StyleBible.ph

M: 0917-8450425

E: 13luckymonkey@gmail.com

W: http://13luckymonkey.blogspot.com

RETAIL

A: Cura V, PowerPlant Mall, Rockwell, Makati City

A: AC+632, 2/F Greenbelt 5, Legazpi St., Ayala Center, Makati City

WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO BECOME AN ACCESSORY DESIGNER?

Dante: The lack of these pieces out there. The perfect skull ring.

Noli: Taste. 

HOW DID YOU START AS A DESIGNER?

D: I doodled a lot, ever since. Sculpted here and there. I guess it all started with drawing.

N: As a sculptor, it came naturally.

WHERE DID YOU RECEIVE YOUR DESIGN TRAINING?

D: Self-taught by reading a lot, doing a lot of research. A lot of trial and error.

N: From nature.

WHAT IS THE BACKGROUND AND DESIGN PHILOSOPHY OF LUCKY MONKEY?

D: We design pieces that we would actually wear and keep.

N: It’s all in the mind, Mind over matter. If you don’t mind it doesn’t matter.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE LUCKY MONKEY’S DESIGN AESTHETIC?

D: Raw, unpolished, evil.

N: Raw, naked, unpolished.

WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR INSPIRATION?

D: Riding old motorcycles, getting tattoos, looking at the past the future for inspiration.

N: Sex, drugs, rock 'n roll, speed, nature.

WHO ARE YOUR STYLE INFLUENCES/INSPIRATIONS?

D: Bikers, punks, the modern day dandy.

N: Bikers, rock stars.

WHICH DESIGNERS/ARTISTS DO YOU ADMIRE MOST, BOTH LOCAL AND FOREIGN?

D: Shinya Kimura, Trent Reznor, Robert Williams, Banksy, Rick Owens, Gian Romano.

N: Shinya Kimura, Alexander McQueen.

WHO ARE THE CLIENTS YOU ENJOY WORKING WITH?

D: Clients who put in a reasonable amount of influence to the piece and keep an open mind. We see commissions as some sort of a collaboration with the client.

N: Those who understand the aesthetic.

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE AS A DESIGNER?

D: I guess it's how we can evolve and not get stuck. Constant evolution.

N: The business side.

WHICH ASPECT OF THE DESIGN PROCESS DO YOU ENJOY MOST?

D: I like brainstorming, [executing] an idea [on] paper, to wax, and [then] the actual metal.

N: Brainstorming, sculpting the final product.

ANY CURRENT TRENDS THAT YOU'RE FOND OF? ANY CURRENT OBSESSIONS?

D: Kustom kulture, workwear. I love leather jackets.

N: Short skirts.

HOW HAVE YOU EVOLVED AS A DESIGNER?

N: From human to monkey.

D: Same as Noli—from human to monkey.

WHAT ASPECT OF DESIGN DO YOU SEEK TO MASTER?

D: I have to learn how to sculpt better. Right now Noli does all the sculpting, [but] we design together. I want to put my ideas into 3-D.

N: Nothingness.

WHAT CAN WE LOOK FORWARD TO FROM LUCKY MONKEY, AND YOU, AS A DESIGNER?

D: Motorcycle jewelry, leather, a chair?

N: Evolution.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE PHILIPPINE FASHION INDUSTRY NEEDS MOST IN ORDER TO FLOURISH?

D: Open minds.

N: Open minds.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR ASPIRING DESIGNERS?

D: An idea remains an idea if it just stays in your head. Working with your hands is the best therapy.

N: Just go!