The Edison ballroom hosted one of our favorite Fashion Week events of the season: HiTechModa’s biannual runway shows. We stopped by for Friday night’s Premier Designers showcase, featuring collections ffrom Alonso Maximo Design, Victoria Amerson, Marc Defang, Suave Suits by Wajahat Mirza, Karen Gold, Paaie, and Jus10n by Justin Hayes.
Known for reimagining fashion production through diversity, sustainability, and innovation, hiTechMODA delivered an energetic, tightly produced program. Designers from across the globe – emerging voices alongside established names -brought distinct points of view rooted in culture, craft, and modern luxury. As founder and executive producer Pamela Privette articulated, hiTechModa’s mission is “to open doors and expand the definition of who belongs on the runway,” and to “bring together designers whose work reflects innovation, culture, and the future of fashion.” That’s an objective we can unequivocally applaud.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 13: Models walk the runway wearing Alonso Maximo Design during the HITECHMODA New York Fashion Week Season 15 production at Edison Ballroom on February 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for hiTechMODA)
The depth and variety of design perspectives embodied that mission. From Victoria Amerson’s 1950s-inspired silhouettes and playful prints to Paaie’s modern South Asian glamour, the lineup on the runway felt like a true crossroads: different aesthetics, inspirations, and communities, but united by the belief that fashion is a global language.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 13: A model walks the runway wearing Paaie during the HITECHMODA New York Fashion Week Season 15 production at Edison Ballroom on February 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for hiTechMODA)
Now, the show itself.
Alonso Maximo Design opened up the night with bold, formal attire featuring dramatic silhouettes such as bright red, ruffled sleeves, and low cut men’s shirting with midnight blue sequins.
Victoria Amerson followed with a soft, romantic nod to a bygone era: dainty blues, florals, bows, and long A-line skirts. One standout look paired a Tiffany-blue suit with an undone, berry-toned floral tie draped down the sides, plus a black button-down peeking through: elegant with an added flair.
Then Marc Defang reinvigorated the room: models ballet dancing up and down the runway in feathered white leotards to “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.” It pushed the boundaries of what we expect from a typical Fashion Week presentation, staying true to hiTechMODA’s spirit.
Suave Suits reimagined the suit through varied cuts, colors, and occasions, stretching the category far beyond the traditional definition.
Karen Gold brought bespoke formalwear with a contemporary edge. Unexpected waistlines, sculptural shoulder construction, and the rare combination of pieces that feel truly fresh and genuinely wearable.
Paaie, a contemporary South Asian occasionwear designer, brought out some of the most stunning, refreshing takes on lehengas, saris, and suits – their gilded pieces absolutely lit up the room. Glamorous without being
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 13: Models walk the runway wearing JUS10H by Justin Haynes during the HITECHMODA New York Fashion Week Season 15 production at Edison Ballroom on February 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for hiTechMODA)
overdone, modern while honoring heritage.
And finally, the featured guest designer Jus10n by Justin Haynes blew the crowd away with patchwork suiting, streetwear, and outerwear that highlighted creativity at its best. The energy was undeniable, each designer brought a distinct point of view, and the crowd stayed locked in from start to finish.
hiTechMODA’s New York shows also continue a bigger run of international momentum for the program, following showcases in Paris, Milan, Tokyo, and Cannes, while still keeping New York as its creative home base. NYFW is supposed to be the world meeting in one city, and hiTechMODA delivers on that feeling.