TOCCIN has become a quintessential fashion brand of the Hamptons and beyond. Founded by husband-wife team Alex and Michael Toccin, the brand is celebrating its fifth year of bringing confidence, comfort, and style to the women who wear it.
Alex and Michael have expanded and grown over the past year and are excited about their continuing success in the fashion world. They have begun working with denim pieces over this last year, which was a first for them, and they are always looking for opportunities to keep developing and to ensure their customers get the highest quality and style, while still feeling comfortable.
Alex and Michael spoke more about their backgrounds, when they decided to launch TOCCIN, and how they continue to improve while remaining true to their customers all the time. As they celebrate five years, they look forward to the future of TOCCIN!
Can you describe what the TOCCIN brand is all about?
Alex and Michael: TOCCIN began with the mission to make women feel confident, comfortable, and stylish. We honed insights from our years in the fashion industry, and as a couple living in New York, to design the right elevated essentials for women on the go. From luxurious knits to tailored blazers, to dresses for work or special occasions, our collections are designed for the lives women lead today. Our intent is to keep women styled to a T, all day long.
Can you talk a bit about your backgrounds and how you launched the brand?
Alex and Michael: We always knew fashion was our passion. We both went to Parsons and worked for numerous fashion houses in all aspects of the industry including PR, Sales, Merchandising, Buying, and Styling. Ultimately, we both wanted to start our own business but felt that it was imperative that we get as much hands-on industry experience as possible before striking out on our own. In May of 2016 is when we launched Stylists to a T.
Do you have any favorite projects or pieces you have worked on within the last year?
Alex and Michael: This past year, we began working on our first denim pieces, which we are very excited about. Denim is launching with our resort collection, which goes live this November. I have always had such a passion for denim, and we wanted to make sure our pieces had a structured element and the ability to go from day to night.
What has been your favorite part of the brand’s development over the past year?
Alex and Michael: We just hit our five-year brand anniversary and with each year, every collection keeps getting better and better. Recently, we have seen strong success with our fall launch, especially with our sweater styles. The Elsie Sweater in particular has sold out over and over and is the perfect wardrobe staple. Because of the massive demand, we are releasing it in more colorways. We are excited to see styles that resonate with our customer.
How has the brand grown and is continuing to grow all the time?
Alex and Michael: The brand continues to venture into new categories, including denim, which will be available to shop soon. We value our retail partners, as we have seen growth in partnering with them on specialty launches and exclusive drops (Saks, Bloomingdale’s, Bergdorf Goodman, and Neiman Marcus). We are launching at HBC in Canada, and we are excited to keep growing as a brand and as a team.
What sets TOCCIN apart from other fashion brands, and furthermore, from other fashion brands in the Hamptons, especially in today’s culture?
Alex and Michael: We started out as influencers and speaking directly to our community to understand what they gravitate towards and what they are looking for, and what was missing in their closets. We were able to design a collection that gives our consumer what she craves. We specialize in silhouettes that are flattering (examples are our tie front styles) that our women can wear time and time again. Everything that we design is designed with the styling element in mind.
How would you describe the style of TOCCIN fashion, and is there a distinct style for this fall and winter?
Alex and Michael: We aim to create collections that are inclusive of buy now, wear now pieces as well as special items to ensure we fill all of our customer’s wardrobing needs. Fall and winter are all about maintaining style while being comfortable and layered.
Do you have a favorite type of clothing or look to create and/or wear when the weather gets cooler (and after summer in general)?
Alex and Michael: For the fall, our knitwear is a go-to. The Rita Cardigan is perfect to wear year-round, it never leaves my side as we go into the cooler months. We love to layer sweaters and coats to create the perfect look for errands during the day into dinner out with friends at night.
What are your favorite pastimes in the Hamptons?
Alex and Michael: We love the Hamptons in all seasons of the year. We like to take a boat out on the water with friends and family and go to lunch at Duryea’s. We also crave hosting at our home, have a bonfire on the beach, or go shopping at Current Home for home pieces.
How is the fashion of the brand influenced by the East End and NY? Do you create with specific places in mind?
Alex and Michael: Michael and I are always dressing for the occasion, and that includes in both NY and the East End. We feel inspired by both locations and want to make women feel confident in what they are wearing but also have FUN with dressing.
To learn more about TOCCIN, click here.
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