Estefania Galvin taking a tech forward approach with the MŌS brand

The Designer Estefania Galvin of the mos brand Photo courtesy of **Damianus Lamont**

Estefania Galvan, the creator of MŌS, is utilizing technology to push the boundaries of art and fashion. This creator is at the forefront of innovation, from her trademark logo rendered as an augmented reality art piece to virtual try-ons and garments with QR codes that blend the physical and digital. And her outside-of-the-box thinking has captured the attention of some of the industry’s most prominent players.

In anticipation of their first show at New York Fashion Week, we wanted to give Chicagoans a sneak peek at this designer on the rise. Read on to learn more about her inspiration and how you can create a custom garment with MOS!

When did you know you wanted to be in the fashion industry?

My passion for fashion design was ignited in my childhood. My grandmother had a dedicated sewing room where I would spend hours watching her make alterations and transform clothes into beautiful clothes. I used to experiment by taking my mother’s clothing and reimagining it into something new. The thrill of turning my ideas into reality still inspires me every day, and I am grateful to have found my purpose in this wonderful art form.

What was the first piece of clothing you made?

Besides my dress made using one of my mom’s. The first actual garment I made was when I was in school (Columbia College of Chicago). I illustrated the prints and made them part of the dress. That dress became part of my very first collection, and I still sell it and show it on runways (I will actually be showing it in NYFW), and we are including a virtual “try-on” of the dress so people can see how it looks on them.

Tell us about MŌS-how would you describe the aesthetic of your brand?

The aesthetic of my designs and MŌS is mainly rooted in culture and nature. I am originally from Colombia, and fashion has become for me a way to share more about my culture and the beauty that’s in diversity. From the brand’s logo (a macaw - Bird native to Central and South America) to the prints that I design for the collections, I draw inspiration from the lush landscapes and vibrant wildlife of nature, creating a visual representation of the natural beauty that surrounds us. Through my designs, I aim to celebrate life, color, nature, and culture to bring a touch of its beauty to the world of fashion.

You also do custom clothing; how does that work? What is the process like to create a custom garment with you?

Custom-made is one of my favorite parts of MŌS!

1. Schedule a Consultation. First, we do an initial consultation to learn more about the person we are creating the garment for. We discuss their needs, occasion(s) for the garment, preferences, and style based on their body and personality.

A Style Quiz (optional): Some of our clients know what they like and want, but for those who are still on the journey of finding which style fits them better, we start with our style quiz
Measurements: We take their body measurements
Fabric and Style Selection: We show our client different swatches and fabric options, colors, and styles.
Lining Creation: We offer our clients to take customization to the next level by co-creating with them a one-of-a-kind lining. They get to include their favorite things, images, and colors.
Details and Monogram: Our clients also get to add their personal touch in the small details such as buttons and monograms

2. Get Fitted: After about four weeks, we do a fitting to make any necessary adjustments.

3. Enjoy your new favorite custom-made garment!

You use a lot of technology – how did you get interested in the intersection of the physical and digital space?

I was never very interested in technology! I knew the basics, but I’ve always tried to be resourceful and work with what I had. At college, I didn’t know how to draw the same way as most of my classmates, so I used my iPad instead and used templates to draw. From these, I started to experiment more with digital drawing and illustrations, and I discovered that I was not just learning and enjoying digital media a lot but also that it comes with different advantages for a designer (at that point, “an aspiring designer”… from cost saving to versatility and sustainability.

But it was until the beginning of last year (2022) that I started digging deeper into it, and realized that we are living a very big change in technology right now, and there are a lot of opportunities to take and to create.

How do you use AR and VR to enhance your designs?

I believe AR and VR are enhancing the designs but also are enhancing the experiences. This is one of the designs and experiences we created: An artist and poet Co-created with MŌS a custom-made suit with a custom lining, where we included one of the poems he wrote. We partnered with @cybernerdbaby, the AR and VR creators who took one of the fragments of the lining and created an AR (Augmented Reality) experience. This was placed in the back of his jacket and is activated when scanning a code with the phone to see the poem come to life. They also created a VR (Virtual Reality) Environment where they displayed some of our garments and can host meetings or events. This can be viewed and/or experienced from the phone or with a VR set (the glasses)

Tell us about your NYFW debut-how did it come about? What can tell us about your upcoming show? I know there is a physical component and digital one, tell us about them.

I am still pinching myself from the idea that I will be showcasing my garments in such a big fashion platform with so many other talented designers and people from the industry! As many other industries and platforms are joining the digital world. This year they were looking for designers that were already implementing the technology. I applied and we got in to show some of our pieces on the runway and in digital! The physical component is the runway show and the immersive experience for those who can go IRL (in real life).

For the digital component, we created in collaboration with 3D Fantastic Studio Fashion, a digital twin for each of the garments that is going to be on the runway. And Zero10 created a “try on” experience, so people can try on a MŌS digital garment.

Is there any way for Chicagoans to see the NYFW show live or online shortly thereafter?

Unfortunately, they won’t be streaming the fashion show, but we will definitely create some content to share with all of you.

What does being a part of Chicago’s fashion community mean to you?

I’ve always said that I didn’t choose Chicago, but Chicago chose me. The fashion community in the city is diverse, is making noise and is growing. I get to meet so many and get inspired by so many creators, and I feel beyond grateful and proud to be part of this community.