Vanderbilt & Seewald Unveils a New Blueprint for Fashion's Future

NEW YORK, NY – July 23, 2026 – The fashion industry is on the cusp of a seismic shift, thanks to a new venture that marries storied legacy with cutting-edge technology. Today, Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin, a seventh-generation descendant of the iconic Vanderbilt family, and media entrepreneur Michaela Seewald officially launched Vanderbilt & Seewald Global Studio. The ambitious platform is the first of its kind, designed as a combined fashion investment studio, media distribution network, and commerce innovation engine built to empower designers and fundamentally reshape the path from runway to revenue.

This is not just another incubator. Vanderbilt & Seewald Global Studio aims to provide a comprehensive ecosystem offering capital, strategic guidance, and proprietary technology, allowing designers to scale their brands without sacrificing artistic control or ownership. The studio will make its grand debut during New York Fashion Week with a historic runway show at Grand Central Station on September 15, 2026—a powerful nod to the Vanderbilt family's role in building the legendary terminal.

A New Infrastructure for Designer Success

For too long, the fashion world has operated on a model that often leaves its most crucial asset—the designer—undervalued and overextended. Creative talents are frequently forced to navigate a fragmented landscape of separate agencies for PR, production, sales, and investment, often ceding significant equity and creative control along the way.

Vanderbilt & Seewald Global Studio was conceived as a direct answer to this systemic challenge. It offers a fully integrated, evergreen platform that operates at the intersection of cultural relevance, commercial execution, and strategic capital. The studio partners with a select group of designers who possess a clear creative vision and an operational foundation, helping them expand distribution, strengthen brand equity, and unlock new growth opportunities.

"Designers have become the product," said Co-Founder Consuelo Vanderbilt Costin. "Marginalized and underrepresented creators pay the highest price in a system built to extract value, rather than invest in and empower their growth, on their terms." This philosophy is the bedrock of the new venture. By providing direct access to investors, Vogue-level media reach, and a robust commerce platform, the studio ensures that its partners retain full ownership of their vision, their customer relationships, and their data—a critical distinction in today's data-driven world.

From Clicks to Couture: Technology Reimagines the Runway

The most revolutionary aspect of the Vanderbilt & Seewald platform is its proprietary technology, which transforms the live fashion show from a purely visual spectacle into an immediate, interactive commerce channel. Leveraging AI-enabled contextual commerce and a signature "Click-To-Buy" runway integration, the studio is making the concept of "see now, buy now" a seamless reality.

During a Vanderbilt & Seewald event, audiences—both in-person VIPs and the thousands viewing the livestream globally—can instantly purchase pieces directly from the catwalk. The technology allows viewers to access detailed product information in real-time and complete transactions with a simple click. This not only creates an immediate revenue stream for the designer but also captures invaluable data on audience engagement and sales performance, closing the feedback loop between creator and consumer.

This powerful commerce engine is powered by SohoMuse, the exclusive creator social network also co-founded by Costin. Launched in 2019, SohoMuse has established itself as a secure ecosystem for creative professionals to connect, collaborate, and showcase their work. For Vanderbilt & Seewald designers, this integration provides instant access to a portfolio platform, virtual storefronts, and a built-in audience, all while ensuring their intellectual property and attribution are protected.

Legacy Meets the Limelight: A Historic NYFW Debut

The studio's debut is set to be one of the most anticipated events of New York Fashion Week. On September 15, Vanderbilt & Seewald will host a runway show at Grand Central Station, marking the first time a member of the Vanderbilt family has hosted a fashion event in the iconic terminal their ancestors built. The event symbolizes the studio's mission: honoring a powerful legacy while building the future.

The show will feature the 2027 collections from the studio's inaugural group of internationally acclaimed designers, each chosen for their distinct vision and established brand presence:

• Dustin Glickman of DSTN: The Stockholm-based designer, who headlined his city's fashion week, is known for a "dark cowboy" aesthetic that masterfully blends artistic storytelling with exceptional craftsmanship.
• Lorena Saravia: As one of Mexico's most influential contemporary designers, Saravia transforms Mexican craftsmanship and a celebration of feminine strength into a globally respected brand that has even collaborated with H&M.
• Nabil Hayari of Hayari Paris: An acclaimed Parisian couturier, Hayari's elegant, made-to-measure creations are fixtures on the world's most prestigious red carpets, earning him a reputation as a leading ambassador of modern French haute couture.

These designers represent the caliber of talent the studio seeks to empower, providing them with a global stage and the tools to translate their creative influence into commercial success.

Amplifying the Artist's Voice

A runway moment is fleeting, but a powerful brand is enduring. Recognizing this, Vanderbilt & Seewald has made sustained media amplification a core pillar of its platform. Co-founder Michaela Seewald, a seasoned media entrepreneur and CEO of V24 Media, brings a wealth of experience in building brand narratives that resonate globally. Through a strategic partnership with public relations firm Impact Partners, every designer in the program receives comprehensive communications support, including press relations, message training, and branded content development.

"Every designer has a story worth telling," stated Co-Founder Michaela Seewald. "Vanderbilt & Seewald Global Studio exists to elevate that narrative without diluting their creative intent, when and where it will be the most impactful. We provide the platform, visibility, and strategic infrastructure that enable exceptional designers to move from emerging talent to global influence."

By combining capital, revolutionary commerce technology, and a world-class media strategy under a single, designer-first philosophy, Vanderbilt & Seewald Global Studio is not just launching a company; it is proposing a new, more equitable, and dynamic future for the fashion industry. As it prepares to open its doors, the studio is now accepting applications from designers ready to take their creative vision global.