k: When did you first know that fashion was going to be your thing?
j: Uh... fashion is my thing? Fashion was never really my thing. I
started out being a painter, who made a few pieces of clothing as an
experiment. This experiment became a small collection, which brought
about a website, which brought about a group of other artists, which
ended up becoming SoWear... which brought about Virgin Threads. My
thing has always been fostering creativity and helping young artists,
not really fashion.
k: How is what you're doing now contributing to your vision of what modern
style should be?
j: I don't believe modern style is one thing, nor should it be. I
believe in multiplicity. With that said, both SoWear and Virgin Threads
are edited by me so my vision does shape the "style" of both websites.
But I find that is necessary on the web where too much information is
available. But I try not to impose my taste, my filter is really
quality and uniqueness, and to allow the unique qualities of each
artist to come through. If anything, I would like to think that what
I'm doing somehow undermines the dominating media ideas of style and
trends, giving people a chance to find and express individual style.
k: Who do you imagine your typical fan might be?
j: Not label whores. People who want to wear something different from
everyone else.
k: How has the internet helped you reach that fan?
j: The internet is the only way... the internet really gives consumers a
chance to find those emerging artists they wouldn't otherwise be able
to find at their local mall. I don't do mail or advertising, everything
has been by word of mouth.
k: With unlimited resources, what would you do next?
j: Move to Hawaii or New Zealand, live by the beach, spend time with my
family... and go back to painting.
k: If you could go back in time to replace one of today's iconic
fashionistas with one from the past, who would you switch and why?
j: I don't really know how to answer this question...
k: What can we expect to see from you in the remaining six months of 2004
j: SoWear will be relaunched in July with major upgrades and many more
fashion events. Virgin Threads will continue expanding it's designer
base. I am also the business director of an independent jewelry
collection, Linea Nervenkitt, and we'll be doing a major push with the new Spring 2005 collection. Towards the end of the year, I will be
launching a new wholesale website for emerging designers.
k: Wow. You've got a lot on your plate and the Nervenkitt jewelry is gorgeous. Thanks for making time for us today. koshi luvs to shop virgin threads and is now super proud to be featured amongst it's many funky and unique designers. Thank you, Jason Yang!
