Interview
Drew Skyland
Feminine Fashion Designer | Bohemian Clothing | Author
Drew is the creator and owner of a feminine empowering clothing brand, founded under their own name, Drew Skyland.
Drew’s vision and art is not just an aesthetic - it tells stories of the unwanted.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“My journey into the art world was actually by surprise. At the time, I was a first year college student majoring in biology, with the aim of becoming a doctor. This didn’t happen. The pandemic happened and quarantine begun. The warmth and love that I discovered from the art of sewing has, and forever will change my life. Around that time, my life had no structure. My grandmother was no longer with me, and I experienced a form of assault that left me paralyzed by reality. I also lost my job, which was the only stability I had at that time. I needed an escape — something that would make me feel beautiful, free, and feminine.
Fashion is the channel I use to present my identities. I felt so ashamed for many years. I remember going days without interacting with people because of my fear of judgment and humiliation in being a gay, feminine person of color. However, what surprised me was the stability and confidence that fashion created within me. It turned my brand into a delicate symbol of femininity, and me into a walking form of art.
The beginning of Drew Skyland came from a sweet lady from Oregon that I met in a Joann’s in Texas. We quickly became friends, and she taught me some of her hacks that were passed down from generation to generation. I’m so privileged and honored to have met her, because she taught me to embrace my art and what I wanted to create from the heart, not the eyes. I made her a promise that I would make clothes for women of different shapes and sizes; not the societal beauty standard that fits one mold: tall and skinny.
She gave me faith. To this black kid who had zero ounce of self love and respect, she gave reassurance that they matter and so does their art.”
What does your work aim to say? Does it comment on any current social or political issues?
“My art is for the feminine, regardless of race, sex, gender, class, or any other classifications that society imposes on you to dictate who you are. My brand is for anybody who wants to feel beautiful. My whole life, I’ve been pushed into the lens of the male gaze in being this masculine, hot boy. I was raised in a traditional household which favored football over cheerleading. Favored going out with the boys, than spending time with face masks and comfort.
My brand revolves around the idea that you can be yourself, and the idea that we need masculine and feminine energy within us for balance and harmony. We need to stop condemning femininity in favor of upholding masculinity, and vice versa.”
Which current art world trends are you following?
“I design cinched, fitting clothing for people who want to accentuate their curves. My clothes help people participate in the trend of having a smaller waist. The ability to tighten as much as you want and still feel sexy, without diminishing yourself. I understand the societal issues of the feminine body, and I am willing to make clothes that will combat those needs. Also, I’m definitely intrigued by cottage-core, and how pilgrimage style clothing is coming back. I think it’s really cool how we can make versions of our ancestry clothing with our own twist.”
“I hope my brand gives people the support to be feminine, and makes them feel beautiful.”
Do you plan your work in advance, or is it improvisation?
“It’s a little bit of both. Artistically, both are a part of my design process. For the advances, I try to organize what I want to design with a sketchpad or notebook. I tend to sketch my designs and work on pattern making for the project.
However, I love improvising on the fabrics to use. It’s super fun to go in blind, with no medium. It keeps things interesting!”
What process, materials and techniques do you use to create your artwork?
“I typically use an industrial sewing machine. A Quantum Stylist 9960 Singer, to be exact. I use sewing needles, a steam press, a graph board, scissors, thread, and a mannequin. Typically, my process is sketching and pattern making on the first day, while the rest of the time is for execution and final touches. I usually work with silks, cottons, and stretch fabrics, but anything I find interesting to play with is up for fair game. Also, I work with latex and sterile gloves when creating designs that are to be shipped out to guests of Drew Skyland.”
What does your art mean to you?
"My art was what caused me to be frowned upon while growing up. The underlying statement of who I was. The elephant in the room that no one wanted to see or acknowledge. The mockery of social norms. The thing that your parents tell you will get you no respect. My art is standing in my truth.”
What’s your favorite artwork and why?
“I love Eric Stanton’s artwork. The ability to create strong women in such a state of bondage is phenomenal. Stanton was a huge discovery of my sense of self in being a part of the fashion world. He made women living art in his own defiant world of the bizarre. I would love to be a part of that world myself, but he gave me something even better to work with: the eye of womanly desire.”
