The Musings Of An Opinionated Sod [Help Me Grow!]

Not to mention that photo. Let’s face it, me and fashion are hardly bedfellows.

But that photo [which is real, by the way] is to celebrate that next week I’m in China to attend the WWD World Fashion Summit.

I know … I know … it all sounds like I’m making something up so I don’t have to write any blogposts next week, but it isn’t.

I am an invited guest at one of the fashion industries most important conferences.

Of course it’s not because of how I dress, but for the work I do for one of my clients … the godfather of global street culture and the founder of the most successful, progressive and innovative luxury [contemporary and street culture] retailers on the planet: SKP and SKP-S.

I wish I could talk more specifically about the work I’ve done for him over the past 3+ years … because it has been some of the most creatively rewarding, commercially informing and artistically collaborative times of my career.

Put simply, he is one of the most audacious people I’ve ever had the privilege of working with.

Even François-Henri Pinault – the CEO of Kering – calls him one of fashions greatest pioneers.

And he is …

Hell, when I met him, one of the first things he said to me was:

“I want people to get used to living on another planet, because one day – based on how we keep treating this one – they’re going to have to do just that”.

Sure, it’s the words only a billionaire can say, but who wouldn’t be captivated by that?

But he’s not crazy …

In fact, the more time I spend with him, the more I recognise his genius.

I could write a 1000 blog posts about what I’ve learned from him …

What real entrepreneurship is.

What true conviction in your beliefs means.

What category disruption and innovation really looks like.

What you do to ensure luxury embraces the influence of street culture.

But that’s maybe for another day. What I will say is that despite being one of the most important and influential figures in fashion, he also loves his anonymity – preferring to make statements through the work he does … from pretty much every up-and-coming street culture brand you can point a stick at … to helping build the next-gen of fashion icons like Fenty and Gentle Monster through to building the most brilliantly bonkers [and most profitable luxury store on the planet] SKP and SKP-S.

[To give you an idea of how bonkers, their new offering in China, features a tapestry of gardens – designed by the architects of The High Line, in NYC – that is ¾ of a mile wide. And the reason they were able to do that is because all the infrastructure has been placed beneath ground, so it’s invisible to the naked eye until you are in the place. And if you think that’s bonkers, every location is wildly different in look and theme … but connected by a unifying story that’s more Marvel than BusinessWeek.]

But if that wasn’t enough, I get to go back to China.

The last time I was there, was Jan 3rd 2020 … just before COVID closed the World.

I think everyone knows what China means to me. It is the most special place in my life.

Yes, I know there’s a bunch of fucked up stuff that happens there, but there’s a bunch of fucked up stuff that happens everywhere … and in my 7+ years of living in Shanghai, I can honestly say I was blessed with generosity, friendship and acceptance.

It’s why I am proud Otis was born there.

It’s why I will challenge any prejudice or ignorance spoken about there.

It’s why I am so happy that I get continue to work with clients who are based there.

Of course, I know a lot will have changed in the intervening 3 years.

We used to say that the speed of China was so fast, that it was like a new generation was born every six months. And while it’s not anywhere like that now, it’s still more dynamic than most countries … which is why it makes perfect sense to hold one of the most important global fashion conferences there.

For all the ‘superficiality’ people say about fashion, I can honestly say that the more I’ve spent deep in the industry, the more inspiring I’ve found it.

The craft.
The imagination.
The focus on society, art and design.
The openness to different influences and ideas.
The desire to continually explore, imagine and challenge.

Or said another way … the stubborn commitment to allowing creativity to thrive, wherever it may take you.

Like with Metallica, this client has invited me to places I never even knew existed, let alone ever imagined I could be.

Magical people … imaginative ideas … insane possibilities …

But what’s made it even more amazing is they have asked me collaborate with these people and ideas … to find new ways to allow creativity to flourish – be it architecture, robots or writing stories that unite different worlds in different ways.

I appreciate it sounds like I’m bragging.

I guess I am.

But the reality is it’s more shock and gratitude.

I do think I am good at what I do, but to have all this – especially at my stage of career – does feel like I’ve won some sort of creative lottery.

And in some ways I have.

But the prize is not simply the work – or the cash – but the reminder …

Because the ad industry often sees creativity only through the lens of ads.

Oh sure, we’ll talk about craft and design, but it tends to always be in the context of communication.

Hell, we bang on about ‘big ideas’ when all we’re really talk about is big ‘advertising’ ideas.

There’s nothing wrong with that … advertising is creative and important.

But creativity is more than ads.

It has the power to shape and influence.

To create new meaning to old things and ignite deep emotions in the new.

It values culture and imagination far more than media channels and eco-systems … which results in the work being far more than ‘packaging’ for selling stuff, but creating the things that are worth buying.

I love the industry I work in. It has given me a life richer than I could ever have imagined. But somewhere along the line, it seems we love everything but the thing we’re supposed to love. Distracted by terminologies and techniques that – ironically – makes more things the same than different.

But fashion isn’t like that.

My client isn’t like that.

Which is why – you will understand – I’m so happy I won’t be here to write any posts for another week.

For once, your gain … is also mine.

So until the week after next, have fun. I know I will be.