“I want men and women to feel empowered in my clothes,” he says. As he explains, “Living in all of the different places I have in my life, from Jamaica to Atlanta, New Jersey, and New York, it’s inspired me to create safe spaces for creatives and artists like myself to thrive.” Indeed, self-love is at the core of Theophilio, a name that is a nod to Thompson’s middle moniker, Theopolis, which means “to be loved by God” in Greek. He is a skilled tailor, but it’s the positive, community-driven messaging that make Thompson’s label one to watch. His new lineup includes a psychedelic-print body-conscious tank dress, a fuzzy red blazer and matching ruched trousers, playful minidresses, and a bright yellow shirt with exaggerated long sleeves. Thompson designs the clothes, which are mainly inspired by his Jamaican upbringing, but he credits his inner circle for giving him his point-of-view and aesthetic references. “The community around my brand has assisted me in sustaining the brand’s ideology,” he says. When he launched his ready-to-wear label Theophilio four years ago, he did so with a group of stylist, photographer, and artist friends, many of whom he still collaborates with today. TheophilioĮdvin Thompson is living and breathing proof of the adage “team work makes the dream work.” The Jamaica-born, Brooklyn-based designer believes in the power of community. I hope I can create garments that are timeless and continue growing with the wearer instead of it being a momentary phase in the person’s life.” - S.Y. “I hope my clothing is as dynamic as the lifestyle of the person who wears it. “I hope my garments make the wearer feel confident and ready for the uncertainties of life,” she says. Her new collection extends those themes into delicate cutout tops and stretch dresses in colors such as chartreuse, ivory, and dark gray. I design each piece with community in mind and that is reflected through garments that are adjustable, reversible, transformable, and can fit diverse body types.” “My brand is about having the control to redefine the way you look without compromising your original essence,” she says. “For me, knitwear offers a challenge that excites me, to make anything imaginable by using one or more strands of yarn.”īorn in Germany to Puerto Rican parents and having lived in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Italy, Paniagua says she finds inspiration in her daily life, the books she reads, and the people that surround her. “Not only am I creating a garment, but also the textile,” says the Royal College of Arts grad. Krystal Paniagua’s sensitive, body-hugging knitwear got the attention of Teen Vogue’s Generation Next program for its honesty and beauty. “You can’t be half-in, half-out as a designer, especially if you want to be successful and really cut through the noise.” “Seeing their vision and meeting young designers who are at that early stage is a really nice opportunity for me to be able to help them and kind of guide them on how they can grow, how they can get sold on different e-commerce platforms,” Peoples Wagner continued, noting that what she looks for in applicants is a dedication to finding innovative ways to approach fashion as well as a seriousness of intent. Typically the brands would also have a fashion show at New York Fashion Week, but with the pandemic restricting the size of gatherings, the designers made look books and videos of their new collections instead. The program, founded in 2019, pairs the young designers with members of the Teen Vogue team for guidance and advice. “They all have very different dreams and goals of how they want their brands to grow, but I think we were able to find people that have a really, really good chance of being incredibly successful in the industry.” “I just really enjoy working with all of them,” says Teen Vogue editor in chief Lindsay Peoples Wagner. The five designers participating in Teen Vogue’s Generation Next program for young talent represent a new, potent vision for fashion’s future, one that prizes community and heritage alongside commerciality.
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