“It was an experience like none other,” said Jacqueline (Jackie) Macaluso, Smoky Sew Co., about the New York City Fashion Week runway show in early February (see Closer Look Jan. 30 feature at www.maconsense.org). “Belle [Reale] did fantastic and went with the flow of the hustle and bustle of New York City Fashion Week. We know Franklin will be proud of her. Excited to see where her career [as a model] goes from here.”
“We had a fabulous time in New York!” said Brooke Reale, Belle’s mother; she and her husband, Rob, accompanied their daughter in New York City and watched her walk the runway Feb. 7 wearing a Smoky Sew Co. original design. “The show was incredible; remarkably talented designers and stunning models showcasing all of the designs. It was the perfect place for Belle to gather information and learn more about the business.”
“Backstage at New York Fashion Week is a war zone,” relayed Belle. “Models and designers were quite literally crawling over each other. There’s a ton going on — measuring, pinning, makeup touch-ups, costume changes, filming content, practicing poses, and models silently watching the show from behind curtains. Not to mention this is all occurring in an insanely narrow hallway.”
She added, “Instant adrenaline hit when I stepped onto the stage, and what feels like walking forever is really 30-45 seconds. Interviews and pictures were taken as soon as I got out from backstage. After that, a quick change back into my street clothes and I went along with my day. Everyone I met instantly started posting their content on social media, and now I’m preparing for the next season. The chaos and excitement is definitely what made the experience!”
Macaluso, who owns and operates Smoky Sew Co. with her husband, Nicholas, shared, “We are looking forward to showing again in September with private producers, gallery installations, and popups. We had someone chase us down after the show and bought the overalls straight off the runway. I marked them for tailoring and they will be shipped to her. We look forward to working with the business connections we made for future endeavors.
“The song produced by Andy Markum and my husband, Nicholas, was a hit with the crowd, influencers, and industry leaders. We have decided to use that as our ‘staple’ song for all of our productions going forward since that was a great way to distinct ourselves from other brands. We hope we brought light to the devastation Hurricane Helene is still causing Western North Carolina, and also because we are open advocates for mental health and substance abuse recovery,” said Macaluso.