WORDS BY JOSEPH FURNESS
With its genderless ready-to-wear line in one hand and its vegan-friendly accessories in the other, Telfar is taking over the fashion scene at a meteoric rate. And as it charges towards the epicentre of style, disrupting norms along the way, we – and the rest of the industry – are paying close attention.
In particular, we’re intrigued by the way sartorial connoisseurs are choosing to style their Telfar pieces, the way they’re caring for them and the sizes they’re opting for (considering the brand is entirely gender neutral). With that in mind, we asked some of our favourite tastemakers, including Ryle Tuvierra and Anthony Urbano, to spill the T on Telfar. Discover everything they had to say below.
Photographer: Cecil Luna
Telfar Sizing, Styling and Care Guide
Ryle Tuvierra (@thefiercewalker)
Creative and Activist based in Barcelona
I first learned about Telfar on Twitter, as all the fashion editors I follow kept name dropping the brand, raving about the quality of its pieces and its general impact. Subsequently, Telfar gained popularity as it aligned with the rising Black Lives Matter movement.
Telfar's famous slogan, ‘Not For You, For Everyone’, represents the brand’s endeavour to give power to the people. I’m glad to see changes like this being made across the fashion sector. Ultimately the designer, Telfar Clemens, aims to give the wearer freedom of choice. I, for one, can relate to his strong sentiment on inclusivity as a proud Trans activist for the Southeast Asian community.
The Telfar tee I’ve chosen to wear is practical and functional: it’s a real quality piece. I love that it’s affordable and not pretentious at all. In fact, I believe its purpose is strongly aligned with my personal brand.
Styling: I’m wearing this black Telfar tee because, although it's simple, the logo emblazoned across the T-shirt speaks volumes. Additionally, I love how edgy it is – I feel like it embodies my fierceness. I can style this T-shirt in various ways; it’s versatile and appropriate for any time of day. I work in the morning and study at night – hence, I’m grateful that this tee keeps me looking and feeling polished and pristine throughout.
Sizing and fit: The Telfar tee fits superbly. I can move around in it comfortably and it hugs the body well. I always opt for Medium, no matter what. I can safely say that I would choose this size again because it looks and feels perfect on me.
Comfort and care: The Telfar tee is extremely comfortable and sits flawlessly, so I’m keen to keep it crisp and clean. I take care of all of my things – especially when they’re designed by my favourite brands. Personally, I feel it’s a sign of respect for the people behind the designs.
Styling & Creative Direction: Sissi Pohle and Patrick Scherzer Photography: Florian Thiel
Telfar Sizing, Styling and Care Guide
Sissi + Pat (@sissipohle & @bangtobang)
Creative Minds based in Berlin
We first noticed the eminent Telfar shopping bag a few years back at Copenhagen Fashion Week – anyone who is anyone was wearing one. We appreciated the manifold colourways and we liked the fresh and unobtrusive logo. After doing some research, we realised that we strongly identified with the brand’s ethos, too.
There are no limits at Telfar: anyone who feels the vibe is welcome to wear the pieces. There really is something for everyone.
Anyone who knows us knows that we love knitwear – especially in winter. Telfar’s knit pieces, designed with uncomplicated cuts for people of all identities, provide that feeling of cosiness that’s usually only felt at home.
Styling: Our style is inspired by the Sex Pistols and London’s ‘70s punk movement. Naturally, we mixed our Telfar knitwear with the punk-inspired pieces in our existing wardrobe to create looks that felt right for us.
Sizing and fit: Our closet is completely mixed, so the unisex sizing at Telfar suits our preferences. We feel that there’s no difference between men's and women's clothing.
The oversized Telfar cape is a size Small and can be worn by Pat (1.87m tall) over a jacket. The beige sweater – with wide shoulders and a straight cut – is a standard fit, so we opted to size up to Large for an oversized look. We are very happy with both and would choose the same sizes again.
Comfort and care: The high-quality cashmere and wool used in Telfar’s pieces make them extremely comfortable; they feel cosy layered up or worn with nothing underneath.
To care for knitwear like this, we use a wool setting on our washing machines and a wool detergent. We also make sure to turn the pieces inside-out. Note: it’s crucial to refrain from washing wool too often. We suggest you simply air your knitwear after wearing it. It’s also best to keep knitwear off hangers; hanging can cause knitwear to lose its shape. Instead, it’s best to fold and store pieces in special bags to protect them from moths. We own a lot of vintage wool designer pieces, hence our attention to detail.
Telfar Sizing, Styling and Care Guide
Maggie Matić (@maggiematic)
Writer, Researcher and Curator based in London
Telfar has made a huge impact with its gorgeous products and clever marketing, but its powerful ethos is what's most important. Our society is heavily individualised, therefore we require a greater focus on the collective and the communal. I believe this is reflected in the brand’s, ‘Not For You, For Everyone’ slogan.
When it comes to my discovery of Telfar, I was familiar with its bags before I was familiar with the brand. I spotted a surge of the accessory online and one day someone tagged Telfar. I thought, ‘Oh, so that’s where these bags are from.’ After that, I remember seeing loads of people sharing information about new drops and screenshots of their confirmation emails, it created a buzz around Telfar.
Styling: I’m wearing Telfar’s, ‘BYE BITCH’ T-shirt because I love a white graphic tee, especially when they’re this eye-catching and humorous. It’s an everyday piece that’s easy to throw on for work or play.
Here, I chose to style it with grey suit trousers and a pair of black Nike Shox; but, to be honest, you can wear it with almost anything. Or, if you’re at home, you can even wear it on its own – I must admit, a T-shirt and a pair of pants has become my WFH outfit of choice. Thank God nobody can see your bottom half on Zoom!
Sizing and fit: I would normally go for an XL, but there was only a size Medium available in this T-shirt. However, I’m actually enjoying the tighter fit – even if it’s out of my comfort zone. It gives the tee a real vintage vibe, which makes it ideal for styling with a pair of baggy trousers.
The tee definitely has a boxy cut, which is testament to Telfar’s take on genderless style. Although, I would like to see Telfar release more oversized tees. I think it’s time the brand started to cater for larger bodies.
Comfort and care: The fabric of this T-shirt is both beautifully soft and gorgeous to look at. I can already tell it is going to wash well. I care for all of my graphic tees by washing them at lower temperatures to make sure the print stays intact.
Bearing in mind the fact that I don’t usually wear tighter fitting tees, I’m surprised I found this piece so flattering and comfortable. I think it comes down to the cut, which is boxier than my traditional T-shirt. I plan to wear it a lot. In fact, consider it my new staple.
Telfar Sizing, Styling and Care Guide
Rene Matić (@rude.boy.rene)
Artist based in London
I discovered Telfar on the streets: I kept noticing their bags everywhere and, soon enough, they started to appear online. But it was only when I learnt that it was owned by a Black queer man that I became fully invested. From then on, I was excited about the brand’s history, present success and future.
What I love most about Telfar Clemens’ vision is how he makes his inclusivity ethos pop using refreshing references, campness and tongue-in-cheek branding. I relate to it because it’s all about sharing, understanding, growing and finding pride within yourself.
Styling: I love to reference different eras with my style, today I’m opting for a ‘70s look. I’m wearing Telfar’s brown velour jacket (which I’ve zipped all the way up) with vintage flares and a pair of Wales Bonner x Adidas Gazelles. It gives off a total hip-hop-meets-fantasy-rock vibe.
I also own a Telfar x Converse T-shirt, which I’ve recently discovered is reversible! I chose this, unsurprisingly, because of its references to the ‘70s. I like to wear it with my vintage Rasta tartan skirt, black monkey boots – a shoe that used to be popular with rudies and skinheads in the ‘70s and ’80s – and a pair of square orange glasses.
Sizing and fit: I chose an XS jacket because of its oversized design. Unlike some other brands’ oversized fits, Telfar pieces are much bigger. In fact, if it was any larger, the jacket would be wearing me!
When it comes to T-shirts, I like to keep my options open. I want to be able to tuck it in or keep it loose. For this reason, I went for a size Large. As Telfar is a genderless brand that prioritises the masc body, I think I chose the right fit.
Comfort and care: This Telfar T-shirt is comfy as hell, which is dangerous because I need to stop myself from lounging in it. The fabric is just so soft! Regarding the jacket, I feel very precious about it – so much so, I want to be buried in it. That’s how much I plan on caring for it.
Telfar Sizing, Styling and Care Guide
Anthony Urbano (@oh_anthonio)
Blogger and content creator based in New York
Telfar first popped up on my radar around three years ago. I started to notice the trademark ‘T’ logo all over Instagram and I was curious to know more about it. After a quick browse on the internet, I quickly understood the reason behind its popularity.
The brand is created by a Black queer designer based in my hometown, New York. It’s a label I resonate with chiefly because it is grounded and inclusive; it’s quite unlike any other luxury brand. I enjoy purchasing Telfar pieces because I like to consciously support designers I relate to.
Styling: Fundamentally, my style is rooted in comfort, which is why I love wearing my Telfar track jacket. I adore the throwback vibe of the velour fabric, it’s the perfect combo of casual and luxurious. It instantly gives me a feeling of relaxed confidence when I put it on.
Here, I’m wearing my jacket with jeans for a look that’s relaxed and a little loungey. Naturally, I chose to accessorise with my Telfar shopping bag. The bag was actually the first piece I bought from the brand.
Sizing and fit: In terms of its genderless sizing, I would say Telfar leans towards the typical ‘relaxed sizing’ measurements for men. I generally prefer jackets in a relaxed fit, so I can wear them over bulkier items (like a heavy knit sweater). My usual size is Medium, but I chose to size down for this jacket and it worked out perfectly. Ergo, I’d probably stick with the same size again.
Comfort and care: This track jacket is something I could live in. The velour fabric is comfortable on the inside and out – it’s super soft and cosy. To keep it this way, I’ll be hand-washing my Telfar jacket and will spot-clean any stains.
Telfar Sizing, Styling and Care Guide
Nia Groce (@niag)
Writer and Photographer based in New York
I first heard about Telfar whilst working as a fashion assistant for Footwear News. I was always on the lookout for emerging Black designers and creatives to feature; thus, it was exciting to discover such a progressive voice.
I applaud Telfar Clemens’ willingness to invite anyone into his brand, living by his label’s slogan (and ethos), “Not for You, For Everyone”. In my opinion, the brand has helped usher in the concept of genderless clothing to fashion’s inner circle. It’s incredible to see Telfar break down the walls of exclusivity, walls that have been maintained for years by luxury brands. I relate to his mentality as I’ve often feel excluded from the fashion world. Ergo, seeing Telfar succeed inspires me to stay motivated – if I believe in what I have to offer, I will touch the lives of people across the world.
Styling: When I saw this Telfar tee, I instantly loved its quirky telephone graphic. As a writer, I'm all about puns, riddles, and everything in between; in short, it's right up my street! Plus, the neutral colour of the piece, and its subtle white contrast collar, will fit right in with my current wardrobe.
I styled my Telfar tee with a fresh mint green skirt, baby pink Telfar bag and a fresh pair of pastel pink sneakers. The fit is extremely comfortable and chic, making it the ideal ensemble for a casual dinner.
Sizing and fit: The tee's fit matches my personal preferences — it's roomy and falls around the waist nicely. I went with a Medium (my typical size in tops) and would probably opt for the same size in the future. Although I must say, due to the genderless sizing, the tee is a little longer than any other Medium tee I own.
Comfort and care: This Telfar tee is quite comfortable; it almost has a lived-in feel. I plan to preserve the quality of it as best as possible, therefore, it won’t be my everyday top – chiefly because of my affinity for Italian food. Albeit, I will be sure to enjoy it whilst it lasts, washing it on occasion.