As Caribbean Heritage Month unfolds across New York City, Jamaican-born designer Edvin Thompson is inviting fashion lovers into the world he has spent the last decade building. Through June 24, THEOPHILIO’s first-ever New York City pop-up at Gotham Chelsea offers a rare look inside the brand’s evolution, showcasing pieces from its Spring/Summer 2026 collection RIDDIM alongside archival garments, collectible objects and exclusive merchandise.
Founded in 2016, THEOPHILIO has become one of the most celebrated voices in American fashion by exploring the intersection of Caribbean heritage and contemporary New York culture. According to information displayed throughout the installation, the brand draws from themes of identity, community, resilience and self-expression while celebrating the experiences of the Caribbean diaspora and challenging traditional ideas of American fashion.
For Thompson, the timing of the activation carries special significance.
“It’s 10 years of Theophilio, Caribbean Heritage Month, it’s Pride Month, it’s Juneteenth. All that intersects.”
Thompson described feeling immense gratitude for the community that has supported the brand throughout its journey.
“I’m really, really blessed in immense gratitude for the community that came out, for people that saw themselves, people that felt empowered.”
Located inside Gotham Chelsea at 146 10th Avenue, a female-founded cannabis concept store and cultural retail space that merges cannabis, fashion, art and design while supporting social equity and Black-owned businesses. The space feels less like a traditional retail store and more like a living archive. Thompson encourages visitors to approach it with a different mindset.
“Don’t miss this pop-up shop that makes you think museum before retail.”
Throughout the installation, guests can trace the brand’s history through signature pieces that have helped define THEOPHILIO’s aesthetic over the years. Among the highlights are the label’s recognizable beaded headdresses, colorful slip dresses, sequined statement pieces and patchwork accessories that have become staples of the brand’s visual language.
The activation also offers a glimpse into what’s next. As THEOPHILIO enters its second decade, Thompson says the company is expanding beyond clothing.
“We’re branching into homeware. We’re building a lifestyle.”
While the pop-up remains open through June 24, the celebrations will continue with THEOPHILIO’s third annual Caribbean Heritage Month Bashment on June 27. For Thompson, both events are a reflection of what the brand has always stood for: culture, community and creating space for Caribbean stories in the heart of New York City.
“This is a really, really cool space to just see where the brand has been in the past 10 years and where we’re going.”
