Though New York Fashion Week hasn’t even officially begun, one of the week’s most compelling shows has already taken place. The Twink Next Door, however, the designer behind the show in question, never pictured himself ending up in New York’s crowded fashion scene. When the now 30-year-old moved to New York City several years ago, fresh out of art school in Baltimore, painting and sculpting were still his primary mediums. It was only after moving to this perpetually cramped city, where he was “living in a closet”, that he began to pivot from fine arts to fashion; collecting large, sculptural materials off the street was not an apartment-friendly practice, as it turned out. 

It’s a pivot that, if last night’s (February 9) runway show at The Moxy Hotel is any indication, is starting to pay off. His sixth fashion week show, produced by Joshua Colon at The New Studios, took place in the hotel’s lobby, which was transformed into a makeshift runway. Amongst the city’s set of emerging designers, Twink has become known for his campy, over-the-top presentations that provide a welcome contrast to the monotony of other New York Fashion Week showings. (His first show, after all, was staged at a Dallas BBQ, a barbecue restaurant chain that was chosen on the basis of its affordability as an events venue.)

“I think there’s a very corporate air to fashion right now,” Twink, swaddled in a fur robe and sheer tights, tells me backstage, just an hour out from the show’s start.  “The biggest struggle for emerging designers right now is the fear of expression, because the world is a crazy place right now, so people are shying away from being expressive.”

Despite his pre-show nerves, none of that fear was present on last night’s runway, which saw a flurry of wonderfully outlandish designs, each more exciting than the last. Though the collection had no official title, Twink, when pushed, settled on a name that perfectly encapsulated the night’s vibe: “In Twink We Trust.” Below, find out what went down.

THE THEME WAS HEARTBREAK

The designer’s sculpting background was on full display in his latest work, which was loosely tied to the idea of heartbreak. Inspired by both the chaos of the world and the chaos of his own life at the time, Twink pulled from the highs and lows of the emotion. “I feel like heartbreak can actually be a really good thing, because it feels like the start of something,” said the designer, who suffered a family loss after his last runway show. “I feel like this [work] is a very deeply thought-out emotional collection of trauma, but also excitement, because of all the support that I get.”

THE GLAM DELIVERED

The beauty was just as dramatic as the designs, with saturated colours, iridescent metallics, and sparkles and gems galore. In a world of “clean girl” beauty, the dramatics were a welcome reprieve.

THE SHOW RAN ON DUNKIN

As revealed to me by a model backstage, Twink has been to Dunkin’ Donuts over 300 times in the last calendar year. (A large iced coffee and a pink sprinkle doughnut is his order, in case you were wondering.) Naturally, his obsession showed up on the runway, in the form of a Dunkin-themed papier-mache ensemble.

TWINK’S COMMUNITY SHOWED UP

Though there was a smattering of editors and buyers scattered throughout the crowd, most of the show's attendees were members of Twink’s own community, giving the night a uniquely convivial feel. As people scurried in from castings, major calendar shows and other various fashion week events, it was clear that, no matter what their schedule for the night entailed, guests were determined to show up and show out for Twink. And as much as the designer’s community cares for him, he cares right back. Before a playlist of strictly Lady Gaga took over the runway, the show opened with an audio recording of Twink articulating his label’s ethos: “My brand is for everyone, forever.”