Stockbridge-native Torren Thomas turned heads at the SCAD Fashion 2025 Show with a unique hip-hop bridal collection titled “Real Love,” which blended street style with high fashion.
She says Real Love was inspired by the iconic Mary J. Blige and Hip-Hop culture. Growing up, Thomas’ family exposed her to hip-hop at an early age, so this was her way of showing her appreciation for the culture.
“I have an extreme love for hip-hop culture and music; it’s been engrossed in my life,” she said. “I have a pet bearded dragon named Ramo, who I named after one of the characters from Beach Street, which is a popular hip-hop movie.”
She also says hip-hop culture is prevalent in her everyday life and wanted to honor it and highlight her love for bridal wear.
The “Real Love” collection incorporates bridal wear with track suits and jerseys with gold embroidery, with different titles of hip-hop songs that Thomas enjoys.
Additionally, Thomas said she recalls feeling “exhilarated and slightly nervous” while reflecting on the fashion show.
“The feelings I had in the moment were just first-time senior creations walking down the runway, it’s a little nerve-wracking, but I was so excited,” Thomas said. “I couldn’t stop smiling the whole time, my jaws were hurting by the end of the night from smiling, it was such an amazing experience.”
Also, Thomas said she cried tears of joy when she found out her collection would be in the show. Thomas says she was in the middle of one of her classes when the results came out. She had to leave the classroom and call her parents to tell them the great news.
“They were very happy,” she said.
Thomas’ fashion journey, she says, began at the early ages between three and four.
“I’ve always been interested in fashion, but around that age, my mom got me this Barbie book of careers because I was always obsessed with Barbie,” she said. “I started flipping through the book and came across the fashion design page and Barbie was draping fabric on the mannequin, and instantly I knew I wanted to do fashion design.”
Thomas says she never really looked back after that because ever since, she has been honing her skills, getting classes, going to fashion camps, and enrolling in SCAD. She also said her parents have been incredibly supportive of her goals and dreams.
“They put me in so many programs and fashion workshops here in Atlanta, and I did that for several years. I even got the opportunity to go back and instruct students in that program as well,” she said.
Throughout the process, Thomas says she has learned a lot about herself, including being more creative, able to get random ideas out of nowhere and work them out, and able to apply that creativity to other aspects of her life as well, like problem solving
“I’m able to make the random ideas work somehow, and I feel if I weren’t doing fashion, I wouldn’t know that about myself,” she said.
Additionally, Thomas got her bachelor’s in May at SCAD and will be going back for her master’s in the fall.
“I’m debating between writing and luxury brand management, but I’m leaning more towards writing because I have a love for fashion journalism. I’m also on the job hunt, looking to get into the fashion industry,” she said.
SCAD, she said, taught her to think creatively.
“I have always thought outside the box, but coming to SCAD really introduced me to a whole new way of thinking, and I’m forever grateful for that. I’ve grown tremendously during my time here and have created things, including the Real Love collection,” she said.
When people see her designs, Thomas says she wants people to take a sense of innovation from them.
“I want all my designs to be something nobody has ever seen or thought of before,” she said. “I want to make people think and wonder how I produced a particular concept in my head. I want people to enjoy my collection and ponder what led to the creation of my designs.”
Thomas also says some of her favorite designers include Marc Jacobs, Dutch Fashion Designer Iris Van Herpen, and Mugler.
As far as advice, Thomas says to stay true to your vision because the industry is tough.
“I know with fashion a lot of times, it’s trend-focused, but you’re going to get a lot of enjoyment and fulfillment by staying true to who you are as a designer,” she said. “Make sure your design DNA is injected in everything you do and have fun with it.”
Thomas’s end goal is to have her own fashion bridal line, which will incorporate streetwear as well. She is also into fashion journalism and would love to start her own fashion magazine one day.
“I also love museums and would like to try becoming a museum curator too,” she said. “I used to think I had to choose one path, but I’m at a point where I just want to do it all.”
Furthermore, Thomas thanks everyone at SCAD who has supported her, specifically her professor, Maria Korovilas.
“All the professors and the entire staff at SCAD Fash have supported me through my journey her,e so I just want to thank them,” she said.
