Shaka Maidoh

Name
Shaka Maidoh

What do you do?
Travelling tailor at Art Comes First.

Define your style in three words
Past, present, future.

How does the past inform your designs today?
Again, it’s past – present – future. Our designs are informed by the past and look to the future.

What role do people, travel and collecting have in your creative process?
It’s basically the basis of my inspiration. We start off with people who inspire us. From my forefather to my father. Definitely an inspiration is hand-me-downs, styles they’ve passed over to us are a big source of inspiration. Travelling changes your world view. Because of the nature of our business, we are constantly on the road. People wonder how we have the time to create, but we create whilst travelling – we pick up so many new things as we are constantly on the road.

How has your personal style evolved over the last decade?
The colour palette and silhouette has changed. To progress you have to move on with time – which is what I meant with past-present-future. I’ve been into many subcultures - from punk to skinhead, even hip hop. The hip hop style was baggy jeans and all that’s changed. It goes with time, and music is a big factor that helps determine the change.

How does music influence the way you dress and design?
Music is a big factor. Music and fashion, they are like a married couple. They are from the same family, and need to be together. A subculture needs a soundtrack. For creativity you need a soundtrack. We work closely with artists who inspire us, and we create concepts around them based on our relationships. Music is a big, big part of what we do.