The most dedicated shoppers understand the satisfaction that comes with finding a Balenciaga suede Le City in mint condition with tags attached for a clean $450 on eBay (true story). It’s the satisfying finish line that only comes with hours of sifting through listings. Now imagine finding those dream pieces but without the hours of digging. eBay makes this fantasy a reality with their Endless Runway: The Archive. It’s curated by stylist and editor Carlos Nazario, who gathers archival pieces from Ralph Lauren, Tom Ford, Anna Sui, Marc Jacobs, Virgil Abloh, and others.
Coinciding with New York Fashion Week and in partnership with the CFDA, a retrospective takes over the city for one night, presenting 150+ pieces of archival fashion. It creates a timeline of history, from the 70s liberation of Diane Von Furstenberg’s wrap dress to the minimalism pioneered by Calvin Klein of the 90s. Fashion houses, including Willy Chavarria, Tommy Hilfiger, and Vera Wang, directly donated both new and historical pieces to the exhibition, completing the historical timeline.
Singular iconic fashion moments are called out. The Marc Jacobs dress Winona Ryder wore during her 2002 shoplifting trial. A vintage Bob Mackie beaded silk gown worn by Miley Cyrus during her 2017 appearance on The Voice. A Michael Kors Collection Resort 1990 slip dress with hand-embroidered crystals, a piece later worn by Bella Hadid, Sabrina Carpenter, and Madonna.
eBay connects shoppers to these rare and archival pieces through an online, live auction hosted by Jenna Lyons. Live participants can bid on items while hearing from fashion experts on the historical and cultural importance of each piece.
“With Endless Runway: The Archive, we’re opening up this incredible collection to people everywhere, giving them the opportunity to discover the stories behind these iconic pieces, engage with the experts who know them best, bid in real time, and own a piece of fashion history,” says VP and General Manager of eBay Live, Ashish Chhabra.
