Runway 7 Opens With Naeem Kahn & Closes Successful Inaugural Season With Susanne Bartsch at New York Fashion Week

Runway 7, a new hybrid fashion platform, debuted at New York Fashion Week, presenting runway shows by 24
established and indie designers on Thursday and Friday, September 9 and 10, at Sony Hall, 235 West 46th Street, near the Paramount Hotel.

Naeem Kham kicked off the two-day event with a sensational show on the morning of Thursday, September
9th, which transported guests to a luxurious tropical paradise filled with beautiful, ball gowns and mini dresses alike as well as pant sets, capes, and shorts. The mixture of bright colors and floral and animal prints combined with sparkle to create a wearable fantasy.

Emmy Award winner Anne Heche and fashion influencer Arika Sato were front and center for Thursday night’s shows where Texas-based lifestyle brand Legends are Made, Romanian unisex ready-to-wear brand HardcoreFashion, streetwear line P.U.R.E. and luxury designer Lulu et Gigi Couture all debuted exciting new collections. Also showing were the fitness brand Energy Gear, youth fashion brand Ydamys Simo, Hawaiian brand Dezigns byKamohoalii, surrealist designer Renancio, and Citizen Jane (a debut collection by DJ Citizen Jane). As a sign of the times, athleisure and athletic wear were heavy on the runway with a new collection debuting from Balance Athletica, and teen influencer fashion brand CHICK, debuting a chic and functional new line of athleisure-inspired pieces.

Noted journalist and Forbes contributor Joseph DeAcetis debuted his new menswear brand Potro, a celebration of the casual man’s lifestyle, in the opening show on Friday. One of the most recognizable names in menswear, DeAcetis said, “There is no better venue to debut Potro than Runway 7. It provides a totally unique experience for both brands and consumers during New York Fashion Week.” The collection included luxury polo shirts, denim, shorts and briefs. In addition to producing Potro’s runway show, Runway 7 is the sole manufacturer of Potro’s Peruvian Pima cotton polo collection, a testament to the integral part R7 plays for many of its brand partners.

Social media personality Brittany Tomlinson and The Bachelor alums, Chelsea Vaughn, Serena Chew, and Pieper James enjoyed a full day of shows on Friday, September 10th where the eponymous lingerie brand LaSette Lingerie, Zao, which fuses Chinese aristocratic wear with western charm, female-empowered lifestyle brand Just BE, athleisure brand LAGIRLA, and D!NG showed new, exciting collections. Colby John Bridal stunned the audience with pieces featuring intricate detailing and superb structure, and the evening was twice as nice thanks to a second runway show by CHICK.

Couturier Anthony Rubio, put a new spin on best in show, as his models walked the runway in cafe society-inspired looks carrying pampered pooches. Puerto Rican children’s designer Wanda Beauchamp, Eni Buioron FEMME, a diffusion line of Lulu et Gigi Couture, and acclaimed designer Giannina Azar, who has dressed celebrities including Jennifer Lopez, were also on hand to debut memorable collections that had the audience on the edges of their seats.

Nightlife high priestess, Susanne Bartsch, brought her famed Bartschland Follies to Fashion Week when she hosted the official R7 closing night party where she debuted her new collaboration with UGG. Highlights of the event included a performance of Aerosmith’s “Dream On” by the legendary Joey Arias and a performance by Amanda Lepore of her hit single “Champagne”. Bartsch serves as the first global ambassador for UGG and proudly announced the new partnership with UGG at the exclusive R7 event: a gender-bending night of fantasy and fashion.

LINKS TO SHOWS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
10:00 AM – Naeem Khan
R7 Debuts Spring/Summer 2022 Collections – Naeem Khan
Edit: https://dam.gettyimages.com/assignments/runway-7-debuts-ss2022-collections-naeem-khan

5:00 PM SHOW
-Legends Are Made, Hardcore Fashion, Pure, Lulu et Gigi Couture
R7 Debuts Spring/Summer 2022 Collections – Legends Are Made, Hardcore Fashion, Pure, Lulu et Gigi Couture
Edit: https://dam.gettyimages.com/assignments/runway-7-debuts-ss2022-collections-legends

7:00 PM SHOW
-Ydamys Simo, Dezigns By Kamohaolii
R7 Debuts Spring/Summer 2022 Collections – Ydamys Simo, Dezigns By Kamohaolii
Edit: https://dam.gettyimages.com/assignments/runway-7-debuts-ss2022-collections-ydamys-simo

9:00 PM SHOW
-Renacio, Citizen Jane, Balance Athletica, CHICK
Runway 7 Debuts Spring/Summer 2022 Collections – Renacio, Citizen Jane, Balance Athletica, CHICK
Edit: https://dam.gettyimages.com/assignments/runway-7-debuts-ss2022-collections-renacio-citizen

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
1:00 PM Show
-Zao, Lagirla, D!NG, LaSette Lingerie, Potro
Runway 7 Debuts Spring/Summer 2022 Collections – Zao, Lagirla, D!NG, LaSette Lingerie, Potro
Edit: https://dam.gettyimages.com/assignments/runway-7-debuts-ss2022-collections-zao-lagirla

3:00 PM Show
-Just Be., The Dysign House, Colby John Bridal
Runway 7 Debuts Spring/Summer 2022 Collections – Just Be., The Dysign House, Colby John Bridal
Edit: https://dam.gettyimages.com/assignments/runway-7-debuts-ss2022-collections-just-be-dysign

5:00 PM Show
-Anthony Rubio, CHICK, Eni Buiron FEMME
Runway 7 Debuts Spring/Summer 2022 Collections – Anthony Rubio, CHICK, Eni Buiron FEMME
Edit: https://dam.gettyimages.com/assignments/runway-7-debuts-ss2022-collections-anhony-rubio

6:00 PM Show
-Giannina Azar
Runway 7 Debuts Spring/Summer 2022 Collections – Giannina Azar
Edit: https://dam.gettyimages.com/assignments/runway-7-debuts-ss2022-collections-giannina-azar

9:00 PM Show
-Susanne Bartsch
Runway 7 Debuts Spring/Summer 2022 Collections – Susanne Bartsch
Edit: https://dam.gettyimages.com/assignments/runway-7-debuts-ss2022-collections-susanne-bartsch
Runway 7 is a vertical platform that is paving the way for the next generation of fashion designers by offering a world-class platform and fashion incubator for independent designers and renowned brands to showcase their collections each season. For September 2021 NYFW, the events produced by Runway 7 were in partnership with Mount Sinai’s Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis – which received half of all virtual and live door proceeds. Runway 7 Director of Operations, Diane Vara, said, “We want to do our part in supporting MS research and use our platform to bring awareness to this widespread and, at times, debilitating neurological condition.”
Music was provided by New York’s DJ Scenario Sponsors for New York Fashion Week by Runway 7 included AMA, Rogue House Salon, Book of Lashes, PRESS Seltzer, Dream Factory Balloons, Don Balilo Perez Cigars, Crowne Plaza Hotel, The MarMara Hotel, Look Design Studios and Accellevents.

About Runway 7
Recognized as the first and only hybrid of its kind, Runway 7 Fashion is a vertical one-stop fashion platform representing the best in cultural diversity by integrating international designers, media celebrities, and commerce every season. Runway 7 not only has the capability of offering its designers production to develop their collection samples but strives for excellence in presenting the season’s must-see shows, performances and installations as well. Their expansive style marketplace offers guests a true experiential event both in-person and online to directly engage with brands and designers.