The Rise of Independent fashion: CYD3YYY

Gen-Z is single handedly revolutionizing the fashion world. Lockdown has paved the way for a swarm of young designers and their DIY clothing brands. One of which is Cydney Sherman, a 16 year old designer from New York. Fascinated by colour, Cydney has created brand ‘CYDN3YYY’. She has experimented with various printing methods before finally finding her perfect process to making fun and vibrant graphics for each unique design. Worn by the likes of Willow Smith and Sydney Carlson, CYDN3YYY is growing rapidly and has become the latest independent brand to take the fashion world by storm.

Tell us a bit about the brand and how it all began. 
This all started during quarantine. One of the only things that would keep me occupied was art at the time, and online shopping. I always had ideas of these graphics I would want, but I could never exactly find quite what I was looking for, at an affordable price. Soon, I remembered learning about screen printing in my art class, and decided to make some shirts from that to sell on Depop to get a bit more cash. But I got bored of that pretty quickly. I couldn’t quite achieve the look and original designs I wanted, with just screen printing. So I took all of the money I managed to make, and started looking into new methods of printing and found my own method, and from there, I have been able to achieve a look I feel like is very different from what a lot of other artists are able to do.

Where does your inspiration come from for designs?
My whole life, I have been fascinated by color. Color is something that brings me joy, the more of it the better. In the past I have felt pressured to tone it down, and for it to not be “too much”. But as I started to make clothes, I developed a passion for really just making things I would want to wear. I feel like the vibrant colors really are something that are just fun, and I think that’s something we all are looking for right now. My goal is to take things and inspiration from things I personally enjoy and make me happy.

Screen printing brands are becoming increasingly more popular. How would you say you keep your brand fresh and different?
That was something I started to notice as well when I first started making clothing. When I was screen printing, it personally just didn’t feel too true to me, and what I wanted to put out to the world. I knew I had to find something different that not many others are doing. With my method, I am able to add many colors, and this look that’s very difficult to achieve with screen printing. I can create graphics not everyone has the materials or the ability to make, and I love to be able to provide that look for those at a reasonable price (keep in mind it is just me making these and every piece is my own work of art), that many cannot make themselves, as well as displaying my own art to others.

 What are some of your favourite designs?
The eye design will always hold a special place in my heart. It was the first original design I made with my new method of printing, and it is something I will wear myself all of the time. I feel like it also is a print that really is compatible with many of the clothes I make as well.

Why do you think younger people are preferring to buy thrifted or customized clothes rather than high street fashion?
It is not only more ethical, but it is something you cannot find anywhere else. When you support a creative artist, not only are you contributing to a more sustainable option, you are buying a piece of art. It is repurposing a piece of clothing into something you cannot really find anywhere else, which can also help you develop a more true personal aesthetic. It is different from following a micro trend, which you may purchase but then throw out or donate a month later when it goes out of style. Art is a timeless thing, which I try to think all of my clothing is.

What’s next? What would you like to achieve with your brand in the upcoming months?
I would definitely like to create some more repurposed 1/1 pieces. Not only are these pieces more ethical, but they give these clothes a second life. It is also something that will be a lot more personal to the buyer, because only they will have that piece. I also would like to share my clothing with more people, hopefully some greater known artists/influencers, so I can get more help creating these pieces, since at the moment it is only me creating them. I am still in high school, so juggling my own job/business, family, friends, and education is definitely something I am struggling with at the moment. But for now, I am really just so grateful for what I have achieved, and my goal is to just share more with the world this clothing I create.