The Run-Through with Vogue Rachel Scott Is the Busiest Woman at New York Fashion Week
Feb 18, 2026
Rachel Scott, founder of Diotima and creative director of Proenza Schouler, blends political art and craft-driven fashion. She recounts staging two major shows in one week. She discusses collaborating with Wifredo Lam’s estate, making a statement against colonialism and borders, working with refugee and Jamaican artisans, and balancing two demanding brands while leading with kindness.
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Use Fashion To Make Political Statements
- Use cultural platforms to speak on political realities because culture without context becomes a political statement of ignorance.
- Scott argued every decision in fashion is political and brands should use their platform responsibly.
Working With Refugee Atelier And Jocelyn
- Scott worked with Refugee Atelier to incorporate crochet made by refugee women in New York, notably a 28-year-old Mexican artisan named Jocelyn.
- She contrasted this with prior collaborations with crochet artisans in Jamaica to expand ethical making practices.
Growing Up In Kingston's Boutique Culture
- Scott traced her fashion origins to her mother's boutique in Kingston and her father's furniture-making; she began making clothes to wear to parties in bright, tiny silhouettes.
- She bought Vogue and Italian magazines as a teen and decided on fashion around age 16.