BEIJING, Feb. 2(Xinhuanet) -- New York Fashion Week, the first of the big four, hits Manhattan's Bryant Park for eight days of non-stop shows from some of the world's biggest designers - as well as a crop of exciting new talent.

    The annual event kicked off Friday in the red, with a bevy of actresses and other celebrities wearing the color as part of the "Red Dress" Campaign, to alert women to the dangers of heart disease.

Actress Rita Moreno presents an outfit during The Heart Truth's Red Dress Collection show during New York Fashion Week Feb. 1, 2008.(Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

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    "Heart disease doesn't care what you wear. It's the number one killer of women," a poster from the U.S. Department of Health screamed at the entrance to the opening show of the Fashion Week, which this year also reflects the in-the-red state of the U.S. economy.

    This year's Fashion Week is accompanied by rumors of recession, though the government has not used the "R" word.

    Retail sales and consumer confidence in the United States are down, and the jobs market has contracted for the first time in more than four years.

    But Fashion Week was refusing to sing the blues, donning red to send its health message.

    This year's Fashion Week has lured celebrity visitors from the west coast, hungry for an outing after the long Hollywood writers' strike, as well as fashionistas with the promise of offerings from hundreds of houses of fashion.

    Among them are perennial all-American favorites such as Diane von Furstenberg, Michael Kors and Vera Wang, and young, relative unknowns such as Carlos Miele and Iodice from Brazil.

    (Agencies)

U.S. First Lady Laura Bush (C) is surrounded by celebrity models on the runway at The Heart Truth Red Dress collection show during Fall 2008 Fashion Week in New York on Friday, Feb. 1, 2008.(Fashion Wire Daily Photo) Photo Gallery>>>