The Fall 2004 fashion shows that took place at Bryant Park last month marked the debut of Olympus as the event’s major sponsor and by all accounts the week was a rousing success for the camera company. “We hit a home run in every way,” said Chris Sluka, Director of Public Relations for Olympus. “We achieved beyond what we expected in media exposure. It was almost scary how everyone welcomed Olympus as a partner in Fashion Week.”
In September, Sluka says Olympus will try to work with as many sesigners as possible, continuing a sponsorship program they launched this season by working in partnership with designer Esteban Cortazar and supporting Proenza Schouler. Not only were Olympus products incorporated into the Esteban Cortazar runway show, but the designer created two one-of-a-kind camera cases for his accessory line.
Photographers can rest assured that they will continue to receive the same level of attention that they enjoyed this season. According to Sluka, Olympus will continue to recognize the importance of the more than 400 professional photographers who cover this event, providing them with luncheons, massages, free equipment, survival kits, and town cars to transport them to off site shows.
The second edition of Olympus Fashion Week will also feature an expanded role for Olympus’ charitable partner, the Entertainment Industry Foundation’s National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance (NCCRA), which was introduced under the tents this past season by Katie Couric. Also look forward to increased opportunities for celebrities to indulger their interests in photography by shooting pictures of the week with Olympus equipment and having the resulting photos displayed.
Looking ahead to September, Sluka sees “lots of opportunity” for the camera company to continue to build upon the successes of the premiere season of Olympus Fashion Week.
-Rhonda Erb