THE RAD APARTMENT W/ MONTREAL DESIGNER LUCAS STOWE
Not one eye was ever distracted as Lucas Stowe’s pieces graced the runway, you can’t help but puzzle over the heart and fresh eloquence that was showcased. Meeting Lucas Stowe was no different. Walking in, Lucas exuded an exoskeleton of genuine light and the cliche mechanical habit was not in sight. From curating the mind’s vision to the sphere, we touched on the present, past and future of Lucas Stowe.
You personally have worked with brands like Matt & Natt, Aldo etc. But what was it like from scratch starting your own brand and finding that signature look? Well, it’s very different because when you are working with a bigger brand, you are working for the customer. As per to your own stuff you are designing what you feel like you want to do. It’s more of an artistic path than corporate working or working under someone. What made your eye attract to using paintings such as ‘The garden of earthly delights’ for your latest collection and will this be a continuing inspiration to use artwork for your future collections? I have always been doing art since I was a kid such as dance, music, singing, and theatre. So, for me, it’s natural to draw inspiration from artwork. When I work with another brand, for example, we will observe other designers. I will look at a shoe and make it commercial. Whereas for my brand, I will look at music, paintings and color pallets. Whatever it is, it’s really different. That’s why I was attracted to that painting because it was really crazy. Half of the collection was designed and then I thought, this is so similar to that painting. I was always disturbed by it, that’s why it was interesting for me to base a collection off of that. The painting is basically 3 giant panels. The 1st is God chasing Adam and Eve. The 2nd panel is the beginning of humanity. People didn’t know what ‘Hell’ was yet. It was before that, so it’s living life without consequence. It’s the YOLO style of following your dreams and ultimate desires. The last panel is ‘Hell’ basically for me it’s looking at the middle one, the colors, textures and weird animals you’ve never seen before. Would you consider your collections an inner reflection or the persona of you as the designer? For sure. But also working off of my friends as muses. I often draw inspiration from people who surround me. I have a very diverse group of friends. Which that is shown in my collection. I believe in diversity and all types of people, all types of things and different points of views. I’ll look at a particular person, imagine their story and romanticize it. In the collection I have now, I was working with a really strange character and the first time I was attracted to him was because we had the same birthday but also he was very similar to me. I did think he was crazy/weird and thought that was awesome to represent my brand. Which is kind of me, I guess. You surround yourself with people more like you.
For a lad/consumer wearing your clothing, how would you like them to feel? Confident! I have a lot of silk, textures, glitter, pink/red fur that are fun. But at the end of the day, if you feel smart or sexy, I just want the person to feel like themselves, that’s the most important thing. If your fashion house could be placed anywhere in the world, where would it be and the dream collaboration that would take place in it? I did a 3-course program in London, which was amazing! I was obsessed with that city! For me, London was the place where I was the happiest, I felt the most like myself. The timing in my life was perfect, I don’t know if it was the city or my state of mind there. I lived in Europe before, when I was in Paris – it was beautiful and inspiring but the people I didn’t really like, it was sad and depressing. When I was in London it was like ‘ yeah it was raining’ but no one cared!. That was the spirit I liked that was an influence. In regards to the collaboration, there are the obvious – but what if there was a collaboration that was completely not fashion orientated. There was a piece by Damien Hirst I am obsessed with and it was a tank with a unicorn and blue water. It was very strange but I think about how would he interpret what I do, in terms of my brand and fashion.
Because your clothing is in all rights a positive standout if you could create a new word category for your brand/collection what would that be? I would like to have unique in there, also with identity, something about being yourself. Adding, creative and crazy. It’s important to have fun. Along those lines. We love asking this question to all of our interviewees if we could ask your closest confidants, 3 words to describe yourself. What would they be? I did ask my family and friends how they would describe me. Fabulous is one, I think it has a funny tone to it. My mom wrote, whom I am best friends with “ Creative, persevering and determined”
What is next for you and your brand, what can your style revolutioners expect to see? The next step for me is to learn to make crazy shapes that are unexpected. I’m good at drawing and designing, execution-wise is something that is harder so I want to push that for my next collection.
Lucas told us growing up his mother said “ If you don’t do what you are obsessed with you won’t be happy or make money” which is one piece of advice he spoke on regards to parental support. Which is something no matter how old or young you are that needs to be heard. What we can hear is loud applauses and visualizing multiple standing ovations for Lucas Stowe’s future. He is truly one you cannot predict but his brand is one that will leave a massive footprint as he treds through the fashion industry. Standing out is made for the Lucas Stowe brand and a runway chair is made for you to see it live. I want to thank Lucas for allowing us to interview in his hectic schedule, so early may I add. A designer, you do not need to pull a thread to put what he showcases on.
