The New York fashion scene roared this week as Kai Schreiber stepped onto the runway for Thom Browne‘s spring 2027 women’s collection. The 17-year-old, daughter of actors Liev Schreiber and Naomi Watts had already been spotlighted a few days earlier when she accepted the Daily Front Row’s Breakthrough Model of the Year award. Wearing a striking green Valentino piece, she announced, “I’m the first trans girl to win this award, which is surreal and wouldn’t be possible without the sisters who paved the way.”
That same week, Browne transformed The Shed at Hudson Yards into an oversized garden, complete with a 20-foot-tall blade of grass and a monumental daisy. At the heart of the set stood a 20-feet high chrysalis, poised to become a stage for a literal metamorphosis. The designer chose Schreiber to enter the cocoon, turning the runway into a performance art piece that blended couture with choreography.
Breakthrough Model of the Year: a historic milestone
Schreiber’s award ceremony, held in New York City, marked a turning point for the industry. The ceremony featured a green Valentino dress, echoing her earlier runway work for the luxury house. In her acceptance speech she emphasized, “I carry the significance of being the first trans girl to win this award into every room I enter.” The accolade places her alongside previous winners such as Kaia Gerber and Lila Moss, underscoring her rapid rise after debuting with Valentino in 2025.
Thom Browne’s garden runway and the butterfly moment
When the lights dimmed, a troupe of models emerged in insect-inspired twists on Browne’s signature suits, many bearing ladybug silhouettes. Yet the centerpiece was the nine butterflies that fluttered across the stage. Eight of them were purely visual, while the ninth—Schreiber—actually stepped inside the chrysalis and emerged in a fresh look that revisited Browne’s iconic gray suit.
“I wanted a butterfly moment that felt like a performance,” Browner explained half an hour before the show. “Knowing Kai could move, she became the focus and the star.” The final ensemble featured a printed bodysuit, a mesh face covering, and a nod to the ever-present gray suit, a staple Browne claims “never gets old” and still looks as sharp as it did 25 years ago.
Dressmaking details: embroidery, intarsia and nature themes
Behind the spectacle, Browne’s team employed traditional couture techniques. He described the collection’s fabric work as “all the embroidery and intarsia playing with that kind of theme,” resulting in motifs of butterflies, bees, ants, and even cockroaches—a clear reference to the 1998 animated film about a bug’s life. The gray suit resurfaced in a modern silhouette, proving its timeless appeal while the garden set reinforced the collection’s ecological inspiration.
Combining modeling and dance: Schreiber’s personal expression
Schreiber, a native New Yorker who previously studied ballet at LaGuardia, felt the show’s classical-ballet theme resonated with her own background. “When I learned the show was ballet-inspired, I was thrilled because I haven’t danced professionally, but I love movement,” she said. Throughout the performance she blended runway poise with modern dance gestures, creating a seamless bridge between high fashion and performance art.
After the show, she kept the runway’s dramatic rainbow eyeshadow, joking, “I feel like a unicorn.” The look underscores her confidence as a young trans icon in an industry still learning to celebrate diversity.
Looking ahead: global bookings and personal style icons
With New York fashion week behind her, Schreiber’s calendar is already filling up. Upcoming stops include London Fashion Week, followed by trips to Italy and France. When asked about her style inspirations, she cited Gabbriette, the Olsen twins, Kate Moss, and “my mom,” Naomi Watts, highlighting a blend of vintage glamour and contemporary edge.
Schreiber’s rapid ascent—award winner, runway star, and advocate—illustrates a new era where fashion, performance, and personal identity intersect. As she continues to travel the world, her story remains a vivid reminder that the runway can be both a runway and a stage for cultural transformation.
