It has been seven years since the brand was founded in 2015, how would you perceive your own transition as a fashion designer?The brand’s growth has been really great over the last few years since we first launched the collection for Spring/ Summer 15 at Beams Japan. Since then, we’ve now grown into new territories, selling globally, showcasing at London Fashion Week, and we can do showrooms in Paris. I think as a fashion designer, the brand has grown, and we’ve done collections, we’ve done our first pop-up shop this year in London in Soho. We’ve collaborated with some amazing brands over the last few years to show how my designs can be interpreted into new ways. So yeah, I think the growth from when I first started to now has been really amazing in terms of the opportunities which I’ve had and the awards which I’ve received, such as LVMH prize BFC grants and funding to showcase at London Fashion Week. So yes, since the beginning to now there’s been a constant growth and I’m looking forward to seeing the other opportunities which come in future seasons with the brand.
What moments give you the most pleasure as a fashion designer?The biggest pleasures I get from fashion as a fashion designer is just seeing my clothing being worn on the daily: how it can make people feel, how many people feel connected or part of a larger community, to see musicians and artists perform wearing it and feeling stronger and more powerful when they’re playing and mixing in their own creative world. So for me, definitely seeing the garments worn and in action, being appreciated and celebrated, but harmonizing with that individual I think is really, really powerful. Also, how I can make a difference through the other projects which I’ve been working on— some charitable projects, like working with Tomorrow’s Warriors grassroots jazz organization and supporting their company; and doing my exhibitions, like NOW Gallery last year having a whole exhibition talk about my work and the collaborators around it. So I think that the moments will give me the most pleasure when I definitely can make a difference to an individual or to another collaborating partner—whether that’s a musician or a charity— and how I can sort of try to make my designs and my creative vision affect other people in a positive way.