On and Off the Clock: Phil Proyce
ON AND OFF THE CLOCK
14 QUESTIONS WITH: PHIL PROYCE
from
LADY WHITE CO.
"It can be hard to balance 'normal life' because i'm so in love with work."
YOU MAKE THE BEST, MOST THOUGHTFUL BASICS OUT THERE. WHAT WAS YOUR MOTIVATION/INSPIRATION FOR PUTTING SO MUCH EFFORT INTO WHAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T THINK TWICE ABOUT?
Thanks! I really wanted to challenge the idea of disposable clothing.
There is so much garbage out today and wanted to see if we can help slowly change that exchangeable mindset.
Specifically focus on those commodity items like T-Shirts and sweatshirts; which over the years have been stripped down to something that is cheap and useless.
Biggest motivation was to do the exact opposite of that.
You design casual clothing for everyday use, how does your design work relate to you personally?
All the items are incredibly personal. When I start designing something it is just for me, it seems selfish or insular, but that’s the truth.
Since we are a small operation with no outside funding, we can do whatever we want.
And I happen to just make things I want to wear.
DO YOU HAVE ANY KIND OF RITUAL OR TRADITION ASSOCIATED WITH FINISHING A COLLECTION?
Typically we do a team dinner at our favorite Italian restaurant right by the studio.
But to be honest, most of the time we are working ‘til the last minute.
It’s always a race against time.
Also, every collection is a continuation of a previous collection so it almost feels like it’s never really finished.
Styles are revisited and improved.
ANY FASHION RULES THAT YOU ADVOCATE FOR?
Wear socks!
IF YOU HAD TO DO SOMETHING THAT ISN'T THIS, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
I’d probably open a bookstore with a focus on photography.
WHEN DO YOUR BEST IDEAS COME? EARLY BIRD OR NIGHT OWL?
So hard to say, but usually in the morning after I get jazzed up on coffee…
HOW DID YOUR PERSONAL STYLE DEVELOP FROM HIGH SCHOOL UNTIL NOW?
It’s definitely gone through some strange ups and downs, but nothing I regret too much.
I’ve been skateboarding my whole life so that’s helped keep it consistent.
I always say that skating is what got me into clothes in the first place.
You see yourself in footage and realize how wack something can look… and hopefully improve from that.
WHAT DO YOU NEVER LEAVE THE HOUSE WITHOUT?
Cup of coffee.
DO YOU HAVE ANY HOBBIES THAT YOU WISH YOU HAD MORE TIME FOR?
Skateboarding.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE STORE OR RESTAURANT WHERE YOU GREW UP?
Chinese restaurant called Heng Wing.
I worked there for 7 years as a teenager.
Did everything from frycook to waiter.
WHAT RECORD IS THE MOST NOSTALGIC FOR YOU?
Weezer’s Blue Album, mostly because it was one of my first concerts as a kid.
WHAT GENRE OF ART DO YOU FIND THE MOST INSPIRING?
Mostly inspired by photography, people like Takashi Homma, Paul Graham, Nick Waplington, Philip Lorca Dicorcia.
A lot of times a collection or specific item I design can be based around a specific photo I like.
CAREER OR PERSONAL, WHAT DO YOU FEEL IS THE BIGGEST RISK YOU'VE TAKEN?
Biggest risk would be owning my company.
It can be hard to balance “normal life” because I’m so in love with work.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?
Donate to https://sacklerpain.org
