New York Fashion Week (NYFW) is upon us, and with the release of the fashion calendar there are the usual household names like Michael Kors, Coach, and Tory Burch. But in addition to those familiar designers, there is also a slate of new and emerging talent making their mark at NYFW for the first time. Among them is Heginz Janvier of Science Project Company, a New York–based independent brand launching this season as part of New York Men’s Day.
The showcase for new and emerging designers occurs in two parts: a morning session and an afternoon session, each featuring several designers. This season, Science Project Company will present in the afternoon, marking another milestone for Janvier as he grows his design business and pursues his dreams as a fashion designer.
Science Project Company has been evolving since the global COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Janvier, who originally came from a finance background and worked as an accountant, decided to try his hand at fashion design. The brand started as a side project before Janvier committed to it full time. Now in its sixth year, Janvier feels he’s finally seeing the results of his efforts.
“Showing at New York Fashion Week is an opportunity I’ve been working toward for some time,” Janvier said. “For the last year or two, I’ve been trying to figure out ways to get my foot in the door and show at New York Fashion Week. I’m very excited to participate in New York Men’s Day, and my team has been hard at work putting this together. We’re all super excited to participate in Fashion Week this season.”
When Janvier launched the brand, he was testing different designs and seeing what customers responded to. He began by creating small capsule collections, and just last year, he decided to take a seasonal approach to his collections. His upcoming NYFW presentation marks his second full-season collection.
Like many young brands, Janvier admits to facing the challenges common among emerging designers. Starting a business is never easy, but between unclear jobless claims and a tumultuous global financial system, young brands face an even steeper uphill battle.
“One of the biggest challenges young brands are facing is financial; starting a brand is not for the weak,” Janvier said. “Running a brand is not for the mentally weak. Between inflation and tariffs, there are big barriers to entry for emerging brands. When you don’t have the capital behind you, it can sometimes be demotivating, but it’s important to stay grounded and make smart financial decisions for your business. Science Project Company is completely self-funded by me, which motivates me because I’ve literally put my all into this. I’ve invested all my hard-earned money into it, and I need to see this through.”
One of Janvier’s hopes for his brand after showing at NYFW is that, in addition to further platforming the label, it will lead to a chain reaction—resulting in future invitations to show again and opportunities to position his brand alongside more established names on the calendar. Janvier’s upcoming collection also marks an entirely new era for the brand.
“This upcoming fall 2026 collection is vastly different from the first few things we’ve done as a brand,” Janvier said. “Last year, I took a step back from a lot of what the brand had done in the past and tried to reevaluate it from a higher level. I wanted to create pieces that were missing from the market—things my team and I actually wanted to wear.”
Janvier describes the upcoming New York Fashion Week collection as an expansion of the products Science Project Company released last year. He also attempted to create more styles than he has in the past in honor of his NYFW debut. He stressed that he didn’t go overboard, noting that as a smaller brand, he’s limited in how many looks he can realistically produce.
When it comes to his target customer, Janvier says his clothes are “for someone who is intentional about the way they dress. They might not be the life of the party, but they demand respect from a fashion perspective.”
Images courtesy of scienceprojectcompany.com
Preparing for NYFW has been a learning experience for Janvier, and he says he appreciates his team more than ever. Currently, the majority of production is done overseas in China, with additional manufacturing taking place in New York’s historic Garment District, as well as Brooklyn and Los Angeles. Janvier says if he could offer one piece of advice to emerging designers, it would be to start small.
“Instead of making big collections that can burn a hole in your pocket, start with small capsule collections, build your presence on social media, and allow your brand to develop naturally,” he said. “Don’t try to force a certain image or aesthetic. Your best work will come naturally.”
Science Project Company will show on February 11 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. as part of New York Men’s Day. The brand will be part of a quartet of designers presenting, including Wangda, Christopher Lowman, and Monday Blues Studio.
—Kristopher Fraser
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