Kamoflaws
is the new streetwear adventure of the artist and artistic director
Zakri Williams.
Zakri is a Birmingham-based illustrator with the stage name of “Visual Major” who creates eye-catching surreal images and characters that play with optical effects.
Looking for a different way to express his creatively, Willams made a switch from illustration to apparel. Kamoflaws is about merging fine art with fashion and showcases bold and illusive imagery with a street-art edge. The brand name winks to the very essence of clothing, which camouflages the body and its flaws.
ROUGH ONLINE: This must be an exciting time for you as the founder of the brand “Kamoflaws”. Can you tell us more about this project?
ZAKRI WILLIAMS:
Yes it’s very exciting. Kamoflaws is first a way of getting people to interact with my work in a more personal way. People could buy prints, that’s true. But I feel there’s something more personal with clothing as it’s something you have to physically put on yourself, which makes the individual feel like the art is a part of them. I want people to feel special/exclusive like they’ve discovered something different from the majority, which would be the case.
ROUGH ONLINE: You started as an illustrator. How have you turned from paper to clothes?
ZAKRI WILLIAMS:
It’s mainly about art. I’m an artist ultimately, but I am interested in apparel.
ROUGH ONLINE: Do both fashion and art inspire you?
ZAKRI WILLIAMS: Yes they do, it’s about merging the two actually. I’ve been inspired by streetwear/luxury brands such as Stussy, Bape, Kenzo, Upper Playground, Evisu, Supreme, Carhartt, Orisue, 10Deep, The Hundreds etc for many years. However, parallel to that, I’ve also been inspired immensely by a range of artists such as the classic greats as Dali, Escher, Hieronymus Bosch and Max Ernst.
ROUGH ONLINE: How about contemporary artists?
ZAKRI WILLIAMS:
Some have inspired me personally such as Banksy, James Jean, Anton Vill, Kaws, Walter Disney, Joe Fenton, etc. Many of these have their own clothing lines anyway so, going back to your previous question, that’s an additional reason why I felt the need to go from paper to clothes.
ROUGH ONLINE: The brand name “Kamoflaws” is evocating. What is the idea behind that?
ZAKRI WILLIAMS: It’s about visuals. The name/brand concept came from the idea of a flaw in camouflage, something that would be concealed from sight, is hard to find or isn’t usually seen is now noticeable and stands out. Like an optical illusion or a really intricate art piece, making you perceive one thing at first glance but looking closer you then access further details within that same image, creating extra levels visually and at times even turning the image into something completely new to the eye. This formed the brand strap-line “Nothing’s hidden”.
ROUGH ONLINE: There is probably loads of you in “Kamoflaws” – do you consider it as one of your alteregos?
ZAKRI WILLIAMS:
Maybe a little. Creatively my mind thinks in a playful yet gritty way. So that attitude automatically comes into the designs, I can’t seem to help it. But in the future I’d like to work with other people and merge ego’s (minds).
ROUGH ONLINE: What is the role of “flaw” in your design? Fashion usually flees from imperfection.
ZAKRI WILLIAMS:
Some designs have an outcome that wasn’t planned but they leave the viewer room to see from their own angle. The “flaw” can work out good in the end. Fashion is the same; incredibly fleeting and unpredictable, constantly changing with the seasons. Things that at one point would never match and would be a “flaw” are now the trend. People always feel an element of “flaw” in fashion because there’s always something new they feel they need to belong, which is a sign of imperfection. Something perfect never needs changing. But we all do it, it’s only natural.
ROUGH ONLINE: Your drawings could be perfect also a tattoo. Has anyone ever tattooed one of your works?
ZAKRI WILLIAMS: No they haven’t yet. To be fair it could be torture for the tattooist .
ROUGH ONLINE: You have started as “Visual Major” and then developed “Kamoflaws”. What will be next?
ZAKRI WILLIAMS:
More designs, enjoying the journey and hopefully finding and audience that understand where I’m coming from. Those two names are all I need. You never know what could work out unless you fearlessly put the ideas forward.
Follow Zakri Williams by clicking on
KAMOFLAWS. To shop & enquires about Kamoflaws designs email
fashion@rough-online.co.uk
Images: Courtsey of Kamoflaws
