Interview with Owen. “People want to change lives with their profession”

Interviewer: What inspired you to study fashion design and is there anyone specific who inspires you?

Designer: Passion for clothes and I’m mostly inspired by people

I: Are you inspired by the people at LISOF?

D: I’m my own person. I draw inspiration from other things, like Art, Nature, Building, Colours.

I: Where do you see yourself in ten years?

D: I don’t think anything is going to change for me in ten years. I’m still going to be in the same place im in today.

I: Isn’t that bad?

D: All depends on how you look at it. I’m talking about the mental state, I’m in the process of learning and in 10 years I’ll still be learning

I: Do you not see yourself having one collection or selling small items, like what you already have?

D: Possibly.

I: What’s next for you? Design wise? 

D: I’m really not sure, my mind is always changing. What I want to do create is a brand that has a certain identity that is associated with me.

I: When you look at the youth of South Africa, do you see original style or just copy cats of one another?

D: South Africa does not have an identity of yet, we just find inspiration from other people. There was a time in SA when we had a culture of its own. During the kwaito area, pantsula, dickies, all stars. 

I: On an everyday basis I’ve noticed that everyone looks alike, why do you think that is?

D: Everyone’s drawing inspiration from the same place.

I: People are not taking things and making them into their own style. At this school it’s a little bit different, we are all wearing vans here, but none of us look the same, but that’s not always the case. Is it possible for that to change?

D: It will change on it own, whether i play a role or not.

I: Do you see anyone around the school that can influence others in the way they dress?

D: It’s only going to get worse. As long as Instagram is around.

I: Instagram is the death of fashion.

D: Yeah. There was a time when people used to read magazines to find out what’s new and they would only display products, no face was attached to it. You could see a pair of Dior heels without any face. Now with Instagram you are buying the face, who the face is, what they are about and you are buying the product. Example Ian connor, you are buying the revenge storms because of him. His face, he lives a certain way, and there is a swagger about him that a lot of people want to adopt. So, as much a we believe we are going to become individuals of your own, we are going to be more alike. Our interests are more alike, we all know the latest drops and have the same opinion about them. We talk about the same fashion shows. That’s why s**t will never change now. There are other ways to influence people without fashion.

I: What do you think is the best way?

D: Direct communication. People want to change lives with their profession. Before the profession we are human beings and as humans we are meant to communicate and share ideas to help each other to broaden our horizons. With fashion, art and music there is a lot missing since we only get the finished product, so there will always be a misinterpretation of the product. If you are not around during the process, you will never fully understand.