office caught up with the mastermind behind Theophilio to learn more about the inspiration behind his work.
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Hear Edvin Thompson explain the Essence of Theophilio
So it was obviously inspired by Jamaica — if you could think of any dance hall song that could have inspired it, what would it be?
King of the Dance Hall, always. King of the Dance Hall, Beanie Man, always. So nostalgic. Even looking at the soundtrack to this collection, it was voice recordings of myself and my grandmother. I went to Jamaica back in 2019. My great-grandmother and my grandmother actually passed. So I went back home to celebrate their life. And I did visit my other grandmother, on my father's side. She had Alzheimer's and it took her a minute to kind of adjust and I felt like a young kid, kind of telling my story, like, 'Hey, this is what I'm doing in America.' And this is what this collection is about. Really championing those Jamaican idols and icons that have built that bridge between their community and onward. Bob Marley, Marcus Garvey, Spice — you know what I'm saying? All these individuals that really take in these colors and all around the globe you can find Jamaica in many pockets, in many communities. And I know people are leaving this show thinking, 'Oh, I went to Jamaica.' And that's everything for me.
And what do you think your grandmother would've said about this show or where you are in your journey right now?
She's watching down on me. All my success has amplified since her passing and there have been moments [where] I nearly feel her just touching my shoulder. She was just like, 'That's why I brought you here. I want for you to see the world,' but still, [I'm] supporting my community. Championing my heritage.
How do you want, women or men, or non-binary people — anyone who wears your clothes — what do you want them to feel?
Be your ultimate self. Be your ultimate self. There's safe spaces for all of us. You know what I'm saying? Really cultivate that community. These are the same faces that I started with. We're still building. I really have this atmosphere within the field that we're so welcoming. I'm here to just celebrate life and really championing those with my clothing because, Fashion 1.0.1. — we dress [in] clothes to what? To really amplify our own characteristics. And I think that is so important.
With every thread or with every fabric that you touch, what intention did you put into it when you were pairing together clothes?
I want that person to be like, 'Yes, I've never worn this. I never thought I would look this good in this!' I want that person to really put on for themselves. In this day and time, I think it's so hard to kind of pull yourself up from the bootstraps. And I think with clothing, it's so imperative with this medium, to just really sustain that growth, that individual growth.
A$AP Worldwide and Vans Fan the Flame
Paying tribute to the iconic “Jazz Stripe,” generally reserved for the Old Skool shoes, the Classic Slip-On’s merge old and new, adding a new flare (literally) to an old classic.
Both styles call to mind decal, and tattoo designs, adding a distinct personality and 90s aesthetic to the classic silhouettes. Including pops of red by way of the Vans "Off the Wall" heel plate and toe tab, and soles co-branded with Vans and A$AP Worldwide flame prints, these shoes are sure to make a hot-stepper out of even the most left-footed. The A$AP Worldwide Classic Slip-On and A$AP Worldwide Classic Slip-On Mule are available on pacsun.com and vans.com.
Beepy Bella's Fantasy Fairytale
In this campaign, we are given a sultry perception of what Beepy Bella is becoming. With forestry, corsets, this campaign takes us on an adventure of glamour with mushroom charms, pearls, lace gloves, and more. The inspiration behind not only this campaign but the inspiration behind Beepy Bella attributes to nature and the mystical magic of fairies.
Isabella writes, “There are many stories behind the symbols I use within my work. For instance, frogs have been my favorite animal since I could remember. I used to write every essay for school about them. Mushrooms are also a favorite creature of mine. I actually used to grow plenty of culinary mushrooms in my kitchen. When I made performance art videos in college, I would often greenscreen a tiny version of myself walking along a landscape of hand-grown shiitake mushrooms. It was a way to embed myself into the surrealism of nature and the natural world, which is something I have eternal respect for.”
Along with this nurture to nature, Isabella’s eye for detail is what gives each piece regardless if it dangles from your ears or daunts from your neck is individually crafted. “My approach to designing jewelry is relatively unconventional. As an artist, I view every piece through the lens of fine art, rather than a commercial object. This allows my creations to innately embody profound meaning, not only to myself but to those who wear them. Every detail is meticulously considered. There is more room to experiment and innovate when you are not holding yourself to industry standards or traditional design methods. It's freeing and rebellious.” Isabella states. Take a step into the gardenia that is Beepy Bella.
You can purchase at https://beepybella.world/shop/
