Originating in 1943 as a distraction from the French in World War II, New York Fashion Week has become a staple to the city. At this point, with the incessant media coverage and talk of the biannual event, there’s not a person on this earth who hasn’t heard of it. But as of recently, if you’re in New York, you may have seen advertisements cascaded throughout the city, your Twitter feed, or local boutiques, an exclusively Men’s Fashion Week is among us, for the first time ever.

The men’s fashion industry has taken a backseat to that of women's since its inception, particularly in the US. With over 80 percent of shows being exclusively womenswear every season and the scheduling of over 200 shows in four days being, well, fucking chaotic, there’s always expected to be quite an overlap. The fashion community as a whole will generally choose to see any on-trend designer women’s line over menswear. Guys still are their clients, but they’re not their bread and butter. Why focus your reporting, buying and photography on someone who’s not your target demographic?

That’s why New York Fashion Week: Men’s Spring/Summer 2016 is so important. It gives a chance for designers to let their work get exposure instead of neglect. Young, emerging, talented menswear creators are at an all-time high, and too many have been going under-appreciated, but now there will be a notable difference in the industry. The change won’t happen immediately, but at the very least, expect to see your mixed-branded stores carrying a wider variety within the next few years.

With 46 chosen shows spanning over four days, it’s now much easier for these lines to grab attention. But without dilution of their portion of the industry with 150 shows in a completely other genre, the already clear competition is more transparent than ever. The collections must avoid sameness in order to not blend into the crowd. As Meryl Streep explained so perfectly via legendary monologue in The Devil Wears Prada, the originality and expected fresh ideas will trickle down to every aspect of fashion, not the designer labels only a select few can afford. This all being said, it’s undeniable that we are in an integral time for men. The integration of this event into the annual fashion calendar is, if not revolutionary, evolutionary at the least. Take note of what comes from this. We know we will.

Sources: Dolce & Gabbana