What does it take to make it as an independent designer today? Is New York Fashion Week dead? This week, Who What Wear Associate Features Editor Ana Escalante breaks down her recent piece for our Spring Issue about the state of the fashion industry—and what it feels like to be an American fashion designer in 2025. She and Editorial Director Lauren Eggertsen discuss why Ana wanted to explore this topic given the current sociopolitical climate, and what she learned from meeting with a half dozen American designers. Plus, Ana shares snippets from her interviews with Business of Fashion senior correspondent Sheena Butler-Young, as well the designers themselves, including Sergio Hudson, Jackson Wiederhoeft, and Allina Liu. They dive into their hopes and fears for the industry, the challenges they’re facing right now, and more.

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