Conner Ives is a fashion designer revolutionising the industry with refreshing pieces that curiously bind vintage aesthetics with modern interests. Reconstituting materials into viral upcycled collections whilst also raising awareness on important topics in society, Conner Ives encompasses both education and enterprise within his work. It’s his world, and we’re just living in it.

Rihanna in iconic Conner Ives’ 30s slip maxi dress. Photo by Backgrid, available via @marieclaire. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Even as a fashion student - studying Womenswear at Central Saint Martins, LDN - Conner was gaining serious recognition for his meticulous and innovative abilities. Imagine dressing Adwoa Abdoh for the Met Gala as your first gig…at 21. Or working with Rihanna and Fenty at 23. For Conner, it’s a reality; building an empire from the start.

He graduated in 2020 and, remaining in London, has made even more waves in the industry since. Literally all of Conner Ives’ designs turn heads in their own way: brazen and interesting, chic, inspiring. They each have that certain vibe we all crave. But some pieces have an extra something special even beyond that:

The Protect the Dolls T-shirt

A viral piece, to say the least. To conclude his Autumn/Winter 2025 show, Conner Ives himself made an appearance on the runway wearing a white t-shirt with ‘Protect the Dolls’ in bold, black lettering. Almost immediately, it was seen on other icons of the industry, including Troye Sivan, promptly raising rightful awareness for the issues that are unfortunately still faced in relation to trans rights. ‘Dolls’ is a supportive term which refers to trans women, highlighting Conner’s support for trans women and the community. Everyone standing together to raise awareness and foster change is so important; now more than ever.

This design is available for preorder via the official Conner Ives Website, where all proceeds go directly to Trans Lifeline - a charity in the US which offers support to trans people through a hotline (run by trans and non-binary operators) and financial help (for example when updating ID documents.) So by styling this tee, we are spreading awareness and directly funding support. This t-shirt is one of Conner Ives’ most well-known, viral designs. For good reason.

Troye Sivan wearing Conner Ives’ ‘Protect the Dolls’ t-shirt, pictured with Alex Consani at Coachella 2025. Photo available via IG @troyesivan. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

The ability Conners’ designs have to make something so important is inspiring. Conner shared on an Insta post- “I never had any idea what this would turn into, what we would be able to do with the printing of a tee. … Moments like these remind me why I do this! Clothes that become something bigger. Absolutely wild.”

Shirred Reconstituted Jerseys

Inventive streetwear mastery. Whether a football top, a basketball jersey, or a maxi dress of an interesting fusion of teams - the shirred garments are amongst Conner’s most adorned, especially on IG.

Each piece is artistically curated from vintage sports jerseys or fabrics, formulating a one-of-a-kind design that captures the trending y2k ‘baby tee’ vibe, whilst keeping the original allure of the shirt alive, and reducing the impact fashion has on the environment.

The shirred look adds dimension and a certain aura to the tee; cinching the waist to give a modern, distinctive flair to an otherwise ‘ordinary’ tee…or tees. Whilst the basketball jerseys/football tops are standalone pieces made from one vintage piece (expertly handpicked by the CI team), the maxi dress variation melds two shirts, related or not They create a novel and distinctive silhouette, that we all, ofc, are obsessed with. The jerseys can be curiously shopped via Conner’s website; the Football maxi dress via Selfridges in the UK. An outlandish affair, the shirred vibe is something that sets Conner aside from any other designer atm. A totally unique vision. And, whilst turning heads from how cool you look, you can have the extra boost knowing you’re protecting the planet, as fashion moves to a more sustainable industry.

@thewestunhole in a CI shirred shirt, paired with Adidas shorts for a cutesy streetwear display. Photo available via @connerives on IG. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

To style the tees: a pair of voguish, y2k inspired sneakers (think Puma Sppedcats, Adidas Taekwondo mei, Samba etcetera etcetera), a complementary mini bubble skirt (controversial, yes.) and a pair of sleek sunglasses. Perhaps have some other cool accessories on the radar, like an edgy, polished handbag…maybe in all black to leave the focus on the star of the show: Conner Ives. Shirred is in and Conner Ives is the designer to trust.

CI Cap

A(nother) icon. Of course, Ives’ aptitude for design does not stop at clothing. His creative vision is prevalent in a range of accessories, the viral navy baseball cap being a prime example. It’s proof that sleek, minimalist accessories are timeless. Sometimes a chic cap that can be paired with anything is all we really need.

This cap dons a white, embroidered ci design, with a ‘CI’ patch added on the side. Its whole existence is inspired by Lauren Hutton - who (controversially?) wore a tux suit with a navy baseball cap, melding styles to curate an iconic fit. Now, the Conner Ives take has been pictured on modern fashion IT girls like Kim K, highlighting the power of a perhaps ‘basic’ accessory to take an outfit to a new level.

The cap is available for pre-order on Conner Ives’ website in two colourways: navy and green - ideal for a bright hue to conclude a summer fit, or as a brazen unexpected accessory for a lustrous gown or tux. Styled how ever desired, Conner Ives is giving the girlies what they want.

The Hudson River School Fleece Mini Skirt + Quarter Zip

Conner Ives’ whole Hudson River School collection brings something new, interesting and chic to the fashion market, backed by history. The fleece quarter zip (from A/W 2022) in particular has famously caught the attention of Hailey Bieber and highlights the versatility of Conner’s designs…it can be styled with anything. Perhaps the matching CI fleece skirt for a nature-focused ensemble. Or, with shorts and a cap (maybe the above mentioned CI cap?), taking inspo from Hailey.

Ives’ sweatshirts are always a creative display of various hues and patterns, and the Hudson valley fleece is an effective nod to art of the past, whilst serving curious art of the present through fashion.

Hailey Bieber in The Hudson River School Quarter Zip Fleece by Conner Ives. Photo by Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/GC images. Available via British Vogue. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

The Hudson River School is a 19th Century art movement which created paintings of the Hudson River Valley in NY, and its surroundings (mountains, vast areas of trees and nature). Artists such as Thomas Cole saw the beauty in nature, and reflected its whimsical positivity through art, changing perspectives to favour conservation and preservation of such scenery. Being originally from New York, this collection could pay homage to Conner’s roots, and not only provides chic garments, but brings about historical education.

The fleece pieces are an excellent representation of the art of the past: encapsulating a view of trees in warm hues of orange and yellow, similar to some of the original art works.

Worn together or not, both the fleece mini skirt and quarter zip are unique and exclusive pieces, evident of Conner’s ever growing and distinctive portfolio. The fleece mini skirt is available exclusively via Ives’ website, and is part of the archive sale - meaning these distinctive vetements can’t be returned and once they’re sold out, they’re sold out. The quarter zip was available via Selfridges in the UK, but appears out of stock/unavailable. Conner Ives’ pieces are one-of-a-kind, and hard to get a hold of. They’re distinctive, chic, and everything the fashion world craves.

Unique and interesting designs seem to be pretty popular in the fashion world rn; we crave things never seen before, and pieces that make you kinda stop and stare. From streetwear to elegant gowns, and cool shoes to handbags of illusion, Conner Ives venturesomely enhances the womenswear space. In 2025, he won the British Vogue Designer Fashion Fund…so there’s definitely plenty more upcycled vintage x ultra modern couture to come.

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