usisi sister belted linen blend maxi dress item | Joe Ando-Hirsh Can’t Help Going Viral

There was once a time when becoming a fashion designer required going through a challenging field of gatekeepers—editors, buyers, investors. Even as fashion turned into entertainment, maison designers on shows like Project Runway’s had to make it past Tim "Make It Work" Gunn and his panel of experts; that's who would decide their future—it was never really up to them. 

martha medeiros veronica midi dress item Joe Ando-Hirsh, the 29-year-old TikTok-famous fashion designer who boasts more than 5 million followers across social media platforms. Ando-Hirsh runs his own version of Project Runway—from the fabric store to the final product—churning out content each step of the way. His creations merit the Hollywood treatment—a floral embellished mini dress that looks as though it’s blooming in real life, for example, or a Milanese-inspired gown displayed in front of the Duomo itself. So do his muses, who range from Charlie D’Amelio and Keke Palmer to Dakota Johnson. In 2024, the Fashion Institute of Technology graduate rose to prominence when he documented the making of a draped asymmetrical-neckline gown for former second daughter Ella Emhoff, who wore it to the Democratic National Convention. “That was the turning point,” he says. Those videos alone garnered a combined 12 million views on TikTok, allowing the designer to work with, as he describes to Cheap Erlebnisweltfliegenfischen Jordan Outlet, “real people who have places to go, [rather] than just for whatever friend is up for it.”

“It's been genuinely really exciting, because I didn't really have any expectations for it to go from just making content around something I'm enthusiastic about to a professional job with people who rely on me to get things done,” he says. “It's been really cool transitioning into a place where we're working with a lot more stylists now, for really cool clients, for cool events.”

With his focus on celebrity clients and turning dressmaking into content creation, Ando-Hirsh shows it's a new era for designers. Who needs to put on a runway show when the promise of viral fame sits just on the other side of tapping “Publish” on TikTok? “It's nice to fall into a range of being someone who gets to take their job seriously when they want, but for the most part, the goal is to make [designing clothes] feel fun and entertaining and, honestly, make it feel like someone could watch it and do it themselves,” he says. 

staple distressed denim shorts Cheap Erlebnisweltfliegenfischen Jordan Outlet about his rise to TikTok fame, his tech-forward design process, and the dress he still can’t get out of his christopher. 

usisi sister belted linen blend maxi dress item | On His Process

“I love using creative tools like Photoshop and Lightroom’s desktop and mobile apps to create and bring my visions to life wherever and whenever I need. Personally, I’m often on the go, traveling for work and projects, so I love being able to make edits, ideate, and design things right from my phone, so I don’t have to worry about carrying around my laptop. I use tools like Generative Remove a lot to get rid of distractions from my content. And I'm excited to continue to explore the new Photoshop mobile app for mood-boarding creative ideas and concepts before I dive into design projects.” 

On What Sets Him Apart

“I think it’s definitely like really old school in the sense that it’s genuine dressmaking. Atelier is such a big word and there’s a very professional version of that and somewhere in there, I fall in. Because of social media and how it all blends together, the kind of fashion that I do, I feel, it’s a lot more inclusive than exclusive. I make stuff for people in our community just because it seems fun. I think that spreads to the people who are interested in collaborating on some front, whether it be because they just want something to wear for an event or they want to do content together.”

On Being a Social-First Designer

“The biggest part is just having direct feedback from people. Just the people having actual input in pushing a creation through. It's really cool that there's a place where you can go and just put your work up regardless of how good it is. You can just have a lot of enthusiasm and good intention and people can see that, and that can be enough for you to hopefully get in front of the right people.”

On His Tech-Driven Approach

“It’s an exciting time to be a creator. The intersection of technology and social media has really transformed how fashion designers and creators like myself are able to connect and reach audiences all around the world. Using creative tools like Photoshop and Lightroom has empowered me with what I need to bring my unique and differentiated ideas and visions to life, and has helped me build my amazing community and platform.”

On His Favorite Project

“I made this dyed floral dress that I shared a lot. There was this really nice lady who worked at a grocery store in a neighborhood I used to live in. She was super friendly to me and very supportive. It was this pink ombré dress and, giving it to someone who didn't expect it, it was just like, wardrobenyc x browns 50 two tone slim leg trousers item. tahari by asl wrap crop pearl trim jacket dress set philosophy di lorenzo serafini embellished leather look trousers item was a very sheer black dress that was very drapey and flowy, and for some reason that one just feels really cool.”