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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. "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.
Since then, McCharen'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.
Of the many Racked Young Guns committee members who praised Chromat, celeb stylist and Confederacy co-owner Ilaria Urbinati had this to say, "It's sexy, edgy and editorial and I rarely like swimwear lines." Jewelry designer Erica Weiner echoed that, saying, "I think it's awesome. Swimwear is like lingerie; it's hard to make lingerie that looks unusual. It's really playful, but I'd actually wear it." Above, meet the very cool 28 year old and see the Brooklyn studio space where she crafts her cages.
· 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]