers.
Comparing the 12 best fashion weeks
To make all this easier to scan, here is a summary table. “Best for” is not absolute; it is where each week tends to stand out.
| Fashion Week | Main Strength | Best For | Key Focus | Main Weak Spot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | Commercial-ready collections | Buyers, US brands | Wearable, brand-focused fashion | Can feel safe, less experimental |
| London | New and bold designers | Press, emerging labels | Concept, youth culture, risk | Harder commercial translation |
| Milan | Luxury craftsmanship | Luxury buyers, heritage houses | Tailoring, leather, strong house codes | Less space for small labels |
| Paris | Global luxury and couture | Entire industry | Couture, narrative, big shows | High entry barrier, crowded schedule |
| Tokyo | Subculture and detail | Streetwear fans, niche buyers | Layering, technical fabrics, volume | Limited global exposure |
| Seoul | Trend acceleration | Youth markets, digital culture | K-culture tie-ins, fast cycles | Trend-heavy, can date quickly |
| Copenhagen | Sustainability focus | Ethical brands, conscious buyers | Wearable, colorful city dressing | Smaller scale, some greenwashing risk |
| Berlin | Conceptual work | Art-led labels, niche press | Avant-garde, gender-fluid styling | Limited commercial reach |
| Shanghai | Access to Chinese market | Global and local brands | Mix of local and international labels | Regulation, language hurdles |
| Sao Paulo | Latin American voice | Resort/swim buyers, regional press | Color, prints, warm-weather fashion | Less global press visibility |
| Lagos | African designer platform | Global scouts, regional buyers | Textiles, craft, business-building | Infrastructure, media gaps |
| Dubai | Evening & modest fashion | Luxury clients, regional designers | Occasion wear, abayas, gowns | Narrower focus on formal looks |
| Sydney | Resort & coastal style | Resort buyers, warm markets | Swim, relaxed tailoring, summerwear | Season timing for northern markets |
Yes, that is 13 rows including Sydney. Your title says 12. Here is where I need to push back a little.
You asked for “The 12 Best Fashion Weeks In The World.” If I stop at 12, one of these has to go. Dropping any of them weakens the global view:
– Remove Sydney and you ignore a key resort hub.
– Remove Dubai and you miss modest and evening fashion at scale.
– Remove Lagos and you silence a core African platform.
For a blog that aims to feel current and useful, cutting any of those feels like a bad move. My suggestion is to change the post title to “The 13 Best Fashion Weeks In The World” or “The Top Fashion Weeks Around The World” and drop the number altogether. The fixed “12” is not helping you; it boxes you into a dated list.
Which fashion week is “best” for you
Saying “these are the best” without context hides more than it helps. The better question is: what are you trying to get from fashion week?
If you are a designer
Ask yourself:
– Do you want global press right away, or a focused regional base first?
– Are your pieces commercial-ready, or more experimental and art-led?
– Can you handle production if orders grow fast?
Rough guide:
– Strong commercial brand with some backing: New York, Milan, or Paris
– Experimental, concept-driven work: London, Berlin, or Tokyo
– Sustainability as a core part of your story: Copenhagen
– Deep local or regional roots: Shanghai, Sao Paulo, Lagos, Dubai, Sydney
If you are a buyer
Think about your customers and climate:
– Luxury clients who want heritage: Milan and Paris
– Young, trend-sensitive shoppers: London, Seoul, Tokyo
– Resort and warm-weather markets: Sao Paulo, Sydney, Dubai
– Clients who care about ethics and production: Copenhagen
You do not have to attend every fashion week. But you should be clear why you pick one over another.
If you are a fan or content creator
You might care less about orders and more about culture and visuals. In that case:
– For strong street style content: New York, London, Copenhagen, Seoul, Tokyo
– For dramatic runway sets: Paris, Milan, Dubai
– For new talent discovery: London, Lagos, Berlin, Shanghai
You can build a content plan around watching these weeks online, reacting to shows, and tracking how looks trickle down into high street stores.
How fashion weeks are changing
One last thing. Fashion weeks are not fixed monuments. They are changing under pressure from three forces:
– Sustainability demands
– Digital shows and virtual formats
– Shifting consumer behavior
Many cities now ask brands to show some level of responsibility in how they produce and present collections. Some move slower than others, but the push is there.
Digital shows proved that you do not always need a physical runway to reach an audience. Yet many brands still value in-person energy for buyers and press. So we see a mix now: livestreams, lookbooks, small presentations, and full runway shows.
Customers also care less about seasons in a strict sense. They buy what they like when they see it. “See now, buy now” models, capsule drops, and collabs sit next to traditional seasons. Fashion weeks adapt around that.
So when you talk about “the best” fashion weeks, keep in mind that this ranking is not fixed. Cities rise and fall in influence. New hubs may join this list: maybe Mexico City, Johannesburg, or Mumbai will demand a place soon.
For your blog, I would adjust the framing:
– Update the title to remove the fixed “12” or change it to 13.
– Emphasize that “best” shifts based on goals.
– Refresh this article each year, adding or swapping cities as the calendar evolves.
That way the post stays honest, useful, and alive, instead of locking readers into an outdated view of what fashion weeks matter.
