Co-founded by Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin and Michaela Seewald, the new venture brings international designers, immersive technology and direct-to-consumer commerce together in a landmark New York Fashion Week presentation.
Fashion, heritage and technology converged at Grand Central Terminal as Vanderbilt & Seewald Global Studio made its New York Fashion Week debut before a packed Vanderbilt Hall. The presentation introduced a new global fashion partnership founded by Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin, founder and CEO of House of Vanderbilt and co-founder of SohoMuse, and Michaela Seewald, founder and CEO of V24 Media.
Their venture is built around a clear ambition: helping international designers expand into the U.S. and global markets through investment, strategic guidance, media and technology, while preserving their ownership, creative control and brand identity.
With Mario Lopez as emcee, the runway featured three international design voices: Mexican designer Lorena Saravia, Stockholm-based Dustin Glickman of DSTN, and Paris couturier Nabil Hayari of Hayari Paris. Each brought a distinct perspective, from Saravia's modern interpretation of Mexican craftsmanship to DSTN's signature “dark cowboy” aesthetic and Hayari's Parisian couture.
Together, the designers reflected the studio's global outlook and its vision of positioning New York as a gateway for international creative talent.
Where American Heritage Meets Innovation
The presentation extended beyond fashion, weaving entertainment, American history and emerging technology into the evening. As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, a color guard representing the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy brought a patriotic dimension to Vanderbilt Hall, accompanied by a special musical performance from Leslie Ann Lopez.
The location carried particular significance. More than a century after the Vanderbilt family helped shape Grand Central Terminal, Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin returned the family name to the landmark through a new partnership connecting heritage with contemporary fashion and entrepreneurship.
History entered the presentation in an unexpected form as AEXA Technology brought Cornelius Vanderbilt, Alva Vanderbilt, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney and Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan to life as holograms. The digital recreations placed figures from Vanderbilt history within a modern runway setting, connecting the family's legacy with emerging creative and technological possibilities.
Turning the Runway Into Commerce
Technology was central to the studio's debut. Livestream e-commerce and Click-to-Buy functionality connected the runway experience inside Vanderbilt Hall with consumers beyond the venue, demonstrating how live fashion presentations can extend into direct consumer engagement and commercial opportunity.
The approach reflects the founders' broader business model: combining capital, strategic connections and proprietary commerce tools to help selected designers grow their international presence without surrendering control of their brands.
In a final detail that challenged the usual expectations of fashion week, the presentation also began on time—an understated but fitting note for a venture looking to rethink how the industry operates.
A New Model for Global Fashion
With its first major public showcase, Vanderbilt & Seewald Global Studio introduced a model that brings fashion, investment and technology into a single platform. By connecting international designers with commercial resources and new audiences, the venture aims to support sustainable brand growth while protecting the creative identity at the heart of each label.
Its NYFW debut brought that proposition to life through a meeting of international design, American heritage and digital innovation, positioning Grand Central Terminal as the setting for a new chapter in the founders' global fashion ambitions.
About V&S Global Studio
Co-founded by Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin, founder and CEO of House of Vanderbilt and co-founder of SohoMuse, and Michaela Seewald, founder and CEO of V24 Media, V&S Global Studio partners with select fashion designers to build global brand presence and commercial success. Through investment, strategic guidance and commerce technologies such as Click-to-Buy, the studio helps designers expand visibility, distribution and direct-to-consumer engagement while retaining ownership, creative control and brand integrity.
For more information, visit vsglobalstudio.com.
About the House of Vanderbilt
House of Vanderbilt is a modern family office and global platform founded by Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin. Dedicated to legacy preservation, philanthropic impact and purpose-driven partnerships, the platform connects the Vanderbilt family's historic lineage with innovation across industries and continents.
For more information, visit houseofvanderbilt.com.
