Q1 What is the concept of your brand?
The brand itself is not conceptually driven. The imagery for each collection, however, is, and the concept changes every season. I don't like to repeat myself or to rehash the popular imagery that everyone else is doing. I like to keep things fresh and new. Perhaps then, the brand concept is originality. This collection (Spring/Summer 2007) is based around the concept of Sex. Money. Violence. I got the idea from a New Yorker article I read about modern American art.
I want to point out also, that in addition to the concept, equally important to the brand are the actual tees. |
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I like coming up with the
concept, picking colors, art directing the graphics team, and working with the factory. The Indulgences were
pretty great too. It was cool to have an idea and finally get to produce it a year after I came up with it.
Q9 What do you do on your day off?
I don't have many days off really. I work from home, so there's always work to be done. When you work for
yourself, though, you can be more flexible with your time. It kind of all intermingles really. I like to run and
go to the gym, go to the movies, hangout with friends, go to parties, and ride my bike around the city. |
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I've worked very closely with my factory to perfect the fit and have worked extremely hard on getting the fabric and wash just right. My goal is the make the best fitting, highest quality t-shirt on the market.
Q2 Could you tell us about the projects that you are working on right now?
In terms of clothing, I'm adding two (2) new styles to the line: a short sleeved v-neck t-shirt and a short- sleeved polo shirt. Like the crewneck tees, the fit on each of these new designs is slimmer and hugs the body in all the right places. Fit is really important for me. I'm also working with Tobias Wong on a second line of Indulgences - the gold jewelry line we did together last year.
Q3 Why did you become designer?
It was kind of by chance. In the back of my mind, I'd always wanted to be a designer, but didn't think it was possible. Then one summer 4 years ago I was out of work, and with the help of a friend, I started making tees. I really liked it and it's continued from there. One of the reasons it's worked out so well is that I am my target customer. I came into it knowing this market from the consumer end, which has been very helpful.
Q4 When do you usually get the inspiration for your works?
It varies. Living in New York is definitely integral to my work and the collection. |
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I just moved back into the East Village from Brooklyn so there's always something going on here to entertain me. Also, with a "job" like mine, more than half of the stuff I do is really fun so it doesn't seem like work a lot of the time.
Q10 Are there any places or countries you would like to visit?
Argentina, Moscow, Berlin, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Hawaii, the Caribbean, and Thailand, to name a few. Ideally, I want to go everywhere to see what other places are like and what the people are like. Travel is important to me. I don't have the money to do it as much as I'd like, though. Running a small business and living in New York is very expensive.
Q11 Have you been you Japan?
No. I've wanted to go forever, but haven't gotten there yet.
Q12 What is your favorite cuisine? Could you tell us your favorite restaurants?
It changes all the time. I'm really into Mexican this summer, especially frozen margaritas. I also like Italian, sushi and Thai. My favorite thing to eat is steak, although I don't eat it that much really. I like Little Frankie's in the East Village. It's pizza and Italian. The space and crowd are great and the food is amazing.
There's a hummus place called The Hummus Place on St Marks again in the East Village that rocks. It's Israeli owned so the hummus is amazing. My all time favorite place to go, especially late night, is Florent in the Meat Packing. It’s been there for over 20 years and has the look of places that opened in the 80's in New York. There aren't many of those places left and I really like that aesthetic. It's kind of kitschy: both the staff and the actual space.
Q13 Could you tell us anything that you think its cool at the moment?
The Decemberists, Secret Machines, Bloc Party, and Wolf Parade, the new Nike/iPod collaboration, Commes des Garcons "Sherbet Series 5" scents, Nike Air Force 180's, black Seven jeans, Hanes Classic fit V-neck tees. I always have lots of interests. They too change a lot.
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It's the most inspiring place I've ever been or lived. It's such a mix of old and new, American and foreign, rich and poor that you see things here that don't really exist anywhere else. The physical environment is also very visually stimulating, which sparks ideas. Lastly, I'm really inspired by music. I'm constantly listening to music and lyrics and imagery from songs manage to work their way into the line.
Q5 Could you tell us the process of working on your pieces?
It's also not very formulaic. It happens pretty organically and changes with every project.
Q6 What do you feel important when you are working on your pieces?
Originality is big for me. Despite the fact that I pull ideas and imagery from the past and from other works, I put them together in a context that is new. When I see something other lines have done two or three times, something in my head goes off that says "Don't do this. Do something nobody else is doing." Also, I like to use color combinations that are unique. For example, I will do punk rock tee on light pink and things of that nature. Anything to make the pieces stand out a little.
Q7 What do you think about the current fashion trend? |
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The mix of high and low/punk and preppy, which has been going on for several years now, continues to be my favorite trend. It's making menswear much more interesting than it used to be. Also, the big boom in t-shirts and jeans is great. I love the higher end markets for each that have evolved. I'm a very jeans and tees kind of guy and want to be able to wear them everywhere I go.
Q8 Could you tell us the work you enjoyed so far?
Although I've enjoyed the collaborations I've done a lot, I really like the t-shirts. |
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Q14 Are there any people who inspired you? Who do you respect?
I tend to respect people who have earned what they've earned on their own. When I think of personal mentors, I like people like Nigo from A Bathing Ape, Marc Ekco, and as trite as this is, I always keep Andy Warhol's life and art in the back of mind as a reminder of what's possible.
Q15 Favorite word or phrase?
Ju$t do it.
Q16 What is your favorite music?
It's varied. Here's a list of my current favorite songs. (this will change in about 2 weeks): Queen Bitch (David Bowie), Grounds For Divorce (Wolf Parade), Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old Girl (Broken Social Scene), Steady As She Goes (The Raconteurs), The Skin Off My Yellow Country Teeth (Clap Your Hands Say Yeah), No Love Lost (Joy Division), Angeles (Elliott Smith), Alone, Jealous & Stoned (Secret Machines), The Dugout (Ladyhawk), Los Angeles, I'm Yours (The Decemberists)
Q17 What is your goal?
One of my goals is for Ju$t Another Rich Kid to be the most sought after t-shirt line in the world. Also, I want it to be a full clothing line at some point.
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Most of all, I want to make enough money to be able to turn all of my
ideas (artistic, design, and others) into reality. I have so many ideas that I just can't do because of the cost. It's really frustrating.
Q18 Any message?
I really can't type anymore... |
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