FRED SEGAL LAUNCHES MADELEN NYAU AND T1TAN STUDIO DEBUT COLLECTION

Today, Fred Segal launches the first collection from Madelen Nyau, winner of the second annual Season Zero design contest presented by Mastercard. The debut collection will be presented with a celebration at Fred Segal’s flagship Sunset Blvd. location, where the designs will be available for sale until January 2023.

Zambian-born and Queens-raised, Madelen Nyau is now based in Brooklyn, New York, exploring concepts driven by science, psychology, and quantum mechanics through design with her brand, T1TAN Studio. The brand’s name is derived from Greek mythology, telling the story of the great old ones who were defeated but never stopped trying to reclaim their power. Nyau’s mission is to create silhouettes and garments that empower the physical flesh and spirit to handle any adversity experienced.

Nyau’s debut collection is driven by the relationship of the body to space and objects with a focus on the work chair – re-evaluating its physical, emotional, and spiritual role. The designs look at the construction of furniture to increase productivity and focus, playing with structure, function, and comfort. Exaggerated silhouettes emphasizing upright tops and billowing bottoms highlight the physical purposes in the anatomy of a chair alongside the value of connection to the environment.

The unisex line features knit tops, denim pants and coats, waxed and unwaxed canvas pants, shorts, a cotton-polyester skirt, pleated dress, and more ranging in prices from $125 to $595. The knits incorporate technology from Shima Seiki programming to achieve stiff construction in tops. Fabrications include wool, crochet thread, cotton yarn, cotton denim, polytech, and twill.

As the 2022 winner of Season Zero, Nyau’s debut collection will be on display and available for purchase at Fred Segal Sunset Boulevard and online at fredsegal.com. She received mentorship from Fred Segal and Mastercard representatives and was awarded a Mastercard $10,000 grant and Digital Doors Toolkit to help further grow and digitally enhance her business.

Fred Segal and Black in Fashion Council, an organization dedicated to securing the advancement of people of color within the industry, partner on Season Zero, a nationwide design contest presented by Mastercard. Early-stage designers and artisans are invited to participate in an effort to provide a platform for unestablished members of the fashion and creative industries. With applicants spanning the country, the grand prize winner receives a Mastercard grant, a coveted pop-up showcasing the designer’s work at Fred Segal’s retail store and e-commerce site, and a prestigious mentorship opportunity.