Designer
@darkm0thindustry

Interview by Charlie Price
Edited by Tiaja Pierre

Your work has a dark minimalist quality to it – how would you describe your work?

Like nature; simple yet technically difficult in the same regard. Fashion forward in the sense that nothing can be inventive or look towards tomorrow without thinking of our collective future. Gender free, deconstructed, minimal, dark aesthetic, multi-functional/purposeful and form free. Being futuristic through sustainability.

I know gender fluidity is central to your work – how did this come to be – and how do you specifically address it as you create your clothing?

The fact that an item of clothing is gendered just seems so illogical to me.

As the reader reads, the writer writes using logic whose laws, systems and life experiences cannot dominate absolutism within the readers’ reality. The reader cannot legitimately determine the actuality of meaning that the writer intends, as the reader shapes the words in their mind based on their own presumptions.

The notion that a t-shaped shirt is a t-shirt, because we say it is…is hardly inventive or exciting. Deconstructing these “rules” are highly important to my brand and should not be met with the limitations of supposed gender restrictions.

You have been showing your collections in various international cities – is having your designs be globally available a main priority for your brand?

This was never really my intention, but I have fallen in love with it and look forward to traveling with my work more. Every new place I go, I am astounded at the same need for change within the fashion world. From Denver to Paris and everywhere in between, it both delights and disgusts me when there is any element of my collections that is seen as breaking some sort of divide within the community. No matter the city, I am happy to present what to me seems like smart and simple ideas to any group of adaptable people that want reasonable sustainability, for the society we have all created.

You always have cool, dramatic music in your runway shows – how do you select the songs you use?

My partner Chris and I have a duo called ABRV in which we create a blend of electronic and instrumental music which tend to be melodic, industrial and vocal heavy. For my runway shows musically, instead of singing I verbally direct Chris as to where I hope the soundscapes end up electronically. Together we produce the music for each show, without it I do not believe my collections would be nearly complete.

Your pieces always seem to be very comfortable – is comfort for the wearer a key concern of yours?

In short, yes. Extremely. Everything I create must be made out of unquestionably comfortable materials, both in fit, feel and texture. I am very particular about this. Thankfully, that particularity can be met using sustainable or repurposed materials…the true notion of futuristic fashion.

What does being a citizen of The West mean to you?

Space, freedom and responsibility come to mind. Living in various larger cities throughout my life, I have noticed that bigger more diverse populations tend towards a stronger need for high-speed information and growth. With technology having the potential to provoke, instigate and change the way we treat each other and our home, these dense cities have a greater hope of anthropological positive impact. Living in The West for me provides the opportunity to mimic nature instead of the people inside of it. It allows me to focus on creating rather than consuming.