One to Watch: Rebecca Wolsten of Liam of York
Photos by Jane Bruce
In the crowded world of Brooklyn fashion, it can be difficult to stand out from the pack. And yet, the first time we saw Rebecca Wolsten’s designs for her label Liam of York, we were smitten. Wolsten, a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, has been working in the fashion industry for the last several years, but her line possesses a fine art influence that is rare to see in such eminently wearable pieces—think an immaculately hand-embroidered coat that provides not only style but also warmth, or a beautifully cut sleeveless jumpsuit with extra wide legs. Wolsten, who works out of a home studio in Clinton Hill, makes the kind of clothes we can imagine wearing every day, mixing and matching rich patterns and lush fabric featuring techniques like shibori, and embodying the kind of effortless style that only ever comes from hard work. A visit with Wolsten at her studio not only reveals the high level of skill and artistry in her work, but also how dedicated she is to realizing her designs in an uncompromised fashion. Every piece, from a perfect cropped mandarin collar jacket to a midi-skirt that’s exactly the length and width that you want every skirt to be (though they almost never are) feels so deliberate, like you can see where every decision was made—from what fabric to use to how high a neckline should be—and that each of those decisions was made with such care and intelligence that the level of Wolsten’s thoughtfulness feels fully realized in her designs. All of which is really just a fancy way of saying that we want to wear it all. And also, since Wolsten’s career is really just getting started, we can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.
See more of Wolsten’s designs at liamofyork.com and shop pre-sale F/W items here
