From the loud hair dryers and clippers to the production team scrambling to line up models, the voices coming from every direction all become music to the ear. As the creative teams work tirelessly to execute the Public School fashion show, you recognize that everyone belongs, and that the show itself is a celebration of the months of preparation that brought everyone to this moment.

It was beautiful to witness longtime friends check in with Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne as they prepared to present their very best – excited and confident, yet still carrying the nerves that come with sharing something deeply personal. It’s one thing to create for yourself, but another to present your creation to the world. With an ease in conversation, the models were treated with care and kindness. As they interacted with one another and the creative teams, you would have thought they had known each other for years.

This room felt like New York City – fashionably so. The collection wasn’t being created by people who merely happened to be in the same room; the sense of community surrounding Public School was part of the world the brand was presenting.

Behind the scenes, the energy felt warm, collaborative, and communal. There was an ease in the way the team worked together: people seemed genuinely comfortable with one another, moving through the space with a shared sense of purpose. That warmth reflected the brand’s relationship with New York City: a place shaped by different people, perspectives, and communities coming together. Backstage, that philosophy felt tangible.

When speaking with Creative Directors Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne, Casting Director Calvin Willson, Hairstylist Laurent Philippon, and Makeup Artist Dan Duran, it became clear that this was a space where people seemed to belong.

Audiences often see only the final collection or show. What should they understand about the people and process behind bringing your brand’s vision to life?

Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne: There are hundreds of people who make sure we pull off the show at a high level. Everyone from stylists and photographers to pattern makers, sewers, hair and makeup, messengers, and collection coordinators. It really is a community, and it takes a village. We’re grateful for every person who helped us get to this point and bring the new collection to life.

Calvin Wilson: With any brand, you usually only see the final product. The process is constantly changing and evolving. You start with an idea, and it can go through many iterations before you get there. You’re working through it as the days and hours go by until the final shot, the final show, and the final moment.

Dan Duran: Collaboration is probably the most important part. It creates a safe space where everyone can listen to each other and contribute.

What detail within this collection tells a larger story about your brand that audiences might not immediately see?

Calvin Wilson: There’s this idea that Public School is only New York, but that’s not the case. Even our cast comes from all over and represents a broad range of people and ideas. That has always been part of Public School, even if people don’t necessarily see it that way. We wanted to capture the full spirit of the brand. You can wear this in Amsterdam, New York, or LA. It’s for every guy.

Dan Duran: With the makeup, we added dark circles, a little gloss to the lids, and some blush on the ears. It’s intentionally a little rough. Public School is very much a New York brand, so it has this cool, downtown feeling.

Laurent Philippon: Nature is stronger than anything, so it’s about learning to work alongside it. We imagined a stylish man moving through today’s extreme weather, from rain and wind to intense heat, while still wanting to feel elegant. No matter what happens in the world, we’re still going to be style fighters.

As this brand moves forward, what do you hope people feel, understand, or connect with more deeply after experiencing Public School Spring Summer 2027 collection?

Calvin Wilson: The brand has changed, but it remains true to its DNA. It’s getting stronger while connecting with different generations. I’m 57, and my 20 year old son wants to wear Public School from my closet. It’s nice to see that the brand continues to live on.

Dan Duran: New York. That’s what I want people to feel.

Laurent Philippon: We all want to be individuals, but we also want to belong. I think what we need today more than anything is community, and this collection brings people together.

Maxwell Osborne: We want people to want more. We’re building this idea of a new uniform and showing what Public School is becoming. This is really a coming out party for the future of Public School. We want people to be excited about what comes next.

So, you want people to see you outside of New York City?

Maxwell Osborne: Absolutely. 1000%, Public School is a global brand.

Behind the Seams is an editorial series that takes audiences beyond the runway during New York Fashion Week to explore the people, process, emotion, craftsmanship, and labor behind brands. While traditional Fashion Week coverage often centers on the final product – the runway, presentation, clothes, and imagery – Behind the Seams tells the story of what it takes to get there.

Each feature steps inside a designer’s world, giving visibility to the people whose work is essential to bringing a creative vision to life, from studio and production teams to stylists, casting directors, makeup artists, hairstylists, and coordinators. By connecting the clothes audiences ultimately see with the people, decisions, skills, and stories behind them, Behind the Seams creates a more human understanding of each brand and a deeper connection to the designers and their work.