Three days in New York. Vanderbilt & Seewald Global Studio’s debut at Fashion Week

New York never sleeps. It never stands still. It is a city of movement, ambition and new beginnings. During Fashion Week, its pace quickens even further, and fashion naturally enters into a dialogue with art, culture, business and technology.

It was in the midst of the autumn edition of New York Fashion Week that Vanderbilt & Seewald Global Studio, a project by Michaela Seewald and Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin, was unveiled. It is a platform that connects creativity with capital, tradition with innovation, and local craftsmanship with the global stage. The New York debut was more than a fashion show: it was a three-day event shaped by human stories, ideas and possibilities.

It all began on Monday, 14 September, at Palladino’s Steak & Seafood on East 42nd Street. An intimate dinner for sponsors, designers, visionaries and cultural figures introduced Michaela Seewald and Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin’s vision to a wider circle of guests. While New York beyond the windows went about its business at its own pace, conversations flourished inside, and new connections were forged. Talent today requires more than just attention. To flourish, it also needs the right environment, strategic partnerships, capital and access to international markets. This is precisely the principle on which Vanderbilt & Seewald Global Studio is built. Its philosophy is encapsulated in three words: Makers, Moguls and Muses. Creators. Those who can open doors. And personalities who give brands cultural significance.

The highlight of the programme took place in Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central Terminal, a venue that perfectly captures the energy of New York. For Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin, Grand Central also holds personal significance, as the name ‘Vanderbilt’ is inextricably linked to its history. The historic architecture provided a backdrop for contemporary fashion, bridging the past and the future through the fashion show.

The evening was hosted by Mario Lopez, and three designers with distinct styles took to the runway. Lorena Saravia presented a modern interpretation of Mexican heritage, where leather, precise tailoring and raw textures meet feminine silhouettes. Dustin Glickman and the DSTN brand combined Scandinavian minimalism with American Western iconography. Hayari Paris, led by couturier Nabil Hayari, brought the atmosphere of a Parisian haute couture salon to New York. Selected designs were created in collaboration with artist and photographer Karen Bystedt, known for her project *The Lost Warhols*.

Three designers, three worlds and a shared ambition: to preserve their own identities while pushing their boundaries. Click-to-Buy technology linked individual looks directly to the option to purchase, bridging the gap between the runway and the customer.

On the third day, attention shifted from the runway to the question that inevitably follows: What comes next? An intimate Family Office Luncheon was held at Tudor City Steakhouse for sponsors, VIP guests, investors, founders and cultural leaders. Here, the concept of ‘Makers, Moguls and Muses’ took on a new dimension. ‘Makers’ represent creators with a fresh approach. Moguls are those who can pave the way for talent to access capital, strategy and global growth. Muses, meanwhile, are cultural figures who lend a brand visibility, context and significance. It is precisely through this interconnection that the world of fashion is shaped today: not only in the studio, but also at the table with an investor, in a gallery, in the media, through technology and in dialogue with culture.

Over the course of three days, Vanderbilt & Seewald Global Studio took on three different forms. The first day was devoted to relationships, the second to fashion, and the third to the future and the question of how creative ideas can grow into global brands. This is not merely a fashion show, nor is it simply another addition to the Fashion Week programme. Vanderbilt & Seewald Global Studio builds a bridge between fashion and the wider world, creating opportunities for it to grow. New York was the natural setting for this first chapter, and Grand Central – a place where different cultures cross paths and journeys continue – became, for a few hours, a metaphor for the entire initiative. In New York, Vanderbilt & Seewald Global Studio presented not only fashion, but also a way of thinking about it as a craft, a cultural asset, a creative force and a global business.