Tompkins Weekly

Thane Zrongo Ready to debut his timeless autumn

fashion collection at gala

on August 16, 2023


By Courtney Rehfeldt

Thane Zrongo’s upcoming gala will showcase his autumn collection. It was important to the designer to balance timeless pieces with true craftsmanship. Photo provided by Thane Zrongo.

Thane Zrongo, a fashion designer, is preparing to unveil his upcoming autumn collection at an evening gala at the Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts, showcasing an assortment of clothes that promise to be timeless and held to the highest level of excellence. 

As the creator behind The Thane Zrongo Fashion House, founded in 2012, Zrongo is excited to share his love of fashion with attendees to the free event, and says it will explore the world of “made-to-measure,” bespoke and couture clothing.

“For those who are not familiar with these terms, they are some of the different names used to refer to handcrafted garments, made to measure utilizing a preexisting pattern which is altered to the client’s measurements while bespoke and couture clothing is created using an entirely new pattern made specifically for them,” explained Zrongo. 

The gala will have several exhibits that show how garments are crafted, designed and what goes into custom suiting. There will also be a silent auction for various garments, raising funds to bring the collection to stores.

The primary purpose of the upcoming event is to raise awareness of Zrongo’s new collection that will become available this autumn.

“It’s called the Legacy Collection, a name which was chosen because it’s a steadfast clothing collection that will be available year after year,” he said. “It’s comprised of the blues, whites and grays that the professional world calls for in suiting, shirts and vests. The collection incorporates elements of the highest levels of suiting and design to elevate a professional wardrobe while still having the flair and hint of eccentricity that our pieces are known for.”

As for the community, Zrongo feels fortunate to be among such a supportive group of like-minded people who appreciate the arts and are willing to help each other.

“Trumansburg is a fantastic community, and I feel I was so lucky to grow up in a town like this,” said Zrongo. “Not only is there seemingly an artist on every block, but there’s also such a sense of camaraderie. It feels like each artist is looking for a way to work with or somehow benefit the other.” 

Zrongo says the area’s culture lends itself to embracing a more creative field, but the scenery of the geographical location also helps. 

“Being located in the Finger Lakes, with its beautiful landscape and vivacious seasons, definitely nurtured that sense of the artistic flare that’s a cornerstone of design,” he said.

The fashion designer draws a comparison between the region and other places when it comes to fashion and art. 

“In some places, it can seem like each person is so covetous of their work that they’re afraid to even display it, let alone create a sense of community,” continued Zrongo. “Walking around town seeing all of the artwork, the well-kept historic buildings and the multitude of local artisans displaying their work right outside of their home really makes you feel that there is a respect for craftsmanship and artistry present.”

Zrongo offers some sound advice to young fashion enthusiasts hoping to enter the industry, which he admits is anything but “child’s play.”

“I would say that, like everything else, it’s a great balancing act in almost every way,” he said. “You need to toe the line between what’s a great artistic vision and what can earn a living. For every runway garment, there are a hundred that are made for daily wear. The art and the practical need to balance each other out.”

He points out that being a successful player in the industry means having a keen awareness and accepting that if something doesn’t work, you may have to do a deep dive to figure out why.

“If something doesn’t sell, there is a reason, and it isn’t the customer that doesn’t understand,” said Zrongo. “The scale tipped too far in one direction. The hardest part is knowing which scale was off the mark. You need to balance marketing, finance, trends and the art itself in order to make your work sustainable.”

Zrongo says his latest collection is based on that very concept: balancing art with practicality. 

“What drew me to fashion was the wild patterns and avant-garde feats of design, but this collection is much more sedate,” he said. “It’s based around the idea of professional wear, which itself is not supposed to be impractical and flamboyant. Keeping with the theme, it toes the line. Each piece has an attention to detail and subtle design choice that sets it apart from the typical corporate suit but still keeps within the parameters of what a professional is looking for.”

As Zrongo looks to the future, he said he would like to open a brick-and-mortar store one day and is hopeful that it will come to fruition at some point down the line.

“At the moment, we’re lucky enough to have a portion of our current made-to-measure line carried by Benjamin Peters on the Ithaca Commons,” he said. “The plan is to continue to be available through other stores until the opportunity arises to open a storefront. The fantastic thing about the age we live in is that we can live in a place like the Finger Lakes but have the benefits of serving customers all over the world.”

The gala will be held Aug. 26 at the Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts at 5 McLallen St. from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. 

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