Sustainability Meets Style: IMANU Discusses Direction of His Ethical Fashion Brand, 14SAINTDENIS

With new music on the best way and his greatest tour up to now on deck, IMANU is having no bother staying busy.

Now throw within the launch of his upcoming style model into the combo for good measure, and it is easy to acknowledge why many understand this to be his breakout second for the taking.

The EDM.com Class of 2023 star has by no means had bother protecting his thread sport sharp, however working alongside Cynthia Liu, he is now looking for to make an impression on the broader trade with 14SAINTDENIS.

The style model, IMANU tells us, has been roughly three years within the making with items that search to embody a distinctly industrial really feel. He says in an excellent world he aspires to converge the worlds of style and music in a stay efficiency capability, although he is additionally utterly content material with protecting these two artistic hemispheres utterly separate.

In a world the place music is nearly totally digital, it is a a lot bigger endeavor for an artist to start creating and delivering bodily merchandise. However IMANU’s hardly a vacationer within the sector and has demonstrated a willingness to grow to be a scholar of the sport whereas concurrently looking for to ship high quality supplies which are ethically sourced.

We caught up with IMANU and Liu to listen to extra about their journey and the launch of their 14SAINTDENIS model.

EDM.com: How lengthy has 14SAINTDENIS been within the works? Does your curiosity in style predate your curiosity in music?

IMANU: I began speaking with Cynthia Liu about launching a style model collectively solely a pair—for instance two to 3 years in the past. I have been making music for about 11 years at this level! Should you have a look at a few of my older press photographs you possibly can positively see that the style obtained concerned method later.

EDM.com: From design to provide chain to manufacturing, launching a style line is not any stroll within the park. Are you able to discuss in regards to the genesis of the mission and the primary steps you took as a way to make it a actuality?

IMANU: There’s a lot extra work behind a single piece of clothes—not to mention a style model—than I first anticipated! Fortunately with Cynthia’s expertise within the discipline it has been going easily.

We resolve every part ourselves, from the measurements, materials, threads, weights, {hardware}, sowing strategies and extra. Then, you have to make a cohesive assortment, produce samples, observe what wants to alter, produce samples, et cetera.

Ours accommodates about 20 items, and producing your first assortment positively prices probably the most money and time. As soon as you’ve got obtained your patterns down you possibly can produce variations far more simply.

EDM.com: Should you needed to choose one music of yours that the majority encapsulated the course of 14SAINTDENIS, what would it not be? Why?

IMANU: I am unsure if I might affiliate any of my music to the clothes facet of issues! I might say lots of my music is extra melancholic, tender and fairly whereas the style facet of issues is chilly, darkish and industrial. I might select one thing like “ENTROPYYY” by Lorn if I needed to choose a music.

EDM.com: Did you seek the advice of with any individuals or manufacturers from the style trade?

IMANU: Most of it has been between me and Cynthia, however I’ve positively spoken with my associates who work in style, requested them for suggestions, ideas and confirmed them items. We have additionally accomplished collaborations with some extra established manufacturers like Monocrafft and Collectif d’ Anvers, which has taught me so much about sure supplies and processes.

EDM.com: Are you able to talk about extra at size the sustainability facets of the road? How are you sourcing ethically and what precisely makes it eco-friendly?

Cynthia Liu: We’re actively sourcing moral supplies and meticulously looking for suppliers who share our ardour for sustainability. This entails exploring eco-friendly materials and trims, together with revolutionary choices like buttons crafted from recycled bottles. We’re excited to unveil our dedication to those eco-friendly supplies within the upcoming seasons, showcasing our dedication to each model and accountable sourcing.

EDM.com: From the place did you pull inspiration throughout the world of Japanese style?

IMANU: Cynthia and I pull inspiration from all over the place. We have each traveled around the globe and seen how individuals love to precise themselves in clothes, and have taken that into our personal model of dressing. The model is just our method of dressing made obtainable to the general public.

EDM.com: From a real-world perspective, how are you planning on bridging the hole between your music and 14SAINTDENIS?

IMANU: As of proper now, we have not obtained something like that within the works. A fashion-music hybrid present can be unbelievable in fact, however many have tried and plenty of have failed. I might should provide you with one thing particular, though I do not essentially really feel a necessity to attach the 2. I am completely high-quality with the model current as its personal idea.