bipoc creatives: denzel
what’s your creative mind state like when you’re sewing — chaos with purpose or peaceful and meditative?
D: The process I go through for creating my designs is intentional, every piece begins with a story. I spend time shaping the narrative and building the characters I see wearing it. Looking for ways to immerse people into my world. When experimenting trust is the process that brings the idea to life.
why denim? and why do you think true religion specifically feels so iconic for reworking?
D: For my ancestors denim was a symbol of imprisonment. Discovering this I wanted to reimagine and reclaim our past. Showcasing our resilience and strength when all odds are against us.
Growing up in NYC True Religion was the it jeans. Everybody wanted the iconic horse shoes. When I finally had mine my own collection, I thought how can I transform True Religion into an Xperiment. 7 jeans laters I stitched reworked and made jeans made out of 18 true religion pockets
you’re kind of like a denim DJ — remixing pieces, giving them new life. Where do you usually find your best material? Thrift spots? Old jeans from friends? The trash?
D: My materials comes from preloved garments and community waste. Over the years I’ve developed techniques on repurposing scraps into unique pieces Whiter its soda tabs turned into jewelry or old jeans becoming your favorite. What we throw away can still be apart of our lives.
your clothes have so much personality — how do you choose the people who model your pieces? Do you look for attitude, energy, or just vibes?
D: My ideal model would be someone who is willing to lean into that inner strength that gives them the confidence to wear my pieces with ambition and ownership. They should feel like the garment is a second skin.
you’ve done some cool pop-ups — what’s your dream place or city to do a pop-up in, and what would it look like? Paint the scene for us.
(Also promote your next pop up here if you have one coming up and also plug your latest project)
D: My dream popup would be held at prospect park, alongside with local artist. At the popup we would offer free classes to the community, teaching basic sewing skills, upcycling, painting, photographery and etc. It’s all about passing useful skills for the next generation.
what does being a Black and queer creative mean to you in this moment? What do you hope people feel when they wear something you’ve made?
D: Being a queer creative myself its important to me that I provide a safe space for my community. Xperiment 2256 is about discovering the unknown and exploring the endless possibilities of what can be created. Each garment is a patchwork of small pieces telling a larger story.
When someone wear my pieces I want them to feel a connection, not just to the fabric but to the process, the intention behind the story. Discovering the hidden details and evolving with the garment.
