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Q1 What is the concept of Prps?
Through traveling the globe and spending a lot of time in Europe and Asia I developed a real taste for Japanese craftsmanship and fashion. Although I liked the garments, they failed to fit me so I decided to start working with various Japanese artisans to make clothes for myself. After I started to receive the product I saw how incredible it was and also thought it had relevance in the American market and so Prps was born.
Q2 Could you tell us about Spring/Summer 2007 collection?
For this season we diverged from our normal path of strictly military, western and work wear inspired clothing. In SP 2007 we decided to experiment with new categories and new themes. We did one delivery in the vein of British punk with a mixture of high fashion. This was done in an effort to continually keep our customers interested and to allow us to push the envelope.
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Q3 What is the difference between Prps and other denim brands?
Unlike most other denim brands there is no gimmick to Prps. We do not embellish back pockets or use trendy advertising or celebrity seeding. Prps pays homage to the original denim companies ie Levi's. We use all natural aging processes and techniques, we use vintage shuttle looms to make the denim and basically spare no expense in order to make sure our garments are near perfect replicas of the vintage jeans that have inspired us all. So I guess in a nut shell the biggest difference is that when a person buys Prps they are buying the intrinsic value of the garment, not a fad.
Q4 Could you tell us about the projects that you are working on right now?
I am the owner of Kemistre 8 which owns Akademiks, Akademiks Ladies, Stash House, Prps and ASAP, so I'm constantly involved in a multitude of projects spanning many different markets. |
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Q8 Could you tell us anything what you think it's cool at the moment?
The Korean film scene. I love it! I've been watching a lot of Korean films lately.
Q9 Which celebrities are wearing Prps?
A lot, but keep in mind we give nothing away, when you see Lil Wayne, David Beckham, Brad Pitt and others in Prps, they went out and bought it. I do think it is cool to see the eclectic mix of celebrities the brand appeals to, we are not stuck in any one genre. |
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Q10 When do you usually get the inspiration for your works?
Through everyday life, walking down the street, traveling, shopping etc.
Q11 Do you like any other designer? Where do you shop?
I love Ralph Lauren, he is a genius and a master of his craft. He seems to have all markets tapped and remains relevant in any market he chooses to enter from RLX to Double RL it is all amazing.
Q12 Have you been to Japan? What do you think about Japanese fashion scene?
I have been to Japan many times, what I enjoy about the Japanese is their appreciation for American culture. The Japanese seem to have a better understanding of American culture and fashion history then most Americans. Sometimes spending time in other countries really allows you to gain a better understanding of your own country and Japan has definitely allowed me to gain a greater appreciation for the American legacy in fashion. |
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Prps, the company best known for leading the upper tier of premium denim, has changed gears for Spring Summer 2007 with an outstanding collection that wowed buyers upon its debut last summer at the Project Show in New York City. Formerly known for distressed and abraded tops like tees and hoodies, Prps reached far beyond their past collections and presented a collection of bright, clean tops in luxurious fabrics to tie back to their cult-status jeans that range from clean and raw, to heavily distressed.
Designer and founder of Prps, Donwan Harrell said "I came to the realization that the distressed jeans coupled with distressed tops was becoming too much. When designing this collection I was inspired by directions in Europe and my consumer who wants the best of everything. A silk tee that's slightly sheer or a double faced gauze cotton Henley is masculine, looks great with jeans and a pair of flip-flops and works on the East or West coast."
Across tops, the Prps SS 2007 collection offers bright, rumpled cotton wovens in neon solids or small, all over printed gauze versions. A nod to punk comes in the form of cardigan sweaters in solids or stripes of black and deep fuchsia, checkerboard patterned t-shirts in luxurious pima cotton with a smooth hand, even mesh v-necks with a hint of lurex. The new collection of tops takes Prps to a whole new level, more on par with high-end designer houses than the oversaturated world of distressed tees and American denim. "We can't keep making distressed tees, when the rest of the market is doing the same," says Harrell. "I'm excited about this collection because I truly believe it's reflective of what my consumer demands right now."
Prps also showed new jean styles, alongside the classic, easy fit five-pocket style for which the brand is most well known. Deep, raw selvedge denim makes an appearance in black for the first time. The brand also showed their relatively new slim fit, along with an even slimmer model oozing with 1950's, James Dean cool. Stud, nail head and glitter details breathed new life into classic styles that denim connoisseurs can't get enough of. Twill bottoms with utility details and advanced wash techniques also make a strong statement. |
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Q5 Why and how did you become designer?
I wanted to be an illustrator for Comic books. I study very hard in high school and worked diligently at this craft, however, I was denied admission to the school I wanted to go to, since I had also worked on clothing as a child it seemed natural to then go to school for design. While in college I won a contest and was able to do a semester in Paris. It was this exposure to fashion and design that I got while in Europe, that made me want to make fashion design my profession.
Q6 What do you think about the current fashion trend?
I'm not a big fan of what is going on right now, I think there is a real lack of individuality. It seems to me that people are confused and don't know who or what they are and because of that have difficulty expressing themselves through their wardrobe. The information age has made people lazy, they don't have to leave the house to gain exposure, the can just surf the web, this has allowed people to really conform their style much quicker then when I was growing up. |
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Q7 Which stores carry your products in US and Japan?
We are in the top stores around the globe, from the best street wear stores to the most luxury boutiques in the country including: Union NYC, Fred Segal LA, Scott Hill LA, Bergdorf Goodman and many others. In Japan; Royal Flash, Savage, Tomorrow Land and others. |
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Q13 Are there any places or countries you would like to visit?
Brazil and The Dominican Republic, oddly enough in all of my travels I have never made it to either place.
Q14 What is your goal?
To be a great role model for my kids.
Q15 Any message?
Keep an open mind. |
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