City officials and fashion insiders like Michael Kors and Tim Gunn temporarily renamed Fashion Avenue "Project Runway Avenue" Wednesday to celebrate the show's return to Manhattan, after one season in L.A.

The city's official marketing, tourism and partnership organization, also presented a proclamation deeming January 13th "Project Runway Day," highlighting its contribution to fashion in the Big Apple, where the retail industry employs more than 175,000 people.

"It's important as different parts of the business, as manufacturing changes and moves around, having the talent and creative spark here its draws so many other people and provides a really exciting part of what makes New York such a great place," said Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Robert C. Lieber.

"Fashion and New York City are inextricable and that's why I believe 'Project Runway' and the city should be inextricable, the resources here are unparalleled and its simple the place to be, its why I live here," Gunn said.

Project Runway's 7th season kicks off this Thursday.