Dominican fashion designer Giannina Azar closed the runway programming for Fashion Designers of Latin America at New York Fashion Week SS/2027 with her show titled 'The Life' at the iconic United Palace theater in Washington Heights, New York.
The immersive fashion and performance presentation was produced by Fashion Designers of Latin America founder and president Albania Rosario, bringing 42 models and 36 beauty queens to walk across the stage and through the aisles of the theater.
The staging situated the audience inside the experience as Azar displayed her collection of sculptural and embroidered dresses. The runway show unfolded alongside a live piano performance by Maria del Sol and large-scale visual projections.
Azar is recognized as one of the most prominent fashion designers from the Dominican Republic, celebrated internationally for her ornate gown craftsmanship and red carpet creations for high-profile celebrities. Her showcase was organized under the umbrella of Fashion Designers of Latin America, an organization founded by Rosario to elevate Latino design talent and provide multicultural representation during major international fashion weeks. New York Fashion Week is held semi-annually in February and September as one of the fashion industry's four major global events alongside London, Milan, and Paris, with the SS/2027 designation marking collections designed for the Spring/Summer 2027 season.
Handcrafted Designs and Stage Production
The runway featured handcrafted outfits finely embroidered with Swarovski crystals, incorporating hand-painted details and gold leaf ornaments. The collection presented silhouettes in gold, silver, pale pink, and white before fashion industry professionals, press members, invited guests, and neighborhood residents.
The garments were complemented by specialized accessory pieces, including jewelry designed by Gisselle Mancebo and feather capes crafted by Sev by Abigail Silverio. Behind the scenes, styling direction for the presentation was managed by Martha Villar, while Jose Ceballos served as backstage director. Hand embroidery and stone settings are traditional hallmarks of high-fashion couture, requiring extensive manual work to secure intricate crystals and metallic gold leaf embellishments onto structured evening wear.
The venue for the showcase, the United Palace, is a landmark theater located in Upper Manhattan. Originally opened in 1930 as one of five Loew's Wonder Theatres in New York City, the 4,000-seat space is the third-largest theater in Manhattan, renowned for its eclectic architecture combining Byzantine, Moorish, and Rococo decorative elements. Today, the venue operates as a non-profit cultural center in Washington Heights, a neighborhood long recognized as the principal hub of New York City's Dominican diaspora.
Historical Community Access
According to Fashion Designers of Latin America, the showcase marked the first time in Fashion Week history that a runway show of such magnitude opened a 4,000-seat theater directly to the local community.
Community access to the event was made possible through support from the Hispanic Federation and New York City Council Member Carmen De La Rosa. Founded in 1990, the Hispanic Federation is a leading national Latino non-profit advocacy organization that supports community-based institutions and cultural initiatives. De La Rosa represents Council District 10, which encompasses Washington Heights, Inwood, and Marble Hill. The civic collaboration enabled neighborhood residents to view the official Fashion Week presentation alongside international fashion figures inside their local landmark theater.
