Edvin Thompson Takes Inspiration From Dancehall, and His Childhood, for Theophilio Spring 2024
Edvin Thompson is continuing to tell an autobiographical story with his latest collection for Theophilio.
Titled "Out of Many, One People" (which is Jamaica's national motto), Spring 2024 is an ode to where he has been, where he is going and how he sees the future and surrounding world. In a continuation of his previous work and reflection of his Jamaican heritage, dancehall was a major source of inspiration.
"I kept thinking of myself when I was living in [Plainfield, New] Jersey. I remember being a young kid and really exploring my neighborhood and using sketching. That's the synopsis of this collection," he tells Fashionista. "I was always really intrigued with my community. I would be at the park — just sitting on a bench or at the bus stop or library — just viewing the world around me. That really imprinted how I wanted people to dress or clothe people."
Spring 2024 is a manifestation of those childhood observations. The designer toys with bright colors: Black polos are made with a bright pop of yellow on the collar and cuffs. His classic "I <3 TP" shirts are rendered in a similar sunshine shade or vibrant red. Pool blue brings python-printed vests alive with an artificial air. Texture is another area for play: Transparent mesh juxtaposes opaque cottons. A white two-piece set is crafted with sequined linen, which has a water-like appearance.
"We don't, as kids, realize what has an impression on us until we get further in life and we look back," he reflects, dancehall being one example.
Thompson points out that some of the pieces remind him of Sean Paul's 2002 single "Gimme the Light" and its accompanying music video. You can wear much of the collection to a party to tear up the dance floor while whining and twerking. Snake print slip dresses hug the body while allowing for movement. Silky suiting dares to steal the show.
"The most honest way I can show up as a creative is to have that self-reflection. My story is very expansive. There's so much that I want to talk about and so much that I haven't talked about yet," Thompson says, teasing at what's ahead. "Getting that cadence from me as a kid coming to America [from Jamaica], living in Jersey, moving to Atlanta, then coming to New York... it's so important to just go back to those spaces. It's self-therapy in a way."
Spring 2024 may be a smaller collection, he says, but it's still a continuation of the storytelling he's done through previous seasons, like Spring 203's "Homecoming" and Spring 2022's "Air Jamaica."
Keep scrolling to see every look from Theophilio's Spring 2024 lookbook.
Theophilio Spring 2024. Photo: Courtesy of Theophilio
Theophilio Spring 2024. Photo: Courtesy of Theophilio
Theophilio Spring 2024. Photo: Courtesy of Theophilio
Theophilio Spring 2024. Photo: Courtesy of Theophilio
Theophilio Spring 2024. Photo: Courtesy of Theophilio
Theophilio Spring 2024. Photo: Courtesy of Theophilio
Theophilio Spring 2024. Photo: Courtesy of Theophilio
Theophilio Spring 2024. Photo: Courtesy of Theophilio
Theophilio Spring 2024. Photo: Courtesy of Theophilio
Theophilio Spring 2024. Photo: Courtesy of Theophilio
Theophilio Spring 2024. Photo: Courtesy of Theophilio
Theophilio Spring 2024. Photo: Courtesy of Theophilio
Theophilio Spring 2024. Photo: Courtesy of Theophilio
Want the latest fashion industry news first? Sign up for our daily newsletter.
