Home to the Videofashion Library

When Videofashion was founded in 1976, lifestyle television hadn’t been invented yet.  Video was a new medium.  

Videofashion’s founder, Nicolas Charney — MIT graduate, former psychologist and creator of Psychology Today Magazine — saw the potential of video and fashion in a digital age that had just begun.  

With his success in the publishing world, Charney reflects “Originally, we wanted to create a videomagazine. We looked at subjects from sports to music and decided on fashion because the clothes, the fabrics, the models created the most stunning visuals on screen.”   He continued, “every season, there were new collections with international appeal. And unlike in the still images of a magazine, on video, you could finally see the back of the dress.  Videofashion became the first fashion magazine you watched.”  

Charney’s business partner and wife, Anne Adami, a former Wilhemina model, has led the editorial and production teams over its 50-year history in creating programming which encompasses every aspect of the fashion industry. “We now have an unrivalled fashion archive and library which includes short and long-form programming, thousands of hours of raw footage and content which can be used as a resource for new TV and streaming shows as well as education.” 

In reflecting on Videofashion’s 50-year history, Charney says, “Fashion is more than the clothes we wear.  It’s a record of culture and reflects the people, attitudes and creativity that define each generation. A runway collection lasts minutes… but it’s influence can endure for decades.”

Videofashion invented the genre of fashion on video. 

Designers told their stories to videographers, not just print journalists.  Fashion shows became theatrical extravaganzas. The era of the Supermodels was born.

Video changed the industry forever. And Videofashion was there first.

Videofashion Timeline

1976: First edition of Videofashion News covers the Coty Awards, NYC.

1977: Eleanor Lambert invites VF to cover Plaza Press Weeks, NY.

1970s: Extensive in-depth coverage of Halston, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren and more iconic American designers.

1982: Videofashion opens Paris fashion market.

1983: Videofashion covers Milan fashion week. Videofashion segments air weekly on WNBC, NY.

1984: The first edition of Videofashion Monthly, with weekly instalments aired on Lifetime.

1985: Videofashion begins London fashion coverage.

1993: Videofashion brings western fashion to China, on Beijing Television

1994: Videofashion stages “The Greatest Fashion Show on Earth” in South Africa, with Miss World Pageant at Sun City. Contestants model clothing donated by the world’s top designers.

1995: Videofashion airs on E! Entertainment Television in the US.

1996: Videofashion launches the series Model TV.

1997: The Designers series is created.

1998: Launch of Style Network in US. Videofashion adds three new series to its on-going programming on Style Network: The Designers, Millenium Fashion and Fashion Classics — providing a total of 38% of the network’s fashion content.

2001: Elsa Klensch of CNN hosts the new World Fashion Tour series, launched on Trio channel in US. Videofashion debuts a new late-night series, Fashion Uncensored, and inks major deal with Chum City’s Fashion Television Channel.

2002: Videofashion co-produces several programs with Women’s Entertainment Channel in US.

2003: Videofashion provides 100% of the content to launch two 24/7 fashion channels in India (ZeeTrendz) and in Thailand (Chic).  Helps to launch SIC’s Women’s Channel in Portugal. Launches the Designer Premiere series.

2005: Vidoefashion produces new seasonal programming in HD. Launches the Elements of Style series.

2006: Videofashion debuts 50 hours of programming on Google Video, including Videofashion News and World Fashion Tour.

2006-07: Videofashion co-produces Model Mania in collaboration with Guangdong Television (GDTV).  Casts models from 40 countries to compete in live 2-hour event telecast on pan-Asian satellite TV.

**OTHER NOTEWORTHY MILESTONES- YEARS?

VF 30th anniversary

VF 40th anniversary

2026: Videofashion celebrates 50 years

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