How did you come up
with the idea of using old clothes and scraps as resources and reconstructing
them into wearable pieces in the first place?
As a young designer, I had limited resources
and funds. I was also learning, so utilizing old clothes and scraps made more
sense than cutting up something new. That hasn’t
changed.
You didn’t study
industrial design or fashion design, and you are almost entirely self-taught,
right? How did you learn the skills of sewing and product design?
In the beginning, I stapled and glued things
together, but I knew I’d need to be able to do more to achieve a certain
aesthetic in my work. So I taught myself to sew, and with each project, I
learned what to do and what not to do. Everything I took apart informed me
about product design, material construction, and making techniques.
Have you ever felt
the frustration of having an idea but not being able to give it shape due to a
lack of skills?
I think many people have frustrations about
not being able to bring an idea to life because they assume it has to come
about a certain way. I’ve learned that you can choose any method and use
whatever means necessary to create. It’s about the first step and then figuring
it out from there.
What sort of
individual perspective or way to see things as an artist that you have been
able to establish because you are self-taught?
It literally taught me that anyone could make
if they tried. It’s about removing the stigma
that training is a must and understanding that openness to failure can lead to
growth. And along the way, you’ll find those willing to
help guide you to become better.
What was it that
propelled you to make the decision to quit your job at Reebok and focus on your
art activities?
What started as something I was doing during
my free time had grown into something else, and I realized I could be doing
more if I went freelance. It wasn’t
necessarily the easiest decision. I was opting to leave financial security to
work for myself, and I had my doubts, but luckily, it’s
working out for me.