Thaddeus O'Neil

Thaddeus O'Neil was born and raised in Eastern Long Island. He studied philosophy and geology and obtained a Master's degree in Aesthetics and Philosophy of Art. He worked as a model and then a photographer's assistant to many notable fashion photographers, including his mentor Bruce Weber. O'Neil's attraction to fashion design and clothing began with a desire to be elsewhere through his travels, a love for the sea and surfing, and people. Everywhere he went - Indonesia, Africa, South America - he would find tremendously beautiful and intricate fabrics that spoke to him and evoked something uncanny. It was through an inherent nomadism that his love affair with design was born. Creating clothing was the natural consummation of all this and suddenly a closet full of these garments evolved that became a material, sartorial diary of his journeys, experiences, and loves. The pieces felt fun and fresh, and gave him immense satisfaction to wear. O'Neil became increasingly captivated by peoples' way of being and dressing. On a trip to Indonesia, he created his first garments from locally dyed batiks. The designing of clothes, appropriating the ready-at-hand, rapidly became a natural outgrowth of all his journeys. In 2012, he discovered a uniquely quilted and deconstructed indigo dyed fabric from Japan, which compelled his first collection. O'Neil debuted his menswear label in 2013 and introduced a women's line in September 2015. Both are recognized for their relaxed fits, bold prints, and rich textures, as well as meticulous construction from high-quality materials such as fine cotton, cashmere, wool, silk, and linen. O'Neil was named one of the top five U.S. menswear finalists for the International Woolmark Prize in 2015. O'Neil designs with the abandon and rebellion that is customary and historical of surf culture; a sort of pre-punk credo, juxtaposed with surfing's poetic and romantic essence. He envisions a new category in menswear-American Luxury Playwear-that blends high fashion luxury and comfort, elevating surf culture and the notion of casual wear, and building an aspirational lifestyle around surfing in a way not dissimilar to what Hermes did for equestrian life or Ralph Lauren did for Polo. Today, O'Neil is based in New York City. He settled back here after living in Australia, where he tripped over his love and delight, the model Pania Rose. They live on the Lower East Side with their son Cas. They have two dogs, Hemingway and Shirley, and a cat named Teddy Boy.