Vayder welcomes Chaz Jordan as creative advisor, set for Paris Fashion Week debut

Contemporary brand and Paige Denim subsidiary Vayder has tapped former 1989 Studio founder Chaz Jordan to act as creative advisor for the Los Angeles-based contemporary line. 

Jordan, 34, brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to Vayder. Having previously founded the luxury brand 1989 Studio, Jordan is known for his creative prowess and visionary approach. Jordan stepped down from 1989 Studio in April, ready for his next chapter. The brand was bought by Italian retail company Folli Follie Group. 

In his new role, he will spearhead the creative rebranding and design of Vayder’s collections, drawing from his rich background in the fashion industry.

“When I met Chaz, our visions for the brand were so very much aligned and I knew he was the person to lead us creatively moving forward. His history in the luxury space speaks for itself and I cannot wait to share his vision of what the contemporary space can be,” said Vayder founder Jon Geller. 

The American-born designer, who entered the fashion industry in 2012, is well-known for working alongside the likes of Virgil Abloh and Don C, at RSVP gallery. At 22, he launched his first brand, Au Courant, and transitioned it into what would become his second brand, Ih Nom Uh Nit two years later, which was eventually acquired.

Ahead of his debut collection for Vayder at Paris Fashion Week, Jordan sat down with FashionNetwork.com to discuss his journey, his role at Vayder, and his vision for the future.

FashionNetwork.com: Chaz, you’ve had an impressive journey in the fashion industry, starting with your work alongside Virgil Abloh and Don C. What were the key lessons from those early experiences that have shaped your approach to fashion today?

Chaz Jordan: Thank you, the biggest takeaways from that time in my life and career were to value authenticity. A lot of what we did back then came from pure emotion and what felt right to us in the moment. Everyone stayed true to themselves and that resulted in a much better product and experience overall.

FN: Having successfully launched multiple brands, what excites you the most about your new role at Vayder? 

CJ: This is an exciting journey for all of us. It’s my first time in the contemporary space so I’m learning a lot. The potential for growth and scale is massive due to the sheer size of this segment. 

FN: How does your role at Vayder differ from your previous ventures in the fashion industry?

CJ: This is the first time in my career that I’ve worked for a company that was established. I’ve spent the better part of the past 12 years conceptualizing and growing brands from scratch. This role has allowed me to focus on what I do best, “creative and world building”.

FN: Vayder describes their collection as an interpretation of a foundational Los Angeles wardrobe with a focus on timeless style and function. How do you plan to blend your luxury fashion background with Vayder’s contemporary vision?

CJ: I believe the key is to marry the technical expertise and knowledge that comes from my time in the luxury space with the ease and effortlessness that Vayder offers. This is an addition to my designing abilities of course.

FN: Jon Geller mentioned that your visions for the brand were very much aligned. Can you elaborate on what these shared visions entail and how you plan to bring them to life in Vayder’s upcoming collections?

CJ: After meeting with Jon and hearing his story behind launching the brand, the objective was clear. How do we turn Vayder into a brand that is synonymous with Los Angeles as we see it based on our shared cultural experiences? An excellent example of this would be what Ronnie was able to achieve with Kith. When you think of Kith, you think of New York as seen through our generation’s lens. 

FN: You’re set to introduce your inaugural collection for Vayder this month during Paris Fashion Week. Can you give us a sneak peek into what we can expect from this collection and the inspiration behind it?

CJ: Of course, by this being my transitional season, we wanted to keep the collection tight and focused. It was a sprint to learn the motivations and inspirations behind the brand. From there, we collectively began building a road map for the next few seasons. This initial offering serves as a preview of what’s to come.

FN: What are your long-term goals for Vayder, and how do you envision the brand evolving under your creative direction?

CJ: Hopefully, I can contribute to accelerating a much needed update within the contemporary menswear space. Showing that there’s much more to offer beyond the traditional contemporary staples. My goal is not to reinvent the wheel, but make a better wheel utilizing the same inputs. It’s truly about perspective. A great example of this can be seen in my work as Artistic Director for Vayder’s fall winter 24 lookbook. The objective was to establish a baseline of the brand’s new elevated visual identity and language while hinting at my involvement through the overall look and feel of the shoot.