Couture For A Cause Features Young Designers In Luxury New York Homes

Forbes

3 days ago

Drishti Gangwani and Katherine Van Brunt at Couture for a Cause by SHOPCLOSR x KVB at The Lincoln Isham House, Midtown Manhattan, NYC BFA.com
There are open houses in New York, and then there are open houses with couture. Couture For A Cause recently hosted a private fashion presentation and reception in New York City to highlight a selected number of independent couture designers. It wasn't held in a boutique, but rather inside the historic Lincoln Isham House, a $10.5 million townhouse (currently for sale) originally built by Abraham Lincoln's granddaughter, Mary Todd Lincoln Isham.
Three designers, Megan Renee, Vellachor and Darzi Studio, each took over a room in the storied townhouse, turning it into a salon, allowing visitors to connect directly with their collections, book private consultations and place orders through Closr, which is a website where fashionistas can purchase one-of-a-kind, ethical pieces from designers who support sustainability efforts.
The event was co-hosted by Katherine Van Brunt, Global Advisor at The Global Wealth Office at Nest Seekers, which has listed the Lincoln Isham House, teamed up with Closr founder Drishti Gangwani for Couture for a Cause, which blended timeless staging with contemporary fashion. It's a refreshing way to usher in popularity to sell homes and luxury fashion in this current market.
The idea came about last year. 'At another fashion event in the city, we were overlooking a historic townhouse in Manhattan, swapping stories about couture presentations through the ages, and a question emerged: Why aren't more people blending fashion and real estate in a meaningful way?' said Van Brunt.
The duo fused together fashion and luxury homes. 'Drishti has access to exquisite fashion, so the fit was obvious, and yet, no one else was doing it,' she said. 'That conversation became a brainstorm, and that brainstorm became Couture for a Cause.'
The home is part of fashion film history, as the staircase was featured in the 2006 film, The Devil Wears Prada, serving as the home for Miranda Priestly.
Rythum Singh at Couture for a Cause by SHOPCLOSR x KVB Jiraurd Key/BFA.com
'This architecturally iconic home reflects a forgotten era of fashion, the couture salons of the mid-20th century, where models would walk through grand rooms presenting garments one-on-one to collectors,' said Ganwani. 'We wanted to revive that intimacy, that luxury of attention, and infuse it with modern values: sustainability, independence, and storytelling. The house became the perfect stage for the kind of immersive experience we wanted to create. Not sterile. Not transactional. But cinematic and alive.'
The duo plan to turn this into what they call 'a cultural series' of events. 'It isn't just another trunk show in a pretty home,' said Ganwani. 'It reimagines how fashion and real estate can co-create.'
Van Brundt adds: 'With couture making a bold return to the center of fashion, and homebuyers craving connection over polish, this format feels inevitable. We're building an ecosystem: one where space, story, and style come together in ways that are human, elevated, and unforgettable.'
Tenny Zhang at Couture for a Cause by SHOPCLOSR x KVB Jiraurd Key/BFA.com
The couture designers included Megan Renee, a womenswear brand founded by Megan Smith in New York. 'The brand uses deadstock fabric, produces locally, and holds minimal inventory, ensuring that every piece is as considered as it is striking,' Said Ganwani.
It also featured Vellachor, created by Ella Titus in Los Angeles, which is inspired by antique objects and old bookstores. 'Each piece is ethically handcrafted using deadstock materials,' adds Ganwani.
Couture for a Cause also featured Darzi Studio, which creates made-to-order or upcycled pieces designed by Rythum Singh. 'With no inventory and no waste, it's fashion that evolves with the wearer, built to last and designed to be reborn,' notes Ganwani.
Alysha Hemani, Paloma Hutton, Melody V, Sarah Murray at Couture for a Cause by SHOPCLOSR x KVB Jiraurd Key/BFA.com
With monolithic luxury brands taking over our consciousness, Ganwani and Van Brunt both feel the importance of supporting independent designers. 'True luxury is disappearing,' said Ganwani. 'What once meant craftsmanship, individuality, and story has become mass-produced and over-marketed.'
'We want to bring luxury back to its essence: artistry, rarity, soul,' adds Van Brunt. 'It's about giving clients a direct line to the creator and reminding them that what they wear—like where they live—should feel personal.'
Stay tuned for the next Couture for a Cause event, which will be held during New York Fashion Week in September.