Since launching the Yeezy label in 2014, Kanye West has filled his studio with plenty of young creatives, like archivist, David Casavant and stylist,
Since launching the Yeezy label in 2014, Kanye West has filled his studio with plenty of young creatives, like archivist, David Casavant and stylist, Ursina Gysi, not to mention the creatives he has worked with in the past, including Virgil Abloh and Jerry Lorenzo. Now he’s finding a new way to support budding talents with the launch of an incubator program that will provide financial assistance and mentorship to aspiring creatives in fashion, design, and more.
The first recipient of the grant is Chicago-born Maisie Schloss, a Parsons graduate and former member of the Yeezy womenswear design team.
“Yeezy is a really special environment for growing and developing a career. When I started I was just an assistant, but the highly creative and unconventional atmosphere allowed for me to have visibility and input in a wide variety of projects. Kanye very generously offered to support me; he truly cares about sharing resources, creating opportunities for creatives to grow and be recognized,” Schloss told Vogue.
Schloss will launch her brand, called Maisie Wilen, next week in Los Angeles at a friends-and-family event and will host another happening in Paris later this month. The L.A. debut promises a full Resort collection, containing 85 pieces, ranging from $100 to $950.
“My first collection is inspired by rhythmic gymnastics and robotics, specifically studying how elegant fluidity emerges from rigid systems. Strongly driven by print, the clothes themselves are playful and fashion-forward but rooted in very wearable shapes,” she said.
What this means for West is that his community of creatives will only continue to grow—as will his influence in the industry. He might not be hosting Yeezy runway spectacles these days, but he is still very much involved in shaping the future of fashion.
