Your artwork and website have a very timely feel. How has social networking and the media affected your visual language?
Yes, I love all of that and the realization of the global community and keeping in touch with people. . I’m a sci-fi geek. Myspace to me is a realization of a global community. It gives a lot power to people.
The conceptual element figures into your fashion presentation. You use cardboard props for added effect. What’s the concept here?
When I style shoots Ill use anything! Found objects, etc. But with the collection everything is made. It’s a complete world. This season we made a laser cut gun for the show. It’s really about being in a virtual world living in a computer game. Becoming the actual pixels. An alternate planet or reality, a living cartoons. The application of comics and fantasy is a big factor here.
Virtual reality becomes reality. Extending the pop world. I used to make everything up like characters or a computer generated avatar.
What are some of your inspirations besides music?
This season Future primitive SS08 was inspired by eighties skate culture and the rainforest. The idea of urban shamanism interests me. A gang of skaters living in the city but evoking and harnessing ancient beliefs.
You have a huge following in the streetwear and youth culture movements. I see a lot of recontextualization of classics like the sweatshirt used in in a more costumey application. Do you work with vintage items in your design process?
I don’t work with vintage or re work vintage, however, I will use a classic shape to do graphics on a, like a T-shirt. It’s like a blank canvas. I also will design menswear staples like a hoodie or M16 jacket and embellish it with appliqué graphics or a print.
Your collection is almost like an art installation with a myriad of layers. Do you work with an accessories designer or just find objects and throw them in.
I like that you say installation, because I want cassette playa to be a real experience. My work has a lot of layers, but I hope the reading is clear. I worked with set designer, Gary Card to realize my graphics in 3D. We had giant eyeballs and pixel monsters on the catwalk.