Check out my somewhat cheeky interview in “Les Fleurs Noires“!!

On the occasions where I am interviewed for things related to Gloomth one question invariably crops up every single time- and that’s where my inspiration comes from. As an art school grad it’s hard not to launch into the theoretical fluffy talk that you are trained to cough up at such institutions whenever someone asks about your Artist Statement. I usually answer that question with the exact same vague list of objects, eras, and whatnot.

The thing is, inspiration is everywhere and in every single thing I encounter, which sounds like a really pretty way of avoiding the question entirely- but that’s actually how I feel. Beauty is inherent in everything. It’s in awareness that we truly connect with our surroundings- however saying that makes me sound like a total fruitcake. It’s pretty much impossible for me to answer the inspiration question properly, I can’t pinpoint my fuel and say something like, “I am inspired by squirrels“. 

Sometimes I get ideas for clothing from the weirdest things or at the strangest times. I tend to get obsessive about concepts or styles and then that will bleed into everything I create for a while before I locate my next obsession.

Generally when designing clothes for Gloomth I tend to create things I wish I had in my closet or would like to see worn by others. I suppose that’s a bit self-amusing, but it works and keeps me passionate about what I’m doing. Sometimes the clothes are simply visions from a story in my head or something I am writing at the time. All my creative stuff tends to be interconnected that way.

The “Pewter” dress, for example, is my vision of a wistful Gothic princess’ outfit. A dark Rapunzel leaning out the window of her crumbling castle reaching for her long dead prince- or something equally purple and Goth. (ahem)

I am one of those art nerds who truly believes you have to surround yourself with things that inspire you- music, objects, certain people, etc. That by bringing things that feed that energy close your work improves and you become more prolific. Bits of magic in everyday stuff- from the clothes I wear, to my apartment, to what I cook. I try to take every opportunity to be creative I can, it’s all part of some elaborate nutter-artist feng shui (or something).

Mood Boards are also a great way to collect bits that inspire you or feed your creative side. My apartment has several (my fridge serves as a big one and it’s forever changing) and some day I’ll take photos of them to show you. I am forever collecting scraps of fabric, newspaper articles, broken jewelry, etc- anything I find oddly beautiful that might inspire me for a photoshoot theme or outfit!

So that’s basically how inspiration and design ideas come to me. Maybe I should have just said “squirrels”.

-Tae

p.s. How to you get your ideas? What’s inspiring you right now?