Featured Designer_ Seks Fifth Avenue
Where are you based_ NY / NJ
Where are you from_
One of us is from the North, one from the South, and we met and came together in the middle.
What’s in a name_
At its heart, Seks 5th Avenue is filthy, it's New York, and it subverts and sexualizes big industry and its iconic imagery, and due to our love of giving life to deadstock, we also have a fascination with department stores, so what more fitting name?
What inspired you to start upcycling discarded materials?
Upcycling has always been important to our art as a source of inspiration, work style, and personal philosophy, but it especially became critical during the pandemic when we couldn’t get materials so we had to take apart our closets... the start of SEKS was our wardrobe reconstructed.
What materials do you use in your work?
Everything, anything.
How does the process of upcycling inform your work?
It’s like when a cook is inspired by leftovers and makes a dish based on what’s in the fridge. The materials completely influence the work, beit the color, material, texture, etc., it will help inspire what it is to become.
What role does the process of upcycling play in the fashion industry today? What about in the future? How do you see the craft evolving, scaling?
The amount of waste in fashion is devastating. At this time of global environmental crisis we have to try and take steps to reduce waste in every form. The amount of clothes just sitting, forgotten, while more is being produced is part of that. Almost anything can be just as easily made from recycled / upcycled materials as it can from new ones. It’s not a trend, the future must evolve to include more recycling / upcycling - period. The bigger the brand, the easier it is for them to make a positive impact in that way, so we hope to see the future continuing to grow towards sustainability and for brands with influence to set an example on a large scale.
What is the role of the designer in these times?
The designer’s role is unique to each designer, and up for each designer to discover. It can be as pointed as making a statement and speaking to our times, or as whimsical as just wanting to have fun and make people feel good, and everywhere or nowhere in between. The designer’s only true responsibility is being true to themselves, and the rest falls into place.
What advice would you give other young designers?
Make what you can in any situation with whatever you have.
Tell us about your relationship with Patricia Field ArtFashion. How important is it for young designers to have a support system like this?
We have been admirers of Patricia Field forever, and first coming to NY her store was a hub, a magical place. So being even a tiny part of her journey is a huge honor for us. She’s iconic, and we’re lucky to be able to experience working with her first hand. The Patricia Field Gallery has opened a lot of doors for us and they’ve supported us from the beginning, and having that really helped push us forward when things were difficult. Young designers must first and foremost believe in themselves and their vision, and with that, the support will come.
What’s up next for you?
In September our new pieces for Patricia Field come out in the form of a video presentation for NYFW, following that we will be releasing new pieces exclusively for Gabriel Held Vintage, and selling pieces at an established West Village storefront. More TBA.
— Seks 5th Avenue is a collaboration between F. Virtue, an MC and producer, and designer Abel Ljoka. They live and work in New York and New Jersey. / @seks_5th_avenue