By Allison Ramirez
In preparation for SCAD Fashion Week, CFDA-award winning fashion designer and businessman Derek Lam met with students and faculty during SCAD Style. Lam spoke at SCAD’s student center with Jan-Hendrik Schlottmann, his partner and CEO of Derek Lam International, about his career, how he got started and who he looks to for fashion inspiration.
Lam’s early understanding and appreciation of owning a business grew from watching his family. His grandparents ran a garment factory and his father owned a clothing importing business. “I saw the pros and cons,” he said.
Lam studied for four years at Parsons in New York City and then began his career as a designer at Michael Kors. After 12 years at Michael Kors, Lam launched his own luxury clothing line in 2003.
His collections are feminine and soft, flowy and minimal, reminiscent of the ‘70s, but also modern. Over the past five years, Lam has also added bags, sunglasses and shoes to his line, most recently the flatform, a hybrid of a flat shoe and a platform.
When asked by a SCAD student about his interpretation of luxury, Lam responded, “For me luxury is something that you have the ability to use in your life. I don’t really know what luxury means, to be honest. I only know what it looks like and feels like.”
And although it seems like Lam’s idea pit is bottomless, even luxury designers get stumped sometimes. But no need to look any further than the classic Coco Chanel when in need of inspiration.
“The person that I always go to, not so much in terms of her designs, but her visions, is Chanel,” he said. “Every moment, I think of Chanel. If she were living now, how would she approach a design? Because she lived in the moment. She broke so many barriers; she was so innovative.”
Many SCAD students wondered if the great Lam would break his own barriers and create a menswear line in the near future.
“Never say never, but I say never!” He answered with a laugh. “I love fashion so much; I love looking at other designers’ work and the only way I can do that now is when shopping for myself.”
