VFW23 Brands & Designers

Known for innovation within the industry, Adidas' 

End Plastic Waste campaign is no exception. By creating products with recycled materials, making products to be remade and developing products made with nature, they "want the world to see the possibilities and take action to help end plastic waste, so we always have places to play.”

One of the biggest online consignment and thrift store, thredUP is committed to shaping the future of fashion through second-hand shopping. They believe that "thrifting is about more than just finding amazing deals on your favorite brands", "it’s about shopping with intention, rejecting throwaway fashion culture, and standing for sustainability."

Committed to moving fashion forward, ABLE creates go-to wardrobe pieces that empower both the women who wear them and the women who make them. With women comprising more than 90% of their staff, they are committed to investing in women throughout their entire supply chain. ABLE also has a strong dedication to lowering their environmental impact through their product design, materials, manufacturing process and lifetime guarantee. 

A Nashville based fashion brand, Rendered Free showcases self-expression while raising awareness and resources to combat human trafficking globally, effectively making their “fashion for abolition”

mantra a reality.

Laws of Motion is an AI fit tech company accelerating the advent of sustainable and personalized digitization of the apparel industry. Created by a Vanderbilt alum, the zero waste, zero inventory company is committed to utilizing sustainable, autonomous supply chains. Their innovative AI technology produces apparel utilizing an on-demand, state-of-the-art supply chain based in the Americas. 

As a woman-owned business, Emily Phillips is dedicating to producing clothing for women that is better for the planet and its people. With all of their pieces made in the USA, their fabrics and practices involve the least amount of waste and most amount of biodegradable and recyclable components as possible.

In addition to making all of their garments in the USA since they opened in 2009, Imogene + Willie utilizes small–batch production practices, which helps the brand to make their clothing with intentionality. In turn, this helps the brand avoid creating unnecessary waste and keep the focus on appreciating every person who helps them make their garments.

Music City Vintage was founded in 2016 and is located in East Nashville. The founders have been collecting vintage apparel and sport collectibles for 10+ years. In 2016, they decided to do their first pop-up shop and later opened their first storefront in 2018.

Deniz Hur is a sportswear focused designer originally from Istanbul, Turkey but now living in New York City, NY. After getting her BA in Fashion Design, from the Fashion Institute of Technology, she is currently pursuing experiences in NYC that speak to her passion for innovation within the industry.

Having graduated from FIT in 2022, Karisma Hiskikawa's thesis collection, LIGEIA, highlights innovative sustainability. The pieces are maximalist and entirely upcycled in nature, emphasizing the amount of fabric and garment waste we have on this planet, while simultaneously providing a practice to reduce such excess.

Born in Thailand, Lea Belon is an NYC based cross disciplinary artist of Chilean-Spanish descent. Lea wants to help society by making a difference through her contributions in the creative field. Sustainability plays a large role in her work, as she strives to bring awareness to climate change. 

Born and raised in HongKong, now based in New York, Edith Ho is a multidisciplinary designer and director practicing the interplay of fashion, graphic, film and 3D art. She is sharing her EYE menswear collection with VFW, which was created through the upcycling of second hand fabrics, clothes, and yarn to achieve a sustainable approach.

Andrea Clara was born and raised in the Spanish city of Barcelona, where she established a strong identity with Mediterranean style, colors, and culture. Her design practice is inspired by the process of making itself, with the aim to transmit and manifest the joy of craftsmanship. Her process relies heavily on producing handwoven textiles, hand knits, and accessories with discarded materials.

Originally from New Orleans and based in NYC, McKaelyn and McKinley Guidry are the designers behind their brand, X2. Combining experiential glamour, functionality, and sustainability, their Du jour au soir collection represents their take on sporty decadence. Their love of the planet has spurred a dedication to sustainably creating the collection through the use of natural fibers, up-cycling, and ethical small batch making practices. 

A current student at Cornell, Georgiana Katsingris is a designer dedicated to sustainability and innovation within the industry.

Creator of Hot Girl Heaven and a current student at Belmont University. She handmakes custom pieces, specializing in crochet work, embroidery, and painting.

Born in Beijing, China, Xijun “Francis” Liao started studying art and fashion in 2016. As a Beijing & New York based Artist, Francis had spent a long time finding diverse ways to solve social problems with textiles. He focuses on taking recycling yarns from China and remaking them into fabrics and textiles. Creating a broad project about wool sustainability is what he is currently trying to achieve in 5 years.