This Gen-Z influencer is one of the established and breakout names informing fashion and, more importantly, culture today. More from the series →
Fashion designer
Fashion designer Tia Adeola started her eponymous brand when she was just 18 years old, selling it in retailers including Amazon and Verishop. In the six years since, her sexy, skin-flaunting designs have become popular among some of Gen Z’s favorite celebs, including SZA, Dua Lipa and Gigi Hadid. Now, at age 24, Adeola said she doesn’t design for any one age group, in particular. The reason: Within each group, there’s a vast array of personal styles and modes of expression, she said.
“I know it’s a cliché but age is really nothing but a number,” Adeola said. “My clothes aren’t targeted to any specific age group, but to the woman who wants to feel confident and has no problem having all eyes on them. It’s less about age, gender or race, and more about the expression that comes with wearing clothes.”
Lately, the New York-based designer, who was born in Nigeria and raised in the U.K., has been collaborating with companies including Nike and sunglasses brand Planet I. Her most recent partnership, with Away, launched on Oct. 14. For the collection, Adeola designed a piece of luggage in bright-colored tweed with her signature ruffle accent along the trim.
“I’m a very picky person,” she said. “For my own brand, I’m involved with every single thing, from product [development] to customer service. I like doing collaborations, as long as I can do the mockups and pick the materials and everything. The one with Away is actually my favorite collaboration I’ve done.”
Adeola said her next big ambition lies in menswear. She’s been digging through archives and borrowing friends’ clothes to pick apart how menswear is made. To get her feet wet in menswear design, she’s made a few sample pieces as gifts for family members and friends.
“You can expect to see menswear [soon],” Adeola said.
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