Holding his NYFW Fall 2026 presentation at new Chelsea hotspot The Eighth, celebrated designer Marc Bouwer quite literally flipped the script.
NEW YORK, NY: Yolanda Adams and Marc Bouwer at Marc Bouwer’s Some Like It Haute FW26 presentation at The Eighth, Chelsea’s newest cocktail bar and restaurant (Photo by David Warren /Sipa USA)
As the final shows of New York Fashion Week wrapped in Manhattan, the energy carried across the Hudson to W Hoboken, where Modern Day Wife brought back it’s annual “What She Said” speaker series for a standout closing-week celebration.
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.
Sony Hall’s award-winning fashion production company, Runway 7 celebrates their 10th season of creativity and diversity.
Inside the vaulted Gothic space of the Angel Orensanz Foundation on the Lower East Side, three distinct designers presented their collections on February 15, 2026.
An upscale evening at 3 West Club set the scene for Diana Mahrach Couture to present her Fall/Winter 2026/27 collection. The event was hosted by Mahrach alongside H.H. Dr. Prince Mario-Max Schaumburg-Lippe, and together they opened the night by declaring that the looks about to grace the runway were designed to “make every girl feel like a princess.”
Jovana Louis Benoit, creative director of the eponymous brand Jovana Louis, brought the Autumn/Winter 2026 collection to the runway on Feb. 16.
Let’s hear it for the gurus.
What’s a catwalk without a high gloss finish?
Friday February 13th, Christian Cowan and Celebrity Stylist and TRESemmé Partner Justine Marjan, join forces for the English designer’s Fall/Winter 2026 Ready-To-Wear presentation. Cowan models are spotted sashaying down the runway with hair looks like the “Glossy Side Part” and the “Androgynous Bob” – of which is styled on Heated Rivalry actress Ksenia Daniela Kharlamova as she makes her runway debut that evening.
“The Glossy Side Part is inspired by the glamorous women of the 1950’s with deep side parts, smooth blowouts, and a shiny high gloss finish,” says Marjan.
The TRESemmé Lead Stylist’s vision for the show comes from paying homage to notable styles worn by fabulous men and women of the past, and of course by using the TRESemmé A-List Collection.
“The Androgynous Bob is inspired by men’s hair in the 1940’s with a nod to the flapper era blending masculine and feminine,” Marjan adds.
With the help of her feted team, Marjan re-creates these two looks that cohesively augment the English designer’s F/W show. The opposition and execution of the model’s hairstyles only speaks to the talent at TRESemmé and the true quality of the premium products.
Whether it be hair volume or sleekness, each look is made possible with America’s #1 hair care and styling brand.
Images by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images.
A structured look by Lacy Redway for the Public School Runway