The First Installment of "Interview You" features Junior Makinde of CompleteVII.com  Patchwork Propaganda: Tell us a little about yourself, Where are you from? What's you're background? Where do you go to school? CompleteVII: Well my name is Adeshola Daniel-Oluseyi Makinde Jr. born to Nigerian parents. I am from Gilberts, IL which is in the Chicago Land area which is a predominately white area, so I have always been one of the only African-American kids in my neighborhoods so that Drake Line in “Paris Morton Music” where he says “It Take A Certain Man To Teach To Be Far From Hood But To Understand The Streets” sums up my upbringing quite a bit; I was always that kid who was able adapt to my surroundings and connect with anyone I really came encounter with. I currently am a Junior at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan and I play soccer there and am a Business Marketing major there as well. PP: Why did you start your blog? CV: The reason I started my blog was 1. Because I wanted to channel the stress I was going through in the time of my life when nothing was working and I had just gone through an ACL surgery which sidelined me in soccer just a few months(June 25, 2008) before I was to go and play college soccer & 2. Because I had been visiting a lot of blogs like Kanye West’s back when he used to update daily and wanted a Lifestyle Blog of my own that was very personal and brought people a bit of me with my interests and so on. PP: How do you feel your blog differs from others? CV: The reason that I feel like my blog differs from others blogs is because it is a ‘Lifestyle’ blog that is not just about the latest clothing/sneaker brand releases, music releases, etc. but it is an avenue that I express different topics as well like what makes a dope outfit and the different elements to achieve that to the different legacies today’s celebrities like LeBron James & KiD CuDi may have or are trying to achieve through their art forms to my different likes for example my love for Chocolate Chip Cookies to my different hobbies like Collecting Magazines to different hobbies I would love to pick up Photography. So quite frankly it is a lot more personal than a lot of the so called blogs out there & because of that I think it is relatable for a lot of people, which is why my blog sees quite a bit of views daily. PP: Would you consider Complete VII more of a blog or a brand & would you ever want it to be a full fledged fashion house? CV: I would consider Complete VII a Lifestyle Blog because it is a place where I go to so that I can relieve stress and pour my passion for fashion, style and marketing into one arena which is why I really have Complete VII. It started out as something I did for fun and I never want that feeling to stop because that is when it is no longer a love and has become a Job. I want Complete VII to be an avenue for me towards chasing the dreams that I am on a great pursuit to catch and will by any means necessary as long as my morals are never compromised. I quite frankly don’t think I would like to create a fashion house because everyone trying to get into the industry of fashion nowadays is trying to become a designer so I want to take another route by creating an outlet for someone trying to get their designer ideas out or even just marketing for someone in a marketing house because helping other succeed is a great passion of mine which is where I believe my marketing expertise could come into play. PP: Who has influenced you the most in fashion? Describe your style in 4 words. CV: I know this may sound a little cliché to say but quite frankly everything style wise that Kanye West usually inspires me to educate myself when it comes to style because he is always educating himself and creating a name for African-Americans in the fashion industry where we don’t normally have leeway most of the time. He inspires me to be an innovator because quite frankly who has done the things he has done. Like who was the first non-athlete to have a shoe created by them solely by the apparel kings Nike? Who was the man who made an entire genre drop the ‘Throwback Jersey’ faze and become more conscious of how they were dressing and how it appealed to the world and not just the urban area? Kanye West can be said to be the culprit behind this all and is why he is my biggest fashion influence. If I was to describe my style in 4 words I would say that my style is ‘Daring With a Purpose’. PP: What is your fashion must have for men & women? CV: A fashion must have for men & women to me is something that I feel lacks and that would be Accessories because people always seem to walk out of their homes with an outfit on that could be so much more personal and stylish but they don’t seem to add that essential piece. So men & women when you want to step out of your homes and would like to be stylish go on ahead and throw a pin on that jacket, throw some shades on if necessary, throw a watch or bracelet(s) on to compliment that wrist because bare wrists are gross to me ha, throw a bow in that hair if you just got it done ladies, throw on some jewelry(chains, earrings, etc.) if you want to add some spice to that ‘bland’ outfit. Quite frankly to me accessorizing is a quite slept on aspect of peoples personal style and should be an essential. Also Dress To Make Yourself Happy & Please Yourself & No One Else. PP: What are some of your hobbies? CV: Some of my hobbies are of course blogging, going to bookstores & coffee shops, reading books & magazines, playing sports(especially soccer), watching movies, listening to music and indulging in food over conversation. PP: How does music play into your lifestyle? CV: Music plays a big role in my lifestyle from it being a huge stress reliever for me and also being something that has opened me up to so many different things in this ever changing life; like for instance if I would have never listened to Kanye West I don’t think my passion for fashion and style would be this great and opinionated. When I am feeling down I throw on some Adele, when I am in an upbeat mood I throw on some Daft Punk, when I am in a lyrically thought provoking mood I listen to Kanye West/KiD CuDi. It is very inspiring for me when I listen to music so it is something that I do daily. PP: Do you still want to be a DJ? CV: I would love to still be a DJ. The reason that I feel that I would make a good DJ is because my ear for great music has become very great over the past several years and has also become quite eclectic because I don’t just listen to the same music genre and I am open to quite a bit. My music library is also one for many to envy which is why I think I could slay some turntables. PP: Where do you see yourself in 10 years? CV: In 10 years I see myself living in a metropolitan area(preferably New York) while living my dream of doing something with my passion of fashion, style, marketing and helping others with that passion as well. I would love to have connected with the people that inspire me to be this passionate about something that I feel I can really change the world with. Complete VII will also be a Lifestyle Blog that is on a level I would have never thought of 3 years ago when I started it. PP: What things do you have coming up? CV: I will continue to bring you that heart, passion and drive that you see me exude on Complete VII as well as me connecting with the people that have been reaching out and just be ready to see more things from me artistically as I start to educate in different things I will be picking up like DJing(maybe some mixtapes), Photography(personal photoshoots) and just everything utilizing all of my passions and so on. Complete VII Is Here To Bring Out My Personal Interests But Mostly To Inspire Others To Be Innovative And Unique Individuals That Never Conform To The Worlds Norms! -Adeshola Makinde Jr. Cornerstone University Business Marketing We want to give a big Thank You to Mr. Makinde & CompleteVII for doing this interview. Look out for lots more to come!! |
Showing posts with label Interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Interview. Show all posts
Excited to announce "Interview You" where we will be spotlighting individuals that "Influence By Doing Them" Our first interview will be with Mr. Adeshola Makinde Jr. of CompleteVII.com
I know this interview is a little old [came out in September] but I can't resist being that I'm still in awe at the fact of meeting him! In the mag Marc is being interviewed by his longtime friend/business partner Robert Duffy.
Here's an excerpt:
DUFFY: One of the questions that most of them asked—because you have become such a celebrity and have courted the media for a long time—is whether that approach to fame ever backfired?
JACOBS: It’s funny to do this with you because you already know all my answers. But there was a whole period where I was very happy to stay in. I was in my studio for many hours a day—sometimes working and sometimes sleeping. But when I went through this physical transformation and my diet changed and I went to the gym, I felt much more confident about myself. I like being out there. As I’ve said before, I love attention. Sometimes that attention is great, like when we get attention for doing a great show or our sales are good or even attention for walking down the street and looking sexy. That’s all great. But unfortunately along with that comes a lot of negative comments: “Oh, we miss the old Marc.” “It was much better when he was grungy.” Da, da, da, da . . . Sometimes it hurts my feelings, but basically I’m really happy with the attention that we get. It’s more work-related than what I’m going through in my personal life. If people weren’t interested in the work then they wouldn’t really care about my personal life. So I think about it logically. The attention toward me is basically because of what we’ve built as a company. If we built a pile of crap then nobody would care what I ate for lunch. We live in a world where people are really hungry for information, and they’re not hungry for information on subjects that they’re not interested in.
DUFFY: That’s probably true. Here’s a question that you’re probably going to find lame but I’m going to ask you anyway. What is your honest take on New York fashion?
JACOBS: I feel like you and I have always felt a little bit outside of a community, or at least, speaking for myself, I have felt like that. There are other designers there who I respect in terms of their work, but I feel like we operate in our own world. We’ve never followed the same path, like, to show at the tents or have a store in a certain neighborhood. We’ve always followed the beat of our own drum. We moved downtown before other people did and we showed at the Armory while everyone else was showing at one central location. I don’t think we did it to be rebellious. We just did what we wanted to do. I can’t speak for the rest of New York. I just feel we are always at our best when we do what instinctively feels right . . . I’m very good at sidestepping questions. [laughs]
DUFFY: We both work at Louis Vuitton and Marc Jacobs. People want to know if there is a conflict of interest in designing those separate brands. Do you prefer one over another? How do you keep them separate?
JACOBS: First of all there are two separate teams, so even if we have the same impulses within a given season, the ways they manifest themselves are so different. And, secondly, geographically they are in two different places. New York is where I was born and raised for most of my life. I think there’s a personal connection to New York. It’s a more personal place for me, so the momentum, the energy, and the attitude has a bit more of a romantic nature to it. Paris is more like fantasy. Also, with Marc Jacobs we have more autonomy over where things go after the show—for our shops and with the ads. Whereas at Vuitton, it only goes as far as the show and then it’s in everyone else’s hands.
DUFFY: It’ll still be there at this point. As for Bookmarc, there was always the Biography Bookstore on that corner, and they were moving because the lease was up. We didn’t force them out or anything like that. I’ve been living in the village for 30 years now. I’ve always wanted there to be a bookstore on that corner, so that’s why I took the lease. And that’s why we’re opening the bookstore.JACOBS: I’m very excited about Bookmarc.DUFFY: Back to my asking you. What would it take for you to feel as if you’d sold out as a designer?
JACOBS: If we didn’t believe in what we did, then I would feel that we sold out. As long as we do things with integrity and believe in them and are passionate, I don’t think we’ve sold out. Whether it’s an $11 flip-flop or a $2 key ring or a $2,000 dress, they’re all done with integrity. They’re all done with a design sense. As long as the creativity exists, then I don’t think it’s a sellout. A sellout is putting your name on any piece of crap and then expecting people to buy it because it’s got your name on it. That’s what a sellout is to me.
