A Pratt Institute fashion design graduate, Cristina Tompkins’ Spring/Summer 2019 collection is all about work wear, inspired by the protective wear of working class America. “For the better part of my senior year, I was working for an aerospace tech company that designed spacesuits. This work got me thinking about other careers that took place in extreme conditions and how reliant the wearer was on the garments that kept them from harm,” the designer explains.
Very much like the clothing worn in automotive factories and steel mills during the industrial Midwest period, Tompkins’ collection has a purpose and practicality to it. Using thick materials like canvas, fireproof Nomex from recycled fireman’s uniforms, old military coats, Carhartt overalls, heavy knits and other found pieces, her pieces exude durability and adjustability not only by her choice of fabrics but also through their billowing silhouettes, which give the wearer a sense of being wrapped in a protective bubble.
With unorthodox forms and daring materials, Tompkins takes a daring stab at apocalyptic-chic, and emerges victorious.
The New York-based designer focuses on fashion with a purpose, exploring the avenues of industrial, athletic, and protective clothing. Visit her website for more, and follow her on Instagram.
Images © Cristina Tompkins / with permission