September 13, 2022 |
Perfectly formulated for fall, from the lavish layers to the bold colours, Tommy Hilfiger’s NYFW comeback was a fashion feigning for the ages. The American fashion legend offered an immersive, multiversal Tommy World experience, bridging the gap between reality and the Metaverse that played out across a high-strung multimedia landscape moving from an event at the Brooklyn waterfront to the Roblox gaming world and finally into a brand new phygital commercial concept set to disseminate globally. The production was called “Welcome to Tommy Factory – The Making of A Fashion Show,” and in line with the label’s See Now, Buy Now framework, the co-ed offering on display was available to purchase in real-time the moment the garms hit the runway.
It’s been two years since the renowned fashion change-maker brought his preppy, classic, all-American, eponymous brand to fashion week – and more since he graced the streets of NYC – so the lot of us were just itching to what would be in store when the news of his felicitous return was delivered to us back in July. An upstate New Yorker with no formal design training, Hilfiger has solidified a legacy for fostering and forwarding fashion as a foundational figure within fashion. From IRL to URL, Hilfiger is indeed a fashion retail force to be reckoned with.
THE SET WAS INSPIRED BY ANDY WARHOL
As guests arrived at Tommy Factory, they were enveloped by Mylar balloons floating against the NYC skyline which were inspired by Andy Warhol’s iconic Silver Clouds. It was a space dedicated to Warhol’s legacy, phygitally created to pay tribute to his iconic NYC Factory where he celebrated pop culture, creative expression, and married fashion with art, music and entertainment. Local NYC talent decorated the set live and in-person: Scotty Selvin was the set designer; Gabe Rozzell was the airbrush artist; Print Mafia & Made By Crack were screen printers; Te’an Archer focussed on wheatpasting; Bladi was on photography duties; Risa Andy conducted live printing; and graffiti artists Kyzer, OM!, Humane and DNTWATCHTV added a certain street style panache.
THE FROW WAS FILLED WITH VIP ATTENDEES
Attended by a whole slew of celebrities, the Tommy World experience was an unparalleled resurgence. The Kardashian clan rocked up – Kris and Kourtney – accompanied by Travis Barker, to took their seats next to John Legend, Kate Moss, Jon Batiste, Luka Sabbat, Halima Aden, and Corey Gamble.
Jaylen Brown, Anthony Ramos, Paulo André, Shawn Mendez, Yungblud, Trippie Redd, and original Factory member Jane Forth, who won her notoriety as Warhol’s teenage superstar, peppered the FROW with their iconic charms. 10 Men issue 53 cover star Rickey Thompson was there too. Lady Bunny, Wisdom Kaye, Miss Fame, Law Roach, Martine Rose, Noah Beck, 24k Goldn, Jesse Jo Stark, Latto, Anne Marie, Riisa Naka, and FEWOCiOUS were in attendance too.
It would be remiss not to mention how Travis Barker even abandoned his coveted front row spot, picking up his drumsticks and taking to the stage, to pound his heart out to an exclusive Tommy Factory track for the show’s big finale.
IT WAS A STAR-STUDDED SPECTACLE
On the catwalk, Lila Moss led the way, followed by a whirlwind of celebrity bodies from Winnie Harlow, Alton Mason, Amelia Gray and Duckie Thot, to Hari Nef, Julia Fox, Paloma Elsesser, Parker van Noord and Precious Lee. Writer and former Interview Magazine editor Bob Colacello also made his runway debut – he was Warhol’s right-hand-man. Warhol Superstar Donna Jordan, an American actress and model, also arrived at the promenade as well.
But the physical catwalk wasn’t the only place VIPs could be found; in the meta-realm, avatar stars from Superplastic Janky, Guggimon and Dayzee and Chinese Metahuman NOAH, donned the fetishism-filled Tommy Hilfiger x Richard Quinn collection blending the physical show and its virtual manifestation for global audiences.
Photography courtesy of Tommy Hilfiger.
