FASHION: Rob Tennent Showcases Graduate Collection on Grindr.

As the global pandemic continues to challenge designers and fashion houses to show their latest collections in new and innovative ways, fashion student Rob Tennent rejected Auckland University of Technology’s suggestion of a Zoom presentation. Instead, he cast his friends as models and asked them to create Grindr accounts to showcase his graduate collection.

“I was scrolling through Grindr one night, and I found this guy who had this Helmut Lang singlet and as we were talking I realised, what an awesome way to show clothes. Grindr is basically a gay online shopping app. It makes a lot of sense for me to directly show people like myself the products,” says the Cambodia-born designer in an interview with Fucking Young.

Specifically designed for New Zealand’s queer community and featuring Tennent’s take on the black cut-out singlet, the collection’s aim is to subvert the country’s hyper-masculine culture.

“Incorporating the corset neckline and the spandex fabric usually used for shapewear, I came up with a design that is a gender-neutral hybrid,” adds Tennent in an i-D write-up.