While the fur renaissance reaches its peak on New York runways, Showpony is embracing a less conventional material to introduce some funky texture: hair. This comes from over a decade of accumulated excess in the studio of avant-garde hairstylist Evanie Frausto and his new brand. “I’ve always hated even throwing food away, so I thought, ‘I’ll use this someday,’” he said. At his debut runway show, a new kind of hair artistry finally came to life.

Frausto is well-acquainted with the subversive side of hair. He has built a reputation working with clients like Rosalía and Sabrina Carpenter, often pushing the limits of how much hair one head can hold. But he found that even that has its limits—and to him, that’s boring. “I’m such an Aquarius. I get so bored,” he admitted. “I started creating little garments to achieve extreme lengths or shapes, using other parts of the body to create the illusion.”

Under Showpony, hair and clothing are no longer separate—they merge into one. Many runway looks felt like a continuous piece from head to toe, including a belted, dyed take on a downtown Cousin Itt. One matching set was called a “human bob,” and with its pin-straight crop top and mini skirt, the name fits perfectly.

The hairstylist-turned-designer found inspiration in experimental DJ horsegiirL. Frausto had already designed the voluminous skirt he wanted her to wear before reaching out. Luckily, after collaborating once before, she was eager to make her New York Fashion Week debut. “I felt so powerful in the dress, and walking slowly, leaning into the moment, was exhilarating,” she said. “I love the collection—using hair as a material makes so much sense!” (And walk she did: “She’s flirting with me!” remarked one guest after catching her prosthetic snout through his iPhone lens.)

Not everything was purely conceptual. Latex garters and laced corsets reminded viewers this was a runway show, not a hair expo—though Frausto acknowledged his creations might not be “the most comfortable thing to wear to the bodega.” Creatively, the show felt like a release for Frausto, who has long wanted to expand his work and find a special use for his stockpile. For the audience, it was a refreshing reminder that fashion exists beyond neatly tailored blazers.

Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about The Showpony Runways impact on New Yorks avantgarde fashion scene

Beginner General Questions

What is The Showpony Runway
The Showpony Runway is an independent boundarypushing fashion showcase in New York that focuses exclusively on avantgarde and experimental designers often outside the traditional Fashion Week calendar

What does avantgarde even mean in fashion
It means fashion that is radically experimental prioritizing artistic concepts unconventional materials and challenging traditional ideas of beauty and wearability over commercial appeal Its often seen as art you can wear

How did The Showpony Runway revolutionize the scene
It created a dedicated highprofile platform specifically for avantgarde talent that was often overlooked by mainstream fashion weeks It shifted the focus from celebrity front rows and sales to pure artistic expression and community making the avantgarde more accessible and central to New Yorks fashion conversation

Who are some designers featured in The Showpony Runway
While the lineup changes it typically features a mix of emerging and established radical designers Past shows have included names like Fecal Matter Dangerfield Scarlet Darkness and Hannah Jewett known for their extreme silhouettes prosthetic art and sociopolitical commentary

Can regular people buy the clothes shown there
Often not directly off the runway Many pieces are oneofakind art pieces or madetoorder However the exposure helps designers build their brand and some may sell more wearable adaptations or accessories through their own channels

Advanced InDepth Questions

What specific gaps in the New York fashion ecosystem did The Showpony Runway fill
It filled the gap for a cohesive wellproduced platform dedicated to conceptual fashion While New York Fashion Week is known for commercial and wearable luxury The Showpony provided a necessary space for the art side of fashion which was previously scattered across underground shows or relegated to other cities like London

How does it differ from other avantgarde showcases like those in London or online
Its revolution was in bringing a distinctly