THREAD San Diego is growin' up, now setting the picturesque Sheraton Hotel Harbor Island into cultural upheaval in the name of fashion and urban lifestyle. And, it all goes down on Sunday, August 17 from 11am to 6pm, unleashing upon San Diego a fresh index of designers, avant garde entertainment, lifestyle luxuries, and VIP lounges.
In anticipation, DiscoverSD.com spotlights top THREAD designer: Inkstain Apparel. From trends to inspirations and the last outfit on earth: let's take a dip inside Inkstain Apparel.
Q. This is your first year showcasing in THREAD San Diego. What are you looking forward to at the show?
A. Six months has taught us one thing: if we succeed, succeed healthy. If we fail, fail beautifully. We only expect people to absorb our designs for what they are: art pieces. Our company has a story and we're hoping to share it with everyone.
Q. How would you describe your apparel and your average shopper?
A. Our apparel appeals to the senses. You double-take our shirts because that's what they'll make you do; one tangible look doesn't satisfy. In our heads, they're not shoppers, but fans. And each fan is different from another. Some of them like our reference to expressionistic art, others like our reference to Dr Seuss. What brings them together is Inkstain Apparel.
Q. What are your influences, and how did you begin your business?
A. All the artists that have passed through Upper Playground. Our name derives from Jose Parla's artwork titled "Marked by Inkstains," and an interview done on David Choe. Not to mention all the clothing companies, like The Hundreds and Hellz Bellz, that started something irrevocable.
Inkstain began with a few individuals who carried the like mind in our philosophy: Inkstain is the bridge between art and street, galleries and brick walls, between a rose in a garden and a rose in the concrete. The difference may be minimal, but robust. We're here to bring the two together and enhance its union. Inkstain is the enduring mark that we will make: the ink is on the wall.
Q. I noticed some of your designs are graffiti-inspired. Do you have a background in other art mediums?
A. When I was 10, I took classes on how to draw animals in chalk. After 3 months, I quit. I figured doodling sketches in the next 13 years of my predominantly public school career would be better. Since then, I've found acrylic, oil, and anything else you can throw onto a canvas. I taught myself graphic design and photography.
Q. If tomorrow was your last day on earth, what would you wear, and why?
A. My Angel Wings. When death comes a-knocking, I want to look good.
Get all the must-know details about THREAD San Diego here.
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