The Talk with designer Ashlyn So
From sewing camp at 6 years old to Ellen DeGenerous show. Ashlyn So, the rising star of fashion world talks to Gazette du Bon Ton.
The “Aha!” Moment
Ashlyn: I’ve been creating for as long as I can remember, but the moment it truly clicked was when I was eight and presented my first collection to raise funds against bullying. Seeing how clothing could carry emotion, spark conversation, and make people feel seen made me realize fashion was more than creativity; it was a language. That was when I understood I wasn’t just making clothes, I was designing with purpose.
Three-Word Aesthetic
Ashlyn: If my design style were a playlist, it would feel: Avant-garde, emotional, and immersive. My work lives somewhere between structure and fluidity pieces that feel cinematic and layered, meant to be experienced rather than just worn.
The “First Draft” Cringe
Ashlyn: I do often "cringe" at my old work but I have learned to see it as the foundation. Those first sketches hold so much honesty and fearlessness. They remind me of why I started and how important it is to create without self-doubt. Growth doesn’t mean rejecting your past, it means honoring it.
The Double Life
Ashlyn: Switching between school and fashion is about shifting mindsets. One part of my day is focused on learning in a classroom, the other is deeply internal and creative. I try to stay grounded and present in both worlds. My classmates know what I do, but I’m still just a student figuring things out like everyone else.
Burnout vs. Bliss
Ashlyn: There are days when rest is more important than productivity. On those days, I let myself pause without guilt. Creativity needs space to breathe. I remind myself that fashion is something I love, not something meant to drain me. Listening to my body and emotions is part of sustaining both my art and myself.
The Gen Z Edge
Ashlyn: Being a young designer allows me to design from lived experience. My generation values authenticity, vulnerability, and meaning. I’m not designing for an abstract audience, I'm designing from within my own reality, and I think that honesty resonates.
Mistakes into Masterpieces
Ashlyn: Some of my favorite design moments came from accidents. Once, a miscut during draping created an unexpected opening in a garment. Instead of fixing it, I explored it and it became the focal point of the piece. Those moments remind me that perfection isn’t the goal discovery is.
The “I Made It” Piece
Ashlyn: I’d love to see someone like Zendaya or Hunter Schafer wear my designs. They both embody fearlessness, fluidity, and self-expression values that deeply align with my work.
Advice to the Quiet Creatives
Ashlyn: Keep creating, even when no one is watching. Your ideas don’t need validation to be meaningful. The quiet moments sketching in the back of a notebook, creating just for yourself are often where the most powerful work begins.
The Talk with designers Fallon & Ava
The Destination for the Perfect Turtleneck
Interview by Giulia Juliet Belkin
Photography: Kevin Czopek
It's widely acknowledged that we harbor a fondness for the timeless elegance of classic layering. Originating as a form of protective gear, the turtleneck has adorned the attire of historical luminaries, influential business figures, and contemporary fashion trendsetters alike—providing an enduringly stylish cornerstone for all. During the 20th century, turtlenecks made their debut in the fashion arena thanks to iconic personalities such as Ernest Hemingway, Elvis Presley, and notably, the legendary black turtleneck snapshots featuring The Beatles, Audrey Hepburn, and Marilyn Monroe.
Sisters Fallon & Ava had a stroke of brilliance in reimagining the turtleneck, and their exceptional execution of their brand Fallon & Ava - The Destination For the Perfect Turtleneck demands the attention of none other than Diane Keaton, the queen of turtlenecks. Curious about the genesis of their concept, I sat down with the ladies to discuss their journey into the fashion industry.
Giulia: Let's start from the beginning. Where did you ladies grow up? Were you studying to become fashion designers? How did you end up in fashion?
Fallon: We grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I knew I wanted to be a fashion designer and live in NYC since I was seven years old. I moved to New York at the age of 18 and attended the Fashion Institute of Technology and majored in fashion design. I worked at Carolina Herrera, J. Mendel, Proenza Schouler, and Sachin & Babi.
Ava: I was a ballerina for 18 years but right before college I decided to switch my career path and go into fashion. I decided to also attend FIT and majored in Advertising and Marketing Communications. From there I fell into event planning, which is another passion of mine. I am currently a Luxury Wedding and Event Planner. Working with high end clientele and in luxury events really helped me understand the customer for Fallon & Ava and be able to produce events for the brand.
Giulia: Why did you decide to start your own brand Fallon & Ava?
Fallon: We both have always had such a strong bond. We also share the same style, the same eye, and the same outlook on life. When Ava decided to also attend FIT and study in the same industry, we knew we were destined to do something together. We’re best friends and we have complementary skill sets, so why not go into business together?
Ava: We both share the same vision and drive to do something extraordinary, so starting a brand felt right for us. We also knew we wanted to do something in life that could enable us to help others, which is why giving back and supporting women has been a core value of our brand from day one.
Giulia: Why turtleneck?
Fallon: We grew up wearing turtlenecks. Our mother would always dress us in turtlenecks when we were young, so they soon became our signature look. A turtleneck is such a timeless, staple piece that we believe every woman should have in her closet. Our mother's deep appreciation for the classics was passed on to us. After doing some research, we realized there's a brand for almost every classic wardrobe staple, but not one that specializes in turtlenecks, so we created the first and only brand to specialize solely in turtlenecks.
Ava: We believe a beautifully made and well-fitted turtleneck has the power to be a woman's secret weapon in navigating the world with poise and confidence. It's our mission to share that feeling of confidence with our turtlenecks.
Giulia: Where do you look for creative inspiration?
Fallon: I find inspiration in art, design, music, travel, experiences, and people I meet. One of the reasons why I love living in New York so much is that there is constant inspiration everywhere you look. It’s stimulating and motivating.
Ava: Honestly everywhere... people, iconic women, travel, movies/tv, iconic ads/commercials,specifically 90s ads are especially inspiring to me for our brand.
Giulia: What designers are you inspired by?
Fallon: I am inspired by all of the designers I’ve worked with in my career. Each brand I’ve worked for has left a lasting impact on me in different ways... from a design point of view, as well as a business point of view. I am especially inspired by Carolina Herrera the woman. Her aura of effortless grace, class, and sophistication is a rarity these days. Having the privilege of working with her personally, I was able to experience her presence that exudes a quiet confidence that I admire. This confidence is what I want every woman to feel while wearing our Fallon & Ava turtleneck.
Ava: I have always been inspired by Ralph Lauren. He created not only a beautiful clothing brand, but he created a dream.. a lifestyle. He also only started with one product, ties, so his start and aspirations were very similar to ours. We hope to turn Fallon & Ava into a lifestyle brand one day.
Giulia: Who is your muse?
Fallon & Ava: Our mother is and always will be our muse. She is the inspiration behind our brand and everything we do. She is the epitome of what we want our brand to represent: elegant, strong, timeless, and powerful. She was our inspiration for our sleeveless turtleneck and everything is run by her..personally and in business. We would not be where we are or who we are without her. We constantly admire her appreciation for all things beautiful in life, her wisdom, and her love and care for others.
Giulia: What's it like working as a sister designer duo? You two obviously have a great bond. Are you similar as designers too?
Fallon & Ava: There is absolutely no one we’d rather go into business with than each other. It's hard to trust people in business, but as sisters, we trust each other 100%, so we’re very fortunate to have that advantage. It's also incredibly special to get to share so many unique memories and milestones with each other. Our different skills and personality traits balance each other out perfectly, but we still share the same vision for the future of our brand. Creatively as designers we are always on the same page. We have the same taste, so we rarely disagree on how we want our brand to be portrayed aesthetically.
Giulia: How do you split responsibilities?
Ava: We are both involved in every aspect of the business for the most part, especially when it comes to anything creative. But based on our areas of expertise, Fallon focuses on the product development and production while I handle social media and email marketing. The one thing we always do together is planning our photoshoots and events. That is something we both have a lot of experience in and it’s a fun way for us to be creative and bring our vision of Fallon & Ava to life.
Giulia: Where do you see Fallon & Ava in the next few years?
Fallon: We plan to introduce our current styles in more colors. Eventually we'd love to have the classic turtleneck offered in every color you would ever want a turtleneck in. We'll also introduce variations of turtlenecks and different bow designs. Our ultimate goal is to expand to other product categories besides turtlenecks and make Fallon & Ava an entire lifestyle brand. Besides the product, our mission as a brand is to instill confidence in women through not only an article of clothing but also by taking actions that highlight and support all women.
Ava: We plan to continue our Women in Business/Women in the Arts series where we highlight and collaborate with accomplished women by photographing them in our turtlenecks, interviewing them and sharing their story on our social media, and occasionally hosting a collaborative event with them. We started this brand with the intention to give back, so in the coming years we also plan to be more involved in philanthropic work that help and support women in need.
The Talk With Yannik Zamboni - Designer, Making The Cut Finalist
Model, turned designer Yannik Zamboni is the finalist and the winner of 1 million US dollars from Amazon Fashion in the Prime Video's Making the Cut season 3. Zamboni is a graduate of University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Northwester Switzerland who just showed his latest collection during New York Fashion Week. We caught up with Yannik to talk about it all.
Image: James Clark/Prime Video
Model, turned designer Yannik Zamboni is the finalist and the winner of 1 million US dollars from Amazon Fashion in the Prime Video's Making the Cut season 3. Zamboni is a graduate of University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Northwester Switzerland who just showed his latest collection during New York Fashion Week. We caught up with Yannik to talk about it all.
Giulia: Congratulations on your win in Making the Cut and two released collections now available on Amazon? What are you feeling right now?
Yannik: Thank you so much, I am still very overwhelmed. I never had the funds to go into production with fashion and now I have two collections available on Amazon my retail brand "maison blanche" and my Amazon co-brand "rare/self". It's all still very crazy.
Giulia: What was the most difficult aspect of making the finals of Making the Cut, how did you overcome it? What was your thinking process?
Yannik: I kept doubting myself a bit, the further I got the more I wondered "am I just good for the show & to entertain?" or do they really like what I am doing? And then I won episode 7 and I thought they won't have the same winner for semifinals & finals.... And then all of a sudden I was standing there next to Rafael and I heard a little bit of criticism about his collection and then a little light went on in my head that said, maybe you are the winner! And I did it, how unreal is that?!
Giulia: Did you always know you were going to be a fashion designer?
Yannik: No I have been searching for my way for a long time. Always knew that I wanted to be creative, but I have only dared to change something at 28 years. To throw my job and risk everything to be successful with fashion.
Giulia: Where do you look for creative inspiration?
Yannik: I am extremely influenced by socio-political issues. Everything that I consider unfair fosters a fire in me and makes me design. I believe with fashion to have a platform and the possibility to change something in our society. Be it on a human level but also on a sustainable level. I firmly believe in the four pillars of sustainability; socio-political one, ethical-moral one, ecological one and economic one.
Giulia: Are there any famous designers whose work you admire, if so, who are they and why?
Yannik: I think at the top of the list are Martin Margiela and Rey Kawakubo. They have managed to build an empire with fashion that is different, that does not meet expectations and yet successful.
Giulia:You are debuting the "Back" collection at NYFW,. What is the collection about? Any particular message you want to convey?
Yannik: The digital invitation is a pack of anti baby pills. The physical invitation is a positive pregnancy test. At the latest when the selection of models runs backwards down the catwalk it should be clear that the whole concept is about the current debate of abortion rights. In addition, we have integrated the color green, since this stands in South America for the protests for women's rights and abortion rights (pro choice!). We live in a society in which contraception is almost completely attributed to people with a uterus and if it comes to a pregnancy, then politics and society should decide what happens? Decide about someone else's body? I think we need to realize what fatal consequences this has, how unsafe we make abortions and how much life we destroy!
Giulia: Do you feel like in today's world it's harder to be innovative in fashion?
Yannik: No, I don't think so. We have so many possibilities and there is new technology all the time. The market for sustainable materials is improving every day, and many things are not yet on the market. There are opportunities to innovate every day.
Giulia: Who would be your dream celebrity to style and dress?
Yannik: I would like to dress Lil Nas X period. But to be honest, I've grown quite fond of Heidi (she is just such an amazing person) and it would be an honour to create a couture piece just for her!
Image: James Clark/Prime Video
Giulia: How do you feel about meta digital fashion? Would you be open to design for digital fashion marketplaces?
Yannik: What I like most about my job is touching and completing a vision for real life. Nevertheless, the future is digital and since I'm already designing digitally, that shouldn't be a problem for digital marketplaces. I am ready.
Giulia: What would be your advice to designers who apply for the next season of Making the Cut and those who will participate in the next show?
Yannik: Keep your eye on the ball and never give up. Use the casting process to prepare, be ready for the show so you can make decisions quickly. Have patterns and new looks ready to blow the jury away.
Giulia: What is next for Yannik?
Yannik: I am just saying NYFW baby 🙃
