Q&A with Ego Death
Check out our sit down with one of the U.K.'s most innovative DIY designers
Britain's influential role in fashion globally is well documented. What is perhaps less well documented, is the East Midland's pivotal role in shaping the nation's garment history. The region plays host to Long Eaton's Sunspel founded in 1860, who provide the famous polos 007 sports in the James Bond franchise. Then there's Northamptonshire's shoe making pedigree. Dr Martens are headquartered in Woolaston. Grenson have been going strong in the region since being founded there in 1866. Just a bit longer than Church's Shoes, Brits and fashion fans the world over have been lacing them up since 1873. No list of East Mids fashion heavyweights would be complete without the late great Vivienne Westwood, hailing from Tintwistle in Derbyshire. So perhaps its no surprise that one of the most interesting new innovators in fashion hails from Derby.
Ego Death's theatrical sculpted headwear has captured the imagination of gen-z's sensibilities. The line between fashion and costume is always tenuous and Ego Death insistently pushes that boundary. Fashion is often described as "wearable art" without real justification but its impossible not to apply that label to this brand. Even more impressive, the brand's visual language is expertly applied to street ready wearable items that can be seamlessly implemented into day to day outfits. We sat down with the brand's cryptic founder to learn more.
How would you describe your brand in a sentence?
Hard to look at.
What made you decide to build your brands from the ground up instead of the traditional university/design school route?
I think only the mainstream view on things can come through the school route, only concepts that are already understood can be taught on mass.The best things are found in untouched territory, and you have to go there alone to find it.
A lot of modern brands are hard to put into a neat streetwear, skatewear, luxury bracket. How do you categorise yours?
I’d describe my previous designs as avant grade .
Derby might not be the first place people think of when they're looking for emerging design talent, but how has the city and its culture influenced you?
The key influence for me would be the spirit of creative people in Derby, people here are much closer knit and supportive than bigger cities such as London, and people show up for each other. I’d also say Derby has a unique history which shows through in the architecture around town. It’s Gothic in nature, which likely impacted me.
Music has always been a big influencer of fashion and culture, are there any artists whose aesthetics have influenced your design craft?
The Prodigy definitely influenced me in the early days, when I first began my work was primarily punk in its aesthetic.
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