From film sets to fashion lines, designer Christy Cham is bringing the precision of costume design to a new collection of elevated everyday staples inspired by ’90s icons.
When Christy Cham stepped away from the film set to launch her clothing line. CHAM. in 2023. she didn’t just want to create another t-shirt. She wanted to replicate the feeling of wearing something that functioned like a second skin. Her background as a costume designer—which included working alongside directors like Martin Scorsese—taught her that a garment is more than fabric; it is a tool for confidence.
Cham found herself filling a specific void in the market: the space between a simple tee and a formal blouse. To build this collection of long sleeves. dresses. skirts. pants. and cardigans. she looked toward the era of the ’90s supermodel. Icons like Cindy Crawford, Kate Moss, and Claudia Schiffer became the blueprints for her silhouettes. By naming designs after these muses. she grounded the brand in a philosophy where fit and fabric quality remain the primary priorities.
Her experience in costume design instilled a perfectionist approach to construction. In film. cameras amplify every flaw; a minor fit issue or a fabric that reads poorly on screen can break a character’s look. Cham translated these professional lessons into her own proprietary fabric. She sought a material that offered a sheer quality without being transparent. providing enough stretch to move comfortably while maintaining enough structure to hold the wearer in. It was a balance meant to avoid the overly casual look of workout gear while maintaining a high-end finish.
Precision remains the hallmark of the label’s design process. The silhouettes utilize keyhole necklines. slits. off-the-shoulder cuts. and strategically placed cutouts to create specific visual effects. such as elongating the torso or creating a more flattering shape. For Cham. these adjustments are not just aesthetic; they are meant to transform how the wearer feels the moment they put the clothes on.
Beyond the cut, the color palette is intentionally curated to simplify the daily ritual of getting dressed. With shades of red, brown, black, cream, navy, orange, and green, the collection is designed to be inherently mix-and-match. Cham focuses on softer tones with flattering undertones, ensuring that the pieces harmonize regardless of how they are paired.
As the brand evolved. she expanded into undergarments. celebrating the launch on October 3 at the Body Shop in West Hollywood. California. Her goal for this layer was to offer a solution that is simple yet secure. designed to remain invisible even under tight or sheer fabrics. To round out the personalization of the line. Cham introduced a variety of charms that can be clipped onto bags. tops. or skirts. tapping into the broader fashion trend of “whimsymaxxing.”.
Already spotted on Ariana Grande and Khloé Kardashian. the line bridges the gap between the rigors of professional costume design and the needs of a modern closet. By combining ’90s-inspired minimalism with the technical demands of high-definition film. Cham has created a collection that treats the everyday wardrobe with the same attention to detail usually reserved for the silver screen.
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