A fashion editorial and interview with Nick Marks, the founder of ready-to-wear project Marks Studios.

Photographer: Paris Mumpower @parismumpower

Styling: Nick Marks @xnickmarks

Hair and Makeup: Kendell Cotta @kendellcotta

Model: Julien Crane @waste_of_skin and Zoe Elyse @zoebelleelyse

Photo: Paris Mumpower @parismumpower — **Photo:** Paris Mumpower @parismumpower

Nick Marks, designer and creator of the new ready-to-wear brand Marks Studios, refuses to follow trends and looks for inspiration in the film industry. His project was born from the desire to create clothing that uses conscious design methods and minimal waste in a society where fast fashion seems to be burgeoning. Nick takes steps in ensuring that his business model is not only sustainably responsible, but also has a level of passion in creating something that has been unseen until now. The pursuit of immersion into an experience has been Marks’ main focus in every step of the brand’s expansion.

For this issue, we talked to Nick about his project and created a fashion editorial in Los Angeles featuring Marks Studios’ Collection 001 “The Seven Hills, a Story of Rome”, captured by the lens of Paris Mumpower.

Karen: Can you tell us about how you started as an artist and how was the journey in finding your own voice?

Nick: Honestly, I don’t really ever think of myself as an artist, I just want to create shit by getting a lot of things done that allows for people to be immersed in something other than their own daily thoughts. Growing up in L.A, there was immense pressure left and right to do or be something great. It can suppress you in a lot of ways, and drive you to really unproductive things. But the moment I left to another city for a couple of years and I really got to appreciate myself for every way I was different, and that kicked everything into gear.

Karen: How do you stay mentally and inspirationally aligned?
Nick: I create whatever I like, and I make sure to have a purpose for making everything that I do. For me, the key is to do everything with full intention. I keep a coherent storyline that comes from within my being and has nothing to do with trying to make something just to make it cool. I’m always combining a million different random inspirations I have from all throughout my life and applying them to the central narrative. When you try to force something because you saw someone else do it and you want to do it too, it won’t last because you can’t replicate their personalized formula. I made that mistake for years when I was younger.

Karen: How did living in LA, the film industry mecca shape your life and your artistic aesthetic?
Nick: Growing up on the west side of LA has given me the ability to see and cut through almost all of the bullshit, of which there is an enormous excess. It’s also shaped my appreciation for doing most things as drastically different as possible, very generally speaking. The film industry shaped how I like to escape everything I hate in the world. Through film and other similar mediums, you can experience immersion into another world, another life, with another set of problems that aren’t your own. Everything I do is focused around some level of immersion, because I believe everyone needs to allow their minds to transport elsewhere in order to remain sane, and to experience self-acceptance.

Photo: Paris Mumpower @parismumpower

Karen: How do you shape your ideas into a great result? How important is the relationship between space, color and composition to you?
Nick: As long as every decision has intention behind it, and those decisions intentionally work to further the narrative, then the result should be genuine and great. For now, my capsules have to remain dark and a bit threatening. So far, the fictional storyline for the current ongoing collection, “The Seven Hills, a Story of Rome” is also a direct, yet subtle reflection of our world today; there’s a lot of beauty, but arguably a lot more darkness. Often those are one in the same, and I want to capture as much of that fusion as I can. Walking the line shamelessly between the two is what The Seven Hills is about.

Karen: Do you consider your work improvised?
Nick: For sure! No one really taught me anything about design when it comes to clothing, I am completely learning so much as I go. But I’m sure I’ve absorbed a lot through observation of people I look up to and have been around. I do have to thank Jeff, my high school design teacher who instructed us on how to operate the all-powerful tools of Adobe. Also, I hate the idea of learning a large set of rules and guides on expression because that’s how so many projects feel the same. As I go, I develop many of my own rules that are different enough to definitely still feel improvised and unique.

Karen: How can we see your personality portrayed in your style and designs?
Nick: I don’t really know, I try to separate myself, because that’s sort of the point of MarksStudios: complete immersion into a story. At least visually speaking though, I’d say you can see parts of my personality portrayed through any provocative imagery, the dark color palette and all the little details.

Karen: Did you face any obstacles during the process of creating your first ongoing collection “The Seven Hills, a Story of Rome?”
Nick: I don’t think obstacles will ever stop. Anyone who tells you building something like this is easy is lying straight to your face. I think maybe the biggest obstacle so far is getting people to understand that the brand is MARKS STUDIOS, and that “The Seven Hills” is our first ongoing collection (made up of capsules, which is what we call our releases). Just like most brands, we release one capsule at a time, but the difference is that we can have three capsules in a row that further the ongoing collection of The Seven Hills, but our fourth capsule could have an entirely new color palette, storyline, and collection title. I explain it by saying we’re essentially a movie studio, but instead of producing exclusively film, we produce clothing and any other medium we see fit for each capsule. A movie studio can produce three sequels to one series in three years, and then begin to develop new one-off movies, while creating new film franchises as well.

Karen: Now let’s talk about your personal style. Fabrics and graphics are fundamental for you. What is your criteria when choosing an outfit?
Nick: I don’t think about it too much honestly, I get up and I look through my closet for what feels right in the moment. I’ll wear the same shirt or pants for a week straight if I really want to. 90% of the time I’ll be in boots. Also, at least one piece I have on has to visually scream something provocative to anybody walking by because why not? I like breaking people out of their daily trance whenever I can.

Karen: With the exponential growth of the digital world, modern fashion is evolving rapidly, becoming faster and cheaper. What is your opinion on this topic?
Nick: It’s real fucked up to me, and it’s a huge reason I’m looking to create a brand based on a collectible aspect. I want people to feel special, not like they’re wearing something that was mass produced a million times. Objectively, clothing is just an essential, so you might as well stand out and make it a luxury. Having an appreciation for clothing means you see each individual garment as a piece of art, or as a way to translate your innards to the language of the exterior world. I know there are people who care about all that, and they are who I’m creating for.

Karen: Name a “fashion word” people should stop using.
Nick: Trendy. I can’t deal with it, I really don’t comprehend why a fully conscious human being wants to keep up with and look like everything they see on instagram or the streets of L.A. Explore your soul, reach real deep, pull yourself out, and then shout your existence to the world through the clothes that you wear.

The Seven Hills, A Story of Rome

Outtakes Issue No.8

Vacations out of this world (literally)