An Evening with Old Stone Trade & Acme Atelier

Tucked inside a charming Upper East Side townhouse, Melissa Ventosa Martin—founder of Old Stone Trade, a studio and marketplace celebrating heritage textiles and slow craftsmanship—welcomed guests for an intimate evening showcasing her latest collection. The trunk show, a collaboration with Scottish kiltmaker Andrea Chappell of Acme Atelier, featured made-to-order garments crafted with historic tweeds, tartans, and vintage fabrics sourced from the Highlands.

One highlight of the evening was Chappell’s storytelling—most memorably, her explanation of how thousands of teasels “tickle the fabric” at Knockando Woolmill, a traditional technique used to create the distinct texture of their special-edition Strathspey Tweed, featured throughout the collection.

Among the pieces on display, a fully monochrome kilt tuxedo drew the most attention—sculptural in form, refined in its simplicity, and finished with a delicate floral corsage. A study in contrast, it bridged heritage and minimalism with quiet elegance.

Amid the rhythm of this year’s New York Fashion Week, the evening offered a different kind of pace—one that favored intention over excess. In celebrating heritage fabrics, small-batch production, and thoughtful design, the collaboration quietly pointed to a growing appetite for pieces with a sense of place and permanence.

Old Stone Trade is a New York–based studio and marketplace devoted to heritage textiles, artisanal craft, and the enduring beauty of slow fashion.