During New York Fashion Week, RAISEfashion took over the 21st floor of The Standard, East Village, turning The Penthouse into a showroom in the skies.
With New York City at its feet, the event brought together 16 independent and emerging designers as the culmination of this year’s RAISEfashion Masterclass, an initiative offering mentorship, industry access and a $50,000 grant to help designers navigate an industry that may serve looks, but isn’t always easy to maneuver.
Journalist John Christopher Correll sat down with this year’s grant recipient Patricio Campillo, menswear designer, and Felita Harris, co-founder and executive director of RAISEfashion, to talk fashion from a perspective that goes beyond the runway.
Read on below.
With New York City at its feet, the event brought together 16 independent and emerging designers as the culmination of this year’s RAISEfashion Masterclass, an initiative offering mentorship, industry access and a $50,000 grant to help designers navigate an industry that may serve looks, but isn’t always easy to maneuver.
Journalist John Christopher Correll sat down with this year’s grant recipient Patricio Campillo, menswear designer, and Felita Harris, co-founder and executive director of RAISEfashion, to talk fashion from a perspective that goes beyond the runway.
Read on below.
A Conversation With Felita Harris
How does RAISEfashion set itself apart in the fashion industry? Does the organization meet any unmet needs?
RAISEfashion fills the space between opportunity and readiness. A designer may receive press, a retail introduction, or a significant purchase order, but without experienced guidance, working capital, and the right relationships, that opportunity can put more pressure on the business than it resolves.
Independent and emerging designers are often expected to make the same decisions as established companies, without the same teams or resources. What sets RAISEfashion apart is that we give designers pro bono access to experienced advisors across more than 75 areas of expertise to help them navigate those decisions. Our advisors work through real challenges with designers, helping them make more informed decisions on matters such as pricing, production, contracts, or preparing for a retailer meeting.
Walk us through the process: What do you look for in a designer? Beyond creative talent, what tells you, “This is someone we can help move forward”?
I look for a clear point of view, an understanding of the customer, and a willingness to be honest about the business. Can the designer explain what they are building, why it matters, and where the business is under pressure? Most importantly, are they willing to say, “I do not know,” and let someone with experience help? Founders may believe they need more exposure or funding, when the real issue is margin, production, cash flow, or merchandising. They have to be open to discovering that the most visible problem may not be the real one.
I also look at what happens after an advisory session. Do they follow up, apply what they learned, and return with stronger questions? The designers who move forward aren’t always those with the most developed businesses. They’re the ones who remain curious, responsive, and willing to do the work between opportunities.
For an independent designer such as CAMPILLO, creative recognition is one thing; building a viable, lasting business is another. How does RAISEfashion help bridge that gap between creative potential and commercial reality?
RAISEfashion bridges that gap by connecting recognition to the financial and operational decisions required to support it. Patricio Campillo already has a distinct creative point of view, rooted in his Mexican heritage, craft, and perspective on modern masculinity. That clarity is one reason people have responded so strongly to CAMPILLO. But recognition can create new business challenges. Press can increase demand before a company has the cash, production capacity, or team to support it. Even a large order can put tremendous pressure on the business.
Through the RAISEfashion Masterclass, Patricio had direct access to industry leaders who understand both the creative ambition and commercial realities of the brand. Winning the $50,000 award gave him meaningful capital, but the check isn’t the conclusion: What does the business need now? Which opportunities support responsible growth, and which put the company at risk? Our role is to help designers not only reach the next opportunity, but be prepared when it arrives.
Success is a finicky thing to measure. However, what does success look like for RAISEfashion? Is it seeing designers on the runway at NYFW, building sustainable businesses, or gaining access to an industry through mentorships and grants?
For RAISEfashion, success can be all of those things, but we don’t measure it by the announcement alone. We want to know what happened afterward. Did the retailer introduction lead to an order? Was the designer prepared to fulfill it? Did the grant address a real business need, or an advisory conversation help prevent an expensive mistake? Runway moments, awards, grants, and press coverage are exciting, and we celebrate them. But building a business also involves decisions no one outside the company will ever see. One of the most meaningful signs of success is when a designer returns with new questions because the company has moved into another stage. It tells us the earlier support was useful and the business is developing. Ultimately, success means designers are building stronger companies, making better-informed decisions, and creating on their own terms.
What is the intention and purpose behind The Penthouse Edit, and what impact do you hope it has for the designers involved?
The purpose of The Penthouse Edit was to make New York Fashion Week more useful for independent designers. A runway show creates an incredible moment, but it’s over quickly. We wanted people to spend time with the designers, experience the craftsmanship up close, understand the businesses behind the collections, and purchase the work. One sale can mean a great deal to an independent business, just as one conversation can become a retail appointment, partnership, or relationship months later. We wanted designers to leave with more than photographs and visibility. We wanted them to leave with customers, relationships, feedback, and real possibilities for what comes next.
For this showcase, RAISEfashion is partnering with Afterpay, Crown Royal, Refinery29, The Standard, East Village, and Victoria’s Secret. How do these partnerships align with RAISEfashion’s mission and values, and how does the support extend beyond traditional event sponsorship?
These partnerships align with our mission because each company brings something useful to designers beyond the event. Afterpay provides education and grant support, while Crown Royal invests through its Designer Grant and collaboration with Juicy Couture. Refinery29 brings editorial reach, The Standard, East Village creates a space for meaningful engagement, and Victoria’s Secret expands access during New York Fashion Week. We don’t simply ask partners, “What can you sponsor?” We ask, “What can you bring to the community?” Whether that’s capital, education, exposure, or industry relationships, the real measure is what remains available to designers after the event has ended.
Why was a venue partnership with The Standard, East Village ideal for this event during NYFW?
The Standard, East Village was ideal because the team already understood the work and community we were bringing into the space. The Standard hosted our first NYFW event in 2023 in Meatpacking and our Masterclass earlier this year in the East Village. So we’re building on an established relationship with a team that genuinely understands RAISEfashion, our culture, and our community. The Penthouse was perfect for New York Fashion Week. With The City as our backdrop the space felt worldly while remaining intimate enough for real conversations. We could present 16 distinct brands without losing their individuality, and guests could meet the founders, experience the work up close, and even shop.
RAISEfashion fills the space between opportunity and readiness. A designer may receive press, a retail introduction, or a significant purchase order, but without experienced guidance, working capital, and the right relationships, that opportunity can put more pressure on the business than it resolves.
Independent and emerging designers are often expected to make the same decisions as established companies, without the same teams or resources. What sets RAISEfashion apart is that we give designers pro bono access to experienced advisors across more than 75 areas of expertise to help them navigate those decisions. Our advisors work through real challenges with designers, helping them make more informed decisions on matters such as pricing, production, contracts, or preparing for a retailer meeting.
Walk us through the process: What do you look for in a designer? Beyond creative talent, what tells you, “This is someone we can help move forward”?
I look for a clear point of view, an understanding of the customer, and a willingness to be honest about the business. Can the designer explain what they are building, why it matters, and where the business is under pressure? Most importantly, are they willing to say, “I do not know,” and let someone with experience help? Founders may believe they need more exposure or funding, when the real issue is margin, production, cash flow, or merchandising. They have to be open to discovering that the most visible problem may not be the real one.
I also look at what happens after an advisory session. Do they follow up, apply what they learned, and return with stronger questions? The designers who move forward aren’t always those with the most developed businesses. They’re the ones who remain curious, responsive, and willing to do the work between opportunities.
For an independent designer such as CAMPILLO, creative recognition is one thing; building a viable, lasting business is another. How does RAISEfashion help bridge that gap between creative potential and commercial reality?
RAISEfashion bridges that gap by connecting recognition to the financial and operational decisions required to support it. Patricio Campillo already has a distinct creative point of view, rooted in his Mexican heritage, craft, and perspective on modern masculinity. That clarity is one reason people have responded so strongly to CAMPILLO. But recognition can create new business challenges. Press can increase demand before a company has the cash, production capacity, or team to support it. Even a large order can put tremendous pressure on the business.
Through the RAISEfashion Masterclass, Patricio had direct access to industry leaders who understand both the creative ambition and commercial realities of the brand. Winning the $50,000 award gave him meaningful capital, but the check isn’t the conclusion: What does the business need now? Which opportunities support responsible growth, and which put the company at risk? Our role is to help designers not only reach the next opportunity, but be prepared when it arrives.
Success is a finicky thing to measure. However, what does success look like for RAISEfashion? Is it seeing designers on the runway at NYFW, building sustainable businesses, or gaining access to an industry through mentorships and grants?
For RAISEfashion, success can be all of those things, but we don’t measure it by the announcement alone. We want to know what happened afterward. Did the retailer introduction lead to an order? Was the designer prepared to fulfill it? Did the grant address a real business need, or an advisory conversation help prevent an expensive mistake? Runway moments, awards, grants, and press coverage are exciting, and we celebrate them. But building a business also involves decisions no one outside the company will ever see. One of the most meaningful signs of success is when a designer returns with new questions because the company has moved into another stage. It tells us the earlier support was useful and the business is developing. Ultimately, success means designers are building stronger companies, making better-informed decisions, and creating on their own terms.
What is the intention and purpose behind The Penthouse Edit, and what impact do you hope it has for the designers involved?
The purpose of The Penthouse Edit was to make New York Fashion Week more useful for independent designers. A runway show creates an incredible moment, but it’s over quickly. We wanted people to spend time with the designers, experience the craftsmanship up close, understand the businesses behind the collections, and purchase the work. One sale can mean a great deal to an independent business, just as one conversation can become a retail appointment, partnership, or relationship months later. We wanted designers to leave with more than photographs and visibility. We wanted them to leave with customers, relationships, feedback, and real possibilities for what comes next.
For this showcase, RAISEfashion is partnering with Afterpay, Crown Royal, Refinery29, The Standard, East Village, and Victoria’s Secret. How do these partnerships align with RAISEfashion’s mission and values, and how does the support extend beyond traditional event sponsorship?
These partnerships align with our mission because each company brings something useful to designers beyond the event. Afterpay provides education and grant support, while Crown Royal invests through its Designer Grant and collaboration with Juicy Couture. Refinery29 brings editorial reach, The Standard, East Village creates a space for meaningful engagement, and Victoria’s Secret expands access during New York Fashion Week. We don’t simply ask partners, “What can you sponsor?” We ask, “What can you bring to the community?” Whether that’s capital, education, exposure, or industry relationships, the real measure is what remains available to designers after the event has ended.
Why was a venue partnership with The Standard, East Village ideal for this event during NYFW?
The Standard, East Village was ideal because the team already understood the work and community we were bringing into the space. The Standard hosted our first NYFW event in 2023 in Meatpacking and our Masterclass earlier this year in the East Village. So we’re building on an established relationship with a team that genuinely understands RAISEfashion, our culture, and our community. The Penthouse was perfect for New York Fashion Week. With The City as our backdrop the space felt worldly while remaining intimate enough for real conversations. We could present 16 distinct brands without losing their individuality, and guests could meet the founders, experience the work up close, and even shop.
Patricio Campillo and Felita Harris
A Conversation With Patricio Campillo
You say that CAMPILLO is your exploration of the concept of Mexican masculinity. Walk us through the cultural landscape. How does your collection explore, challenge, or even redefine, what Mexican masculinity is today?
I grew up with very specific ideas of what Mexican masculinity was supposed to look like. Powerful archetypes, like the charro or the cowboy, are deeply embedded in our culture. With CAMPILLO, I’m interested in taking those codes apart and asking what happens when you introduce softness, sensuality, vulnerability or ambiguity into something traditionally seen as masculine. For me, masculinity doesn’t need to be one thing. It can hold contradictions. That tension between structure and fluidity, strength and delicacy, is at the center of the brand.
This NYFW marks your fifth time showing in New York, bringing what you describe as a distinctly Mexican aesthetic to a global audience. What happens to a local identity when it goes global?
I think the danger is believing that going global means becoming more generic. For me, the opposite is true: the more specific and personal the work, the more people connect with it. I don’t need to simplify Mexico for an international audience. The references can remain complex. People may not understand every cultural detail, but they can still connect with the emotion, silhouette and craftsmanship. Specificity is often what makes something universal.
Through the organization's masterclass programme, RAISEfashion offers creatives, such as yourself, insight into a side of fashion often not taught in school. That makes me wonder, as a RAISEfashion alumni, what is it like to learn about the business from the business?
It’s invaluable because designing clothes and building a fashion company require completely different skill sets. You can know exactly what you want creatively and still have questions about finance, production, wholesale or growth. With RAISEfashion, I’ve had access to people who deal with those realities every day. The conversations are practical and honest, and for an independent designer, that kind of access can accelerate your learning tremendously.
How has your relationship with RAISEfashion, its partners, and mentors shaped CAMPILLO, the brand?
It has made me think more seriously about CAMPILLO as a company, not only as a creative project. As designers, we naturally focus on the collection because that’s the visible part, but creativity can only thrive if the structure behind it is healthy. RAISEfashion pushed me to think more critically about infrastructure, planning and where to invest for the next stage. It shifted the question from, “What do I want to make next?” to “What do we need to build so I can keep making this for years?”
With that said, how do you balance creative ambition with commercial reality? CAMPILLO is built on fair labor, sustainable materials, and responsible production. As the brand grows, how do you protect those values, and where has RAISEfashion helped you navigate that balance?
I don’t see those values as separate from the business. They are the business. If growth required us to abandon the way we want to make clothes, it wouldn’t be the right kind of growth. Responsible production affects pricing, volume and margins, so there are real commercial decisions involved. RAISEfashion has been helpful because the conversation isn’t simply about getting bigger, but about building a stronger business around what makes the brand valuable in the first place.
If we look closely at the SS27 collection, which you showed earlier this month during NYFW, is there anything that might not have happened without RAISEfashion?
I wouldn’t point to one look and say, “This exists because of RAISEfashion.” The creative language still comes from me and my team. The biggest influence has been how I think around the collection: What happens after the show? How do we turn attention into opportunity? Where should we invest? Receiving the Pitch Grant also allows us to strengthen parts of the business an audience may never see, but that ultimately determine whether an independent brand can survive and grow.
Let’s look into the crystal ball and the future ahead. What role does RAISEfashion play in the landscape of fashion — not only for you but for future masterclass graduates?
Fashion has always been built around access to information, capital, buyers, executives and press. For designers outside those networks, finding a way in can take years. RAISEfashion makes that access more intentional. But it’s not just about getting into a room. It’s about having the knowledge and resources to build something once you’re there. The industry doesn’t need more talented designers who have one great season and disappear. It needs independent voices with the tools to stay in business and develop over time.
What opportunity are you most excited about during The Penthouse Edit?
I’m excited about being able to slow things down. A runway show happens quickly, while at The Penthouse Edit, people can spend time with the clothes, see the construction, understand the materials and have conversations around the work. For CAMPILLO, so much of the story is in the details, so that intimacy is really valuable. There’s also something powerful about presenting alongside other independent designers and showing how broad and dynamic independent fashion is right now.
Lastly, older and wiser: What advice would you give to a young creative curious about RAISEfashion and thinking, “Should I apply/enroll?"
Apply, but be ready to be honest. The creative part is usually what we feel most comfortable talking about, but the real value comes when you’re willing to discuss what you don’t know, where the business isn’t working or where you need help. Being an independent designer means accepting that you won’t have every answer. You need to ask better questions and find the right people. If you come into the Masterclass with that openness, you can get a tremendous amount from it.
I grew up with very specific ideas of what Mexican masculinity was supposed to look like. Powerful archetypes, like the charro or the cowboy, are deeply embedded in our culture. With CAMPILLO, I’m interested in taking those codes apart and asking what happens when you introduce softness, sensuality, vulnerability or ambiguity into something traditionally seen as masculine. For me, masculinity doesn’t need to be one thing. It can hold contradictions. That tension between structure and fluidity, strength and delicacy, is at the center of the brand.
This NYFW marks your fifth time showing in New York, bringing what you describe as a distinctly Mexican aesthetic to a global audience. What happens to a local identity when it goes global?
I think the danger is believing that going global means becoming more generic. For me, the opposite is true: the more specific and personal the work, the more people connect with it. I don’t need to simplify Mexico for an international audience. The references can remain complex. People may not understand every cultural detail, but they can still connect with the emotion, silhouette and craftsmanship. Specificity is often what makes something universal.
Through the organization's masterclass programme, RAISEfashion offers creatives, such as yourself, insight into a side of fashion often not taught in school. That makes me wonder, as a RAISEfashion alumni, what is it like to learn about the business from the business?
It’s invaluable because designing clothes and building a fashion company require completely different skill sets. You can know exactly what you want creatively and still have questions about finance, production, wholesale or growth. With RAISEfashion, I’ve had access to people who deal with those realities every day. The conversations are practical and honest, and for an independent designer, that kind of access can accelerate your learning tremendously.
How has your relationship with RAISEfashion, its partners, and mentors shaped CAMPILLO, the brand?
It has made me think more seriously about CAMPILLO as a company, not only as a creative project. As designers, we naturally focus on the collection because that’s the visible part, but creativity can only thrive if the structure behind it is healthy. RAISEfashion pushed me to think more critically about infrastructure, planning and where to invest for the next stage. It shifted the question from, “What do I want to make next?” to “What do we need to build so I can keep making this for years?”
With that said, how do you balance creative ambition with commercial reality? CAMPILLO is built on fair labor, sustainable materials, and responsible production. As the brand grows, how do you protect those values, and where has RAISEfashion helped you navigate that balance?
I don’t see those values as separate from the business. They are the business. If growth required us to abandon the way we want to make clothes, it wouldn’t be the right kind of growth. Responsible production affects pricing, volume and margins, so there are real commercial decisions involved. RAISEfashion has been helpful because the conversation isn’t simply about getting bigger, but about building a stronger business around what makes the brand valuable in the first place.
If we look closely at the SS27 collection, which you showed earlier this month during NYFW, is there anything that might not have happened without RAISEfashion?
I wouldn’t point to one look and say, “This exists because of RAISEfashion.” The creative language still comes from me and my team. The biggest influence has been how I think around the collection: What happens after the show? How do we turn attention into opportunity? Where should we invest? Receiving the Pitch Grant also allows us to strengthen parts of the business an audience may never see, but that ultimately determine whether an independent brand can survive and grow.
Let’s look into the crystal ball and the future ahead. What role does RAISEfashion play in the landscape of fashion — not only for you but for future masterclass graduates?
Fashion has always been built around access to information, capital, buyers, executives and press. For designers outside those networks, finding a way in can take years. RAISEfashion makes that access more intentional. But it’s not just about getting into a room. It’s about having the knowledge and resources to build something once you’re there. The industry doesn’t need more talented designers who have one great season and disappear. It needs independent voices with the tools to stay in business and develop over time.
What opportunity are you most excited about during The Penthouse Edit?
I’m excited about being able to slow things down. A runway show happens quickly, while at The Penthouse Edit, people can spend time with the clothes, see the construction, understand the materials and have conversations around the work. For CAMPILLO, so much of the story is in the details, so that intimacy is really valuable. There’s also something powerful about presenting alongside other independent designers and showing how broad and dynamic independent fashion is right now.
Lastly, older and wiser: What advice would you give to a young creative curious about RAISEfashion and thinking, “Should I apply/enroll?"
Apply, but be ready to be honest. The creative part is usually what we feel most comfortable talking about, but the real value comes when you’re willing to discuss what you don’t know, where the business isn’t working or where you need help. Being an independent designer means accepting that you won’t have every answer. You need to ask better questions and find the right people. If you come into the Masterclass with that openness, you can get a tremendous amount from it.
Take a peek into The Penthouse Edit below.
