You could feel it from the sidewalk: the bass shaking the pavement, and the unmistakable energy of people dressed in full dancehall fashion. Theophilio’s Bashment was back, and baby, it did not disappoint. Right in the middle of Brooklyn, the second annual party was a full-on celebration of Caribbean Heritage Month, but let’s be clear, this wasn’t some cute themed event. This was culture in motion.
Theophilio’s Edvin Thompson has always known how to dress us for the moment, but this time, he cultivated the moment himself. Picture it: over 2,000 people sweating, dancing, and stunting in everything from custom mesh Theophilio fits to vintage “yard” tees and glittery heels. The energy? In Edvin’s words, electric. And he wasn’t lying. The space was packed, but it felt like home. Flags in the air, bodies moving in sync, and a sound system that shook your soul in the best way.
What makes Bashment special is that it’s not just a party. It’s a love letter to the Caribbean, written in riddim and wrapped in looks. “We created this to center and celebrate Caribbean culture within fashion and the creative industries, not as a theme, but as a living, breathing experience,” Edvin told me. And honestly, mission accomplished. You could feel the joy in people’s shoulders. The ownership in every whine. It wasn’t curated for the algorithm, it was curated for us.
And let’s talk about the fashion. Dancehall fashion isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence. It’s mesh and metallics, cutouts and cling, and a little glitter on the chest. It celebrates the body as canvas, the dance floor as runway, and self-expression as survival. That spirit is baked into Theophilio’s brand mission: to honor the Caribbean’s boldness, beauty, and unapologetic flair, not just through clothing, but through world-building. In an industry that can feel so buttoned-up, Bashment offers something sacred: release. A place where the stylists, editors, artists, and fashion kids can show up loud, free, and fully themselves. Because even the most serious corners of fashion deserve a night to let go and be reminded of why we do this in the first place.
The inspiration is deeply personal for Edvin, who grew up in Kingston surrounded by street dances, ingenuity, and all the flavor that defines the islands. He wanted to bottle that spirit and bring it to Brooklyn, not watered down, not editorialized, just raw, real, and lit. And let me tell you, when the DJ dropped that Popcaan and the entire courtyard sang along in unison? I had goosebumps. That kind of moment doesn’t happen at fashion week, it happens at Bashment.
And if you missed it this year? Start planning for next year. There’s no other space like it in the industry right now. Where else can you see a fashion crowd and a Caribbean crowd exist as one, in full color and full freedom? That’s what Theophilio does. It stitches culture and nowness into the clothing and spaces they create.
