IMPACT DESIGN HUB 2021 HONOREE
About Designer
Tommy Bogo is a designer from Oakland, CA, currently residing in Los Angeles. Growing up in Oakland, Bogo was influenced by the culture of self-starting artists in the Bay Area. The designer started his eponymous brand by printing t-shirts at parties & pop- ups. Hosting events intertwined Bogo with the creative community of the Bay Area, and solidified Tombogo as a recognized brand in the region. Bogo’s vision for TOMBOGO however was much bigger than just the Bay Area. In 2017 after traveling to Japan and Italy the designer took his brand to the next level by learning & incorporating more intricate design techniques to make TOMBOGO garments multi-functional, sustainable, and of the highest quality. Bogo himself declares the brand “an experiential learning outlet to create out-of- the-box products with intention to spur dialogue about function, form & impact in today’s climate of fashion.”.
The designer’s curiosity and exploration did not stop there, he eventually set his sights on New York. Immediately after moving he bootstrapped a packed out presentation during New York Fashion Week. That moment was a formative point and served as a springboard for the brand. Now back on the West Coast, he’s recently moved his studio to Los Angeles, California.
Tommy Bogo has made a sizable impact in a short amount of time having just presented his first Official NYFW show, and gaining good attention from the street- wear world. A growing celebrity clientele including J. Balvin & Bad Bunny, most notably, have taken strongly to the designer’s work, the latter having commissioned custom pieces for red carpet appearances & performances.
TOMBOGO.
Impact Design in Materials · Process · People
As an emerging designer in the fashion industry, I constantly think about how fashion is one of the most wasteful industries in the world. With this in mind, I’ve been consciously incorporating concepts of sustainability into my work.
My recent sustainability projects include the Bubble Wrap Puffer Jacket, which uses recycled bubble wrap from shipping packages inside of the coat’s insulation. My New York Fashion Week debut collection "Lost & Found" uses all dead stock fabrics and recycled materials I found during the pandemic.
I am also very critical about the quantities of product that I produce. I only produce to demand and what is needed by my customer--nothing more and nothing less.
Considering that TOMBOGO's products and collections practice recycling, reusing, and repurposing I hope that I will be considered for CFS "Redesigning Society" Impact Design Hub. TOMBOGO uses current events to influence the course of fashion and set a new tone for how young designers approach producing garments. The pandemic largely influenced designer Tommy Bogo's past 3 collections which have served as platforms to discuss larger challenges that the world has faced over the past year such as sustainability, mental health, and employment. Considering this year's focus of "Redesigning Society", TOMBOGO's initiative to influence change and encourage unity amongst creative communities as we exit the pandemic is a great fit for the Circular Fashion Summit.
