VIVI Academy Autumn/Winter 2016 Collection at NYFW

Addicted to social media? #Yep! 24 year old Vivi Moya’s debut collection is a playful reflection of millennials’ obsession with smartphones and their endless craving for “likes.” The “VIVI Academy” girl is a down to earth tomboy who kicks it in sneaks by day, and struts in pumps by night. Washable, wearable fabrics in primary blues, reds and sandy browns mirror the Facebook and Instagram logos’ colors. Hashtags and hearts add sass alongside mesh, zippers, patches and drawstring details. It’s a flirty, fun combination that I’m sure will spark many selfies in anyone wearing it.

Looking closer, however, there are a few elements that add a fascinatingly creepy, dark touch. The models’ under-eyes are red and glittery, as if their gazes have been transfixed on a screen for far too long. And a video is projected on the wall of a model popping sugar pills and snorting glitter in a bathroom– a metaphor for our generation’s drug-like addiction to social media and constant communication, perhaps?

I got the chance to speak with Vivi herself, who agrees our generation’s problem has gone a bit too far. But she believes we shouldn’t take it too seriously. I mean hey, if it can inspire such a cool clothing line, at least some good has come out of it! Am I right?

MITH: Can you explain the inspiration behind your collection?

VIVI: The “selfie generation” is what I call it. If I leave my phone at home and I’ve already gotten to my destination, I will go back for it because I feel naked and lost. That’s what everyone does nowadays. And if you don’t document something that that’s important, it’s like it never happened. It’s funny that we care so much about the likes and attention— that’s what drove the inspiration.

MITH: Definitely. So do you think that that’s good or bad?

VIVI: Well, it’s bad, but I can’t say that because I do it also. It’s not necessarily good or bad; it’s kind of sad, but at the same time we kind of have to embrace it. So that’s the frame of mind where the line came from; it’s not too serious. It has a playfulness and lightheartedness about it.

MITH: I love it. Can you talk about the color palette and fabrics you used?

VIVI: The story behind the color palette is actually kind of funny. I was inspired by all of the primary colors that are used in social media. You know how Facebook has blue and Instagram has that sandy color in the icon? I took those colors and made them a little more neutral so they weren’t so vibrant.

Most of the fabrics are from New York while some were imported from China and Europe. They’re really high-quality— this coat is 100% cashmere. But most are machine washable and usable— I didn’t want to be too crazy. I personally hate linings and I feel like the “VIVI Academy” girl is very down to earth. If she buys something, she’s going to wear it over and over again, and she’s just going to wash it. She’s a tomboy and she’ll wear one of those fancy dresses with Converse. So that’s the vibe.

MITH: I love that. Can you tell me a little bit more about yourself and how you got into fashion?

VIVI: Long story short, I wasn’t born in Cuba but my whole family was. My grandma was a sewer who would sew all the time, and she taught me a couple things. To this day, she still critiques me on little details, like, “you didn’t do this right,” and I’m like, “crap,” I’ll never satisfy her, but it’s great. My family has always done something artistic. My mom was always a painter and my grandfather was a cobbler. I started drawing my own designs when I was two or three, and making my own little magazines. It sounds funny, but…

MITH: No, that’s how you know you’re meant to do it if you start at such a young age!

VIVI: Right, I can’t see myself doing anything else. I mean, I only slept two hours last night, but I’m the happiest person!

MITH: You must be exhausted, I’m not going to keep you much longer! What’s your view on Snapchat?

VIVI: OMG, I’m obsessed with it! Honestly I wanted to bring Snapchat into this space by bringing in mirrors with drawings on them so people could take mirror pics with the collection in the background. I wasn’t allowed to do it though because it would’ve been a hazard.

MITH: That would’ve been fun, you’ll have to do it next time! The logistics are always the hardest part. It’s one thing to have an idea and it’s another thing to execute it, but I think you did a phenomenal job regardless.

VIVI: Thank you so much!

Follow VIVI Academy on Instagram @viviacademy and check out the Fall/Winter Lookbook! http://www.viviacademy.com/pages/fall-16

**Photos by Kathleen O’Neill