‘Fit Check
He tells Bustle the inspiration behind one of 2023s buzziest looks.
Taylor Swift and Ice Spices Karma remixis easily one of the most-talked-about performances of the year.
The man behind that saucy number is Edvin Thompson, founder of fashion-favorite brand Theophilio.
I really genuinely loved, loved, loved, loved her verse, the designer tells Bustle.
It was very seamless.
If Thompsons name sounds familiar, thats because hes been making waves in the fashion industry for years.
I work very, very hard, Thomspon said.
Those products extend far beyond his own celebrity-backed label.
But perhaps his most notable full-circle moment was being name-checked in theGossip Girlrebootlast December.
After all, he was totally obsessed withthe originalas a kid.
When asked the brand, she responds, simply: Theophilio.
Ahead, more on the Eras Tour,Gossip Girl,and the advice he received from Telfar Clemens.
I knew her stylist, Marissa [Pelly].
She sent over a creative deck on the direction they were looking to go.
She wanted Ice to be somewhat of this new-age Cher.
This would be a really, really cool debut moment for her and Taylor Swift.
I want people to feel good in my designs, and she definitely echoed that.
Why did you choose the sheer jumpsuit specifically for Karma?
Working with different textiles and trimmings, it was right up my alley especially, with the rhinestone embellishments.
Its just an echo of our design aesthetic over here at Theophilio.
So, I wanted to really follow that cadence.
InGossip Girl,Jordan Alexander wore a Theophilio look and name-checked the brand.
How did that come about?
I wasnt told directly that it would be part of the script.
Her wearing that trench coat, the bag, and the heel it was right on cue.
It was such an amazing moment.
I was just like, I would totally wear this to a party, for sure.
And, ironically enough, it somewhat represented the Ecco Domani bottle that I designed.
Tell me more about the Ecco Domaniwine collab.
What elements are quintessentially Theophilio?
The black, gold, and green, really represent my Caribbean heritage Jamaica, of course.
Green is somewhat of their hero color, and its the same over here at Theophilio.
So the whole process came naturally.
I found it a very cool and unique way to extend the brand into the wine industry.
Celebrities like Keke Palmer, Chloe Bailey, and Bella Hadid have worn your pieces.
Which meant the most to you?
Shout out toLaw [Roach].
Im so happy that he created that moment for me.
Whos your dream client to dress?
I would absolutely say Beyonce.
I even [drafted] up sketches for her world tour, fingers crossed.
Of course, Rihanna.
I feel like she echoes our ideals.
Is there a piece of advice youve gotten from another designer that really stuck?
I asked him at [a] party once: Im progressing.
Theres obstacles every day.
How have you overcome all of that?
His community is my community.
He just shared: You already have it.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
This article was originally published onJune 16, 2023
