Headless Forever
Creative spotlight
Headless Forever is a Toronto-based clothing company. They are one of the larger, more well-known underground Toronto clothing brand. I've been messing with DJ since early 2021, when my close friend Jetlag introduced me to his brand. Headless is a brand very parallel in timeline with ours. It’s dope that there are other creatives like DJ with such passion and love for his craft making moves and making big ones at that. The reach of headless has been growing with each passing day, some of the biggest moments being when Lil Tecca put a sticker of the Headless logo on his laptop, basically giving them a cosign. Some of the biggest underground artists in the city are rocking Headless, its becoming a part of the next generation of culture in Toronto. Something that will be a huge piece of the market and will play a big role in the artist side of the market. The city's massive hype surrounding the brand is growing with each drop, and for good reason. The merchandise's quality and designs are amongst my favourites on the market. I really admire and appreciate his aesthetic with his clothes and on social media. He makes art with everything he does, but it's more than just clothing; he's built a community around it, and it's something the city can be proud of. DJ is creating something special with Headless; I love the direction he took with the designs and branding, and the public reaction speaks for itself. I'm curious to see where he takes the brand next and with whom he will first collaborate. Regardless where he goes, I’m here for the journey.
Written by maxim Bayarsky
Interview.
When did you start your journey?
On July 17th, 2019, I embarked on a journey that would prove to be a turning point in my career. Prior to setting out, I spent the night conducting research on successful brand startups and seeking guidance from industry leaders such as Nigo and Brian Donnelly. Armed with a renewed sense of purpose and determination, I began on my journey with the goal of turning my aspirations of starting a successful brand into a reality, prepared to overcome any challenges that came my way.
Who is your Inspiration, and what made you want to start a clothing brand?
As an aspiring fashion designer, I have always looked up to industry heavyweights like Kanye West, Virgil Abloh, and Nigo for their unparalleled creativity and unique approaches to design. In fact, I've spent countless hours immersing myself in their work, studying every documentary and piece of content I can get my hands on.
But my passion for fashion extends beyond simply admiring the greats. I was inspired to start my own clothing brand because I felt like there was a gap in the market for the kind of clothing I wanted to wear. So, I took matters into my own hands and began designing my dream wardrobe. Now, I'm excited to share my vision with the world and hope to inspire others to do the same.
How did you start your brand? (give us the early days of Headless!)
Starting my own brand has been a challenging but rewarding journey. After six months of tireless dedication to designing a new concept every day, I was finally ready to bring my first creation - the 'Mo' tshirt. However, things didn't go as smoothly as I had hoped when the manufacturer I chose failed to take me seriously and compromised the print on all the tshirts.
Despite the initial setbacks, I didn't let this defeat me. I remained determined to see my vision come to life and eventually found manufacturers who could bring my samples to life in a way that exceeded my expectations. This experience taught me the importance of persistence and not giving up on my dreams.
I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from my mistakes and continue on this journey of building my brand. I am excited to see where my passion for fashion takes me next and hope to inspire others to pursue their own dreams no matter the obstacles they may face.
How did you promote the brand and build hype around it?
Through the clever use of the phrase 'use your head,' I generated a buzz around my movement through word of mouth mainly. I haven't had to rely on heavy promotion tactics - the message behind 'use your head' has resonated with people organically, and for that I am truly grateful.
A message for the youth of Toronto?
Toronto's youth represents the future, and it's important to always remember to use your head and think before you do. Don't let anyone try to bring you out of your element or make you feel small. You were born with the potential to be greater than anyone could have ever imagined. Keep the art that inspires and motivates you close.
Flyboy
