Vivat Novum
May 3, 2021/Photo: Courtesy of Vivat Novum. Photographer: Jai Short. Model: Kayla Ramos.
Though Reilly Johnson’s inclusive clothing collection was created during the pandemic, her inspiration for it was formed far before.
“I'm a longtime member of the LGBTQ+ community, and when I was living in Atlanta many of my friends often complained that most unisex clothing was decidedly masculine or understated in appearance,” she said. “There existed a need for unisex apparel that walked the line between feminine and masculine with designs that were more adventurous than standard basics.”
Johnson had garnered plenty sewing/construction experience while working on Broadway and other stage productions. But after the pandemic paused live performances and forced widespread theater layoffs, she began working as a grant writer for New York nonprofit Fashion FWD, where she learned all about sustainable fashion practices and greenwashing in the industry. Armed with this knowledge, she channeled her desire for more stylish unisex clothing into an actual set of designs, which helped her land a job at an apparel-tech company and make her brand Vivat Novum a reality.
Vivat Novum's pieces are both versatile and bold, allowing wearers to express themselves authentically and fashionably. The brand’s name is playful combination of the latin phrase “Vivat Rex” meaning “Long Live the King,” and “Novum” the gender-neutral form of “Novus,” meaning new and unusual.
When designing the pieces, Johnson first considers how she would like them to fit on the body, then uses her construction skills to create their patterns. She then produces them locally in New York's Garment District using certified eco-friendly textiles like Lyocell.
Creating garments that alter, obscure or enhance the wearer’s body is a concept she explored heavily in her inaugural collection “Form.”
“I love the idea of garments that creatively change the shape of one's body, corsets, jodhpurs, you name it,” Johnson explained. “These garments are definitely pretty rigid though, and can't adapt and shape to comfortably fit all genders. This collection is pretty fluid and drapey, and I'll probably continue down this path a bit longer.”
Along with scaling her brand, Johnson plans on introducing several additions to her collection in the coming months, as well as expanding its sizing options. She also hopes to infuse more sustainable practices into her production model, like using/donating fabric waste and offering carbon-neutral shipping.
“Vivat Novum has given me the rare and wonderful opportunity to share my aesthetic vision with others, so the more people I can reach, the more thrilled I'll be!” Johnson said.
More about Vivat Novum can be found here.
