Like many designers, Jamall Osterholm prefers to look towards the future. The Providence-based menswear designer, who is unveiling his new collection as part of the CFDA and LIFEWTR presentation on Sept.6, looks to race, identity and gender to challenge stereotypical notions with his collections. This season marks Osterholm’s debut on New York Fashion Week‘s Official Schedule. We sat down with the emerging designer to hear why he describes his focus as “futurism as it pertains to the now.”
Describe your design for Series 6 and what the inspiration for it is?
Historically my work has focused on futurism as it pertains to the now. An all-black “Alien Race” has been used as a metaphor to describe myself today and addresses stereotypes that surround my identity, ultimately, giving me the opportunity to define my own narrative. With this collection, I am attempting to recognize myself in the line of ancestry that will define a future people. An archeological dig that reveals my truth and tells the story of how a new world was created. This season is the closest I’ve come to actually referencing a space age aesthetic, yet I have always seen my work under the scope of futurism/science fiction. I think this mentality forces me to confront a future where my art and my life become meaningful.
What does this opportunity means to you?
For me, this opportunity means that my art and my message will now be able to transcend elitist spaces. My Series 6 LIFEWTR bottle is directly connected to my collection, past and present. It is not forgotten that much of the work we make as designers are inaccessible to many people, but this opportunity is opening a window where people can know about my work, and hopefully through the bottle, be led to want to find out more.
What are you looking forward to the most on Sept. 6?
I would say I’m mostly looking forward to celebrating the art. I think that the pressure of fashion sometimes overwhelms the process. Seeing a vision come to life is the most exciting thing. I’m looking forward to showcasing a vision that I hope people will be able to connect with.
Where do you hope to be career-wise in five years’ time?
Given that I, for the most part, have worked for myself since graduating from university, I would love to have my own established brand. I think something that will be important to me moving forward in creating that brand is that I stay true to my art. Aside from being a product, fashion as an art form, and what I believe is one of the most important contributions to culture. As a designer I want to make clothing but not lose the integrity of my concept.
