For several years, New York was the world's number one fashion capital, according to Global Language Monitor (GLM), a Texas-based analytical group that tracks word usage trends on the Internet to establish who is the number one fashion capital of the world. In 2009, New York lost its crown to Milan and regained its top place in 2010.
But success, at times, is sweet and short lived. In a statement on Wednesday by GLM, London has overtaken New York City as the Top Global Fashion Capital for 2011. For 2011, London moved up from its 2010 third place position to be named the world's fashion capital for 2011, thanks to two people: Kate Middleton and Alexander McQueen. The gown was actually designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen's fashion house. It was on April 29, 2011, that the public became aware that Burton was the actual designer of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge’s fiance, Kate Middleton’s wedding dress. Burton's labor came to the awareness of Middleton in 2005 at the wedding of Tom Parker Bowles, the son of the Duchess of Cornwall, for whom McQueen had designed the wedding dress for fashion journalist Sara Buys, his bride.
The importance of being named Fashion Capital is evident in its effects on the local economy such as in exporting and Production of fashion items, as well as yealy fashion events like fashion weeks, fashion fairs and fashion prizes serve to improve the economy, raising annual revenue, and creating a upbeat manipulation of the local economy, specially in the retail segment
Customarily, there have been four primary fashion capitals. They were called the "big four" included were New York City, London, Milan and Paris. However, the "big four" is often expanded to include other cities, such as Rome or Tokyo. As of 2011, London is now the top fashion capital of the world.
source: wikipedia.org