Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today joined Katie Couric, 7th on 6th Executive Director Fern Mallis, Olympus Fashion Week officials and executives of the Entertainment Industry Foundation's Colon Cancer Initiative in opening Fashion Week in Bryant Park and launching "Be Seen, Be Screened" campaign to urge early detection and treatment of colon cancer.

"New York City is committed to guaranteeing the longevity of Fashion Week, our fashion and retail sector, and the institutions that are today training and nurturing generations of future designers and apparel makers," said Mayor Bloomberg.  "Bringing together the need to raise awareness about colon cancer and Fashion Week merges one of New York's most high-profile events with this urgent public health challenge.  It is the second most deadly form of cancer in the City after lung cancer.  In fact, more than 1,500 New Yorkers die from colon cancer each year.    Colorectal cancer is curable 90 percent of the time when detected early.  I urge all New Yorkers - men and women - to get early screening."

Olympus is sponsoring Fashion Week for the second consecutive season and is partnering with the Entertainment Industry Foundation's Colon Cancer Initiative to raise awareness of the colon cancer and encourage early screening.

For more than a decade, Fashion Week has showcased New York's unrivaled fashion industry.   The City's fashion and retail sector is a crucial element of the overall local economy.  In 2002, the industry had an economic impact of $35.5 billion in direct and indirect spending.  The two "Seventh on Sixth" shows alone generate more than $177 million each year.  In 2002, the City's fashion and retail sector employed more than 154,000 full-time workers in 15,000 businesses.  Additionally, 125,000 out-of-town apparel buyers journey to New York City each year and spend an estimated $100 million in restaurants and hotels and on other services.

The City is working closely with the fashion community to make sure it continues to thrive in New York.  During the planning and execution the 2004 Republican National Convention, security procedures ensured that sidewalks in the Garment District and Chelsea area stayed open to pedestrian traffic so as to guarantee customers and allow merchants the ability to receive deliveries and ship merchandise.

Today, the City's television station, NYC-TV Channel 74, is once again producing a program called "Fashion in Focus: Inside New York's Fashion Industry."  In its third season, the show highlights the business aspects of fashion and gives New Yorkers a behind-the-scenes look at this crucial industry.  "Fashion in Focus: Inside New York's Fashion Industry" also explores the industries link to the City, and impact on tourism and advertising.  The show serves as a platform designers such as Diane von Furstenburg, Carolina Herrera and Oscar de la Renta while also showcasing up-and-coming New York City designers and small businesses.  NYC TV is also partnering with Fashion Wire Daily, the world's leading newswire service devoted to fashion and celebrity style, to provide additional content for this season of Fashion in Focus.