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No more Tent at Boston Fashion Week

When it first went up in September 2011, the gleaming white Tent at Boston Fashion Week was front-page news. At last, Boston would have a 200-seat central location to host runway shows by local clothing and accessories designers, many of whom are well-established. Then, the following year, organizers changed format. Runway shows at the Tent, which was behind the Mandarin Oriental on Boylston Street, would spotlight up-and-comers. This year, it will host none of the above. The Tent, which was seen as a way to elevate the profile of Boston Fashion Week and draw attention to local designers, lacks the sponsorship dollars to continue, at least this year. Still, Boston Fashion Week founder Jay Calderin wants to make it clear that tent or no tent, there will be a Boston Fashion Week. The fashion shows will return to nightclubs and hotels around town. This is the 20th anniversary of BFW, which begins Sept. 27. "I think the Tent helped encourage and show designers a new level of production, and we're still going to see that in some of the shows across the city this year." So, will the Tent ever return? Calderin is guessing yes. "Fashion Week has to be a reflection of what's going on in the city," Calderin said. "And enthusiasm here is always growing."