Recently I had the pleasure to sit down with the design team behind KillRoi clothing (Daniel Hight and Talia Markos) to discuss their new line and what they love and hate about fashion. 'Busy At Love and War' has also done an incredible job on photography for a recent photo shoot for KillRoi. Enjoy (click on photos to enlarge) What made the two of you want to become designers?
We both have backgrounds in and a love for design, art and fashion. While driving and roadtripping we'd often brainstorm design ideas. I think we kept going back to the idea of designing a clothing line because we would see so many of our ideas on racks or in ads months, sometimes years, after we talked about it. The next logical step was to stop talking about it and take action.
What do you love about fashion?
I love that fashion has a spectrum of functions: on one end it can be an outlet of someone's personality or creativity, on the other end it is wearable art. In between, it is an artist's inspiration brought to life on the runway or experimentation that pushes the boundaries of possibility.
We both have backgrounds in and a love for design, art and fashion. While driving and roadtripping we'd often brainstorm design ideas. I think we kept going back to the idea of designing a clothing line because we would see so many of our ideas on racks or in ads months, sometimes years, after we talked about it. The next logical step was to stop talking about it and take action.
What do you love about fashion?
I love that fashion has a spectrum of functions: on one end it can be an outlet of someone's personality or creativity, on the other end it is wearable art. In between, it is an artist's inspiration brought to life on the runway or experimentation that pushes the boundaries of possibility.
What do you hate about fashion?
We're not fans of how "fast-fashion" has monopolized the market with cheap quality, low-priced stuff. We also hate how cookie-cutter big boxes have dominated the minds of the masses establishing conservative/boring styles the norm of how to dress. KillRoi is out to change that.
Why the environmentally friendly clothing? Is this a company philosophy or a
We're not fans of how "fast-fashion" has monopolized the market with cheap quality, low-priced stuff. We also hate how cookie-cutter big boxes have dominated the minds of the masses establishing conservative/boring styles the norm of how to dress. KillRoi is out to change that.
Why the environmentally friendly clothing? Is this a company philosophy or a
personal choice that the two of you made?
It's both a personal choice and a company philosophy--the two are interlinked. We've always had an eco-edge and we wanted to try maintaining that in our business as well. The icing on the cake for KillRoi is that bamboo fabric is not only irresistibly soft, but it is also an environmentally-friendly renewable resource.
Where do you get your inspiration for design and artwork?
We're inspired by our environment and our daily lives: Canada, urban culture, as well as fellow artists and designers.
Talia: I'm also inspired by aspiring fashion designers and trendsetters of all ages: kids are very creative and confident; teens and twenty-somethings have great ideas; any new talent that has a solid vibe inspires me; and I love Montreal grandmas rocking artsy-fartsy randomness.
It's both a personal choice and a company philosophy--the two are interlinked. We've always had an eco-edge and we wanted to try maintaining that in our business as well. The icing on the cake for KillRoi is that bamboo fabric is not only irresistibly soft, but it is also an environmentally-friendly renewable resource.Where do you get your inspiration for design and artwork?
We're inspired by our environment and our daily lives: Canada, urban culture, as well as fellow artists and designers.
Talia: I'm also inspired by aspiring fashion designers and trendsetters of all ages: kids are very creative and confident; teens and twenty-somethings have great ideas; any new talent that has a solid vibe inspires me; and I love Montreal grandmas rocking artsy-fartsy randomness.
Dan: I get inspiration from the world around me: skate, surf, and snowboard culture and design, 
urban culture and graffiti as well.
What designers do you admire and also inspire you?
Talia: In general, I love and I'm intriguide by assymitry, minimalism, and complexness of Japanese design. Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen just about always intrigue me, needless to say that I'll watch back-to-back episodes of Fashion TV no matter what.
Dan: I get inspiration across the board... geometric proportions, like Malevich of the Russian avant-garde movement; clean lines, balance and harmony; composition. All of these play a strong role in my inspiration.
What music suits your clothing?
We listen to everything from classic jazz to grime. We dont' feel that KillRoi clothing speaks to only one style of music as long as it's inspiring,
unique and edgy.
Someone wearing KillRoi, what would be the first song they listen to in the morning and the last song they listen to in the evening?
urban culture and graffiti as well.What designers do you admire and also inspire you?
Talia: In general, I love and I'm intriguide by assymitry, minimalism, and complexness of Japanese design. Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen just about always intrigue me, needless to say that I'll watch back-to-back episodes of Fashion TV no matter what.
Dan: I get inspiration across the board... geometric proportions, like Malevich of the Russian avant-garde movement; clean lines, balance and harmony; composition. All of these play a strong role in my inspiration.
What music suits your clothing?
We listen to everything from classic jazz to grime. We dont' feel that KillRoi clothing speaks to only one style of music as long as it's inspiring,
unique and edgy.Someone wearing KillRoi, what would be the first song they listen to in the morning and the last song they listen to in the evening?
Morning: Breakbeats... anything that gets you moving, maybe even Right Said Fred's "I'm a model". Night: Acid jazz or any other type of musical fusion.
What piece of clothing or style do you want to bring back or be unique for KillRoi?
What piece of clothing or style do you want to bring back or be unique for KillRoi?
We're filling a void by establishing a unique niche comprising of dressy, urban and eco-concious styles. Our shirt designs are hybrids: we're blending together different elements creating unique gear that breaks the cookie-cutter mold, such as using contrast fabric details or a polo-style dress shirt or adding sweatshirt cuffs to button-up shirts.
If KillRoi was a movie.. what movie would it be?
If KillRoi was a movie.. what movie would it be?
Talia: Happiness of the Katakuri's.
Dan: Battle Royale. 
A Special Thanks to Cheval Nightclub
and the people at Uniq Lifestyle
No comments:
Post a Comment