At eBay’s Endless Runway, Wisdom Kaye Brings Pre-Loved Into the Spotlight
New York Fashion Week may have come to an end, but Pre-Loved Fashion Week is in full swing with eBay's Endless Runway. In partnership with the Council of Fashion Designers of America and British Fashion Council, eBay hosts a pre-loved, shoppable show in New York and presentation in London featuring head-to-toe looks pulled from the digital marketplace.
The first installment took place on the eve of NYFW, hosted by fashion writer Liana Satenstein and staged at Chelsea Factory in New York on Thursday, September 5. Curated and dressed by model-stylist Wisdom Kaye, the show itself pays homage to his affinity for second-hand clothing – an interest that landed him internet virality in the first place. “Endless runway is the epitome of giving clothes new life, wearing them, [and] passing them down,” Kaye tells Teen Vogue.
When eBay approached Kaye with the opportunity, he recalls it being right up his alley. Working under a tight timeframe, he and his team were tasked with selecting pieces by New York and American designers, many of which came from seasoned luxury consigner Linda’s Stuff. “We basically built the looks from scratch minus the actual making of the pieces,” he said. Finding staples to start with, figuring out fittings, and keeping budget in mind all “took a lot of long hours.” “But I think in the end we pulled through,” he explained.
At the show, a circle of mirror panels tilted outwards to the (literal) circular, o-shaped runway, keeping in line with the theme. Models’ ensembles reflected through the series of panels, transformed into a mesmerizing play of fabric and textures in motion. On eBay’s livestream, watchers were able to bid on and purchase the items in real time as the models made their way around the catwalk, including pieces from Willy Chavarria, The Row, Marc Jacobs, and many others. Featuring 17 womenswear looks and 11 menswear looks, Kaye’s penchant for elevated, layered street style shone through the latter especially.
To Kaye, authenticity lies not only in one’s uncompromising sense of style, but also in the comfort of knowing “what you’re wearing is real.” Shoppers can do just that with eBay’s authenticity guarantee, which ensures select handbags, accessories, and streetwear are legitimate.
“The pieces for whatever style you’re trying to emulate already exist. They were made years ago,” Kaye said. “The whole idea of pre-loved is that this [item] used to be somebody else's and now I give it new meaning, a new story, and so on. I see it as a circle of life for garments.”
Endless Runway travels overseas for its London Fashion Week debut on Thursday, September 12, curated by eBay's Pre-Loved Style Director Amy Bannerman and co-hosted by model Leomie Anderson. Watch the livestream here.
Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue
