Signet Fashion Acquires New York Fashion Week Trademarks and Digital Assets from WME Group

WME Group has completed the sale of the intellectual property, trademarks, and logos associated with New York Fashion Week (NYFW) to Signet Fashion. The transaction includes rights to the marks “New York Fashion Week,” “NYFW,” and “NYFW: The Shows,” as well as related digital assets such as the official NYFW website and social media accounts. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Despite the transfer of these trademarks and digital properties, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) will maintain ownership and organizational control over the official NYFW schedule and governance. The CFDA will continue to own and manage The Fashion Calendar, which serves as the authoritative schedule for American designers during NYFW.

Steven Kolb, president and CEO of the CFDA, commented on the transaction, stating, “The Official New York Fashion Week Schedule has long been stewarded by the CFDA and remains the authoritative calendar. New York Fashion Week, under the CFDA’s leadership, is at its best when others contribute through events, partnerships and experiences that support designers and strengthen our industry. We welcome Signet’s investment and look forward to seeing how its efforts help create new opportunities for designers and contribute to the continued success of New York Fashion Week.”

The CFDA also addressed the sale via its official Instagram Stories, emphasizing that the transaction does not alter its role in organizing and stewarding the official NYFW schedule. The organization welcomed the investment as a means to strengthen New York Fashion Week.

Signet Fashion, which specializes in developing and commercializing intellectual property across film, television, live events, gaming, and digital media, plans to leverage the acquired NYFW trademarks and digital platforms to expand the brand’s reach. Its strategy includes enhancing live programming, producing digital content, forming new brand partnerships, and engaging audiences year-round rather than limiting activities to the traditional biannual fashion week calendar.

The NYFW website and social media accounts acquired in the deal serve as critical channels for connecting designers, sponsors, industry professionals, and global audiences. Signet Fashion’s acquisition reflects a broader shift in NYFW’s commercial potential, moving beyond centralized runway venues to embrace brand intellectual property, digital content, media production, and continuous audience engagement.

Historically, WME Fashion has scaled back its direct fashion show operations to focus on talent representation through IMG Models, The Wall Group, and Art + Commerce. WME acquired IMG, a sports and fashion company, for $2.4 billion in May 2014. IMG’s involvement with New York Fashion Week dates back to 2001 when it acquired the “7th on Sixth” trademark from the CFDA and managed sponsorships, venue logistics, and runway production.

In 2015, IMG introduced the “NYFW: The Shows” branding, establishing it as a central event platform for New York Fashion Week. However, starting in 2024, the company shifted away from producing a centralized venue, focusing instead on brand partnerships and creative collaborations between brands and designers.

This transaction marks a significant development in the management and commercialization of NYFW intellectual property, positioning Signet Fashion to expand the event’s global footprint through diversified media and brand initiatives, while the CFDA continues to uphold the official scheduling and governance that underpin the event’s industry authority.