NEW YORK CITY – Noted philanthropist, socialite, developer and entrepreneur Avi Oster has continued to move deeper into the world of fashion, sources close to the mogul say.
Oster, who is said to have made the jump from real estate speculation to more creative investments to suit his personal interests, is no stranger to the fashion arena, but seems to be making his presence there felt more and more.
Oster’s first dive into the scene was to back the line of his friend, designer Catherine Fulmer. Fulmer had quit the business years earlier, but was drawn inexorably back, armed with new design inspiration from her time spent in the American South. She showed Oster concepts for a women’s line based in rockabilly sensibilities: bright rich colors, grab-and-go simplicity, an attention grabbing blend of belle and black leather. Oster threw his support behind Fulmer and sponsored her return with a signature high-profile event: Southern Crawl. Featuring music, atmosphere and an impressive guest list, the debut was a success and Fulmer’s fall collection made a splash.
Following Southern Crawl, Oster leaped on board as sponsor of an even bigger event, Nolcha Fashion Week. The once-a-year happening serves as a launch moment for some of the top independent designers in the world, and Oster brought his usual magic to bear. But the recent announcement that Oster will also be behind Stephen Seo – a bespoke designer for both men and women, who sticks to classical shapes and ever-so-soft colors – leaves scenesters wondering. With Avi’s history of outdoing himself, what event could the entrepreneur possibly be dreaming up for Seo?