New York Fashion Week reinforced a reality long understood by communications leaders: the runway is only one touchpoint in a far broader influence ecosystem. Global influencer and social intelligence platform WeArisma recently released its NYFW FW26 report, revealing that this season, brand impact was as carefully strategized as ever. A select group of heritage houses captured a majority share of attention, deploying a carefully curated mix of celebrity alignment, press authority, and owned storytelling to shape the narrative on their terms. Keep reading for a selection of key findings from the report.

• New York Fashion Week FW26 generated $275M in total Media Value, up +73% YoY, but leadership was highly concentrated and strategically differentiated.

• Concentrated Leadership, Divergent Strategies: Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, and Michael Kors capture 71% of total Media Value, each winning through a distinct route: APAC celebrity density, Western press authority, or owned narrative control.

• Regional Power Is Shifting: NORAM and EMEA account for 81% of total MV, with EMEA surging +205% YoY. Meanwhile, APAC and China deliver triple-digit growth, reshaping global influence dynamics.

• Platform Momentum Is Accelerating: Instagram remains the volume engine (42% share), but growth is driven by TikTok (+192% YoY) and YouTube (+184% YoY), extending impact beyond the runway moment.

• Celebrity, Press, and Influencer Roles Are Rebalancing: Calvin Klein leads in celebrity impact (40% of EMV vs. 8% avg.), while press-heavy models convert authority into measurable search demand.

Download the full report to discover all the takeaways at the link HERE.