How A Celtic Holiday Became Today's New York Fashion Week
Does the fashion calendar dictate the rhythm of our lives? Or does the natural calendar? Imbolc, observed around February 1st, wasn't just a quaint footnote in Celtic traditions; it was a monumental, earth-based celebration of the promise of spring.
New York Fashion week is always the first week of February. That date cluster around February 10th—is not merely calendar coincidence. It falls precisely within the period of the ancient Celtic Imbolc festival, and NYFW functions as its subconscious, quasi-version. In the communities of ancient Ireland and Scotland, Imbolc was the moment the ewes, female sheep, began to lactate—a lifeline sign that the land was waking up. Imboloc centered around women, who were the weavers and clothes makers of their villages. Most importantly Imboloc’s roots are deep in female empowerment and textile making. Something about early February is a powerful urge to usher in the new season through fashion and female creation.
To celtic women making clothes was an integral part of life that centered around the care for sheep. Celtic women in Scotland and Ireland traditionally:
Pray over the Sheep: The original act of ethical fashion. Women didn’t just shear; they blessed their flocks, acknowledging the living source of their materials.
Sacred Weaving: They sang together, spinning and weaving the year's new wool fabrics. Every thread was literally from the earth, imbued with communal intent, prayer, and hope.
The Blessing: The finished cloth wasn't just an item of commerce; it was a sacred tool for survival, prayed over and symbolically charged to protect the wearer until the next harvest.
The connection here is undeniable: Imbolc was fundamentally about making clothes and celebrating the material renewal that guaranteed survival. This was a celebration intrinsically linked to the female body, the health of the community, and the making of clothes. The garment was the sacrament.
It should also be noted that Scotland was never conquered by Rome, and a huge pain for England until the 1700s. The famous kilts worn by warriors were made in an intentional way, carrying the prayers and spiritual protection throughout every part of the clothes making process - from conception of the baby lambs to beating the cloth. When England finally took control over Scotland, they immediately outlawed Tartan, which not only was the traditional dress of Scotland but a central part of the Scottish way of life - specifically for women.
So, how did a pagan festival of spinning wool align so perfectly with the commercial epicenter of global fashion trends? The answer is a mix of of wartime pragmatism, business strategy, and a global logistics chain that honors the season.
The precursor to NYFW, “Press Week,” was officially founded in 1943 by the legendary publicist Eleanor Lambert. Her mission was audacious: to divert global attention away from Paris, which was then inaccessible during World War II, and to spotlight American designers.
Why Mid-February?
The timing wasn't celestial; it was purely commercial, yet perfectly seasonal:
The Buy Cycle: By mid-February, buyers and editors needed to see the Fall/Winter collections to make purchasing and editorial decisions. This timing gives designers and manufacturers just enough lead time to produce the garments for a September/October retail drop.
The Fashion Month Kickoff: New York strategically placed its show dates first in the sequence of the "Big Four" (NYFW, London, Milan, Paris). Kicking off in mid-February ensures New York sets the tone before the global fashion circus moves across the Atlantic.
The Seasonal Swap: Though NYFW in February shows Fall/Winter collections, the energy is always about looking forward—a crucial point.
The dates were chosen for commerce, but the result is the same as Imbolc. We can argue that there is a special time of the year, where for eons, women have gathered at the mid point between winter solstice and spring equinox to celebrate fabrics.
Next time you see a model glide down the runway, don't just see a spectacle. See the new cloth. See the ritual. See a modern woman channeling the power of her ancestral sisters, weaving the very fabric of the season.
Your Conscious NYFW: A Step-by-Step Imbolc Guide
As the demand for sustainable fashion and awareness of textile origins grows, we are subconsciously praying over our new "wool," demanding a return to intentional, ethical, and more earth-connected garments.
It’s not just a trend; it's a reconnection to our indigenous roots, to a time when clothes were woven with intention, respect for the earth, and community.
Historically, women wove together, sang together, and created together. The garment was a shared story. Now, we often find ourselves in a competitive landscape, pitted against each other by the very clothes we wear. The true irony? This collective, often cutthroat pursuit of "newness" during NYFW is an echo of a celebration meant to unite, not divide.
So, how do we honor the spirit of Imbolc amidst the February fashion frenzy? It’s about conscious consumption and reclaiming intention.
Research Sustainable Designers & Fabrics: When you do seek new pieces, look for brands committed to sustainable fabrics (like organic cotton, linen, hemp, recycled materials) and ethical production. Dig deep. Who made your clothes? How were the materials sourced? This is your modern "praying over the sheep."
Prioritize Natural Fibers: Embrace the wisdom of our ancestors. Wool, cotton, linen—materials that come from the earth—are often more durable, breathable, and less polluting than synthetics.
Embrace Mending & Upcycling: Remember the communal weaving? Your modern version is mending a beloved garment, or giving it a new life through an upcycle project. This extends its lifespan and honors the resources used to create it.
Connect, Don't Compete: Engage in conversations about ethical fashion with friends. Share resources. Follow creators on TikTok who promote conscious consumption. Recreate that sense of community, even if virtually, instead of succumbing to competitive pressures.
Choose Quality Over Quantity: Invest in well-made pieces that will last, rather than chasing fleeting micro-trends. This is an ancient principle: make it well, make it last.