Def Sound is a true artist. He consistently creates works of audible and visual art that push the limits of genre and style. We were first introduced to Def’s early hip hop work and began working together 2 years ago to create a collection of pieces with dutch wax fabric.
This year we collaborated on a series of pieces that pushed the boundaries of what we traditionally do, incorporating puff embroidery, a tunic with extended fabric along the bottom and custom fabric embellishments with our laser appliqué and embroidery tools. Def will release each piece individually over the course of the next two months exclusively through The Def Shop. Today the thee ∆•∆•∆ crown snapback is available for $33.33 for 48 hours. We caught up with Def to get a bit more background on the story behind this new collection.
AP: What’s the background on this collection and how it’s being promoted?
DEF: I wanted thee line to be completely unisex and open to ppl with taste.
Taste doesn’t have a gender, budget or race.
Thee logo chosen is of three pyramids equalling a crown.
Thee idea behind the crown is that we use clothing to speak before we open our mouths.
If we understand that our gender, financial situations, and our pigments should not be penalties but it’s what makes us royalty, we might treat each other more like water.
I wanted to instill the feeling of high art and self worth into every fiber. We are all royalty. The way we wanted to get the word out about the line was conceptualized and shot by multi dimensional artist and curator Christy Roberts.
She started with a holistic approach and chose role models instead of models (Soyoung Shin, E.J. Hill, Rafa Esparza and Shagha Ariannia) in order to highlight the the artistic vision of the line. We chose Southern California based interdisciplinary artists whose work we hold in high regard and we trusted them to choose locations that hold meaning to their practices. I’m still amazed that they all said yes!
AP: How does this collection align with your vision as an artist?
DEF: Much like my music this line is full of higher meaning. It’s music and clothing for people that want more from their music and clothing. We love the music we love because we can see ourselves in it. I am a collector of ideas, objects, and songs. I am viewing this collection which I called Thee.First.Wave. as one outfit. I don’t buy whole outfits at once. I buy pieces so I decided that every week we will be releasing a new piece with a special limited time (48 hour sale price) each one. Each drop would also highlight the work and look of each artist we have photographed. We won’t tell you what each piece we will be dropping every week will be, so you will have to stay tuned and collect them as they come true. I say come true because doing this collaboration w/ Apliiq has been a dream and today it comes true!
AP: Where do you find inspiration for your work?
DEF: I find inspiration for my work through going outside of my comfort zone. Every day I am a new artist. I have always believed that true intelligence is when exposure meets curiosity. Great design is about being thoughtful. I am most inspired when I am the most excited, I am most excited when I am the least experienced. At this very moment I am a child just trying on the title of designer and hoping it fits me one day.
Listen to Def here
Get the first piece, thee ∆•∆•∆ crown here
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