KidSuper’s spring 2026 NYFW show took a much-needed risk

Brooklyn Borough Hall Plaza looked different on Sunday night. Thousands of onlookers gathered in front of the Brooklyn landmark as bright lights and phone cameras beamed down on an elevated outdoor catwalk. KidSuper’s Colm Dillane, the man behind the spectacle, was right in the middle, taking photos and greeting an A-list front row: Ms. Lauryn Hill, Busta Rhymes, Fabolous, Ne-Yo, A$AP Ferg, among others.

The pageantry may come as no surprise for some; the designer is known to go an unconventional route every fashion week. Last season, he hosted a comedy show; the season prior, a massive celebration for the opening of his Williamsburg store. On Sunday, as he stepped into his role as the first-ever Brooklyn Arts Ambassador — the job description is still TBD — Dillane did something equally unexpected: he decided to ditch the showing of his own collection (for now) and use his New York Fashion Week slot to feature the work of five emerging Brooklyn-based designers.

What we know about Dillane’s new role and the supersized event is that he held an open call earlier this year for amateur designers in the area. From hundreds of submissions, he and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso picked five creatives: Kent Anthony, Ahmrii Johnson, Daveed Baptiste, Rojin Jung, and Shriya Myneni. The designers received mentorship, resources, and a $5,000 grant. They were also given the opportunity to present their capsule collections at Sunday’s The People’s Runway. In a speech given on stage, Dillane explained that the idea came from wanting to materially connect government funding and grant support to local young creatives: “I was like, maybe I could be a conduit to all of the creatives…and we’ll see what happens.”

The runway show (which started over an hour late, awaiting Ms. Hill’s front row arrival) was first christened by a vibrant showing from Brooklyn United’s marching band and majorette trio. Then came the clothes.

Five looks were presented from each designer: Anthony debuted boxy jackets and sleek trousers rooted in both classical references and the vibrant energy of the borough. Next up was Myneni, who explored the ever-evolving nature of identity with fur shawls and floor-grazing maxi skirts. Jung’s Brooklyn-inspired assortment of baggy tracksuits and statement coats left the crowd with mouths agape (“I could so see this on the red carpet,” WhoWhatWear’s style writer Kerane Marcellus whispered to me.)

Johnson, who happens to be a former classmate from Parsons, explored joy and grief through vibrant prints and dramatic drapery inspired by her Bahamian roots in her collection. Baptiste closed the show with looks pulling from his Haitian heritage: a model walked with a basket filled with Converse atop their heads while another, glistening in patchwork denim and silver chains, sauntered down the runway with a bottle of liquor, arguably the most raved about moment of the evening.

Much has been said about how New York Fashion Week has lost its luster — The Washington Post published an op-ed called “When did New York Fashion Week get so boring?” just two days ago. But Dillane’s showing felt like a reminder of how materially impactful fashion could be if designers took a little more risk or felt more inclined to turn their spotlight of creativity outward to champion the next generation of designers who have much to offer.

After the final walkthrough, the night morphed more into a dance party than a runway show, and became a larger testament to the power of community. The marching band came back out to the flow of Slick Rick’s forthcoming album VICTORY. Everyone started chanting “Brooklyn.”