Albania Rosario Realizes 17 Year Vision as FDLA Opens United Palace to the Community for The Life of Giannina Azar NYFW
The 4,000-seat theater welcomed the community for an immersive NYFW finale & the announcement of a global development
Press Release Disclaimer: This is a press release distributed through the XPR Media network. It has not been independently verified by our newsroom.
The 4,000-seat theater welcomed the community for an immersive NYFW finale & the announcement of a global development opportunity for emerging designers.
NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, September 16, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The 4,000-seat theater welcomed the community for an immersive New York Fashion Week finale honoring Dominican designer Giannina Azar, followed by the announcement of a global development opportunity The Albania Rosario $40,000 fashion grant for emerging designers ages 16 to 24.
Fashion Designers of Latin America (FDLA) concluded its New York Fashion Week SS/2027 runway programming on September 14 with The Life of Giannina Azar, an immersive runway and performance presentation at The Theater at United Palace in Washington Heights.
Produced by FDLA Founder and President Albania Rosario, the event represented the fulfillment of a vision she first imagined 17 years ago: opening the doors of United Palace’s 4,000-seat theater to the community and allowing people beyond the traditional fashion-industry audience to experience New York Fashion Week from within.
Created as a celebration of Giannina Azar’s creative journey and contribution to Latin American fashion, the presentation transformed the historic theater into a living runway. Models appeared onstage and moved through the theater aisles, placing the audience within the experience as Azar’s sculptural, embellished gowns unfolded through fashion, live music and large-scale visual projections.
The production moved beyond a traditional runway format. María del Sol delivered a live piano performance as the models walked among guests throughout the theater. The collection’s gold, silver, blush and white silhouettes were presented against the ornate architecture of United Palace before an audience that brought together fashion professionals, members of the media, invited guests and the surrounding community.
The finale brought Azar, Rosario and the full model cast together onstage, closing the season with a visible celebration of Dominican creativity, Latin American excellence and the power of cultural representation in New York City.
Fashion in the Heart of Washington Heights
Bringing FDLA’s closing show to United Palace was a deliberate extension of the organization’s mission to connect the international fashion industry with the communities whose heritage and influence help define New York. According to FDLA, the evening marked the first time in New York Fashion Week history that a runway presentation of this scale opened a 4,000-seat theater directly to the public and surrounding community. The immersive format invited guests to experience couture at close range as models traveled from the stage into the audience.
The community access envisioned by Albania Rosario was made possible with the support of Hispanic Federation and New York City Council Member Carmen De La Rosa, whose partnership helped FDLA welcome residents into one of Washington Heights’ most important cultural spaces.
“I dreamed of this moment 17 years ago—to open the doors of this magnificent 4,000-seat theater and welcome our community into New York Fashion Week. Seeing that dream come to life through The Life of Giannina Azar was deeply personal. Giannina’s work deserved a stage with history, beauty and soul, and this evening showed that fashion can be extraordinary, inclusive and connected to the people,” said Albania Rosario, producer of the event and Founder and President of Fashion Designers of Latin America.
The Albania Rosario Fashion Grant
As part of the season’s closing news, FDLA announced the Albania Rosario Fashion Grant, a professional development package valued at $40,000 created for emerging designers ages 16 to 24 anywhere in the world.
Presented under the message For the Ones the World Has Not Yet Discovered, the initiative is designed to give young designers access to the knowledge, structure, exposure and professional opportunities needed to develop their creative identity and move their work toward an international market.
The $40,000 package includes professional fashion programs, mentorship and career development, collection development and production guidance, a New York Fashion Week runway opportunity, and access to FDLA’s international platform and fashion-show network.
Applications are open worldwide for 30 days following the official launch. Eligible designers must be between 16 and 24 years old. Application information is available at fdla.co/ARFGRANT.
“Talent exists everywhere, but access does not. This grant was created for the young designer with vision, discipline and something important to say, but who has not yet been given the platform to be discovered. I want to provide more than visibility—I want to provide preparation, mentorship and a real path forward,” Rosario said.
A Legacy Beyond the Runway
Together, The Life of Giannina Azar and the launch of the Albania Rosario Fashion Grant reflected two connected chapters of FDLA’s mission: honoring the designers whose work has created a lasting international legacy and opening doors for the generation that will follow.
Through runway presentations, mentorship, editorial platforms, commercial development and international programming, FDLA continues to build bridges between Latin American talent and the global fashion industry.
About Fashion Designers of Latin America
Fashion Designers of Latin America (FDLA) is an international fashion platform dedicated to elevating, promoting and creating opportunities for Latin American and multicultural designers. Through New York Fashion Week runway presentations, international programming, editorial initiatives, mentorship, commercial opportunities and strategic partnerships, FDLA connects Latin American creativity with the global fashion industry.
Grant applications fdla.co/ARFGRANT
Press and media contact
FDLA Communications
info@fdla.co
@fashiondesignersoflatinamerica
FDLA Communications
FDLA Group Inc
fdlaoffice@fdla.co
Visit us on social media:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
X
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability
for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this
article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Media gallery
