Some may say that I’m biased, as the designer aforementioned in the title is not only a close personal friend, but someone who I consider to be family, but that’s neither here nor there. The talent of this Up & coming Couture Urban Streetwear brand is sure to make others squirm and revaluate what they are doing.
Urban Candy Couture is unique in style, in ethos and in its vision. Although relatively unknown by the mainstream audience, it has remained to be one of my personal keepsake labels and hidden treasure. As the release of their premier prêt-a-porter ‘High Flyer’s’ Hoody Collection is set to release this Autumn, from here on now they are only destined for big things. So let me introduce to you the lady herself, the founder, CEO, designer & creative genius behind the Sophisticated Urbanite’s hidden clothing gem.
Q: So TM, introduce to those who don’t know, about Urban Candy Couture?
Well, we are an Up & Coming Couture Urban Streetwear label situated in London selling Limited Edition products to the underground & independent culture. We’re a lifestyle brand, so it’s not just the clothing we stand for, it’s the concept, similar to Hip-Hop we aim to be a culture as well. We provide the alternative to mainstream, our clothing is customised to be different, every individual product has a different twist to it, no two products will be the same. There are very few Couture Urban Clothing labels, so we are one of a kind.
Q: You said, your products are customised to be different, how so?
Well, ‘Couture’ is the creation of exclusive high fashion custom made clothing. You have Haute Couture, which is the creation of the World’s most exclusive garments; this is where for example the celebrities may get their one off pieces for events. The Bespoke element to Urban Candy Couture is our Custom Design service where customers can get customised clothing specifically designed to suit them. All of our products are hand and custom made by myself, which sets us apart from the majority of Urban Clothing Labels, as most source their products and send designs of to a manufacture, I sew the clothing from a piece of fabric into a garment, and I design them myself. I am involved in all aspects of production, everything you see is my vision from the type of font I use on the website to the type of fabric or thread I use, it’s all me.
Q: So in essence you are Urban Candy Couture?
Yeah, you could put it like that. This is my vision, Everything I do, I do solely by myself. I’m quite a quiet person, and I find my voice through writing, music & design. I let the clothes speak for themselves. There is a lot of me in the clothes that I produce.
Q: So how did Urban Candy Couture come about?I’m 19 and now I’m onto my 2nd year of University, but I’ve wanted to do this ever since I was 15. I’ve always had an eye for fashion, so I guess this has been a long time coming. But like I said, I’ve always been creative, artistically and musically. I am independent, I like the idea of being my own boss and working for myself, the freedom, so it was only logical that I bring both of those to the table and here we have UCC (Urban Candy Couture).
Q: What are your influences?
For me anything and everything. Friends are always amazed at where I get my ideas from. I think differently than most people, and I think that benefits me as the clothes that I produce are different. My main influence is Music. Music and Fashion are so synonymous, they work effortlessly together. When I’m designing or doing anything for that fact, you will always find music playing in the background. I’m also influenced by other designers and artists, and people.
Q: What kind of music do you listen to?
A: Hip-Hop I listen to a lot, real hip-hop I mean, and lately I’ve been on an Old School Hip-Hop vibe, so the sounds of De La Soul, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Pimp C, Big L, Notorious B.I.G and then the new school, so Lupe Fiasco, Charles Hamilton, Jay-Z, Drake, Jay Electronica. They have been very influential in the New A/W 2010 ‘High Flyers’ collection, I was listening to them a lot in the design process. But, I listen to a little bit of everything from Dubstep, to Grime, to Neo-Soul to Drum & Bass, Rock, Indie, you name it I listen to it.
Q: What is the style of Urban Candy Couture?
A: As a Style Urban Candy Couture is about Urban Sophistication, effortless style. We’re simple yet innovative, sleek, yet compelling, quirky yet directional.
Q: Where do you hope to see Urban Candy Couture, where will you hope it will take you?
For me personally, I’m not in this to make money, I do it for the love, I’m earning a living utilising the talent I’ve been fortunate enough to be blessed with, and I’m sharing my vision with the world, leaving my mark, getting paid for it is just an additional bonus. It’s not what motivates me. In response to your question, truthfully, I would just be happy if a small amount of people understand the vision that I have for Urban Candy Couture, and get the concept, as opposed to having a brand which essentially doesn’t stand for anything. I’m not sure where it will take me, it’s written in the future, so whatever will be, will be.
Q: I hear that, so what is the motivation behind Urban Candy Couture.
A: The motivation behind it is passion. The feeling something can be better, the feeling that something’s missing. The feeling that something’s needed.. I love what I do, and I hope that is identifiable in the clothing that I produce. I design to inspire, I design to innovate. Our tagline is ‘Overground Players, Underground Innovators’. To innovate and to create garments which push boundaries in the Urban Clothing market. Although the market is very healthy and fertile, as with any market it can become saturated and you can start to see repetition. The Motivation is to create clothing that amazes people, fresh, unique, exciting, something they haven’t seen before.
Q: Where do you as a designer feel you will be in 5 or 10 years?
At the moment I don’t feel I am where I want to be and as an artist creatively and mentally it’s important to feed on knowledge and constantly learn to improve your craft. I’m young, this is only the beginning and there is so much more for me to learn, so at the moment this is a great place to be as an artist creatively who wants to improve and perfect their craft.
Q: What’s in the pipeline?
Our premier prêt-a-porter ‘High Flyer’s’ Collection will be released at the end of July, we have a photoshoot coming up, more designing to do, so many more things in the works. Check us out on the website for more up to date info.
Q: Any advice for budding entrepreneurs?
Follow you dream, if you can imagine it, you can achieve it, if you can dream it you can become it. There are no limitations only the ones that we set ourselves. If you procrastinate too much those dreams turn into could have been’s. Remember, Imagine. Achieve. Dream. Become.
Q: That’s your ethos?
Yes, that’s our ethos.
Checkout Urban Candy Couture here:
Website: www.URBANCANDYCOUTURE.com
Blog: www.URBANCANDYCOUTURE.WORDPRESS.com
Twitter.: www.twitter.com/UrbanCandyUK – @URBANCANDYUK
Myspace: www.myspace.com/urban.candy
Facebook: www.facebook.com/URBANCANDYUK
IloveFashion
August 29, 2010
Nice interview! Well done.