Wildfang: [wayld-fang]
Origin: German. Tomboy. Wild child.
Wildfang founders, Emma McIlroy and Julia
Parsley couldn’t have hit the nail more squarely
when choosing a moniker to describe their brand
located in Portland, Oregon. Wildfang offers clothing
lines that cater to women who raid their boyfriends’/
fathers’/grandfathers’ closets and wardrobes. Wildfang is
a beacon to those women who scour thrift stores hours on
end for the perfect pair of blue jeans, blazers, and well-worn
button-ups. At long last, Wildfang offers salvation for these
desperate souls whose fruitless searches leave them rife with
disappointment.
Five years ago, McIlroy and Parsley conceptualized a clothing brand that would provide clothing to women that the modern fashion world was negligent: menswear tailored
to a feminine slant. The two ex-Nike executives have executed their endeavor flawlessly,
partially to the organic development of the branding to the synchronicity of the product provided to the demand of a demographic of women that have become fed up with the over-standardization of how and what “feminine” is defined as in the fashion industry. This philosophy has
garnered the attention of more than a handful of iconoclastic personalities. Instigating an ad campaign, Evan Rachel Wood found Wildfang while searching for maternity wear. The campaign titled,
“Evan Rachel Would” featured the actress herself, Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth, Portland Trailblazer
Robin Lopez (infamous distaste for mascots), and Beth Ditto from The Gossip. The short film by indie
director, James Westby and produced by Ryan Crisman of Portland-based Sockeye advertising agency
went viral after its release earlier this year.
38
InkSpIredMagazIne.coM