RVN’S NEW YORK MOMENT: As a new CFDA member and a New York-trained designer, RVN’s Ted Kim will return to the city Sept. 9 to stage his first NYFW presentation. The Los-Angeles Kim worked at Donna Karan, Michael Kors and Anne Klein before launching RVN (a name that plays off revolution) in 2011. Like many of his competitors, the Parsons New School for Design grad has set his sights on being a contender for next year’s CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund award. If that weren’t enough of a motivator, Kim has the added reenforcement of RVN-wearing notables like Beyoncé, Sofía Vergara, Katy Perry and Brittany Snow.
Vergara’s stylist recently sprang for 20 fall items for the “Modern Family” actress — her third RVN shopping spree. And Taylor Swift’s stylist picked up five outfits and requested a custom-made one. “We’re turning into a Taylor Swift atelier,” Kim said. “I’ve got worse things to complain about.”
The Seoul-born Kim produces his RVN collection in a Los Angeles factory owned and run by his family. Even though the company’s home office is on the West Coast, Kim still spends a good deal in Manhattan. With an apartment on the Lower East Side and a sales office in the city, Kim is gearing up to establish even more of a foothold in New York.