WILDEST! GRADUATE COLLECTION

Matt Tompkins’ inaugural fashion collection, Wildest, powerfully interrogates conventional ideas of masculinity through the lens of 19th‑century Wild West iconography and the often-overlooked tradition of historical cross‑dressing. Drawing inspiration from figures like Calamity Jane—who famously adopted men’s attire and, in doing so, transformed how she was treated—Tompkins explores how clothing shapes not only identity, but also social perception.

Each garment in Wildest is intentionally gender‑neutral, cut to fit a wide range of body types and erase the traditional divide between “men’s” and “women’s” fashion. The collection seeks to dismantle the outdated stigma around who “can” wear what, offering pieces that any individual can claim as their own.

Tompkins was meticulous in his design process, sourcing only materials that would have been historically available in the Wild West era. This attention to period-authentic fabrics and detailing grounds the collection in its frontier setting while making a radically modern statement. Wildest reimagines masculine dress—and fashion at large—as a realm of personal expression, inclusivity, and fluidity.