Sophomore is a clothing line that was created by Chrissie Miller, an old NYC soul. Starting her company with only $200, she claims to have made t-shirt after t-shirt, gradually building her look.
After watching the latest episode of Gossip Girl, I decided to write about the fairly new NYC clothing line which was promoted on the show.
Chrissie doesn’t use models to promote her clothing, but instead uses friends and everyday people. Having attended a well-known private school herself, Chrissie mingled with the artsy kids instead of with the Queen Bees, like Blair on Gossip Girl. This creative atmosphere inspired Chrissie to make simplistic, basic designs like those popular on the Lower East Side.
Chrissie Miller decided to name her company Sophomore because of its meaning: wise fool, and because it reflects how naive she was when first started her business.
Check out pictures from this down-to-earth, NYC girl’s 2009 Look Book for a better insight into the Sophomore style.
Friends as Models
Chrissie Miller Uses Her Girlfriends to Model Her ‘Sophomore' Line
Trend Themes
1. Using Friends as Models - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Brands can explore using everyday people and friends as models to promote their clothing lines, creating a more relatable and authentic image.
2. Building a Creative Atmosphere - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Creating a creative atmosphere can inspire designers to make simplistic, basic designs that resonate with a specific audience, such as the artsy kids on the Lower East Side.
3. Naming with Meaning - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Choosing a company name with a meaningful story can help create a strong brand identity and resonate with customers.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Fashion brands can embrace a more inclusive approach to modeling by using friends and everyday people in their campaigns, fostering a sense of authenticity and relatability.
2. Creative Design - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Designers can tap into creative atmospheres, like those found in art schools or creative communities, to inspire unique and simplistic designs that cater to niche audiences.
3. Brand Identity - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Brands can put more thought into naming their companies, opting for names with meaningful stories that can help establish a strong and memorable brand identity.