At Telfar, The Limit Does Not Exist

Each invitation to a Telfar event begs the question: What will the fashion industry's wild card surprise us with now? The last time Telfar Clemens gathered his loyal devotees and media in a room for an event, it turned out to be a press conference-turned-church sermon to announce the brand's latest innovation: Telfar TV, a 24-hour experimental public network launched last September. On Wednesday night, February 16, Clemens wrapped up New York Fashion Week with a bow—an honor that has gone to Marc Jacobs for years—with a two-for-one delight.

The bow on this gift was jagged but smooth, unruly but perfectly placed, much like Clemens and his very famous cult-favorite brand (even Beyonce owns a Telfar tote bag). Unlike the anxious hoopla of traditional fashion shows, the room of Telfar attendees felt somewhat calm, likely due to the open bar nestled along the walkway to the "theatre" or the aroma of weed blanketing the area as the originally slated showtime seemed to be pushed further and further. Guests arranged themselves on the theatre-style seating that faced a large white screen, and as the opening notes of the video played one thing was abundantly clear: This wasn't your typical show. Then again, ask yourself—Is Telfar Clemens your typical designer?

Guests were treated to Telfar TV videos, from a spoken-word performance by poet Fred Moten to a Wheel of Fortune-style game show to several dance breaks and banter between the cast, which included Gitoo Cuchifrito, Trap Selyna, Aya Brown, Ian Isiah (who served as the main host), and of course, Clemens. As one video ended, the curtains were pulled back to unveil a bright white runway playground similar to the set of Telfar TV.

The unconventional show was Clemens' answer to a question he posed in the show's notes: "What is a collection for a brand without buyers, stores, or the planned obsolescence of seasonal fashion; a brand whose customers are more like collaborators?"

The answer comes two years later with a collection tailor-made for the coolest kids on Telfar Univesity's campus. The predominantly neutral color palette featured pops of candy-coated orange, blues, and pinks. Workwear staples like baggy chinos and cropped shackets were mixed in with traditional jerseys that were elongated with curved hems. Cut-out detailing appeared on boxy t-shirts and sweats, and several iterations of Telfar's hallmarks, like asymmetrical tops and tracksuits, were peppered between styles. When eyes weren't peeled to the collegiate-themed collection, they were focused on the accessories that punctuated certain looks, from the enlarged logo gold hoop earrings to the varying sizes of the newest Telfar duffle bag silhouette.

Curtains closed again and the screen resumed the Telfar TV programming with more laughs, more banter, and more songs (Isiah sauntered around the Telfar TV set singing "cool down" repeatedly) before the screen was removed for the last time of the night to showcase the second half of the collection. Part two was dedicated to denim, which came in dark washes, distressing, and mixed prints juxtaposed with more collegiate wear. Ending the show with a bang, a figure dressed in a head-to-toe black slinky suit appeared holding Telfar's new silhouette—a black round crossbody embossed with the Telfar logo on the front. Bringing the family-style game show off the screen, the Telfar TV cast and runway models came out for a bow as the mysterious figure dove into the audience with a QR code for anyone who desired to purchase the latest "drip." The raucous applause and hour-long spectacle only further prove that when it comes to Clemens' ingenuity, the limit does not exist.