Fashion forward Grayson Thornberry has Cincinnati roots, and now as an up-and-coming designer for the renowned menswear label Todd Snyder, he is thriving at his dream job in New York.
Thornberry grew up in suburban Cincinnati and has always been a step ahead in fashion.
“I can recall times all the way back to kindergarten, me thinking about things I'd worn and what made me like it,” Thornberry reflects.
His interest in design started with footwear—he became interested in soccer cleats during junior high. Then, he created and sold a line of printed t-shirts during high school.
“That was a fun project that got me into making clothes and selling them,” he explains. “We all start somewhere!” he adds.
While at the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP), Thornberry participated in multiple co-op learning experiences, including working in New York with Vera Wang and locally at Romualdo Sartoria in Madeira, before heading to a life-changing semester in London.
“Working at Romualdo was one of the most transformative semesters for me, second only to the London semester,” he shares. “A week into being in London, my father passed away unexpectedly.”
Losing his father was influential to Thornberry’s senior thesis project, a collection named after his father’s nickname for the family home they had been building, Thornbrier.
“I named the collection ‘Thornbrier,’ and I actually shot my lookbook in what would have been his office. I'll cherish that memory forever,” he says.
These are some of the photos from that collection. The designs reflect Thornberry’s inspiration from family heritage, tradition and humanity.
“I really value tradition for what it is and use it to create something that's new,” he explains. “I’m driven to create a better version of what came before.”
Thornberry continues to follow his passion for fashion. He enjoys the collegiality of menswear, especially as a part of the Todd Snyder team.
“I love the product we work on,” says Thornberry. “I love the day-to-day, but more, I love the people I work with. I work with a lot of fellow Midwesterners, and we're like a family.”
Keep a watch on this rising star. There’s so much more success ahead.