Spencer Badu - Brand Story

WORDS BY: MALIK KNIGHT

If you ask any one who went to a school with a uniform I can guarantee that they would say something along the lines of “I hated it, but I definitely made it my own” I believe thats exactly what Canadian designer Spencer Badu does with his name sake brand. Allowing people to have these “rules” and then break them, he allows himself to transform that garment into something that is more than what it was ever meant to be. Allowing people the opportunity to play with shapes and colors, with a reference to the built environment and being a black person in this world. What Badu does is alleviate the mundane and make it a spectacle. Uniforms were put in place to make people conform to the norms of what that institution perceived was good, the only institution left is instagram and people there have conformed to a certain type of dress, but the people who dawn Spencer Badu are individualist to their own respect and have been granted clarity by this designer

For the people in the back, who and what is Spencer Badu?

SPENCER BADU Is a modern Uniform Company. Spencer Badu exists to challenge. The brand's ethos challenges socio-cultural norms and the wider fashion industry as a whole. Spencer Badu is informed by—and thereby supports—black culture, black history, and black progression, within a futuristic and utopian context.

Your relationship to the built environment is something that continuously inspires you, what was a structure that has had a lasting impression on you, what was its function?

I think architecture is always inspiring in many ways. The idea of using easily accessible materials to create something Timeless. Considered is forward thinking or futuristic (at the moment), I’m also interested in the idea of structures and challenging them.

How do you perceive the statement “form follows function” and how does it relate to a genderless future?

First thing that comes to mind is Bauhaus philosophy. But I think about essentialism and functionality. Everything has a purpose; in a unisex context the form of the clothes is more universal and not strictly made for a mans or a women’s body.

 What does the disruption of gender norms mean to you, how have you seen this play out in your life?

Not following preconceived rules, just doing and wearing what I want.

When you created those initials pieces in your bedroom, has the goal continued to be the same?

I think the goals get bigger, but the goal has always been to challenge things in an authentic way and recently tell more of a personal story.

Learning is a source of growth, why is it so important to be a student of your craft?

I’ll put it like this, if you aren’t growing, you're dying! It's important to me to constantly challenge myself and learn as much about this world as possible. It makes me feel more empowered.

Growing up you went to catholic school; how did that structure play a role in your life?

Those years were tough, I was a nightmare to anyone in authority. I guess now I channel that energy into my creativity.

The ideology of a uniform is so that people can’t be judged based on what they are wearing, but fashion is constantly evolving, how do you deal with that dichotomy?

I like to challenge the connotation of uniform I like the Idea of consistency, quality, functionality, and durability. A uniform can also represent having similar goals and belief but I’m not a fan of the ideas of conformity and suppression that comes with a uniform so it’s always exciting to create something that looks very simple but has details or functions that gives the wearing autonomy to express themselves. On another note the idea of not being a walking billboard of the current trend of style is very important to me, challenging the idea that fashion validates your existence or makes you better than someone. These people are “Cool” or interesting no matter what they are wearing I just want to make something that is consistent yet directional.

Fashion for some people can be more than cloth, it’s an armor, to me your newest creation, the double bag (is there an official name), speaks to that notion of coming out of your shell. What is the story of that bag, and can it be related to confidence? 

It was really about taking the brands codes across different product categories. There’s also a proposal reference there from when I was a kid going to the grocery store, before recycled bags etc. my mom would have a bunch of bags in her purse to fill the bags. I think it’s ultimately about duality. Armor/vulnerability. Day and night. Tote/Crossbody.

 Why is Canada perceived to be this underdog, what will it take for the world to recognize that it’s a force to be reckoned with?

I think we’ve been overlooked in many ways and at times not appreciated until we have international interest. I think It will take more than just one designer. There is a lot of amazing designers and like every other city from London to Paris or New York, There’s a multitude of designs with different design language and approaches. It will take more than just myself, everyone might not gravitate to my work but I know there’s plenty of other designers that might.

 With racial injustice being televised around the world, do you think that it will evoke change as we return to our new normal? 

I think the change was happening, the past few months have shown a lot of progress and at times non, but I think we are the generation that will do something about issues that we believe in.

What does being black mean to you? 

That’s a loaded question think to be black is to be special. Black is joy, BLACK IS JOY, Black is Struggle, Black is triumph. The black experience is unlike any other.

What is the importance of building a community, how have your friends become your collaborators?

Community is the foundation of what I do and I’m trying to put community more in the forefront. From the beginning, my friends did the photography and the styling. My friends modeled because they are inspiring the ideas and when I create, I create with community in mind.

 Online shopping has allowed people to purchase just about anything from anywhere, do you think the loss of that first impression through touch has affected the customer? 

Yes, in ways physical stores don’t really play a part as much as it used to. I think the customer is more global. I think now as a brand it really means you have to make sure you are telling your story clearly, establishing trust and making sure the unboxing experience is really something special.

 Anonymity was a part of your MO for a while, what has changed?

I think being more confident and comfortable, I am trying to tell more of a personal story, it’s hard to do that when you are hiding all the time. For any creative that is putting yourself out there, it’s really about creating boundaries.