New York Fashion Week thrives on surprise, and this season the spotlight belonged to a car—Volkswagen’s all-electric ID. Buzz took center stage at THEOPHILIO’s Spring/Summer 2026 show, custom-wrapped in the label’s signature print and transformed into a runway installation.
The collection, titled RIDDIM, is the work of designer Edvin Thompson, whose Jamaican roots continue to shape his vision. He describes RIDDIM as “a celebration of movement, memory, and the rhythm of the road,” drawing from travels with friends, long drives, and the energy of leaving traces everywhere along the journey. That sentiment synced perfectly with the ID. Buzz—Volkswagen’s design-forward reimagining of the iconic Microbus, now fully electric.
The show opened with a model stepping out of the ID. Buzz itself, turning the car into both stage and statement. Wrapped in bold patterns from Thompson’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection, the vehicle became a symbol of cultural storytelling and exploration, echoing THEOPHILIO’s use of expressive color and fearless prints.
For Volkswagen, the collaboration was more than just spectacle. “The ID. Buzz was born to turn heads, and Edvin Thompson’s vision and creativity takes its energy to the next level,” said Jeannine Ginivan, Volkswagen’s Chief Communications Officer. It was a moment where mobility met fashion, heritage met design, and the runway met the open road.
With RIDDIM, THEOPHILIO reaffirmed its place as one of New York’s most vibrant young voices, while Volkswagen proved that the ID. Buzz isn’t just a car—it’s a cultural touchstone.
Designer Edvin Thompson
Fine Sipping Tequila by Casa Dragones
