Our pre-AW25 Capsule kickstarter has now been launched on UPPFIRST!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the inspiration behind the pre-AW25 capsule as a whole?
This PRE-AW25 kickstarter encompasses the grit, resilience, and liberation as an independent creator in the 2020’s; living the true narrative of a warrior battling against global limitations. The barbed wire, chromatic gem spikes, and haute embroidery elements represent duality of protection and expression. A sign of the times we’re collectively living in and experiencing in the world, one way or another inside and outside of fashion.
How would you describe the products?
What inspired me initially was to reimagine a heavyweight cotton, uniformly designed tee shirt to reference the mundane excess of the fashion business; and incorporating symbols, textures from my upcoming AW25 collection to represent the liberation and rebellion against. How do I take one of the most disposable items of clothing; execute it with quality and as well as have it be a testament to the times we’re living in?
The barbed wire, spikes, and embroideries throughout this kickstarter capsule carry a powerful symbolic message of who I am as a designer. The duality of protection, expression, and limitations; elements that are a stark reflection I see in the global fashion culture that I’ve experienced. The products included in this drop were created to be genderless and accessible for those who are tired of being defined by labels, hype culture, overconsumption, gender, sustainable-gimmicks, or the cult of individuality. Rather independent thinkers and consumers looking for eco-sustainable infused pieces that are produced in exclusive, limited runs.
Why do you need kickstarter funding?
The purpose behind this kickstarter is to raise funding for open ended offers that pertain to runway, wholesale, and PR marketing cycles for the upcoming AW25 fashion season and beyond. More specifically, the goal is a physical presentation with Fashion Scout in February during London Fashion Week, followed by Plan 8, a wholesale showroom agency in Paris in March, and afterwards to stock our collections with POP PR, an agency based between Los Angeles and London. These organizations, among many others and I have built a solid foundation, and we are ready to take the next steps together. The overall global fashion market has shown great interest in Stevie Crowne Limited, with 2023 marking the highest year in margins for my brand since incorporating in 2020 in London, UK. However, I alone as an independent am financially unable to meet the demand to scale.
The main goal is to reach my target demographics, consumers, stylists, and buyers in a physical format in 2025 and beyond. Piloting the brand independently has restricted my opportunities mostly to digital launches. Alternatively, status-quo funding initiatives or incubators are predominantly reserved for a smaller percentile within the industry. In 2024, I was forced to reject over two dozen global opportunities to scale my brand due to the lack of support and funding. These opportunities spanned legitimate tradeshows, networking accelerators, showrooms in London, Paris, Dubai, Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, and Los Angeles.
Who is your consumer?
The Stevie Crowne customer, based on 14 years of experience now, is someone from everywhere. Non-divided and non-defined between heritage, gender expression, age, or social class; connected by social expression and authentic style. Some are luxury consumers, others are strictly eco-vintage consumers. Regardless, they are people who are separated from herd mentality, yet connected and open to take risks and create trends. We are people who shatter boundaries, overcome unrealistic expectations, and challenge limitations set by mindless consumerism and industry gimmicks. We coexist as a community who share experiences through collaboration while injecting our specially branded joie-de-vie grit into our style. The place that I hold in this business is to build a bridge between us and the excess supply chain, infusing themes of social awareness through each launch to provoke mindfulness in collaboration. Sustainability to me is about being both environmentally and socially mindful. The awareness of myself guides me to relate to my buyers, to the awareness of my culture, and my place in the ever changing fashion ecosystem.
Who are you and where are you going?
Stevie Crowne as a brand has been built on binding philosophy and intellectualism; merging disciplinary and aesthetics in a sustainable format. To showcase thought provoking autobiographical stories that the market relates to; incorporating surrealist imagery into the products I produce. I was first and foremost an artist before incorporating my micro-company. I saw a void in the market created by excess that I wished to fill; or had a division/disconnect that I experienced and/or observed. I do this so I can provide an environment where consumers are included where they would be excluded elsewhere.
The plans I have for the runway in early 2025 will be a commentary of the independent battle against homogenization, systemic barriers, and ignorance in pop culture and industry alike. I have spoken with the British Fashion Council to reinstate my membership, and Fashion Scout organizers regarding the participation. Titan is about liberation, sharing our values, and fighting for what we believe in as a collective society who cares. The current state of the fashion industry is in crisis and I want to tell my story in a creative way that the audience will remember.
The full AW25 collection is going to include co-ed, genderless design. Previews of the behind the scenes manufacturing process have been uploaded to my instagram over the last six months. You can expect battle armor-style pieces, demi-couture beadwork infusions, distressed denim, deconstructed tailoring, and heavy hardware. As of now, I have produced the treatment for the runway, logo imagery, lighting and soundtrack- I know exactly how this vision must be packaged and presented. This will be a raw expression of the times we all live in, from the creative vernacular of my artistry that others can immerse themselves into. It will feature signature bold imagery inspired by the battles I and many others have shared.
If we are unable to meet the required deadline for the AW25 February showcase, funds will be rolled over to the next destination opportunity! Potential sponsors and investors are encouraged to email [email protected] to receive the full pitch-kit alongside PDF’s which outline 2025 showcase and tradeshow opportunities across London, Paris, Dubai, Tokyo, and Los Angeles.
Models: @goshacherkasow@sandraaa_ah@julie.blackswan
Photographer: @hanseng.luu
Finale look photographer + signature promotional imagery in collaboration with @sousla_pluie
Hair and MUA: @76.wne@kkkkk_____kkkkk_____kkkkkkkkkk
Shot at @crimsonstudiobkk