BORN OUT OF THIS SPACE
HOW JOSEPH ALTUZARRA TURNED A LANDMARK INTO HIS STUDIO
For nearly a decade, Joseph Altuzarra has called The Woolworth home. It's where his luxury womenswear brand is headquartered, where collections are designed, and, in recent years, where several have made their debut during New York Fashion Week.
This season, that relationship continues as Altuzarra will present his upcoming collection in The Woolworth’s landmark lobby.
For us, it’s really the perfect space, in part because we are based here. It is born out of this space, quite literally. Showing it here feels like we’re showing it how it was meant to be shown.
Fashion shows are among the few cultural experiences that still can’t simply be bought, he says. They’re invitation-only, fleeting, and designed to be experienced live. Hosting them at The Woolworth gives guests access to two worlds at once: the collection and one of New York’s most extraordinary interiors.
When Altuzarra presented its first show in the building’s landmark lobby, professional lighting transformed the space, drawing attention to its vaulted ceiling and intricate details in a way that surprised even him. For Altuzarra, the effect captured how much of The Woolworth’s power comes from the experience of discovering it.
“The Woolworth is not a building that you can just walk into and visit like Rockefeller Center,” he says. “It feels like this kind of jewel that you need to be granted access to.”
Founded nearly twenty years ago, the Altuzarra brand was shaped by Joseph’s multicultural upbringing. Born and raised in Paris to a French father and Chinese-American mother before moving to the United States, he draws equally from both influences. “When you grow up in France, from an early age, there’s an awareness of expression through clothes,” he says. “I’m as inspired by that as I am by the spirit and essence of American sportswear; the ease and directness of American fashion.” According to Altuzarra, what really makes up the brand, from a style perspective, is the meeting of those two things.
And his goal isn’t to reinvent the women who wear his designs. Whether for a wedding, an important meeting, or a kid’s recital, he wants people to feel confident and comfortable. “Like the best version of themselves,” he notes.
Every collection begins differently. Some seasons start with a story, a book, or a film. Other times, it’s a mood or even a place. His sensitivity to his surroundings is, therefore, part of his working method; there must be a candle burning, and there must be music.
I think a lot about what makes a space feel luxurious. Some of it is really unseen. Small details can make a big difference.
He remembers walking into The Woolworth for the first time nearly eight years ago and immediately understanding its appeal. “I just remember being so awed by how it looked,” he says. “This incredible richness, this totally unexpected beauty that you find in the middle of New York, right off the street.”
Early on, he explored the building floor by floor, including a visit to Frank Woolworth’s former office. He notes that each space offered something different, and that his awe never wore off. “A lot of buildings will have small moments of that kind of architectural richness,” he says. “But in The Woolworth, it really permeates the entirety of the building.”
Today, Altuzarra’s studio and showroom overlook Lower Manhattan through oversized historic windows that flood the space with natural light. “The visual aspect of being in the building, and having architecture all around, really enriches my creative process,” he says. The neighborhood has become part of his process as well; Altuzarra has worked in Lower Manhattan for nearly the life of the company, and many of his best ideas arrive during everyday walks to lunch.
“I get a lot of my best ideas when I’m walking and seeing what people are wearing,” he says. “The best part about New York is that people are so themselves. I find that so compelling.”
His connection to Lower Manhattan has also been deeply personal. For years, Joseph and his family called the neighborhood home, building routines around neighborhood parks, coffee shops and walks along Greenwich Street. His husband, who works in real estate, now has an office on the same floor at The Woolworth. “He copied me,” Joseph jokes.
The family recently moved uptown, but Joseph remains emphatic about what they left behind. “We really miss it,” he says. “Like, really, really miss it.” Over the years, he has watched Lower Manhattan develop into what he describes as a true cultural hub. “It feels like a neighborhood,” he says, “which is really rare.”
The building still gives him his favorite moments of the day. Every morning, Joseph and his husband commute downtown together, stop for breakfast, and meet in the lobby before heading upstairs.
It feels like we’re coming home when we go to work.
His favorite moment comes a little later, once he is alone in the showroom. He opens the blinds, sunlight pours through the showroom windows, and the Brooklyn Bridge comes into view. It’s the same room where the next collection is already beginning to take shape.
“There’s something very ‘pinch me,” he says, “every time that happens.”
