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Business of Fashion
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Business of Fashion
Telfar's 20th Anniversary Show: A Celebration With a Message
NEW YORK — On Saturday afternoon, the front of Telfar's flagship store was packed with exceptionally attractive and fashionable people of various skin tones, body shapes, ages and gender identities, smoking joints and chatting. While it may have looked like an average SoHo Saturday, the crowd was, in fact, a carefully curated group, set to walk in Telfar's first runway show in three years, which doubled as a celebration of its 20th year in business. Some of the 200 models walking the show had a history with the brand, appearing in its e-commerce photos or freelancing as creative collaborators; for many, walking for Telfar marked their runway debut. But others weren't models at all: Telfar founder Telfar Clemens' longtime collaborator Ian Isiah, also known as New York Shugga, for instance, walked the runway in a sleeveless white and gold top while walking alongside his mum and dog. Clemens' own mother, Hawa Clemens, walked the show in a pale blue polo dress. Fellow indie designer Raul Lopez strutted down the alley in a matching pale blue elongated button-up and pants. The audience, meanwhile, was filled with friends of the brand, from celebrities like Solange Knowles and musician Kelela to fellow designers like former Diesel creative director Nicola Formichetti. It almost felt like a family reunion: actor Indya Moore and art curator Kimberly Drew shared a long embrace before the show started. Telfar's mother, Hawa Clemens, walks the runway for her son's 20th anniversary show. (Getty) Designer Raul Lopez of Luar struts down the runway at Telfar's 20th anniversary show. (Getty) The group's diversity — and their familiarity with one another — reflected Telfar's ethos, where all races, sizes and gender identities come together to express themselves freely. 'Most brands try to dictate what the wearer should be,' said Justin French, a Brooklyn-based photographer who was invited to the show as a friend of the brand. With Telfar, 'people can bring themselves to it,' French added. Community has become an enduring buzzword for brands seeking to win customer loyalty and grow via word-of-mouth endorsements. Telfar's two decades in business has served as a playbook for doing so, turning its ideology into a successful, globally-recognised independent label. Founded in 2005 as a genderless fashion project by Clemens, the brand penetrated the zeitgeist in 2014 when it launched its cult $150 to $250 vegan leather totes with its TC logo, dubbed the 'Bushwick Birkins,' which reached a new peak when they went viral in 2022 after Beyoncé name-checked the bag on her 'Renaissance' album that year. Telfar's growth has been fuelled, in part, by strategic partnerships, such as an ongoing tie-up with Ugg, and events like a pop-up at the New York-based discount chain Rainbow in 2022. Its innovative approach is all the more notable considering the fact that the brand has had no official financial backers, save for a $400,000 grant from the CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund in 2017. The logo-driven collection the brand presented on Saturday illustrated Telfar's evolution into a household name, while retaining its roots as an irreverent critique of mainstream fashion. The line ranged from cheeky smiley face motifs on dresses and accessories meant to look like disposable shopping bags to structured denim outerwear and hoodies and matching sets featuring the brand's signature 'I Love New York' print, where the Telfar mark replaces the heart in the iconic logo. It was both reminiscent of the brand's past and indicative of its present, which has seen the brand embrace more conventional industry practices: In the last year, it launched real leather bags for as much as $1,540, hosted a pop-up in Selfridges in London and opened its first retail store in New York. But Telfar's not abandoning its rebellious spirit, especially when few brands are taking strong political stances amid threats to immigration rights and diversity, equity and inclusion. Two days before the show, the brand broadcasted a pre-taped model search on Telfar TV — its 24-hour streaming network — where viewers voted for the hopefuls competing to walk in the show. The hour-long program was more sociopolitical commentary than a play on 'America's Next Top Model.' Among challenges where contestants engaged in catwalk battles, voguing standoffs and a poetry slam, Isiah, a regular Telfar TV host, posed the question, 'Are you completely satisfied with everything in the world right now?' It was as much a casting call as a plea for a paradigm shift: 'Trans people, queer people, Black people; We are the models,' a contestant named Facts on Fire said during the broadcast. Ian Isiah, also known as New York Shugga, walks in Telfar's 20th anniversary show with his mom and dog. (Getty) The brand's inclusivity was on display at Saturday's show: Men rocked pencil skirts and sarongs with jelly sandals in the shape of the brand's logo, while a same-sex couple in coordinating green wide-leg pants and billowy button ups held hands as they walked. There was also a group of models wearing cut up tees, polos, skirts and sweats in an army green camo print — a subtle but charged political gesture as the US enters a war in Iran and various protests break out in American cities. A male model rocks a sarong on the runway at Telfar's 20th anniversary show. (Getty) A group of models sport army green and camo prints at Telfar's 20th anniversary show. (Getty) The presentation reaffirmed that anyone is welcome in Telfar's world — so long as they're willing to challenge the status quo, a message that continues to grip the brand's longtime supporters. 'Telfar is someone who is active in organizing spaces, queer spaces … it's opened up my mind in terms of what it means to be a designer,' said Jazmin Jones, a filmmaker who attended the show. Jones has been a fan of the brand since 2020 when she purchased her first pair of $150 Telfar earrings. She added: 'If I am going to have a logo on, as someone who doesn't like wearing logos, it feels good to wear the Telfar logo and to be like 'It's not for you, it's for everybody.'
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Timberland Teams up With Luar To Create Custom Thigh-High Lace-up Boots for ‘Industry' Star Myha'la's 2025 Met Gala Look
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways Timberland teamed up with actress Myha'la and luxury clothing brand Luar to create a one-of-a-kind pair of thigh-high silk Moiré Timberland boots for the 2025 Met Gala. Designed by Raul Lopez, the boots were crafted with patent leather material, and stopped mid-thigh. Made with a lace up design the shoes were emphasized by a sharp triangular toe box, which paved the way for a dramatized upper. More from Footwear News Myha'la Herrold attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating 'Superfine: Tailoring Black Style' at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025 in New York City. Getty Images for The Met Museum/ A closed-back construction kept the 'Industry' star's feet in place as she walked, and while the back couldn't be seen completely, the shoes were likely completed by a slender stiletto heel measuring between 4-to-5 inches in height. Known for their comfort, the silhouette is often praised for its versatility and ease of styling as it can be worn to a variety of events. Pointed-toes are a retro style that has been around since the early 1900s. The current versions of pointed-toe, including pumps, boots and flats, are a classic model that merges elements of that retro style with current 2020s inspiration. As for her outfit, the actress showcased a grey custom sculptural from Luar, which stole the show thanks to its daring design. Per the brand, the dress contained over 2,000 grommets, giving some insight into the intricacy and detail of its construction. As for her accessories, she incorporated some jewelry through a pair of dangling earrings, which really accentuated her braided updo and natural makeup look. Myha'la Herrold attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating 'Superfine: Tailoring Black Style' at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5 in New York City. Getty Images for The Met Museum/ 'This year felt like the perfect moment to work with Timberland,' Lopez, who was born in Brooklyn, said in a statement. 'They are a New York classic, and the brand has always been a part of my style— I wanted to bring my roots to the carpet and make it LUAR.' The 2025 Met Gala was held in New York. The theme, 'Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,' celebrated all things African American styles and culture. This year's co-chairs included Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky and Pharrell Williams, along with Vogue's Editor In Chief Anna Wintour. Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade attend The 2023 Met Gala Celebrating "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 01, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by) The Most Stylish Met Gala Couples Through The Years [PHOTOS] View Gallery67 Images Launch Gallery: Colman Domingo Recalls His Father's Transformative Florsheim Shoes at Met Gala 2025 Press Conference: A Look at the Exhibit's Standout Shoes Best of Footwear News Sign up for FN's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
