WRESTLING’S FRESHEST FITS: SXSW PANEL EXPLORES FASHION, STYLE & STORYTELLING

WRESTLING’S FRESHEST FITS: SXSW PANEL EXPLORES FASHION, STYLE & STORYTELLING

9:00 AM   King Troi, lifestyle, Mimi, Sarath Ton, SXSW, Yolanda The Designer,

Words: Mimi aka #TheWrestlingChic 

Wrestling and fashion have always walked the same runway, just with a little more body along the way. This year at SXSW in Austin, TX, the crossover between style and suplexes takes center stage with a "Fashion & Wardrobe Design/Styling in Professional Wrestling" panel. The panel, hosted by Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s resident columnist and industry expert Candace Cordelia Smith, will be a must-see discussion that pops off on March 9 at 4:00 PM CST at the Austin Convention Center.

Style is the Gimmick, Drip is the Legacy

In pro wrestling, one would say, you’re only as memorable as your gimmick. Think about it: when you hear names like "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Bianca Belair, Charlotte Flair, and Darius Carter, you don’t just remember the elbow drop or 360 Splash; you picture the fringed robes, diamonds and gems and regal threads. Ric Flair? Dripped out in designer robes with gold trims and a Rolex in tow. The Rock? Hard bottoms and Versace silk shirts became as iconic as the raised eyebrow. Fashion isn't just a side act in wrestling; it’s part of the main event.

This SXSW panel will break down why and how style matters. From indie wrestlers carving out their visual identity to major superstars setting trends inside and outside the ring, it’s all about aesthetic power moves.

Meet the Architects of Wrestling’s Flyest Looks

This lineup is stacked with fashion undisputed Champs who have put their stamp on fashion in the pro wrestling industry:

• King Troi – A stylist whose work touches not just wrestling, but the entertainment space at large. When stars like, Woody the Greatest McClain and WWE Superstar couple duo Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins need next-level presentation, he's the go-to;
• Sarath “Mikaze” Ton – As a costume designer and seamstress, he’s been behind some of the most legendary wrestling gear of the modern era;
• Yolanda The Designer – A powerhouse in wrestling fashion, she's designed for WWE, AEW and TNA, shaping the visual legacies of some of the game’s biggest names.

Together, they’ll unpack the process of crafting iconic wrestling looks, the future of fashion in sports entertainment and how styling and costume inspirations influence storytelling.

"Wrestling has always been about making a statement, and that extends far beyond the moves in the ring” says Cordelia, “The way these athletes present themselves visually is just as crucial to their storytelling. With King Troi, Sarath Ton, and Yolanda the Designer on deck, this SXSW panel will spotlight the creative minds shaping the industry's most unforgettable looks."

Whether you’re a die-hard wrestling fan, a fashion junkie, or just someone who loves seeing worlds collide in cool ways, this panel is for you! SXSW has always been about pushing culture forward and this year, wrestling is making a power move into the fashion conversation.

Expect an engaging discussion that goes beyond the ring. Don’t miss this unique SXSW experience, where fashion meets the squared circle!

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Catch Mimi, also known as #TheWrestlingChic, co-hosting #TheBuckle: #TurnbuckleTalk, every Tuesday at 6:35PM ET on X Spaces and Thursday at 8:35PM ET w/the rest of the crew on The Black Rasslin' Podcast on YouTube.

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STRAIGHT FROM BROOKLYN: OUIGI THEODORE, THE BROOKLYN CIRCUS INNOVATOR DEFINES FASHION AND SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH ART

STRAIGHT FROM BROOKLYN: OUIGI THEODORE, THE BROOKLYN CIRCUS INNOVATOR DEFINES FASHION AND SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH ART

6:00 AM   Brooklyn Circus, lifestyle, Mac Premo, Mimi, Ouigi Theodore, Outside the Ring,

Photo Credit: Roger Britton

Mimi Jean-Louis: #TheWrestlingChic

The New York-based Haitian American icon Ouigi Theodore continues to elevate fashion's formula standards through his homegrown brand, The Brooklyn Circus/BKc. BKc was initially a menswear brand but has since evolved to be inclusive of womenswear, which curates its inspiration through bridging the gap between urban origins and moments in time.

Theodore's tenet is quintessentially also apprised by the streets of Brooklyn. Migrating with his family from Haiti at the age of eight, the impressionable youth also had style in mind. From his days running the halls of Brooklyn Technical High School—an educational institution famously known for having intellectually forward-thinking minds—to attaining a degree in History from SUNY Stony Brook University; to becoming this generation's fashion mogul, Ouigi Theodore's style and grace are transcending, to say the least. The Brooklyn Circus store opened its doors in 2004 in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn. For years, Theodore cultured a distinctive style that garnered accolades among notable fashion masters worldwide. Internationally, The Brooklyn Circus is a must-stop for the runway fashion enthusiast. Since then, his journey includes opening shops in Japan, most recently in Los Angeles, CA.

Resident #BRP fashion/sneaker aficionado Matth encounters his first recollection of Ouigi Theodore, "I recall my first memory maybe being in Hypebeast or HighSnobiety and thinking, 'this is Black class.' I remember saying, ‘this guy is about his business’; that's the energy he gave off. When you see us as Black men, this is what it looks like. When you saw James Evans, you knew what you were getting, and when I saw Ouigi, I thought, ‘how can I look like that?,’ even if I take pieces from his style," says Matth.

He recently curated a line collection in the Icons of Style for Macy's, Ouigi Theodore for Sun + Stone. "The collection includes lots of hidden references & details. I stayed true to my love of classic items & to making things contemporary & future-proof," Theodore says of the collection.

His style is apprised through time, captured by presentation, emphasizing inclusivity, quality, and sustainability. Emmy award-winning artist, filmmaker, and friend Mac Premo's studio resides a few doors down from BKc. Premo's style of repurposing objects into art has become a staple in his creativity. Hurricane Ida tore the east coast back in 2011, leaving the city with residual damage. While sorting through salvaged BKc objects to include renowned photographer John Midgley prints, Theodore offered his friend a few window display piping to incorporate into this series. The likeness of these two friends drove them to collaborate earlier this month on an art installation, See Hear, currently displayed at the BKc shop.

Photo Credit: Roger Britton

See Hear is an attempt to use the language of collage to give physical form to this specific moment in this ongoing conversation. Entrusted to Mr. Premo are images that Mr. Theodore art directed, scenes, and moods he created, celebrating art and fashion, featuring Brooklyn Circus friends and community. Mr. Premo has created a collage series that masks the subject's face, representing ideas that often hide actuality: projections and assumptions. In stark contrast, other images depict what may lie behind masks, representations of new ideas and lessons learned over the years as a community member cultivated by The Brooklyn Circus.

"The importance of this collaboration," Mr. Theodore says, "is that the conversation is put into a form that other people can see and help it grow." Ultimately, he concludes, "See Hear is both an invitation and a challenge: Okay, we see each other, hear each other. Now what? Who is the invitation for? Who is the challenge for?" Mr. Theodore explains: "Everybody," he says, beaming, "It's the Brooklyn Circus. ALL are welcome."

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A post shared by The Brooklyn Circus/BKc (@thebkcircus)

See Hear is currently on view at:
The Brooklyn Circus
150 Nevins St
Brooklyn, NY 11217 

ABOUT OUIGI THEODORE: Ouigi Theodore, the Creative Director of The Brooklyn Circus, has cultivated a unique style that has garnered recognition not only among the fashion pundits of New York but also from streetwise fans as far away as Europe, South Africa, Japan, Korea, and the UK. He has become a recognizable figure and has established himself as a trend forecaster for advertising and marketing agencies looking to get an edge in the market. Theodore has consulted on campaigns for Hennessy/LVMH, Sean John Vote or Die, Toyota, Casio G-Shock, American Express, PF Flyers, Liberty Fairs, ENVSN FEST, New Balance, Reebok, Deutsch Advertising, Sennheiser Audio. As founder of The Brooklyn Circus, one of the most influential retail concepts in the USA, he travels extensively, sharing The Brooklyn Circus/BKc perspective and the 100 Year plan of Style + Character. The Brooklyn Circus has recently collaborated with Macy's, Jack Daniels, and Todd Snyder.

ABOUT MAC PREMO: American, b. 1973; RISD '95; artist, filmmaker, commercial director. Mac's films have been exhibited in film festivals worldwide, and his art has been exhibited in galleries and museums in New York, Los Angeles, Belfast, London, Florida, and MoMA PS1 in Queens. Mac has won 13 New York Emmy® Awards for his video and animation work, including best commercial, photography, set design, and PSA awards. Sometimes he writes and performs one-man plays. Mac is an NYFA Fellow and lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two totally radical kids.

Mimi, our newest member of the #BRP crew, is a super-kickin' copy-gal, a TwitterSpaces co-host via @turnbucklespace weekly Tuesdays at 7p & Fridays at 10p ET and on @blackrasslin episodes Thursdays at 8:30p ET.

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