Observer: How the Economics of Fashion Week Extend Beyond the Runway
UNO economics expert Jane Liu, Ph.D., explains why Fashion Week's real payoff is measured in brand value, not immediate sales or social media buzz.
- published: 2026/09/17
- contact: Jazlynn Sanders - Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications
- email: unonews@unomaha.edu
UNO in the news: In a column for Observer, University of Nebraska at Omaha Economics Assistant Professor Jane Liu, Ph.D., examines the economics behind Fashion Week, and argues that its greatest value isn't measured by ticket sales, online orders, or social media impressions. Instead, the goal is something much harder to build and measure: lasting brand equity.
Why it matters: Fashion Weeks around the world are huge opportunities for businesses. With brands spending hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars on shows, the chance to profit is large. The four major fashion weeks in New York, London, Milan and Paris generated a record-breaking $881.2 million in earned media value.
Zoom in: As a leading expert in the economics field, frequently lending her expertise to explain how cryptocurrencies impact traditional money markets and global supply chains to local, state, and national media. Beyond her expertise, she has a passion for fashion and has made runway appearances for Omaha and Kansas City fashion weeks.
Read the full article on Observer.
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The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university, committed to innovating for the public good, advancing social mobility, powering workforce development, and serving as a hub for community engagement. Nearly 15,000 Mavericks choose UNO for its hands-on education experiences, nationally ranked online and graduate programs, military-connected student support, and innovative approaches to supporting lifelong learning. UNO holds the Carnegie Research Activity “R2” designation, securing more than $40 million annually in external research funding and counts its faculty among the world’s most cited scholars. Sixteen Omaha Athletics programs compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Summit League and National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC).
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