When we launched Not Thompson earlier this year, we were approached to work with Kiana Ledé on a custom outfit for her upcoming tour - The Magic Hour - headlined by Jhené Aiko. This was a dream come true for Jameelah, our Creative Director, who shared the following on her creative process.
Style Spotlight: How Kiana Ledé's Tour Look Came to Life
As a designer in the industry for many years, I've worked on many brands and basically every category in fashion...but being able to do something custom is always a treat! It's been my dream to have full-custom clientele or even get into costume design for the movies. Some costumes I think I would have killed it in would be any of the Matrix films or Marvel or pretty much anything Tim Burton. My aesthetic naturally gravitates towards sculptural pieces and anything that gives armor or militant vibes, though I always look to add softness and femininity to keep that balance.
When Kiana Ledé’s team approached us to do a custom piece for her tour I was extremely excited to be able to step out and play with the Not Thompson aesthetic, while giving something one-of-a-kind and high concept. When I’m doing custom pieces, it’s important to me to give someone something very special that reads the individual's energy but also gives a piece of my energy… which is always going to give a slice of bold and a pinch of hero.
As a designer in the industry for many years, I've worked on many brands and basically every category in fashion...but being able to do something custom is always a treat! It's been my dream to have full-custom clientele or even get into costume design for the movies. Some costumes I think I would have killed it in would be any of the Matrix films or Marvel or pretty much anything Tim Burton. My aesthetic naturally gravitates towards sculptural pieces and anything that gives armor or militant vibes, though I always look to add softness and femininity to keep that balance.
As a designer in the industry for many years, I've worked on many brands and basically every category in fashion...but being able to do something custom is always a treat! It's been my dream to have full-custom clientele or even get into costume design for the movies. Some costumes I think I would have killed it in would be any of the Matrix films or Marvel or pretty much anything Tim Burton. My aesthetic naturally gravitates towards sculptural pieces and anything that gives armor or militant vibes, though I always look to add softness and femininity to keep that balance.
When Kiana Ledé’s team approached us to do a custom piece for her tour I was extremely excited to be able to step out and play with the Not Thompson aesthetic, while giving something one-of-a-kind and high concept. When I’m doing custom pieces, it’s important to me to give someone something very special that reads the individual's energy but also gives a piece of my energy… which is always going to give a slice of bold and a pinch of hero.
The process of creating Kiana’s look once I talked to her stylist was simple- the design would stay within our signature denim with the contrast stitching and uneven curve lines. I added the lace-up details to play to our current collection and because she wanted something sexy that she could move in on stage.
The final look was a full denim ultra crop jacket with a matching bra alongside a free flowing pant. To make her feel more comfortable while performing, we built a corset top into the pants so she would look snatched and added a skirt. The added skirt to the pants is a Not Thompson signature- to have a two-in-one layered look in a single garment.
For me when I am passionate about something and have the freedom to deliver something cool, I work to energetically align with the client so I can get quick downloads on what needs to be done. I truly believe when you are aligned with something, the download of energy flows swift and fast. It's a connection that never gets unplugged. I think all creators in their specific medium or expertise understand this plug in.
I'm always going to be plugged into giving my community something fresh and interesting for them to feel confident and special in. Bold and beautiful is the name of the game, whether it's custom or collection. This is why I started Not Thompson.. this is my life's journey.
