Fashion’s Night Out, designed to boost economy, goes on hiatus

Fashion’s Night Out, the star-studded initiative launched at the height of the recession to help generate more sales, is going on hiatus this year.

Since starting in 2009, the annual effort brought out the glitterati in heaps as thousands of retailers and designers hosted celebrities and models at parties, showcases and special shopping events.

By 2012, the affair had spread to 500 cities across the country – including Los Angeles – and 30 cities worldwide. Last year’s festivities attracted singer/designer Victoria Beckham, stylist Rachel Zoe, actress Jennifer Hudson and more.

New York City, the original host, partnered with American Vogue, the Council of Fashion Designers of America and NYC & Co. to “celebrate fashion, restore consumer confidence and boost the industry’s economy,” according to the collective.

But in 2013, the celebration of shopping will go dark in the U.S. to “enable retailers to channel their resources toward strategies more in keeping with their current priorities,” according to the FNO website.

Some retailers and designers – especially those simultaneously consumed with their Fashion Week collections – resented FNO for sucking away valuable resources, according to WWD, which first reported the news.

Come September, the extravaganza will live on in 19 other countries, including China, Russia, India and several European nations.

ALSO:

Best Buy cutting 400 jobs to save $150 million

Southern California malls target Asian shoppers

Macy’s targets Millennials, Saks blames Sandy in Q4 earnings