Interview With EFWA Upcycling Designer Evan Clayton (Vancouver)

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Share about the journey that led you to fashion design.

I've always loved fashion, but it wasn't until later in life that the calling came to me for design. I was very undecided in my teens and I almost didn't go to school for fashion. If I didn't get into Blanche than I would have gone for marine biology. Luckily for me, I did get accepted and I began my travels down the road of design.

I know you trained at Blanche Macdonald. Talk about the highs and lows of studying fashion design. What did you find easy? What was a challenge?

I loved every moment that I got to spend at Blanche. I came to the school with a definitive art background and little to no sewing experience. I found the technical aspects really challenging at first, but one day it all clicked together and I managed to finish the program. I really thrived in Peggy Morrison's classes, things like Fashion Awareness and Fashion History really excite me.

Who you are as a designer? Aesthetic? Customer? Brand? Etc.? Do you offer a new line each season, create custom work or both?

I have a very streamlined viewpoint. I like to think of myself as a maximal minimalist in that everything I do is very pared down, but still very extra. I create two seasonal collections a year and do a lot of custom work.

I am so thrilled to have you a part of the EFWA Upcycling Challenge by Marilyn R Wilson. Have you ever upcycled used garments before? If so, how?

I once did an upcycling challenge where I had to make a look out of bedsheets inspired by Balmain. I found that very easy because bedsheets are essentially raw materials!


Please share a little about your approach/inspiration for creating your runway look for this international show? What can the audience expect?

I didn't have a firm idea of what I wanted to make when I started thrifting for this challenge. I didn't want to have anything too specific in my head in case I couldn't find the raw goods I needed. With the materials I found you can expect something very country western influenced. I'm a cowgirl at heart.


What would you most like the international fashion audience to know about you as a designer and your brand?

I want my international audience to know that I am a strong tailor who sticks to his guts when it comes to inspiration.

What's next for you as a designer? What are your long term dreams?

 I'll be showing my SS18 collection in Japan on October 20th and continuing the global expansion of EVAN CLAYTON.


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