After a seven-year hiatus, last night, Public School NYC made its long-awaited return to New York Fashion Week with their “Everything Is Now” show. The room at STORIED NYC was filled with an undeniable anticipation in the air from guests like Monica, Vashtie, and June Ambrose. With a three-row, open-format seating arrangement, the brand ensured that everyone had a clear view—making its comeback feel both intimate and monumental. As for co-founders Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne? They felt, “surprisingly calm this time around,” Chow tells ESSENCE. “And I think it’s because we have that deep gratitude to be here [again].”
Naturally, what’s happening in the world right now was a driving factor behind the show. It’s all about, “the urgency of the moment, the urgency of, like, seizing everything that’s right in front of you, because we don’t know what tomorrow is going to bring,” Chow explains. The models and respective garments “represent this sort of Revolutionary Army—the protagonist in the resistance of what’s happening around us,” Chow adds.
With that, set to a groovy and energetic soundtrack, the design duo ushered in a bold new era of Public School, clearly crafted for the cool kids. Though the collection was solely menswear, I spotted more than a few pieces I’d gladly add to my own closet.
The show opened with a raw denim set paired with a pillbox hat, setting a sharp, confident tone. Following was a similar look anchored by a crisp, oversized blazer. Then came a standout take on the quarter-zip trend—rendered in the most perfect navy leather. An asymmetrical oversized gray blazer followed, along with a cropped black blazer featuring impeccable, seam-to-seam tailoring. Each model exuded confidence, ambition, and effortless swagger, bringing to life a collection that masterfully balanced intricate outerwear with a striking juxtaposition of streetwear and refined tailoring.
In the show notes, the design duo described this moment as “the beginning of [their] reconstruction,” explaining that the time away “forced [them] to remember why [they] started this in the first place.” At the same time, they acknowledged that “New York doesn’t wait for anyone.” Against the political backdrop unfolding in America—from the racist rhetoric of the current president to the continued erasure of the immigrants who built this country—their message felt especially urgent. They underscored that now, more than ever, it is vital to protect and celebrate “the output of converging cultures and ideas.”
And as Osborne tells us before the show, “it feels great to be here representing Black people during Black History Month. I’m a child of an immigrant. Everything that is happening is sickening,” he says. “I can’t even imagine what would happen if my family got torn apart,” he says. “But I’m just trying to be present in this moment. I’m happy to be here in this beautiful month that we have.”