Vault Spotlight: Trinity Philbert and G Green

Written by Safa Razvi

The Vault’s upcoming fashion show isn’t just about the runway, it’s an encapsulation of imagination. “Definitive” is a concept that celebrates boundary-pushing and community; it mirrors the spirit of those who redefine what fashion can be. For the 2025-2026 school year, UW-Madison is serving as a Virgil Abloh Foundation Youth Impact Partner. Inspired by Virgil who was a UW-Madison alumni and the former artistic director of menswear at Louis Vuitton, the Vault’s student-led showcase aims to transform ideas into an immersive experience for the audience to feel and watch. “Definitive” reflects what happens when passion meets purpose. 

As the show producer, Trinity Philbert is the bridge between vision and execution, translating creative director G Green’s ideas into reality.

When Trinity isn’t working on the show, she’s a full-time marketing student. “It takes a village to put this together,” she said. “My job is to hear G’s amazing ideas and figure out how to make them happen.”

G (left) and Trinity (right) in Paris to attend Virgil Abloh: The Codes

The collaboration is what makes “Definitive” so much more than a production. Every committee feeds into a larger artistic current. Trinity’s leadership balances the technical aspects of the event while maintaining a certain level of nuance.

“Some days, I’m answering emails and setting deadlines,” she said. “Other days, I’m sitting with the creative team, helping them express a feeling in a way that makes sense on stage.”

This year carries a sense of legacy. UW-Madison's partnership with the Virgil Abloh Foundation connects student expression to something much larger than UW’s campus. It sets the stage for a global conversation about artistry, innovation and representation.

“Getting to meet adults who have dedicated their lives to creativity and community—it feels empowering,” G said. The work he has done with the foundation has helped him expand his perspective from those initial ideas to what it is now. His major in design studies has also shaped how he approaches artistic direction.

“It’s surreal,” Trinity said. “To know that we’re working with a foundation built on Virgil’s philosophy—creating fearlessly, thinking limitlessly—it makes every long night worth it.”

Her work style is built on collaboration and a celebration of all the voices who are passionate about the show. “Everyone has a story they want to tell,” she said. “I just try to make sure the space is open for that to happen.”

And if Trinity is the architect, G is the powerhouse. As the show’s director, he shapes the emotional and visual language — the color palette, the mood and the meaning all hinge on his direction. He transforms the stage into narrative.

“I wanted Definitive to feel like a reflection of ourselves,” G said. “It’s about the sides we define for ourselves and the sides others define for us.”

The duality — internal versus external perception — is intricately woven through every aspect of the production, from its sound design to the way models move down the runway. For G, “Definitive” isn't just a name, it’s a question.

“What does it mean to be defined? Who gets to decide that?” he asked. “We’re exploring that tension through movement, through color, through contrast.”

“We're bringing in dance, storytelling, and theatrics, which shows all the ways you can bleed art forms together,” Trinity said.

G’s perspective draws from Virgil Abloh’s multidisciplinary approach in bringing to life various pathways through the collaborative effort of combining different streams of decisions and thoughts. “It’s about evolution, not perfection,” he said. “Taking what already exists and stretching it until it feels new again.”

“Trinity and I talk all the time about rhythm,” G said. “How the team moves, how ideas flow and the show is really just that: us translating rhythm into art.”

As he speaks, it’s clear G doesn’t just see fashion as clothing, it’s also a form of communication. His design process is as introspective as it is collaborative, informed by emotion and intuition.

The production was first mentioned to G while he was on a trip to Australia visiting a friend. Annelise McDonald, president of The Vault, happened to reach out to him. “I was just really proud. I was proud of Annelise. I saw a new initiative, a new flame,” he said. “I could tell this fashion show wasn’t just a fashion show. It needed to be a display of what this collaboration meant.”

Reflecting on the show’s evolution, G described the process as one of trial and error. “I went through a couple iterations of the concept. What I first pitched was far from what everyone saw at the intro meeting,” he said. “It took that perpetual trial and error to get to Definitive. We wanted to turn her into a character—a state of being that speaks to grief, human experience and glamour.”

Trinity highlighted the collaborative spirit of the project, especially across design, fashion, marketing and promotion teams. “It’s so special to see everyone growing into their roles,” she said. “G will share a vision, and I’ll think about what needs to happen behind the scenes to make it come to life. It’s like building a world together.”

What unites both leaders is their ability to translate chaos into cohesion.

When asked about the show's elements, G said, “You see it through the performance, the advertisement… it’s big, it takes up space. It’s something that stands loud, proud and tall."

“When you have a team that believes in something bigger than themselves, it’s magic,” he said. “That’s what Definitive is— it’s a reminder that everyone has a story worth sharing, even if it’s not pretty.”

For G, success isn’t mentioned by perfection or applause, but by the impact of sharing an idea and watching it take shape. “Successful is one of those satisfactory points that you can only set for yourself,” he said. “We could have stopped with the designer submissions and illustrations alone, and it would have already felt incredible. Just seeing the ideas come to life, seeing how many people were inspired to create and contribute—that was success right there.”

For him, every step forward, every person engaged, adds another layer to the story. “Everything else after that is just brownie points,” he said. “It’s about the community we’re building, the conversations we’re sparking, and the ways people are seeing themselves reflected in the show.”

Despite the workload, Trinity describes the experience as energizing rather than exhausting. “It’s so hard in college when you’re doing your classes and getting through the assignments and you don’t really see how impactful your homework is,” she said. The team’s trip to Paris to attend Virgil Abloh: The Codes exhibition gave it even more meaning. “Seeing Virgil’s creative world up close was surreal,” Trinity said. “It made everything we’re doing feel even more purposeful.”

Trinity explained that the Virgil Abloh Foundation focuses on building lasting, systemic change within creative industries, creating more equitable and inclusive spaces for underrepresented young creatives, cultural leaders, and changemakers in pursuit of a limitless creative future—a mission that aligns seamlessly with The Vault’s purpose. “That’s what The Vault is all about,” she said. “Connecting with the industry and, through this show, giving our members a chance to contribute.”

G and Trinity with Annelise McDonald (President of The Vault) and Vesa Lumani (Vice President of The Vault)

She added that the Vault is proud to carry forward this collaboration through initiatives such as Vault 360, a new program designed to connect students from the Virgil Abloh Foundations’ Abloh Air Cohort with meaningful mentorship opportunities.

As the countdown to the show begins, their energy is electric. A mix of artistry, leadership and genuine passion for their work. Definitive isn’t about perfection; it’s about presence. It’s about defining yourself without limitations.

“I’m most looking forward to watching Definitive come alive in front of an audience… seeing the designers’ reactions, their pride, their joy and seeing the community come together,” G said. 

Definitive Act III; Glory and Gore, takes the stage at The Tinsmith on Dec. 7 — a testament to student artistry and unlimited imagination.