September 13, 2016 |
Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne, AKA the multi-talented Creative Directors of DKNY, are what one may call a hot ticket. Yep, no-one can get close. Except us, obviously, who cornered the pair backstage at their futuristic, and wholly thrilling, SS17 show in New York. Well, we say us, but it was actually our intrepid reporter from down under, Roxy Lola of 10 Magazine Australia, who got up close and personal with the boys yesterday…
Roxy Lola: What was the starting point for you for this collection – both you and Donna Karan have spoken about New York as intrinsic to the DKNY brand- is this something you always have in mind as an inspiration?
Dao-Yi: We talked about this idea of a ‘Neo Soho’ this new New York. The newer you get, the older you get. This whole back to the future concept. We wanted to do this really definitive DKNY collection that represented everything, just as much of what the past was, but looking forward to the future. Really redefining what active and street meant and bringing them together in one collection.
RL: Do you have a specific ‘woman’ in mind when you are designing- is she someone you know/ want to know?
DY: Every girl that we cast in the show was the perfect new Neo New york girl.
RL: Tell us about creating the show experience- the music/ the casting/ the venue- we love what these add to your collections. Do you visualise the show when you are designing or does that come later?
Maxwell: Yeah absolutely. It’s all about the city above. The future city we build up. So doing an elevated show on The High Line is why we did that as the venue because the thing about the future and how theres flying cars and buildings in the air, the High Line is the perfect place to do it.
RL: Who are your influences? Who do you look up to?
M: My mum standing right here.
DY: Family, friends. That’s really our foundation.
RL: What does a typical day in your life look like? Do you ever stop and get a break?
DY: No stopping.
M: Never stop.
RL: What would you say are the essentials to become respected in your profession?
DY: Longevity. Integrity. Consistency. Having a vision and keep going at it. Not following and always leading.
RL: Sell yourselves in 10 words?
M: Sell myself in 10 words? I never want to sell myself.
DY: Just all those qualities we just said.
Photograph by Jason Lloyd-Evans
