By Fiona Good-Sirota By Fiona Good-Sirota | October 10, 2024 | People, Style & Beauty, Style & Beauty,
Signature apparel from Third Coast Chicago
Streetwear and luxury fashion converge with the launch of Third Coast Chicago, the highly anticipated inaugural fashion brand from founder Adam Woitkowski, former chief commercial officer for fine jewelry store CD Peacock. The collection pays homage to beloved aspects of the Windy City, ushered into the spotlight by spokesperson Carrington Bornstein—a Chicago native who has amassed millions of fans on Instagram and TikTok with his distinctive style, comedic skits and witty persona.
Set to debut on Oct. 20 at 1 p.m. at a Chicago Fashion Week runway show, the full-concept lifestyle brand merges the city’s vibrant culture with high-end design. The brand draws inspiration from iconic elements of the Windy City—from the flag’s six-pointed stars to signature pieces like the “Pilsen Hoodie.”
We caught up with Bornstein and Woitkowski to discuss the vision behind the brand and what it means to represent Chicago on a global platform. Here’s what they had to say about the launch, the brand itself and what’s next for Third Coast Chicago.
Comedian, actor and influencer Carrington Bornstein, spokesperson for Third Coast Chicago
What inspired you to become a spokesperson for Third Coast Chicago?
CB: I just love Chicago and love how the brand represents it.
What do you feel sets Third Coast Chicago apart from other fashion brands?
CB: I think their desire to proudly represent their city is something that makes this brand really special.
What are your favorite pieces from Third Coast Chicago, and how do you style them?
CB: I love the zip-up hoodies and the Buckingham Pendant. Throw on some black jeans with the hoodie and chain and I’m golden.
Carrington Bornstein at the Third Coast Chicago Fashion Week runway show
What role do you think influencers play in shaping fashion trends today?
CB: It’s really about the people who follow creators. If you’re fond of someone online, you naturally want to know more about them, and since everybody wears clothes, you become a walking billboard. So you naturally gain the ability to tell people what’s cool and what’s not. And when you’re a part of the culture, your clothes become part of it too. So the culture is what really influences people.
As a Chicago native, how does it feel to return to the area for the Fashion Week launch?
CB: I am happy as a clam to be back. I love the nostalgia of being back in Chicago.
What advice would you give aspiring influencers trying to break into the industry?
CB: Don’t ride waves, become the wave. Also, learn how to monetize your platform.
Third Coast Chicago’s Buckingham pendant, crafted with an 18-karat gold finish over stainless steel
Can you dish on some of the things we’ll see Carrington wearing at the runway show?
AW: Naturally, he’s wearing some of his favorite pieces, like the 312 Jean in a wide leg that was made in Chicago. He’s also wearing the Wilson Skate Park Hoodie, which has amazing embroidery on the front. Each embroidery takes an hour and a half to produce. Lastly, he’ll definitely be flaunting The Buckingham Bag, but that’s a big surprise, so we’ll unveil it at the show.
What made you choose Carrington for the show?
AW: At first, I really wanted Carrington because he’s really a muse for my brand. I love his personal style, and obviously, he’s strikingly gorgeous. But beyond that, I’ve been following Carrington for quite some time; I don’t think he does this anymore, but there was a time when he would pretend to be a professor at Harvard, and he was really believable. He would talk about his students, how his classes went, the subject matter of his classes and on and on. I was actually convinced that he was a professor, and when I realized he wasn’t, it just made me a bigger fan. Then about two months ago, he posted on his Instagram that he missed Chicago, and I had no idea he was from here. Right after that, I went to work.
Models at the Third Coast Chicago Fashion Week runway show
You called Carrington a muse for your brand. Can you explain more about why?
AW: Carrington is the epitome of a "Third Coaster"; he’s authentic, adventurous and above all, he loves everyone but hates haters. About two months ago, he posted in support of the LGBTQIA+ community (which I belong to), and he quickly received some backlash from his “fans.” The next day, he made another post saying he lost over 100,000 fans on his social media account and followed up by pretty much saying he had absolutely no regrets for supporting my community and that he will always have a love for his LGBTQIA+ family. He encouraged anyone who doesn’t agree to unfollow him. I cried when I saw this. That’s the true definition of a Third Coaster, unapologetically kind and unapologetically inclusive.
For more information about Third Coast Chicago and the Chicago Fashion Week runway show on Oct. 20 at 1 p.m., visit the brand's website or get in touch via email at [email protected].
See also: The Ultimate Guide To Chicago Fashion Week 2024
Photography by: Photography of Carrington Bornstein by @daniel_mutton, MUA & Hair by @shrimp_punk, styling by @itzjonce & @stevie.xs, photography assistance by @dantevelasquezjr; photography of Third Coast Chicago collections by Ethan Worley, courtesy of Third Coast Chicago