The Story Behind Rochester Fashion Week with Meghan Mundy

Meghan Mundy has spent decades shaping the fashion landscape of Rochester, New York — from dressing clients on Madison Avenue alongside Jackie Onassis to founding one of the city's most beloved cultural events. In this episode of Rochester Living, Corey James Moran and Mark Siwiec sit down with Meghan to trace her remarkable journey from the garment district of New York City to the runways of Rochester Fashion Week, and everything she's building next.

Meghan's story is one of reinvention, community, and an unshakeable belief that Rochester deserves world-class experiences. Over the course of 15 years, she turned a dining-room-table idea into a sold-out cultural institution that raised over $1 million for the Center for Youth — and she's not done yet.

From New Jersey to New York's Garment District

Meghan grew up in New Jersey and studied fashion merchandising through FIT's continuing education program, working in the garment district by day and attending classes at night. It was a world of high-end linen companies, Madison Avenue boutiques, and clientele that included Jackie Onassis. Working at a townhouse boutique on 69th Street between Madison and Fifth, Meghan learned a foundational lesson from her mother that would define her career: treat every single person the same, regardless of what they're wearing or what they look like.

That philosophy paid off immediately. When a woman came into the boutique and was dismissed by other sales associates, Meghan stepped in. The client ended up purchasing 15 pieces — including a $10,000 beaded jacket — and invited Meghan to come to her home seasonally with new collections. She later learned the client was connected to the Tisch family. 'You just never know,' Meghan reflected. 'I was just selling. I was making commission.'

Coming to Rochester — and Finding Her Place

In 1997, Meghan followed her husband Mike to Rochester when he accepted a position with Benderson Development. Pregnant with her second daughter and far from her New Jersey roots, the transition was genuinely hard. Rochester winters, a lack of social connections, and the cultural shift from Manhattan to the suburbs left her feeling isolated. But slowly, the city won her over — the lush neighborhoods, the ease of daily life, and eventually, her parents retiring to Rochester made it feel like home.

Working as a stylist for the Democrat and Chronicle's magazine Her, Meghan would go into boutiques, coordinate hair and makeup artists, and produce editorial fashion shoots. It was during this time that she attended Toronto Fashion Week on a press pass — and came home with an idea that would change Rochester.

Founding Rochester Fashion Week

After experiencing Toronto Fashion Week firsthand, Meghan was struck by how accessible and well-organized it was. She came back to Rochester convinced the city was ready for something similar. With a small group of collaborators gathered around her dining room table — including event planner Shanti — she launched Rochester Fashion Week in 2010. The first show was held at the Memorial Art Gallery and sold out immediately.

"I just came back to Rochester and thought, this city is ready for this. And that's how it started."

The event grew rapidly. From a $30,000 fundraiser in year one, Meghan set a goal of raising $1 million for the Center for Youth by year ten — and hit it, with a spectacular show under an igloo tent. Over 15 years, Rochester Fashion Week became one of the city's signature cultural events, featuring everything from runway shows at the Maxwell to a lakehouse fashion show that nearly got rained out but pushed through to a sun-drenched finale.

Memorable Moments from 15 Years on the Runway

When asked for a standout moment from 15 years of producing shows, Meghan didn't hesitate. The lakehouse show — where a massive rainstorm threatened to cancel everything, models were calling from the road, and trees were falling — stands out as a defining moment of risk and reward. 'There was no plan B,' she said. 'We sold all these boats. I just said it's going to stop. We're going to be fine.' The sun came out. The show went on.

Another highlight: convincing a handler to bring a pony — and a domesticated pig — onto the runway at the igloo tent show. 'I said, what happens if the pony poops on the runway? And he's standing there with a shovel.' The pony made it down the runway without incident. The pig did too.

What's Next: Fashion 585, Trunk Shows, and Cocktails & Clothes

After stepping back from Rochester Fashion Week, Meghan has channeled her energy into several new ventures. Fashion 585 is a youth program that teaches children ages 8 to 16 the full world of fashion — from runway to loading dock — culminating in a fashion show the kids produce themselves. 'At the end of it, they were all exchanging numbers. They connected. They were all different backgrounds.' Meghan plans to expand it into a summer camp at her Five Star Bank Plaza office, which features a beautiful atrium perfect for a runway.

She also recently produced an intimate show for Nigerian-British designer Jones — 160 guests, cocktails, a runway, and then a party. 'My husband said to me, that was the best thing you've ever done.' And her Cocktails & Clothes concept brings boutiques directly into her office space, giving local designers and retailers a chance to sell end-of-season inventory to a curated audience. 'There are boutiques that exist here, and designers that exist here, that we just don't know about,' she said. 'They deserve a chance.'

A Champion for Rochester's Creative Community

Throughout the conversation, one theme emerges again and again: Meghan Mundy builds things because Rochester deserves them. She was lonely when she arrived, so she created events where people could come together. She saw women saving their best clothes for Las Vegas, so she created occasions worth dressing up for. She saw fashion shows popping up all over the city after Fashion Week launched, and she celebrated it. 'Nobody owns fashion,' she said. 'There's enough room for everybody.'

Follow Meghan on Instagram at @megmundystyle or visit megmundystyle.com to stay up to date on her upcoming shows, trunk shows, and Fashion 585 events.

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