Cindy Vo's Quiet Rebellion

The young designer's work is a refreshing take on tactile design — inspired by growing up in Nebraska, traditional Vietnamese design, and a stint at Proenza Schouler.

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We’ve all felt the thrill of chasing the latest trends on social media. One day, it’s shopping for nostalgic Y2K layered necklaces; the next, it’s picking statement charms for a vintage Coach or Fendi baguette; the next, it’s browsing maxi skirts for the perfect summer casual wear. Gen Z’s digital fluency fuels a constant style evolution that fashion brands are racing to decode. 

Unlike past generations, their path to purchase is more relational and largely takes place online. According to Archrival, 56% of Zoomers seek new style inspo weekly, with many relying on social media and algorithms to do it. Despite the eventual trend burnout, Zoomers readily join style crazes as they appear — giving them a paradoxical reputation among brands trying to decipher their unpredictable buying habits. As Harper Bazaar’s Ella Sangster wrote, “My generation is a paradox… We adore vintage clothing and are adamant that our clothing be sustainable, but [we] indulge in microtrends and love fast fashion. As we hit adulthood, fashion wants to know how to get our attention. To do that, they have to define us.” 

With their diverse fashion tastes, Zoomers are sometimes considered trendsetters and other times trend followers. A recent New York Post article covered the viral backlash from Millennials and Gen Xers over a TikTok video showing a group of twenty-somethings all wearing the same minimalist look.

“They’ve got copy paste taste,” wrote reporter Asia Grace. “Rather than being seen as fashionably unique, they’ve all conformed to the overdone ‘Gen Z uniform’.”

The post, shared by Manhattan content creator Christian Zubidi, quickly amassed 1.3M views and drew comments calling the outfits “boring” or “the Zara parade”. Even Zubidi himself remarked on how many of the girls were wearing nearly identical outfits. It raises the question of public opinion: Have Zoomers lost their curiosity to the all-powerful FYP? Are they lacking intentionality? One Gen Z designer, Cindy Vo, thinks not. 

Based in New York, Vo’s work is a refreshing take on tactile design, utilizing meticulously chosen fabrics to craft movement and blur the boundaries between form and fit. This is partly achieved through her technical expertise, which she refined while interning at Proenza Schouler.

During her time there, she contributed to the Spring 2025 Ready-to-Wear collection — most notably on looks 29 and 47 — where she reimagined bust seam lines on pleated fabric and layered fringe elements for dynamic skirt construction. She also assisted with pattern mockups, fabric sourcing, garment construction, and pre-show preparations. 

Vo’s desire to use design as a way of exploring the layered intersections of cultural identity, influence, and memory is integral to her work. That interest, in many ways, traces back to her earliest experiences. 

Raised in Nebraska, Vo found inspiration in the unexpected contrast between her surroundings and her heritage. The soft, rolling hills of the Midwest sharpened her attention to subtlety, while at home, the ornate textiles and ceremonial elegance of traditional Vietnamese garments like the áo dài developed her appreciation for fashion’s ability to communicate culture and history. 

“Growing up, I was fascinated by how clothing can transform not just appearances, but also identity,” she said. “My experiences and heritage have taught me the importance of inclusivity and storytelling in fashion design. I want my collections to reflect a multicultural narrative that innovates while still honoring traditions.”

Vo’s cross-cultural lens is central to her latest collection, Eternal Merge. A study in precision and restraint, the collection serves as a “quiet rebellion” against the assumptions that Gen Z is unfocused or even monolithic by focusing on touch as a centering, almost meditative force. 

“Eternal Merge feels like a quiet rebellion against the overstimulation Gen Z is often associated with. While we’re known for maximalism and digital fluency, there’s also a growing desire among many of us for intentionality—less noise, more substance,” she said. “The collection taps into a craving for grounding, for pieces that hold presence without shouting. There’s still self-expression, but it’s quieter, more precise. The tailored silhouettes echo a sense of maturity, while the minimalism reflects a deeper understanding of design and restraint.”

The collection is defined by tailored suit jackets that harmonize sharp lapels and transparent, flowing sleeves; billowing blouses that shapeshift into slim silhouettes via form-defining buttons and waist ties. These chameleon styles create a gentle visual tension that reimagines what’s possible through intentional, tactile design. To achieve this, Vo utilized advanced pattern-making techniques to merge structure and fluidity. She also used a unique fabric board composed of wool, Lycra, and polyester chiffon variations to develop custom patterns for asymmetric draping, layered cutouts, and extended silhouettes. 

"Many looks started with flat patterns, which I then manipulated on the form — adding darts, pivoting seams, or slashing and spreading to create organic shapes. I also integrated built-in understructures to support sheer outer layers, ensuring they moved freely while maintaining form,” she said. “I really wanted to incorporate both tailoring and drapery into my collection. Peter Do’s Spring/Summer 2023 collection was a key inspiration here.”

In addition to an inspired fabric board, Eternal Merge features a cool, minimalist color palette to enhance each outfit’s visual structure and lightness. Bold bursts of blue draw the eye along crisp hemlines, inviting audiences to investigate further, emphasizing Vo’s tactile focus as a powerful design tool. 

“With Eternal Merge, I’m not rejecting Gen Z fashion—I’m reframing it,” Vo says. “The collection doesn’t rely on irony, excess, or fast novelty. Instead, it invites stillness, touch, and emotional weight. Where many collections speak loudly, mine whispers. It challenges the assumption that Gen Z fashion must be performative or hyper-online by offering something sensory and inward.”

What distinguishes Eternal Merge, even from designers Vo admires, like Peter Do, is its commitment to identity as an ongoing negotiation. “The collection visualizes the merging of self: cultural, emotional, and physical,” she said. “Through layered transparencies, exposed seams, and hybrid construction, the garments express what words can’t. I use fabric not just as a material, but as a memory-keeper.”

Shifting to mindful stillness isn’t unfamiliar to Gen Z, but it’s rare to see it performed with such poetic insight as in Eternal Merge. Vo is in tune with the zeitgeist, as emphasizing stillness is becoming a new way for major brands to connect with a generation fatigued by digital noise.

Coach’s “On Your Own Time” Spring 2025 campaign champions the idea of “setting your own pace,” featuring Elle Fanning and Nazha meandering through slow-motion city scenes after realizing their independence with their tasteful Coach bags and confident smiles. There’s also Kate Spade’s Spring/Summer 2025 campaign “To the Ones Who Carry Us” that similarly positions slow moments and personal connection as aspirational, casting Ice Spice and Charli D’Amelio in celebrated vignettes of friendship, quiet glamour, and communal pause.

As Kate Spade’s CEO and Brand President, Eva Erdmann put it, “In a world where digital interactions often overshadow genuine connections, the profound bond of friendship becomes, more than ever, an indispensable anchor.”

Vo’s Eternal Merge taps into this budding cultural shift that values sincerity over spectacle. It embraces Gen Z’s aesthetic duality not as a contradiction but as a necessary lens for exploring identity, especially for young people, in an ever-evolving world. In other words: it’s OK to do your own thing.

“Eternal Merge feels like a quiet rebellion against the overstimulation Gen Z is often reduced to,” Vo said. “This collection recognizes that we’re not a monolith. We can live in dualities. It inspires others to slow down, to feel more deeply, to see beauty in raw, unfinished edges. It’s about honoring the in-between moments, the parts of ourselves that are still evolving. It reminds people that fashion can be an archive of feeling, identity, and connection — not just an aesthetic choice.”

Since graduating from Moore College of Art and Design in May, Vo has been focused on deepening her technical expertise — sharpening her skills in sewing and purposeful design. She plans to work for another high-end fashion brand like Proenza Schouler in New York City, where she can grow as a designer and continue to develop her artistry. 

“I’m looking to deepen my skills in construction, patternmaking, and development while contributing to a team that values innovation and craftsmanship,” she said. “Long term, I want to create work that blends emotional storytelling with refined techniques — designs that feel both conceptually rich and beautifully executed.”

As with Eternal Merge, Vo hopes to continue to challenge expectations, reminding audiences how styling, craft, and touch can build communal belonging. Regardless of trend cycles, public opinions, or the latest marketing ad, the most important style is the one that fosters growth, community, and celebrates feeling. In this ever-changing world, it’s something worth remembering. 🌀

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Amara Johnson is a writer based in Philadelphia, PA. When she’s not writing, she’s reading or scrolling through Pinterest for style inspo. She loves finding the story in everything.