Moxie Wrrld
Fashion — 07.07.24
Photography: Sofia Sonera
Designer: Sophia Boyer for Moxie Wrrld
Models: Nile Ziegler, Aude-Ellen Nangle,
Rachel Parkinson
Writing: Nastasia Rozenerg
Copy Editing: Madeline Jankowski
Born with an indisputable creative nature, Pennsylvania-based designer Sophia Boyer began her fashion journey with her high school jewelry business. It wasn’t until the pandemic hit that she explored garment making, rerouted her career, and launched her own fashion line. “I was initially going to community college during the pandemic to get a business administration associate degree, but then I had a lot of time on my hands and realized I was interested in sewing. My parents then pushed me to pursue that interest and take the creative route instead, so I started creating garments,” Sophia reminisced on the beginning of her brand.
Moxie Wrrld launched in 2020, providing non-seasonal occasionwear with the concept of handmade, one-of-one pieces at the core of its values. “Each piece is thoughtfully made with high-quality materials and intricate construction techniques, and no shortcuts are taken,” she exalts her production process. From the beginning, Moxie Wrrld’s pride and joy has been defined by creating pieces that are unique and exist solely for their buyer. “It’s all about being special and making distinctive garments rather than making in bulk so that the experience is one-of-one for every customer.” Once a product is gone, it’s gone for good.
An extension of Sophia’s own style, Moxie Wrrld showcases frilly and femme collections reminiscent of classic Victorian and Edwardian silhouettes. From dark and moody to sweet and romantic, Sophia’s collections have pieces for every occasion, every season, and every moxie girl.
“What I offer, no one else does. Many brands provide one-of-one collections, but every brand produces different things. Moxie is for the people who enjoy what I enjoy, which is something very sweet and femme with a touch of weirdness.”
When asked about the inspiration behind her one-of-one method of making, Sophia gave a sensible recount of her roots in sewing.
“When I first learned how to sew, I was reworking pre-existing garments. It was less daunting to fix a piece up as opposed to learning how to pattern-make from scratch, but now, I love working within the constraints of pre-existing garments rather than buying yardage of fabrics. There’s an element of uniqueness to it, and it’s a great way to work with a variety of materials without producing a huge amount of waste.”
With sustainability and craftsmanship at the forefront of her design process, Sophia salvages textiles, secondhand clothing, and old garments to incorporate into her collections. She sources fabrics locally, manipulating them to emulate antiquity and eccentricity in her designs.
“I try to shop locally at Fabscrap in Philly to cut down on emissions by reducing shipments and to find a variety of fabrics. Their warehouse has recycled non-proprietary fabrics and even clothing tarnished with cuttings and pieces missing that you can buy and rework. It’s a great place for finding a variety of materials without committing to large quantities that could be wasted. Outside of Fabscrap, I look for remnants of fabric scraps and deadstock yardage. I even shop my own closet for items I don’t wear anymore that can be repurposed. If I buy yardage, it’s only in small amounts to support my collections,” she shares about her sustainable practices.
Now a Design Coordinator for Anthropologie with a limited capsule collection for Urban Outfitters’ Urban Renewal line, Sophia continues to make strides within the industry and her own brand by infusing her work with love and passion for the craft.
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“I want to focus on making the products that I enjoy. Social media has evolved and become disappointing with the nature of likes and comments and how much emphasis we put on it. I’ve been trying to sew more without posting it or caring so much about people’s opinions, and that’s where I’m able to create pieces that I love. At the end of the day, my age, identity, and preferences tend to overlap with my consumers, so I design what I gravitate towards and people end up liking it,” she testifies on staying true to her values while working with other corporate entities and growing her brand.
“I have a capsule collection with Urban Outfitters for their Earth Day Urban Renewal line. It’s a full-run collection with different sizes where every piece is one-of-one, true to my design practices. I hope to keep putting out small collections and collaborating with other designers and small brands. Moxie Wrrld has been a labor of love for me, and I’m excited to continue creating and growing myself and my business.”