While most of us were spending the last hurrah of summer at our beach houses (or our friend’s beach houses), those who work in New York’s fashion industry have been busy getting their collections finished for New York Fashion Week. For some, like Steven Hoffman and Ramin Paksima who will debut their PAXYMA collection at NYFW, it’s meant long hours in a small corner of their Astoria home, literally cutting each piece by hand themselves.
Ramin and Steven aren’t your typical “young” designers. They spent the better part of the last 20 years toiling behind the scenes of other designer’s houses honing their skills and learning the intricacies of the business. Debuting a collection is a big leap of faith but a challenge this unlikely duo is happy to take on together. Steven, who is originally from Iowa, is the quiet all-black wearing Teller to Ramin’s more flamboyant Penn. Ramin came to the states at the age of 13 from Iran via India where his family emigrated during the revolution. They met at Otis College of Art and Design in California and became lifelong friends and design aficionados spending their time together shopping their favorites stores like Barneys and Dover Street Market.
Pooling their talents and experience in the industry, the two have created a luxury brand that can appeal to literally everyone. “When we started the collection, we both wanted to wear every piece,” Ramin explains. “And then we wanted to make it more versatile. Our collection is completely unisex. Steven has a very architectural approach, he’ll design it like a building and I have a spontaneous And effortless approach. It’s textural, with hard and soft juxtaposed.”
“This season has an Indian vibe,” Steven says. “With elements of utility/workwear. Functionality and comfort are always important. Saris and shalwar kameez are unisex, it’s just the fit that’s difference.” Think Indian Rick Owens. PAXYMA is also entirely vegan, focusing on luxurious fabrics that combine softness with high tech.
It’s about Steven’s personality and my personality. “It’s a spiritual revolution that touches you personally,” Ramin declares.
PAXYMA will debut its SS18 collection, On September 11th at 6:00 PM and the next day every piece will be available to buy on their website.
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