Returning to NYFW: The Story Behind My Undina Collection’s Triumphant Runway & Red Carpet Moments
Michelle Pajak-Reynolds’s Undina Collection Luna necklace featured with Jody Bell Santorini Collection during the Nolcha Shows New York Fashion Week Runway Show. Photo credit: Julie Stanley/JuleImages
New York City has long been the place creatives go to bring their dreams into the world—and New York Fashion Week (NYFW) is where those dreams meet the global stage. Each February and September, NYFW launches “Fashion Month,” when designers reveal their newest collections to editors, stylists, buyers, influencers, and celebrities who race from runway to runway before heading on to London, Milan, and Paris.
This September marked my fifth exhibition with Nolcha Shows—the premier NYFW platform for independent designers—and my first since becoming a mother. After welcoming my daughter, Maeve, in July 2015, navigating the newborn whirlwind while continuing to grow my business felt nearly impossible at times. But creativity doesn’t wait, and neither does Fashion Week. Returning to NYFW after Maeve’s first birthday to debut my newly expanded 30-piece Undina Collection was not just a milestone—it was a homecoming.
The Inspiration Behind the Undina Collection
The Undina Collection draws from water-goddess mythology and Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid, particularly the haunting image of mermaids transforming into foam on the ocean:
“If you cannot make the prince fall so much in love with you that his every thought concerns only you … the first morning after he has married another, your heart will break and you will become foam on the ocean.”
When Undina first launched in February 2015, it was a concise 12-piece capsule shown at Nolcha’s NYFW Fashion Lounge. I knew there was more to her story, but the next chapter didn’t arrive until after Maeve’s birth. Creativity, like new parenthood, never sleeps. Ideas arrived at 3 a.m. feedings; designs crystallized during quiet moments when Maeve napped or family swooped in to offer help. Every spare second went toward bringing Undina’s newest expressions to life.
Preparing for NYFW: Behind the Scenes of a Handcrafted Collection
Creating a collection is only the beginning. Preparing for NYFW means weeks of photoshoots with Julie Stanley of JuleImages, assembling lookbooks, designing displays, managing invitations, updating my website, and coordinating press interviews.
The mix of “opening night” excitement and “first day of school” nerves never fades—even more so this season, as it was my first time away from Maeve for three and a half days. Would guests show up? Would the collection resonate? Would promised press features materialize?
With all those questions swirling, I boarded a 6:30 a.m. flight from Cleveland to NYC and stepped into a gorgeous morning at LaGuardia—a good omen.
Backstage Energy: Partnering with Designer Jody Bell
After a taxi ride through rush-hour chaos, I arrived at Artbeam Studios for Nolcha’s runway shows. Backstage was its signature swirl of magic—hair and makeup artists perfecting final looks, interns steaming garments, editors gathering quotes, models rushing between fittings, and stage managers conducting the symphony of organized chaos.
Nolcha’s Megan McAstocker introduced me to designer Jody Bell, who was preparing her Santorini-inspired debut for the “Ones to Watch” runway show. Her airy palette of blues and whites paired beautifully with my Undina earrings and necklaces in pearl, labradorite, moonstone, and crystal quartz. The show was a hit, and editors flooded backstage for interviews and detail shots. It was the perfect way to begin the week.
Influential Conversations & Collector Interest
Day Two brought one of my favorite moments: a deskside meeting with Michelle Graff, Editor-in-Chief of National Jeweler. Michelle has long supported independent jewelry designers and featured Undina when it first launched. Seeing the full collection in person—eighteen months after our last interview—was a full-circle moment. She and Jewelers of America’s Michael Tratner offered thoughtful insights on brand growth and new opportunities.
Nolcha’s Fashion Lounge: Intimate Connections with Industry Tastemakers
My final full day was dedicated to Nolcha’s NYFW Fashion Lounge, held this season in the breathtaking Terrace Loft of the historic Bryant Park Hotel. With its hardwood floors and floor-to-ceiling windows, it was the perfect setting to present handcrafted jewelry to editors, influencers, retail buyers, and stylists.
Guests were captivated by the Undina Collection’s mermaid-to-foam mythology and the meticulous craftsmanship behind each piece—especially the pearls, gemstones, and individually fabricated recycled-sterling elements. Many were surprised (and delighted) to discover that I am not only the designer but also the maker—a rarity in the industry.
Networking is the lifeblood of NYFW, and this event affirmed my belief that the right people show up at exactly the right time. Among them were Mark Forrest and Savoy Walker of Savvy Marketing Entertainment Group (SMEG), who were immediately drawn to my Luna necklace, earrings, and bracelet—each featuring crystal-quartz spheres and thousands of hand-set labradorite gems.
They photographed the pieces and promised to follow up. I had no idea just how quickly that follow-up would come.
The Emmy Awards: A Dream Years in the Making
As I was packing up after the show, my phone rang. Savoy was calling: he and Mark had shared images of the Luna pieces with Raven-Symoné—co-host of The View. She wanted to wear them for the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards during her red-carpet and backstage interviews.
I froze. Then I cried. Years of work, long nights, and leap-of-faith moments were coming together in the most spectacular way.
Despite a sudden downpour (and New York cab drivers’ aversion to wet seats), we eventually made it across Manhattan to deliver the pieces. Meeting Raven—a star I grew up watching—was surreal. She was warm, grounded, and enthusiastic about supporting independent designs and wearing the Luna designs.
Coming Home & Seeing the Dream Unfold
The next morning, I flew home with a full heart. High above the clouds, I replayed every step of this creative journey—every challenge, every breakthrough, every person who believed in me. I couldn’t wait to share it all with Maeve.
That Sunday, we gathered for an Emmy-night watch party. Seeing Raven glowing in my designs while speaking with artists I admire—John Travolta, Courtney B. Vance, Mandy Patinkin, Sarah Hyland, Sophie Turner, and more—felt like something out of a dream.
If someone had told me years ago that my handcrafted jewelry would walk red carpets and appear on national television, I would never have believed it. But here we are.
And I’m endlessly grateful to everyone who has supported this journey—collectors, editors, stylists, friends, and the incredible community that believes in art, craft, and independent design.
Thank you for being part of this adventure.
XO,
Michelle
Video: Raven-Symoné Talked To The Stars On The Emmy's Red Carpet
Raven-Symoné wears the Undina Collection: Luna necklace, earrings and bracelet by Michelle Pajak-Reynolds during the 68th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards on September 18, 2016.
