As I look at what people are wearing, one major trend I’ve noticed that everyone loves right now is leather. There are various ways designers are utilizing leather in their designs.
Kara M. Foster who is also On-Stage DC’s #StyleSight photographer introduced me to a line called Feed The Beast. Seeing as though I loved the line and the designer was from the Metropolitan Area, I knew I had to get an interview for #FashionFridays.
Ladies and Gentlemen , welcome to the stage, Nikolas (Nik) Taylor. At 22 years old he is the creator of FeedTheBeast , LLC. Nik was born and raised in Montgomery County , Maryland. Coming from a pretty diverse background, he takes advantage of his family culture that inspires the drawing influence behind his brand. Since 2009, Nik has been a professional hair stylist and it opened up a vast network for him especially in the DMV area. Lastly, he recently had his first child, a little girl named Kailee who has become his main inspiration.
The past couple of interviews for #FashionFridays have been about people from various places around the U.S. Its time to shine light on another DMV native.
Feed The Beast . Where did the inspiration for the name come from ?
Originally I wanted to start a brand that I could use as a tool, a multi-faceted tool. I have a wide range of interests, and I needed a name for my brand that would portray that. "Feed The Beast" was perfect…The "Beast" being you, the consumer.
What was the first piece of clothing / accessory that you designed ?
The first piece that we created was the snapback. I wanted to take something as simple as a hat, and combine it with the essence of the brand…and that’s where the leather came into play
How does designing accessories differ from designing clothing?
Accessories and apparel are very different. In "Feed The Beast" case, venturing out of the "norm" was a big concern when designing our apparel, and with that comes mixed responses. The average person may feel they are taking less of a chance with an accessory.
What designers do you admire, both past and present ?
That’s’ a tough question. There are far too many to list…when it comes to past designers; Gianni Versace, Oscar De La Renta, Pierre Balmain, Gianfranco Ferreé are just some that instantly come to mind. There are so many young creative directors now, that each possess their own style and identity its hard to pick a favorite, but i especially admire Raf Simmons, Alexander Wang, Philip Lim, and of course the great Ralph Lauren.
What do you believe makes a quality piece?
Detail is very important, from the consistency of seams, to the attributes of materials used. Making sure your vision is clear to your consumer.
Where can my readers purchase your clothing?
Our first collection "Black Feast" launched February 1st. www.letsfeedthebeast.com
It’s so inspirational to see young people doing something positive, especially in this area. Photographs from the launch of FeedTheBeast “Black Feast” collection can also be found in the #StyleSight section of On-Stage.
Readers, make sure you check out this collection and support the people from this area!
Feed The Beast "Black Feast" from The New Chill on Vimeo.
Until next week!
L O V E,
MISS.CNH