Laura Petreilli grew up in Chicago Illinois and attended the Fashion Institute of Technology where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Lingerie. After college she formed her own company with the edgy title “Vex” focusing on latex as her creative medium.
Her designs have been featured in “W” magazine and Italian Vogue. Most recently she was on Styled to Rock, a television show where celebrity judges including Rihanna, Pharrel and supermodel Erin Wasson vote for their favorite designs much like on Project Runway.
Laura describes herself as “a wife, mother, baker and crafter who designs latex clothing”. Her goal in founding Vex was to make latex clothing “elegant enough to go from fetish gear to mainstream fashion.” We at MJTrends are big fans of her designs. Check out some of her creations for yourself at: www.VexClothing.com
I like that the article highlights her intention to bridge fetish and mainstream, because that’s where latex often struggles to gain acceptance.
Seeing her work featured in W and Italian Vogue makes sense, since her approach clearly pushes latex beyond typical fetish aesthetics.
I appreciate that she chose latex as a primary medium rather than just experimenting with it, since it gives Vex a very distinct identity.
The fact that MJTrends supports designers like Vex makes sense given how specialized and material-focused her work is.
I didn’t realize Laura Petreilli had a BFA in Lingerie from FIT, but that background really explains the refined construction you see in her latex pieces.
Growing up in Chicago and then studying at FIT seems like a solid combination of influences that probably shaped her practical yet edgy design style.
The brand name “Vex” fits perfectly with the bold, slightly provocative nature of latex while still feeling fashion-forward.
I’m curious how her experience on Styled to Rock influenced later collections, especially with feedback from such high-profile judges.
The goal of making latex elegant enough for mainstream fashion really stands out, especially compared to most brands that lean heavily into fetish-only styling.
There’s something compelling about latex being treated with the same seriousness as traditional textiles in her collections.
Highlighting her goal of mainstreaming latex really underscores how much intention goes into each design beyond just aesthetics.
The mix of personal life and high-fashion output makes her story feel more relatable than most designer profiles.
Her description of herself as both a crafter and designer feels accurate, since latex work requires such hands-on technical skill.
Her pieces being recognized by Italian Vogue indicates the designs resonate beyond niche communities and into high fashion circles.
It’s cool to see someone take something usually considered niche and intentionally design it for broader wearability and everyday styling.
It’s refreshing to see latex framed as elegant rather than just provocative, which opens up a lot more possibilities for styling.
It’s interesting how she balances being a wife, mother, and baker with running Vex, especially given how demanding latex design and production can be.
Being featured on a show like Styled to Rock suggests her designs translate well under pressure and in competitive creative environments.
The transition from student at FIT to running a recognizable brand like Vex shows how focused her vision must have been early on.
Her appearance on Styled to Rock must have brought a lot of attention, especially with judges like Rihanna and Pharrell weighing in on such unconventional materials.
Thanks for the shout out!
xox
L