Your “The World Is Mine” piece features flags of countries where you got the most love in 2013. Are there any particular countries or areas you want to really hit in 2014?
Definite plans this year include traveling to Tokyo and LA. Of course I want the brand to be recognized globally, but there were some missed opportunities right here in my own backyard. Building a stronger presence in the States is essential to the brand’s success.
You’ve mentioned that you like a lot of the retro designs from Nike and such from your older brothers. What was it about the older designs that drew your attention and made you want to remix it into your own designs? The lettering? The colors?
I grew up into everything that made noise from that era and I wanted to bring back that same feeling for a few of my releases. It wasn’t just the designs; it was the craftsmanship. Tinker Hatfield was and still is one of the most innovative designers of that time. So for the blue satin ‘GVII’ jacket, I focused on the quality of the embroidery and rich color contrast from a vintage Jordan VII’s jacket I own. Using different color combinations and wanting to deliver something with an early 90’s feel, I created the tiger camo t-shirt with my own feel. To be able to work with him would be great, but this was more of a homage piece to him.
What was the meaning behind the “Pheasants” design?
The story behind the Pheasants design dates back to a Polo sweater I got when I was like 10 years old. It was an oversized white sweater that had two people sitting on a boat in the ocean. Above them had birds flying; to me, it seemed like they were in Paradise – successful. That’s where I wanted to be, on that boat. One day, while shopping for fabrics, I saw that pheasant’s joint and it brought back memories of that sweater (I still have it). When I finally dropped the shirt, my homies hit me up like ‘Yo, the colors are sick.’ I hoped that at least one person could develop an abstract connection with that shirt, as I did with the sweater.
Recently the bucket hat has made a strong come back. What trend do you see coming back next or is on the rise right now?
Tapered sweatpants with ribbed cuffs and Flyknit kicks are of the norm these days. As for what’s coming back, I feel like oversized or regular fit gear is returning; less of that skinny fit stuff. Lots of people got into ultra skinny fit jeans and leather pants, but I’m starting to see a relaxed/baggier fit these days. Vintage tees are also coming back—over-washed, stretched, worn and torn, or more specifically, “concert tees”.
Are there any non Hip-Hop artists you’d like to collaborate with?
I have a few projects in the works right now that I can’t reveal just yet. If I could choose a brand to collaborate with, it’d be Stussy.
Is there any design or theme that is considered as a holy grail of fashion to you, that you won’t touch or you think can’t be improved upon?
Something I’ll never be able to improve on is RL’s Polo Bear because of its distinct style. The idea is so simple, yet versatile. Think about it, the Bear is rocking a bucket hat with a polo shirt, or a corduroy blazer with khakis, or ski goggles with a sporty coat. He has a look for everything, and all those styles are still relevant today. Then you can take that bear and throw him on a t-shirt, knit sweater, hat, jacket, etc. and it’ll always work. That type of branding is difficult to achieve, so rather than drawing inspiration from it, I would like to create a niche image that holds the same iconic value and functionality.
What’s next for Giani NYC?
The follow-up of the Giani x Tanboys collaboration is set to release before February. In the coming weeks, there’ll be more sweatshirts, long sleeve shirts and hats with promotional videos we’re in the midst of shooting.
