LEFT TO RIGHT: MAN ON PHONE, TAWFIK MOUNAYER; SEATED, ALICE ROI: STANDING, BEN CHO, NICOLE NOSELLI AND DAPHNE GUTIEREZ OF BRUCE

There was a time when the New York collections were about flying in on a Wednesday morning, catching Ralph, Donna and Calvin over the next couple of days then flying out again for a weekend break before heading straight for Milan and Paris- where the real fashion was. The Seventh Avenue giants are, of course, more than adept at issuing their twice-yearly - and predictable - trend statements with clothes that are safe, easy to wear and beautifully ( read expensively ) produced. But they are hardly likely to throw up anything much that's new. Fast forward to autumn 2001 and, in terms of fashion, New York City is a rather different place to be. Since labels as diverse as Imitation Of Christ and Miguel Adrover appeared on the scene, sending out hugely individual clothes that they refused to show in the sterile environs of the tents in Bryant Park, the way seems to have been paved for a whole new wave of designers. From Alice Roi to Ben Cho and from Tawfik Mounayer to Bruce, designers seem intent on creating something new, and proud to wear their multi-cultural mix on their sleeve.