A bipartisan lineup of New York politicians, including former governors Andrew Cuomo and David Paterson, took to the runway Wednesday at a New York Fashion Week event designed to spotlight local designers and raise funds for the city’s garment industry.
“Style Across the Aisle,” held at the New York County Surrogate’s Court, featured more than 30 local designers and drew a roster of elected officials who walked the catwalk for the fundraiser. Former Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, who was among the participants, said the event was both a kickoff for fashion week and a bid to support “a very important cause.” She also invoked the effort to save the Garment District as part of the show’s mission.
Organizers and attendees described the show as deliberately bipartisan. Alongside Cuomo and Paterson, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and a number of city and state lawmakers participated. Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa and several City Council members, including Julie Menin, Joann Ariola, Althea Stevens and Julie Won, also appeared at the event. Assembly Members Eddie Gibbs, Jennifer Rajkumar, Jordan Wright and Rebecca Seawright were listed among other elected officials in attendance.
Notable absences included Mayor Eric Adams — who hosted last year’s fashion show at Gracie Mansion — and Democratic mayoral nominee State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, both of whom declined invitations. Several far-left city representatives were also not present. Todd Shapiro, a campaign spokesperson for Adams, criticized Cuomo while explaining the mayor’s absence, saying, “There is no one who more defines the word fashion in government — from his walk to his talk — than the Mayor. There are some elected officials who still wear suits from the 1970s.” Shapiro added that while Cuomo was on the runway, Adams would be holding town hall meetings across the five boroughs.
Participants and organizers framed the event around support for the local fashion industry. Maloney and others emphasized the economic and cultural importance of the Garment District and the broader sector’s role in New York’s identity as a fashion capital. The event combined runway presentations with fundraising elements intended to benefit designers and garment workers.
Attendees and observers noted a tilt toward moderate Democrats among the politicians who participated. The presence of Republican and Democratic officials together on the runway drew attention as an unusual display of cross-party pageantry amid an otherwise competitive municipal election season.
Fashion week organizers have increasingly paired shows with civic and philanthropic causes, and the New York Fashion Week calendar this season included multiple events linking designers to community and industry initiatives. Last year’s show at Gracie Mansion, hosted by Adams, underscored the tradition of political engagement with fashion-industry concerns.
Event organizers did not immediately provide a complete accounting of funds raised. Several participants said the goal was to highlight local design talent and to draw attention to policy decisions affecting the Garment District and the broader apparel supply chain in the city.
The show took place as candidates and officeholders continued campaign and governing activities elsewhere in the city, underscoring how cultural events during New York Fashion Week can intersect with municipal politics. Organizers said they planned to continue promoting local designers through similar events in coming months.