'With this collection, I wanted to have deeper conversations on why people do migrate: for love, for work, for education, and many flee to seek asylum. I think these conversations should be at the forefront of the topic of immigration.' TVGenerationNext
our yearly showcase of up-and-coming designers selected byFrom October 12 until October 15, forgoing an in-person show, each of our selected designers will present short films accompanied by images of their favorite New York City muses wearing hand-selected pieces from their collections.
Today meet Edvin Thompson of Theophilio, whose love of his homeland Kingston, Jamaica, is present in every collection. Growing up in Kingston, Jamaica, Edvin Thompson spent the earliest years of his life figuring out where he fit into his community. He saw fashion as a vessel that could champion radical self-expression and storytelling, and it became a way for the designer to convey his immigrant experience, being openly gay, and most importantly, the way he articulates himself and shares his journey, hopefully inspiring other people to be more unapologetic. Four years ago, Thompson debuted his fashion brand, Theophilio, its name derived from his middle name, Theopolis, meaning “to be loved by God.” He references Jamaica in every collection, of which there have been four so far, and structures his brand’s ethos to center on the rich and vibrant aspects of his homeland. He speaks of the brand's longevity in terms of its effect on his family legacy: “I created a brand because I really wanted to facilitate something for myself and my family in the long run,” the Generation Next designer tells. “I’m the first on my father's side to really be ambitious in business 'cause everyone else stayed back home in Jamaica and were muted in their community, in a sense. I wanted to make that difference, you know? I really wanted to take advantage of the experiences that my grandmother wanted for my family over here in America.” “I chose Angela and Dren as muses for Theophilio because I feel they carry the essence of the brand in everything they do. As young independent women in full control of their businesses while bridging communities together through their music," says the designer.Moving to Brooklyn in 2014 also inspired Thompson. “Brooklyn is not far from Jamaica in regards to just culture,” he says. “It honestly feels like home here. So just navigating that, it's a tangible way of accessing my inspirations. Brooklyn has adhered to my cultural background. And even through my designs, I think New York's pretty progressive culture has really assisted with the edge in the way that I create my clothing.” Thompson also found a community of friends here, a group of creatives that pushed him to start his own line. “I think with any brand or company, a community is very vital in assisting that brand's growth, because it is, in some form, a leader in whatever community they serve,” the designer says. “The people in my community, they help with really churning out its ideology and sentiments, and just being a part of the many stories that I share and discussions I have knowing I'm not the only one that has these experiences.”Thompson’s design background is untraditional in that he has not supplemented it with a fashion school degree. He did move to New York City to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology, though that didn't pan out. But while living in Atlanta, from 2010 to 2014, he gained sewing experience with the help of mentors Mya Moto and Wynter Alex, co-owners of the now-closed vintage boutique Poor Little Rich Girl. “They were already propelled in the industry as renowned stylists,” he says of Moto and Alex. “They really took me and my best friend, Sakinah Bashir, in . They cradled and nurtured us, and gave us a really unique perspective on the industry before we decided to take that move to New York.” After 12 years, Thompson recently made his way back to his community in Jamaica for the funerals of his grandmother and great-grandmother. The short film,, which accompanies a recent collection, is a continuous recording of the coastline recorded from his family car while he was there. The sartorial marriage of Thompson's homeland and current home in Brooklyn is evident in both hue and silhouette, especially in thecollection, where warm island colors, including the omnipresence of red, green, and gold , fall on short skirts and silk dresses.“With the collection, I was just thinking about marshland people moving and sharing their stories and having conversations on why people migrate,” Thompson says. “Many Americans think that immigrants are a threat to this country, and I believe that conversation is flawed. So with this collection, I wanted to have deeper conversations on why people do migrate: for love, for work, for education, and many flee to seek asylum. I think these conversations should be at the forefront of the topic of immigration.”In the past year, Thompson’s clothes have been styled on the covers of major fashion magazines, including. As opportunities continue to roll in for Thompson, he’s learning how to navigate the fashion industry, and the entertainment and art industries as well. He recently joined forces with the Black Fashion Fair, a cultural platform and shopping portal that is meant to support Black designers and help sustain their businesses. Thompson also has his sights set on creating a fragrance line and finally establishing a large enough studio space outside of his home to match the growth of Theophilio.
Please follow us on Google to support usUnited States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Meet The Fresh-Faced Cast Of Netflix's Grim Teen Drama Grand Army'Grand Army' has every prerequisite to be your next Netflix obsession: dark secrets, timely storylines, and 'Degrassi' links. These are the emerging actors bringing the drama to the small screen.
Read more »
From Mary Barra To Carol Tomé, Meet The Women Leading America’s Best Corporate CitizensWith eight female CEOs among the ranks of the 2021 Just 100, America's best corporate citizens have a greater proportion of female CEOs than the S&P 500 does. Here's a rundown of the great eight.
Read more »
Tracy Beaker has a daughter in new BBC series - meet Jess BeakerMeet Jess Beaker in the new BBC show which looks at Tracy Beaker's life as a mum
Read more »
Meet Krystal Paniagua, the Designer Forging a New Approach to Knitwear'I’m a combination of everything I have seen and I want that to be represented in my clothing.' Meet Krystal Paniagua, the designer forging a new approach to knitwear: ✨ TVGenerationNext
Read more »
Must Read: Kristen Noel Crowley Announces New Entrepreneurship Classes, Meet the Marc Jacobs WhispererNicolas Hieronimous may become L'Oreal's next CEO:
Read more »