Edvin Thompson of Theophilo is a Brooklyn-based designer whose Jamaican heritage varieties the underlying foundation of his model. Since his love for vogue developed early on in highschool Thompson turned wanting to study all the pieces he may about vogue. Upon shifting to the Huge Apple, he has by no means let go of the cultural affect of Jamaica, his delivery nation. Every assortment he produces references the island’s flag.
Staying true to himself and his heritage led him to win the CFDA Style Award for American Rising Designer of The 12 months in 2021. For Thompson’s Spring 2022 runway present, he drew inspiration from the island’s nationwide air service, Air Jamaica. It was the primary plane he took when immigrating to America from the West Indian Isle. His Spring 2023 assortment, titled “Homecoming,” was an homage to himself touring again residence to Kingston, Jamaica whereas additionally celebrating his life within the U.S.
Although he now resides Stateside, he’ll all the time be a Kingston boy at coronary heart. In keeping with Thompson, his line, Theophilio, is a wearable autobiography of his lived experiences on this nation. Try his backstory beneath.
EBONY: Inform us a bit of bit about your heritage and backgroundEdvin Thompson: I used to be born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica. My whole household is Jamaican. After I was 9 years outdated, my grandmother, mom, siblings and I moved to New Jersey the place we lived for eight years. Then, in 2010 my whole household, together with my father, moved to Atlanta, the place we lived for 4 years. Atlanta is the place I accomplished highschool. A web based class with the Academy of Artwork College primarily based in San Francisco prompted my transfer to New York in 2014, the place I now presently dwell.
How did you get into design?Style design has all the time been part of my life however after my on-line class with the Academy of Artwork College, I needed to achieve a extra hands-on studying expertise in vogue design. I had hoped to review on the Style Institute of Expertise however was unable to on the time as a consequence of my monetary standing.
I used to be lucky sufficient to achieve mentors throughout this time that supported my need to enter the business. I started interning with numerous photographers, stylists and types. Internships with Amanda Uprichard and Gypsy Sport allowed me to acquire entry to a wide range of assets: cloth shops, slicing rooms and tailors. These internships acted as a pillar to studying extra concerning the vogue business.
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How has your Jamaican heritage knowledgeable your designs? My Jamaican heritage has knowledgeable all the pieces from my fabrications to my colours to my silhouettes. Denim is the material used closely all through my designs, and I keep in mind fondly when my mother would gown my siblings and me up in distressed denim and denim shorts with trucker jackets.
Jersey is one other cloth I usually gravitate in the direction of; it’s paying homage to basketball units and netted shirts us youngsters used to put on on the island. Rising up, my aunts and grandmother have been those who sewed my college uniforms. Even from a younger age, I used to be all the time aware of how garments functioned and the way they made me really feel.
Worth: $200
Store at Theophilio
Worth: $150
Store at Theophilio
Inform us about your newest assortment.My newest assortment, “Homecoming, is a love letter to Jamaica and a celebration of the city cities I lived in since shifting to the USA. Theophilio is a wearable autobiography making each assortment a set of my lived experiences. Forward of the debut of the gathering, my workforce and I have been in a position to take a phenomenal journey again residence to Jamaica to shoot an editorial that coincided with the message of the bigger assortment.
Worth: $300
Store at Theophilio
What challenges have you ever confronted as a world designer?As a world designer, one of many best challenges I face is elevating funding. I didn’t have any capital to begin my model. My very early initiatives and collections have been funded by each penny I saved working earlier jobs. I’m extraordinarily grateful for the mentors and assist I’ve in constructing the enterprise to the place it’s immediately, however I nonetheless assume the business must make a continued effort to assist rising designers and Black-owned companies.
Worth: $325
Store at Theophilio
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