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Chromat's Becca McCharen never set out to be a designer. Instead, she went to the University of Virginia School of Architecture. Creating clothing was a hobby, one that quickly steered her off her architectural path and into the NYC fashion scene. "I just kept getting orders and orders and I'd be sewing [and thinking] I'll just finish this one order and then I'll find a job, I'll really search for an architecture job. And then, three months later, I still hadn't had time to find a real job," she said.
McCharen chose the Brooklyn Navy Yard for her studio space, shacking up with fellow Young Gun semi-finalist Lindsay Degen of kooky knitwear line Degen. It's in that room, crowded with clothing racks, sewing machines and staff, where's she's racked up some impressive accomplishments. Her line of structural pieces has been picked up by a slew of retailers including Barneys, Moda Operandi, Bona Drag and Nasty Gal.
She's expanded to super-sexy, strappy swimwear and her "wearable exoskeletons" have been on the backs of everyone from Beyoncé to Nicki Minaj to Madonna. In fact, McCharen and her staff actually outfitted Bey's 32 backup dancers for that blockbuster Super Bowl performance a few months ago. Above, meet the very cool 28 year old and take a tour of her HQ.
· Chromat [Official Site]
· Meet the 50 Racked Young Guns Semi-Finalists for 2013 [Racked]
· Meet the Official Racked Young Guns Selection Committee [Racked]
· All Racked Young Guns Coverage [Racked]