About the brand designer Kova:
Inspiration for Art
I remember waking up with paint and pen ink on my fingers from an early age as my dad was an animator and artist, he would always be drawing and encouraging myself as well as my big sister to draw. Without a doubt there would be pencils and pens scattered everywhere around the house so without fail I’d always be “doodling” as my dad would say. A
s I got older, my passion grew to an addictive state where I would be drawing for hours and hours because I was just so intrigued with how I could manipulate a piece of paper with a pencil and let my imagination just explode onto it. The first person I’d show was my dad, he was the only person i would try and impress because I knew how good he was, looking back now at some of the work i did as a kid was absolute nonsense but my dad on any occasion would tell me it was amazing because he was just being a good dad and making me get better because he saw the spark in me. So I have to thank my dad for the foundation and passion I have for art and design. Inspiration for Fashion
Fashion has always been something that you express your personality with, Being a kid I didn’t really feel like i fit in anywhere, I would have bad anxiety attacks, panic attacks, hallucinations, I would fake being ill because I didn’t want to go to school, to the point my mum or dad would have to sit with me in school just so I would feel safe and grounded. I knew it was something I had to overcome as I got older, so I started to take pride in my appearance,
I would take inspiration from Hip Hop music and would ask for clothing I wanted to wear rather then what my mum would tell me is nice, I’d style my hair a certain way, I began to grow as a young man to the point I’d know what brands were cool and which to avoid, clothing became my shield and I could go to school by myself, I could make friends. My first year of college I chose to peruse my love for art and design, but there was something missing, I would see people wearing the same t-shirts as me, the same hats, same trainers and it really annoyed me as I didn’t feel unique anymore. I kind of became “while you’re busy fitting in, I’m going to stand out” guy, I wanted people to notice me and think “whoa he’s cool”. So I went home that evening and found some old white T-shirt’s and because at the time I was obsessed with graffiti artists like Banksy, KAWS, COPE, I began to make stencils and create my own T-shirt’s and as the college year progressed my course year ended and I had made like 20 T-shirt’s for myself which nobody would ever have. I never thought it could be a money making opportunity, it never crossed my mind, it was about making myself and others feel good. My art course ended but I wanted more, Graphic design seemed like the best route to take so over the next 2 years I learned new skills in photoshop and illustration, transfer, different methods of drawing and creating, photography all sorts. I would move from stencils to digital and as the internet became a home for drop ship websites, I used them to make more for myself, friends and family too. I feel like the fashion world is if he/she is wearing it then it must be good, but if you have ever seen fashion shows lately some of the stuff you see are just like WTF!? So I guess everyone is different and has their own vision of what’s cool and what’s fashion. KOVA started with pickin in vintage shops, some of the old school clothing you would find was amazing, 90’s rap Tees, hoodies, Levi jeans, SnapBacks and fitted. `I started selling and came up with Kind Of Vintage, Selling on DEPOP it wasn’t easy as everyone catches on sooner or later, now there are hundreds if not thousands of pickers. So I lost interest in the selling part and just picked for myself. Back in the day you would spend money on something because you know you’d make it last a few years, that was fashion back in the day wear with pride and look after your kicks. Today its all fast fashion, wear it once and never wear it again, I wanted KOVA to be like back in the day, spend your pocket Money on that one thing you’ve been wanting and make it last a generation and when you were through wearing it , to much wear and tear you would pass it down to your little brothers and sisters or friends so they too could enjoy it and make it last. KOVA is lasting fashion, I want my designs to impact people and make them relate, I want them to express a feeling that makes you want to wear it all the time - Your shield that reflects hate and brings you good vibes. KIND OF VINTAGE APPAREL, I’m a 90s baby, the best decade to be born in, the exploring with your friends outside in the nature, climbing trees, falling and getting back up to try again, we grew up and advanced with the advancement of technology, its sad to see that not many kids play out, they don’t get knocks on the door at 9PM seeing if you’re playing out under the street lights. The worlds changed and I want KOVA to keep an ever lasting memory of the 90’s but also engage with the future. KOVA not only abbreviates KIND OF VINTAGE APPAREL it also means STRENGTH. Something I needed as a kid growing up and something people need today. There’s a strong personality behind every “uncool kid” the people that never fit in, the people with anxiety the people who have panic attacks, there’s KOVA in every one of them and my brand is to help show it.
