NEW YORK, NY – It’s Fashion Week in New York City and some of the world’s greatest designers have descended on Bryant Park to show off their work.

Because of the current state of affairs, a global recession and millions without jobs, many designers are looking to the future for inspiration, making their clothes a reflection of our collective wish for brighter tomorrows.

Jean-Paul Jacqueti started off Monday’s festivities with his Space Age influenced line.    Reflective materials, velcro, and fully encapsulating suits took center stage in his morning show.  Jacqueti’s line focused mostly on eye-catching evening wear and outfits that provide insulation from temperatures between -48° and 250° Fahrenheit.

Donna Karan stunned critics with her line focused on Retro-Futurism.  Karan presented a vision of the future as it was seen in the 1970s, with articles inspired by David Bowie and the Jetsons.  Clothes intentionally didn’t fit right, a reaction to our dreams never matching up with what we actually need.  Also, the clothes are intentionally distressed to look like they were created in the 70′s, which the artist says is because the hopes of yesterday have worn out and need to be replaced.  The highlight of this show was the Ziggy Stardust as a barista ensemble.

Thakoon Panichgul’s Post-Apocalyptica line was created as a reaction to the trend in looking forward. His message being that focusing on the horizon can leave today’s problem’s overlooked.  The standard motifs of leather, face paint, and mohawks have been reclaimed for day to day office wear.  Being a favorite designer of the Obama administration, we may see blazers with matching eye-patches or Blackberry-ready gun holsters on the first family.

Missy Von Lichtenstein amazed fashionistas with her line: Post-Post-Apocalyptic.  Loin cloths and animal pelts abounded as models strutted down the catwalk.  A message that going too far forward can take you back to the beginning, Lichtenstein’s green alternative is American made and fully sustainable.  The mink and fox hide 3 piece suit won over reluctant critics.  At the end of the show, Von Lichtenstein came out on the runway to take her bow, and doused herself in red paint.