|
The Interview
Styleforfree: How old were you when
you first knew you wanted to be designing clothing?
Adolfo
Joaquin: Well, I've always been an artist.
When I was younger I was the kid who was drawing
on textbooks, desks, and myself! I just loved
the idea of putting ideas from my mind into reality
through art. As I grew older, I didn't draw as
much, but my love for art didn't diminish. For
me, clothes are art. Fashion is art. The people
who will end up wearing Adolfo Joaquin are my
canvas. I just hope that I can share my vision
of inclusion and freedom with everyone!
Styleforfree: How'd you get started? Design school?
Entrepreneurial spirit?
Adolfo
Joaquin: I got started actually because
I was girl crazy! I know that sounds
awful, but it really isn't! I just loved
the female form and making women feel
and look beautiful! I originally was
going to launch a ladies-only line called "Charm" (which
is still in the works) but I found that
I didn't want to leave all the guys out
there who believe in my vision behind!
So I took all my designs fro Charm and
all the styles for guys that had been
dancing in my head for years and created
Adolfo Joaquin Clothing! I actually went
to school for criminology and was going
to attend law school! Once I saw how
unhappy some of my other friends who
had done that were, I decided that God
really wanted me to be happy and do what
I loved... which is make people feel
comfortable with being themselves!
SFF: Any
tips for those who want to get into the designing
biz?
AJ: My
biggest tip is to always dream! Your dreams now
will become the designs of the future. Your dreams
now will pave the road to success because you
have to believe you are capable of big things!
On the practical end, if you can find an internship
or small job in anyway with a clothing line,
take it! You have to start somewhere and MANY
designers just got lucky in a crappy job at clothing
line!
SFF: Your
styles are really fresh and hip. What inspires
you when designing a new collection?
AJ: My
inspiration comes from my feelings right then
at that moment. If I am happy, I try to transfer
those feelings into a design. If I'm pissed,
I make an angry shirt! Design is like my therapy...
and its much cheaper than pills! Designer-wise,
I have grown up on Ralph Lauren and hip hop lines
like Ecko. So when you see a piece of Adolfo
Joaquin clothing, you'll get that feel.
SFF: What's
your Spring 2006 Collection all about? And more
importantly, when will be able to buy it online?
AJ: Our
Spring 2006 Collection is
all about our motto, "Your
Style Is Our Style." We want
to create a collection of
tees and polos that really
let you be you. If you wear
your collar up, pop it! If
you wear you tees with your
hair in a mohawk, go for
it! We really want our clothes
to accent your personality,
not make your personality.
Right now we are debating
about a release date. Most
of our designs for spring
could easily be fall designs,
so stay tuned to WWW.ADOLFOJOAQUIN.COM
for details!
SFF: Any
forecasts for Fall/Winter '06?
SJ: Cashmere
and hoodies! Not together though! I love cashmere
sweaters and I think it is so suave and sexy
to wear it! On the same token, I love a great
hoodie because it is comfy and hip! That really
shows you how exciting and different Adolfo Joaquin
Clothing is going to be! The same clothing line
where you can get a high quality cashmere sweater,
you can get a amazingly hip hoodie!
SFF: How's
your Model Search going? Sounds like the next
American Idol and one ultra cool idea!
AJ: Thank
you so much! Our model search is going great!
After about 5 months, we have around 4,000 entries
and that list grows everyday! As for the format
of the contest, I have to say that I did get
my inspiration from many of my favorite tv shows!
I love the idea of people getting to vote for
who they like and who they think would be good
for us! I mean, how boring would it be if we
just picked the winner and that was it? Now,
the power is in our future customers' hands and
they can mold the company image how they see
fit!
SFF: We
noticed some of your favorite shows are Will
and Grace and The Apprentice. Ours too. Whose
style wowed you most on each of the shows and
why?
AJ: I
love Donald Trump's style. One thing Mr. Trump
preaches is making your brand the best it possibly
can. When people see Trump, they automatically
think high quality. From day one we have molded
Adolfo Joaquin Clothing with the idea that when
you see AJC you will think quality and freedom
to be who you are. I hope when it is all said
and done, you will see our logo and think just
that not because of commercials or ads but because
that really is who we are! On Will and Grace,
I love Grace's style! She was always different
and eccentric! Even though no one else liked
it, she loved it! That's really what its all
about!
SFF: What's
your philosophy on style? What makes it and what
doesn't?
AJ: I
believe that style is all in how you carry yourself.
Two people can have the same clothes on and where
one is stylish, the other just is plain! The
first rule of style is to feel comfortable mentally
and physically. If you wear a t-shirt that makes
you feel good mentally and physically, no matter
how crazy people think it is, it will be stylish!
Andre 3000 of Outkast is a great example of that.
He can wear an Indian head dress and a Scottish
kilt, yet be stylish! I couldn't do that! Just
remember what style is not: comformity. You don't
have to be like everyone else to be stylish.
If wearing polos is YOU, then do it! But don't
wear it just cause everyone else is. Be yourself
above all else.
SFF: Who
do you see as today's style icons (both male
and female) and why?
AJ: Today's
style icons? Hmmmm. For me, Brad Pitt would have
to be my style icon. He just looks good in everything!
T-shirts, suits, flip-flips, whatever! For the
ladies, is there anyone more in tune with style
than Madonna? She always has her ear to the grapvine
of style and never misses a beat! |
