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March 25, 2023 | 6:15 p.m
Katie Gallagher was “ahead of the curve” with her collections, according to a friend. Getty Images
Friends of the late fashion designer Katie Gallagher mourned the death of the creative visionary after the shocking news that her drug overdose had been ruled a homicide.
Alexandra Plazas-Herrera, who runs brand development agency Good Six and has worked with Gallagher, 35, said the promising designer has always been “ahead of the curve” with her collections, which have been worn by a number of A-listers over the years ‘ was among them Lady Gaga and Laverne Cox.
“Everything she did became trending and popular in the last two years,” Plazas-Herrera, 43, told The Post Saturday, noting that she had used mesh material and cut-outs in her garments and designs, which became popular after the pandemic.
“She was always ahead of the curve. The world had to catch up with Katie.”
Gallagher’s death from a drug overdose was ruled a homicide. Angela Pham/BFA.com
Plazas-Herrera worked with Gallagher from 2018 to 2021, during which time he helped her sell her collections to a number of notable boutiques and stores around the world, including Edem in Munich, Germany and the now-closed Forty Five Ten store in Hudson meters.
“The reaction from buyers has always been how beautifully made the patterns were, how beautiful the collection was,” she said.
“We’ve been trying to figure out how to make this commercially viable.”
A brand developer said Gallagher incorporated cut-outs and mesh fabrics into their clothing before they became popular in the wake of the pandemic. WireImage
“I’m sad because when I saw her last collection… I think she was on her way there and didn’t get a chance to show it.”
Gallagher was found dead of a drug overdose at her Eldridge Street flat in July after a neighbor saw her keys hanging in the door and went inside to check on her.
On Friday, coroners ruled her death a manslaughter after finding she died of acute intoxication from the combined effects of fentanyl, ethanol and the designer opioid p-fluorofentanyl.
Gallagher’s clothing has been sold to stores around the world. Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
Detectives believe her mysterious death could be linked to a pattern of at least 26 recent “drug-facilitated” robberies in New York City, including the East Village, Lower East Side and the Bronx, police sources said.
There is still no explanation as to how the drugs got into the system or if her home was robbed.
Police officers are investigating whether Gallagher’s death was linked to 33-year-old Kenwood Allen, who was arrested in December and charged with murder in the murder of two Lower East Side clubbers, police sources said.
Detectives believe Gallagher’s death could be linked to a pattern of at least 26 recent “drug-facilitated” robberies.Portal
Allen is a person of interest but has not been charged in the case, the sources added.
“It’s heartbreaking because she was so talented,” said guitarist and friend Alex Skolnick, 54, who has attended metal shows with Gallagher over the years.
“I’m not a big fashionista… but even I noticed her fashion right away,” he said.
Gallagher founded her eponymous fashion label in 2010. Penske Media via Getty Images
“I had a couple of girlfriends in the scene, women they knew and were friends who wore her stuff, and I could just tell she had a very distinct style.”
Gallagher, who grew up in rural Pennsylvania, founded her eponymous label in 2010, a year after graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design, according to an obituary published on her alumni website.
She had worked as a bartender at Flats Fix Taqueria & Tequila Bar in Manhattan before taking a hiatus from her clothes, and also got work as a florist while she lived in Los Angeles for a time, according to Plazas-Herrera
In addition to Lady Gaga and Cox, Gallagher’s clothes have been worn by the likes of Kim Kardashian and Rita Ora.
Her collections were also featured in magazines such as Vogue, Glamor and W, and Gallagher had completed 26 collections under her label, shown at New York Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week.
At the time of her death, she had been working on a 27th collection that was due to premiere this fall.
Gallagher’s family started a GoFundMe in July to ensure their latest work could be completed. GoFundMe
“Funds raised here will be used first to ensure Katie’s latest work is completed and will be seen later this year in her beloved NYC at a celebration of her life and work,” family members posted the campaign page, which raised a more than US$30,000 – Dollar has raised $50,000 goal starting Saturday.
Gallagher’s father, Barry, declined an interview request, citing a family statement.
“The homicide investigation shared today by the coroner… what we knew: Katie was a crime victim,” the family statement said. “We have retained this information while awaiting the official decision.”
The family added that they are “grateful for any developments that are helping us move forward, focus on Katie’s life and legacy, and create more awareness that fentanyl and similar drugs are being used as weapons against innocent people.”
A memorial service for Gallagher was held in Pennsylvania in August, and a celebration of life will be held in May.
Additional reporting by Joe Marino
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