Park City Fashion Week returns to Main Street during Sundance run

Park City Fashion Week is staging a comeback on Main Street during Sundance, with a headline runway show scheduled for Jan. 25 at The Marquis. Founded by Kim Kienow and launched in 2020, the event has expanded into a multi-faceted showcase that aims to pair Utah-based designers with national talent and Indigenous creators in partnership with Utah Indigenous Fashion Week.

Organizers have framed this year’s programming as a curated mix: runway presentations, a spotlight segment featuring multiple designers, VIP experiences and pop-up shopping that integrates boutiques and ski-lifestyle brands. Promotional materials for the week also reference a surprise runway debut by a two-time NBA champion who will unveil a clothing line, an attention-grabbing element likely to draw additional visitors and media attention to downtown Park City during the festival period.

For Summit County retailers and hospitality providers, the timing is strategic. Fashion Week’s alignment with Sundance concentrates foot traffic on Main Street and at The Marquis, increasing opportunities for pop-up vendors and boutique exposure. VIP packages and elevated event experiences typically yield higher per-visitor spending, while curated brand pairings with ski and lifestyle labels position local shops to capture crossover demand from festivalgoers seeking both apparel and outdoor gear.

The festival’s continued growth since its 2020 debut suggests a maturing local market for fashion events tied to winter tourism. For designers based in Utah, the platform offers a rare chance to present to national and Indigenous fashion networks without leaving Summit County. For Indigenous designers, the formal partnership brings institutional visibility and the potential for longer-term wholesale or retail relationships with galleries and boutiques on Main Street.

There are broader implications for the county’s economy and cultural identity. An expanding fashion week can help diversify the tourism calendar beyond film and skiing by creating retail-driven demand and off-peak programming. That expansion will likely require coordination on logistics such as permitting for pop-up retail, street-flow management around The Marquis and marketing alignment among downtown businesses to convert runway interest into sustained sales.

Tickets and additional event information are available through Park City Fashion Week’s online channels and event pages. Attendees should expect a mix of runway schedules, pop-up locations and VIP options; organizers have said the event will continue to grow beyond Sundance in future seasons.

For local residents and small-business owners, the immediate takeaway is practical: expect increased pedestrian traffic on Main Street through Sundance, new retail partnerships and a spotlight on Utah and Indigenous design talent that could attract repeat visitors and wholesale interest. As Fashion Week looks to expand past the film festival window, Summit County stands to gain a new cultural-commercial rhythm that could broaden the local tourism economy.