The Voice Behind the Brand: Episode 2 - Fashion Night Out Westchester
Fashion Night Out — Where Fashion, Community, and Purpose Meet
Launching a business is one thing. Building a movement rooted in community, creativity, and purpose is something entirely different.
In Episode 2 of The Voice Behind the Brand, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Colleen Cushman Sordellini and Juan Delgado, co-founders of Fashion Night Out (FNO) — a Westchester-based fashion experience that blends style, food, and philanthropy into one unforgettable night.
From Hospitality to High Fashion
Colleen and Juan’s partnership started long before Fashion Night Out. Both entrepreneurs in their own right, they originally met while working in the restaurant industry. Those hospitality roots still shape how they run FNO today.
“We like to say Juan works back of the house and I handle front of the house,” Colleen shared — a nod to their restaurant beginnings. While the language is playful, the execution is serious. Juan curates designers, manages casting, and oversees production, while Colleen focuses on guest experience, partnerships, and event flow.
Together, they’ve created a seamless operation that feels both elevated and welcoming.
Fashion With a Purpose
What sets Fashion Night Out apart is its mission. This isn’t fashion for fashion’s sake.
Each event is intentionally curated around a nonprofit partner, ensuring that every show supports a cause connected to the founders’ values and community ties. Guests don’t just attend a fashion show — they participate in something bigger.
“For me, fashion is personal,” Juan explained. “It tells stories — not just my own, but untold narratives. If my work speaks to society, it should also impact society.”
That philosophy carries through every detail, from designer collections to custom cocktails inspired by each show’s theme. It’s an immersive experience where fashion, food, and emotion intersect.
Growing Organically — One Show at a Time
Fashion Night Out officially launched three years ago, but its impact feels far bigger. Their very first event sold out with 170 tickets, and since then, the momentum hasn’t stopped.
Their upcoming show on March 7th, hosted at HUDCO in Dobbs Ferry, marks another major milestone — and their biggest production yet.
Growth didn’t come from a playbook or a handbook. It came from experimentation, persistence, and showing up consistently.
“There is no job too small,” Colleen said. From social media promotion and newsletters to physically hanging flyers around town, they’ve done it all themselves.
Juan laughed as he described taping flyers to poles in freezing weather — and checking the next day to make sure they hadn’t blown away.
That’s entrepreneurship. No shortcuts. Just commitment.
Community Is the Real Brand
Much of Fashion Night Out’s success comes from word of mouth and community trust. People don’t just attend once — they come back, ask about the next show, and bring others with them.
Their promotion strategy blends:
Instagram marketing
Eventbrite ticketing
Weekly newsletters
Local, grassroots outreach
But at the heart of it all is community connection. Fashion Night Out isn’t just an event — it’s something people in Westchester look forward to.
Looking Ahead
Before wrapping up our conversation, Colleen and Juan extended an invitation to experience Fashion Night Out firsthand — backstage, front row, and everywhere in between. From designer prep and model testimonials to nonprofit partnerships and bar execution, they believe the real magic happens when you see it live.
And they’re absolutely right.
Event Details
📍 Fashion Night Out
🗓 March 7th | 6:00–11:00 PM
📍 HUDCO, Dobbs Ferry, NY
You can find Fashion Night Out’s website, social media, and ticket links in the video description and linked throughout this post.
Follow the Movement
Fashion Night Out is more than a runway show — it’s a community-driven experience rooted in creativity, culture, and purpose.
👉 Follow FNO Westchester on Instagram to stay connected, see behind-the-scenes moments, and keep up with upcoming shows.
👉 Join the movement and attend the next Fashion Night Out by grabbing your tickets below.
🎟 Get Tickets on Eventbrite:
Co-founders Juan Delgado Martinez and Colleen Cushman Sordellini the creative visionaries behind Fashion Night Out, a Westchester-based fashion experience that blends runway, community, and purpose.
A dynamic collage capturing the energy of Fashion Night Out (FNO), featuring runway moments, designer collections, models backstage, and immersive audience experiences. The image highlights bold fashion statements, artistic silhouettes, and community-driven creativity showcased at Fashion Night Out events across Westchester County.
