A somber shadow has fallen over Montauk’s exclusive Star Island after the tragic discovery of fashion designer Martha Nolan-O’Slattara, 33, who was found dead on a boat docked at the elite Montauk Yacht Club early Monday morning. The young designer, originally from Ireland and living in Manhattan, was a rising star in the fashion world, celebrated for her vibrant personality and creative vision. Her sudden death has left many in the fashion and Hamptons communities in deep shock and mourning.
Martha Nolan-O’Slattara
According to the Suffolk County Police Department, East Hampton Town police were dispatched shortly after midnight following a 911 call from a man reporting an unconscious woman aboard a docked boat. When first responders arrived at the scene, Good Samaritans had already attempted CPR in a desperate effort to save Nolan-O’Slattara’s life. Tragically, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police have stated that the initial examination of the scene and Nolan-O’Slattara’s body did not yield any conclusive cause of death. The final determination will be made following a full autopsy conducted by the Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office. Meanwhile, authorities have urged anyone with information to contact the Homicide Squad at 631-852-6392 as investigations continue.
Witnesses at the Montauk Yacht Club told the New York Post that they heard loud screaming from the dock area late Monday night, just before the discovery of Nolan-O’Slattara’s body. The cause of the commotion remains unclear, but it has further fueled concern and speculation among guests and members of the upscale yacht club.
Martha Nolan-O’Slattara was more than just a name in fashion—she was an inspiring entrepreneur carving out her own space in an ultra-competitive industry. A graduate of University College Dublin, she also earned a master’s degree in digital marketing from the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School. She later moved to New York City, where she began building her brand and gaining recognition for her artistic and entrepreneurial flair.
Her fashion label, East X East, was a reflection of her dual identity—forged in the fast-paced energy of New York City but designed for the sun-soaked lifestyle of the Hamptons. The brand’s motto, “Built in the city, made for the sun,” captured both Nolan-O’Slattara’s personal ethos and her target audience. Specializing in crocheted dresses, bikinis, sunglasses, and beachwear, East X East quickly gained a following online, especially on TikTok, where Nolan documented her fashion journey and business milestones.
In one of her final TikTok posts dated July 1, Martha proudly shared footage of her brand’s pop-up launch at Gurney’s in Montauk, calling it a dream realized. “POV: The brand you started 3 years ago has a pop-up in the Hamptons,” she captioned the video, beaming with joy and fulfillment.
Her followers saw in her not only talent and drive but also an approachable, vibrant spirit. She often shared moments of self-reflection and positivity, encouraging other young creatives to chase their dreams. One striking post shows her flying above New York City, declaring, “New York or Nowhere”—a ”phrase that now resonates with haunting poignancy.
Martha Nolan-O’Slattara’s passing is the second tragedy to hit the Hamptons this summer. In June, Sara Burack, 40, a Southampton-based real estate agent and former star of Netflix’s Million Dollar Beach House, was killed in a hit-and-run incident in Hampton Bays.
