CG8 Brought Fashion to the Street With a Collection That Was Steeped in Y2K Nostalgia and Celebrated the Power of Yes

“Artistically [the collection] is forever transforming, and we bring people in,” said Vilim. Joining the team this season was Carson Lovett, a student at Central Saint Martins. The Pink Panther and a hand-drawn take on Sailor Moon made appearances on pieces that were nostalgic for the aughts, and at the same time spoke to the sexy “summer of skin” theme that’s sweeping through fashion. These body-revealing pieces were modeled by “a mix of friends and soon to be friends,” as Lovett put it, whose colorful makeup complimented the vivid brashness of the clothing. “I feel like color is something that will forever be a part of our aesthetic,” said Vilim, who defines CG8’s aesthetic as being focused on “color and making something bright and different in the sense that it’s not normal; it’s unique, friendly, and really welcoming to everyone.”

Open to all, CG8’s open-air event was a celebration to which the only way to RSVP was with a simple “yes.” “I was posting on social media being like, ‘Everyone’s welcome’ because I didn’t want it to feel like an exclusive gathering,” said Vilim. “We all wanted everyone to feel like it was something where we were trying to share our art” and spread the love. CG8’s optimistic collection was created for an uncertain and open-ended future that Fox, Noelle, Vilim, and Lovett choose to approach through technology and view through rose-colored glasses. “Our love of ‘yes’ still stands,” said Chase. Here, the team talk about the making of the collection and about the appeal of Y2K, their affinity for transformation, and the spirit of New York.