Despite being a pair of newcomers who recently launched their first collection, Jessica Lapidos and Thomas Barranca of TILLYandWILLIAM give off the air of industry veterans who know exactly what they’re doing. After a successful runway show during New York Fashion Week in February, the duo held a trunk show on April 11 at the trendy Lower East Side boutique A. Turen.

The in-store show featured many of the notable pieces that premiered on the runway. With pieces like reversible capes and a pair of drop-crotch pants that transform into a shirt, the collection screamed versatile chic.

“Our whole philosophy is transformable unisexuality,” Lapidos said. “It’s this middle ground that serves as the jumping point for the collection.”

Stretchable materials are juxtaposed with heavier fabrics, creating a contrast that is not only uniquely stylish but also incredibly practical. The strategic flexibility offers movement that is both comfortable and dramatic.

“Everything is about movement. It’s about moving with the air, stretching in the right place and heavy and light in different places,” said Lapidos, who then did a little spin to showcase how the dress she wore twirled with her body.

Not only are the clothes personal in the sense that they conform to the body’s silhouette, the way they were made is also distinctive on its own. Every piece in the collection was hand-dyed by Lapidos, who used natural ingredients.

“I brewed all the colors on a stovetop from wood chips and plants,” the designer said. “The idea came about when I thought, ‘You know, if I was stranded in a forest and only had plants, what would I do with them?’”

Perhaps this organic design was the reason the pair caught the attention of A. Turen’s owner, Ashley Turen.

“I think their pieces are unique and transformative,” Turen said. “Things that are multifunctional stand out to me.”

From the look of the boutique, it seems that Lapidos and Barranca’s designs fit right in among the sea of eclectic pieces that create what Turen described as the “ultimate stylist closet.”

The duo decided to hold a trunk show for their first collection so they could interact with customers. They want to give customers the opportunity to touch and play with the clothes.

“So far, the [interaction] has been me wearing things out and getting stopped on the street by someone who wants to know where I got my coat, but now I’m really excited to interact on a personal level,” Lapidos said.

From the way the clothes were made to the way they’re meant to feel, everything about this collection and these two designers is personal. It’s this intimate connection that makes TILLYandWILLIAM stand out from the rest.

Marina Zheng is a staff writer. Email her at [email protected]