| We talk to 'KSUBI' creative director MIKEY NOLAN. |
| Written by Sacha Young | ||||
| Friday, 25 November 2011 17:47 | ||||
World famous in Australia, it feels like denim design house 'KSUBI' have been around a lot longer than eleven years, especially when I recall their trend-domination and international successes. Long [starting out] story short, four Aussie blokes were dissatisfied with the apparel available, so - besides surfing in their spare time - they started a brand named Tsubi... later re-spelt to 'Ksubi'. Fast-forward to 2011 and 'Ksubi' has just released their Autumn/Winter '12 lookbook, which is the most impressive range I have seen from the brand yet. As a consistent range with concise influences that are clearly portrayed through the construction, use of prints, textiles and styling of each piece, I was highly impressed with the craftsmanship and innovation presented in their newest collection. Entitled 'W.A.R.', this line of clothing is bound to blow your mind. Coup De Main had the chance to ask one of the brand's Creative Directors MIKEY NOLAN some questions…
COUP DE MAIN: I absolutely fell in love with your Winter '12 collection, can you tell us a bit about your up and coming collection [W.A.R.] and the inspiration behind it? MIKEY NOLAN: Around the time we were designing the W.A.R. collection we were being bombarded with images on the news of wars and insurgencies breaking out all over North Africa. We are also a people at war with our own environment. On a more pop-cultural level, Toby Jones our Art Director, saw a French film about African child-soldiers and we were inspired by the way they dressed, bringing found disparate elements together in an ensemble that epitomises the idea of bricolage (ref. Claude Levi Strauss and Dick Hebdige's "subcultures and the meaning of style"). CDM: What is your creative process when designing the range? MIKEY NOLAN: We sat down with our stylist Christine Centenera and looked over our obscure references. From these we narrowed the ideas of the collection down to hybrid dressing which combined disparate classics like leopard, plaid and khaki, in a harmonious way. We used security detailing with zips and the repetition of the bomber collar as a nod to the military influence. Printed tees also used disparate elements in the one garment combining florals with metal-style graphics in what we called "petrol station" style graphics. CDM: Describe a 'Ksubi' guy/girl in four words... MIKEY NOLAN: Careful, careless, dumb, smart.
MIKEY NOLAN: We do. CDM: What has been the greatest highlight for you, in the lifespan of 'Ksubi' so far? MIKEY NOLAN: The people who have come and gone and the people who have stayed and what we have all been through together. The reward of doing something together that in the process might be a shit-fight, but the times when you come out at the end and you're all happy with what you have done together. There's a sense of magic about that, as corny as it might sound. CDM: I like the idea of your 'Kustom' range, do you think that mass-production has taken individuality away from the buyer by producing so many units of the same style? MIKEY NOLAN: Yeah we definitely believe that and that's why we have Kustom. It injects a personality and uniqueness that you will never get any other way. CDM: If you could bring one item back, what would it be? MIKEY NOLAN: A leaf. Easy and breezy. CDM: 'Ksubi' go beyond the four walls of the fashion world, creeping into the artist community, e.g. your 'Jean Machine' installation in Hong Kong. If you could do an installation of anything, anywhere in the world, what would it be and why? MIKEY NOLAN: That's a really hard question. Maybe the world's largest tower of food for taking somewhere in Sub-Saharan Africa, but that might need a little more thinking out.
CDM: What did you want to be when you were seven-years-old? MIKEY NOLAN: A farmer with ten kids. CDM: Can you share with us one piece of advice for youngsters that may want to pursue a similar career to you? MIKEY NOLAN: Maybe just fall into it by accident? CDM: Finish the following sentences: In another life I… was an Inca. A guilty pleasure of mine is… a list that is so long that the Amazon would be gone if you printed it. I think paisley shirts are… great if you like them. I would like two hours of my life back after I watched… 'A Current Affair' four times. www.ksubi.com |
