Runway 7 kicked off their NYFW collection presentations on Thursday, Feb. 10 and Friday, Feb. 11 with a live runway competition featuring the best in upcoming talent! Runway 7 produced the show “RunwayMuse” in collaboration with SohoMuse, the professional networking website for the global creative community. Both were live-streamed and showcased in front of a live audience featuring fashion insiders, influencers, media press, and buyers. The competition featured two looks each from a curated selection of graduating fashion design students. Billboard recording artist Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin hosted the event, and the winners were chosen by an iconic panel of judges that included Paper Magazine’s Editor-At-Large Mickey Boardman, celebrated journalist and style expert Joseph DeAcetis, fashion business coach Elliot Carlyle, actress and model Debbie Dickinson, and fashion designer and CFDA member Naeem Khan, who had previously presented his Spring / Summer 2020 collection at Runway 7 at NYFW back in September, 2021.

Trans Clothing Company, the first clothing line designed specifically for the transgender community, showcased their latest collection featuring childrenswear worn by the youngest trans model to ever walk at NYFW, Noella Bella. Following the RunwayMuse competition, presentations by Peach & Penny showed off their latest collection of couture, hand sewn frocks for petite fashionistas. Looks also shown were by Ydamys Simo, influencer fashion brand CHICK, Jheez, Body by Rosa Acosta, genderless athleisure wear brand blk top KOPE, Hoodgrind Apparel, Riddim Driven, and Pentard Couture.

The night continued with Malan Breton, the award-winning multihyphenate, who presented an inspiring collection to mark his 25th anniversary in the fashion industry-debuting a collection featuring chic coats in tweed and fur, smart tailoring in bold stripes, shimmering rose gold and gorgeous gowns in rich jewel tones. It featured ready to wear and evening-wear looks accessorized with fine jewelry that were inspired by Ridley Scott’s 1982 film “Blade Runner“. The show-stopping, stand-out of the presentation was the final look, a ruby red strapless ball gown with an embellished bodice and full tulle skirt. As part of his presentation, Malan Breton debuted a couture NFT created as a 3D animation. The buyer can become a fully animated supermodel by completing a photo scan of the human body to become an avatar.

The Bartschland collection brought the heat Friday evening when the first model to walk for the highly anticipated new collection-nightlife impresario and fashion icon, Susanne Bartsch, shot flames from their shoes. The genderless collection was modeled by a bevy of familiar faces, including acclaimed drag queen Scarlet Envy, who walked the runway in a custom Bartschland ensemble. The presentation, entitled “Look”, featured newsprint jumpsuits, screen-printed mini dresses, logo embellished leotards and bright, bold ensembles that would look perfect on the dancefloor at one of the infamous parties for which Susanne Bartsch is known for.

Argentinian luxury fashion and lifestyle brand Gaucho – Buenos Aires wowed audiences next with dual collections showcasing looks for both women and men, as well as unigender pieces. Gaucho – Buenos Aires flew in the powerhouse all-male percussive dance company Che Malambo for a memorable, energetic pre-show performance inspired by the spirit of the gaucho-the Argentinian cowboy for which the brand is named. Following the performance, Model and influencer Neels Visser co-hosted a livestream with the newly named Director of Design of Gaucho – Buenos Aires, the creative multi-hyphenated Lautaro Garcia de la Peña after the show.

The collection presentations closed out the evening with Chloe Pearl making history with the debut of her eponymous Chloe Pearl Lingerie. The 17-year-old social media influencer and xennial is the youngest designer to showcase at New York Fashion Week and her size-inclusive “Marie Antoinette Collection” for Fall 2022 features colorful confections inspired by the neoclassical era as well as the 1990s.

Edited by Wynter Aiken