Interview With Fashion Designer Johnny Diamandis

On the Shanghai fashion week, which has just ended recently, a handsome foreign designer has appeared in the eyes of people. He is the design director and founder of AK CLUB. Johnny Diamandis 。 Johnny was low-key. On the day of the interview, he wore a blue jeans shirt with black jeans and a T-shirt in his shirt. It's hard for you to see from the dress that this young gentleman is a visiting professor at Royal College of Art and RCA PARSONS School of design.

In the fashion circle, Johnny can be called a famous family. He graduated from Saint Martin college in London and has a proud achievement. His future is bright. But in his youth, he was not in a hurry to decide what to do or not to do in the future. In 1993, he began to travel around the world with his bags on his back. In his view, traveling around the world is also a process of feeling the world. He said: "designer's talent is not born. It takes many years to build self-confidence and cultivate a sense of beauty. Constantly starting on the road, continuous practice can be tempered. Designer The ability to be needed.

Opportunities are always left to those who are prepared. Since 1996, Johnny has officially entered the fashion industry. After 4 years as the main designer of Fake London Genius, he joined the Burberry design team led by Christopher Baily in 2001 with his own efforts to serve as the master designer of the men's coat and cowboy. In 2003, he was chosen as the design director of Evisu, so he came to Asia for 4 years. Until one day, he felt that he was ready to go on his own road. "I don't want to design at others' request. I just want to design for myself." He decided to create his own. brand 。

Johnny, a backpacker, did not want his brand to become another flower in the warm room of a big city. "Our brand is very masculine!" he seems to clarify. In 1950s, the Austria army uniform, the retro ski coat style, the 1940s long sleeved sportswear, and even the nostalgic LL Bean fishing jacket were listed in his style source list. Undoubtedly, these are for men who love to walk outdoors. "We do not follow suit. This is a basic strategy that needs to be followed." He felt that human nature had too much disharmony with the world itself, so he regarded "peaceful work and life" as the basic concept of his own design.

At the end of the fashion week in Shanghai, Johnny returned to his home in New York with his favorite J PantherLuggage CO weekend bag. He has become accustomed to the rapid integration of different cities in the rhythm of travel. For him, Shanghai is both commercial and creative. For many young designers abroad, China is a curious and strange new market. If it was not for the Chinese partners who met on the trip, Johnny would not be so determined to bring the brand to China, and if he hadn't travelled to a strange country on the back of his bag, he would have had a very different day.

　　 Dialogue Johnny Diamandis

　　 The name "AK CLUB" sounds interesting. How did it come from?

Many years ago, I thought of a name called Aces and Kings. Later, on the journey, I met my business partner, Song Ping, which is the abbreviation of his English name.

　　 How did this brand start up?

In fact, these are the first time we met in 1993. I have been to many countries, like Cuba and Vietnam. The experience of travel has given me a lot of inspiration, which is related to the design I learned in London, Saint Martin. I applied these inspirations to design. In 2009, we began to sell products in major department stores and shopping websites. Until 2012, we finally got our first flagship store in Xintiandi. I like it so much.

　 Why did you choose to build the first store in Shanghai?

I like the dynamism of the Chinese when they work. Shanghai is a very creative city, and it is also the best platform for designers to display their works. It is not easy for foreign designers to create local brands in China.

That's right. Song Ping and I have established our friendship since the student days. We are very consistent in our ideas. They all like classic slow fashion and advocate environmental protection. They are like-minded partners.

　　 Do you incorporate your ideas and creativity into store design?

I concentrate on the detailed design of the store, and Song Ping finds many interesting furniture and lamps from distant Japan and France. I am very excited about the new store. It feels like we are visiting our stores in London, New York and other places.

　　 You live in New York, but the brand is in Shanghai. How do you work with a team?

I often come to Shanghai to meet with my team and discuss the work content. If I were in New York, I would also keep in touch with them every day through the Internet.

　　 I heard you are a very detail oriented person.

I like to collect ideas or inspiration from everyday life. I live in the Brook forest area of New York. I usually take photos with iPhone to record my life, and occasionally draw something to avoid forgetting.

　　 You also have a project called "Cuba Libre". What is it?

In order to collect the inspiration from the journey, I gathered the memory fragments of Cuba. Which designer can say that his work is purely from the imaginary world? Impossible. Good design often comes from the breadth of your exposure to the world and the depth of observing the world.

　　 How do you relax after a busy day?

Swimming, listening to music, or smoking a Cuban cigar.