Matt Tompkins is a menswear and unisex clothing designer whose work is deeply rooted in personal memories, nostalgia, and storytelling. Drawing from lived experiences and the textures of everyday life, his garments offer a quiet yet powerful reflection on identity, community, and belonging. With a thoughtful blend of traditional tailoring and contemporary form, Tompkins creates clothing that feels both familiar and subversively fresh.

His latest collection, Wildest, challenges conventional ideas of gender in fashion—specifically how clothing defines and reinforces the concept of masculinity. Taking inspiration from the American Wild West and the often-overlooked history of cross-dressing during that time, Tompkins explores how clothing can shift perceptions and break down rigid gender norms. Figures like Calamity Jane serve as touchpoints, showing how gender presentation was not only fluid but also powerful in changing social roles and expectations.

Through Wildest, Tompkins aims to blur the lines between what is traditionally seen as “male” or “female” attire. Each piece in the collection is designed to be genderless and tailored to suit a range of body types, removing the stigma around who is “allowed” to wear what. Emphasizing period accuracy, the designer used only materials that would have been available during the era, blending historical context with modern inclusivity.

Tompkins’ work invites us to view fashion not just as clothing, but as a lived experience—one capable of shifting narratives, sparking dialogue, and embracing the complexity of self-expression.