The Montauk Sessions: A Conversation with Sebastian
There is a specific kind of quiet that falls over the East Coast just before the season turns. It is that exact feeling—a blend of rugged nostalgia and effortless sophistication—that defines Sebastian & Rye. We recently caught up with Sebastian in a sunlit loft overlooking the city to talk about the roots of the brand, his enduring love affair with New York, and the lingering question on everyone’s mind: just who is Rye?
The brand feels like it was born out of a very specific state of mind. Where did the vision for Sebastian & Rye begin?
It started with a feeling I couldn’t quite shake. I wanted to capture the raw, cinematic quality of the East Coast. There is something incredibly honest about a heavy knit sweater on a windswept beach in late October, or the way worn-in denim feels like a second skin. It is not just about clothes; it is about a lifestyle that feels deeply rooted and completely authentic. I wanted to create pieces that look like they belong in a timeless black-and-white photograph—clothes that already have stories woven into them the moment you put them on.
New York seems to be a recurring character in the brand's story. What draws you to the city so strongly?
New York has this pulse, this undeniable gravity. It is the contrast that I love. You have the absolute chaos and electric energy of the streets in Manhattan, and then you have the quiet, grounding escape to the coast or upstate. The brand exists right in that intersection. New York teaches you how to be resilient but also how to appreciate the romance of the everyday. Walking through the city in the early morning, when the fog is rolling off the Hudson and the streets are still empty—that is pure inspiration. It is the backdrop to everything we do.
Speaking of the backdrop, there is a name on the label that we never see in the spotlight. Who is Rye?
He smiles, looking down at his coffee cup before staring out the window.
Rye is the anchor. If I am the one chasing the chaos of the city and obsessing over the overarching vision, she is the calm edge of the coast. She is fiercely independent and genuinely prefers to stay out of the frame. You will see her influence everywhere, though. She is the one who insists on a softer, lived-in wash for the cotton, or who leaves a vintage photography book open on my drafting table that completely changes the direction of a campaign. She is very real, and she is the heart of this brand, but she belongs to herself. For now, she is the silhouette just out of focus in the background. We both prefer keeping it that way.
What do you want people to feel when they put on a piece from this collection?
Like they are stepping into their own classic story. I want them to feel a sense of ease and quiet confidence. Whether they are navigating a crowded avenue in the city or walking along a quiet shoreline, the clothes should just make sense. They aren’t meant to shout; they are meant to endure.
