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Dez Marshall with husband at Kashchechewan First
Nation, ON
FOXXY T’s INTERVIEW WITH AFRODELIK DESIGNS
Tell me a bit about yourself?
I have a company called Afrodelik Designs (www.afrodelik.com)
Afrodelik Designs creates hand drawn, simple yet funky graphically
bold art for clothing…that’s a mouthful
The designs celebrate the evolution of black culture, with a touch
of world culture, through collections of artwork.
Presently, we have the AFROCITY collection, which is character
that I’ve created based on the blaxploitation era. We have
the AFRIKA collection which is honoring African Culture, and we
are currently working on a collection presently called, FACES.
Afrodelik Designs allows me to draw for hours and hours, which I
love the most, and I conceive images of a rich and beautiful culture
that I am very proud to be part of
What connected you to fashion?
I see myself as an artist using fashion as the canvas. For now, I
feel fashion is the best way for me to reach EVERYONE.
Growing up, I was never into brand names, still am not really.
I remember as a young girl making patches for my pants, and thinking
that was cool, and as I got older I thought why don’t I create
art for clothing, and so many years later, here I am doing what
I love
Who are some of your influences in fashion?
There’s no one specifically in fashion that inspires me.
There are certain styles and elements in fashion that I do like
I really love a funky, sexy look with elegance and class. I love
colour. I really like mismatching (patterns and colours). I love
uniqueness and fun. I love the unexpected.
Jennifer Lopez, Common, Andre 3000 are people that I enjoy…
My mom’s a great dresser too…elegance and class
What does "afrodelik" mean 2 u?
Rich and textured afrocentricity created through the spirit of
soul. Inspired by the African diaspora, with a touch of funk that
will hit you from the top of your head, to the back of your booty….need
I say more!
Afrodelik is a sense of freedom for me. It allows me to create
what I love, what I love to see
Do u think that art and fashion are the same thing? and why?
Yes, I think for me, that defines Afrodelik…Art and Fashion
morph into each other.
It is all an expression of creativity through different avenues.
Art is beauty, Fashion is Beauty
Is there a difference between your business in Canada and the
USA
(meaning the reaction...of sales)
Were it differs is the challenges of getting Afrodelik into Canadian
stores
Afrodelik has something unique, and because of that, stores in
Canada aren’t
sure where to put us. The hip hop stores find us to be “hip hopLESS” ,and
the mainstream boutiques and stores find it too afrocentric.
Our Canadian customers really enjoy our product, and we need to
find a place for artist/companies like myself to be seen and to
be accessible to others
Customers ask, where can we purchase your t-shirts, and aside from
my website and the studio, I can name fewer stores in Canada, versus
the U.S.
The U.S. love really dig the characters from AfroCity and love
the energy that projects through them
So you recently had a nice advertising plug in SWAY magazine, how has that
helped business.
I
am so grateful when Afrodelik is featured or recognized in any
magazine or article such as this. It helps us to connect with
more people. People get curious about our company, link onto
our website, come to shows where we’re selling, and buy our t-shirts
Our customers are great…so enthusiastic and supportive. We are very grateful
The SWAY magazine feature was wonderful! It’s also a reality check , because
it reminds me of my goals, and the progress we’re making. When you’re
in the middle of it all you sometimes forget
The funny thing is that my female friends keeping asking me “who is that
model wearing your shirt in the SWAY magazine?”…so that’s
working for me
http://www.swaymag.ca/fashion1.php
Are you just focusing on tee shirts?
For now….but we are working on other products that we are very excited
about. We’ll let you know when it happens. Look out for it!
I heard that you recently had a musical artist "big up" your
shirt?? Who was it?
Miss Unique herself…Erykah Badu
Meeting her was wonderful! She was sweet, lovely and very open.
She had beautiful energy, and she liked the images. She thank me
and called me Queen…that
was cool!
Erykah Badu is Afrodelik…
Where do you see your business in 5 years?
In 5 years I see Afrodelik being sold in stores all over the world.
I see our product being a household name with celebrities, musicians
etc… wearing
them.
I see our children’s line picking up and doing really well….
I see my designing skills evolving and reaching an even bigger
audience
Afrodelik will be a well known brand name in 5 years
I heard that you may have a Caribana edition of ladies and
mens tee's..is that true???
Rumours….that’s cool. No that’s not true, but that’s
a great idea.
Have you thought of baby wear and kids wear?
Afrodelik carries both. Thankfully we sell out quickly. We will
be coming out with a new line of baby and kids wear, this summer
If you could vote in the next American election, what would
your main concern be? and why?
There are many…
One-the environment
The natural disasters are happening more and more these days, and
it saddens me. Countries are being wiped out and people dying.
We are in control of what goes into the air, and we need to work
together to make it better. There is so much beauty out there,
and we should all take responsibility before we uncounciously,
destroy our earth.
Two-Health Care
I believe we should ALL have health insurance. Every single of
one us. This I feel should be a basic requirement, a privilege
for all
Three-Homelessness/ Famine
This is huge issue for me.
Homelessness and Famine is happening over the world and shouldn’t be. There
is so much money in this world, and people are starving, and have no shelter.
We need to be respectful of each other. Helping each other…this
is all karmic. We are all equals and should be treated that way
Four-Education
I believe education should be available to everyone like health
care…it’s
a given
No matter if you’re rich, poor, black, white…education
is your right
Five-Equality issues(gay marriage, women issues, First Nation,
People of Colour etc…)
Six- Employment
Hopefully the voting will be done honestly, and the person elected
will be concern for the people, first
What does Multiculturalism
mean 2 u?
Multiculturalism and Culture is the celebration of difference, identity and understanding.
It’s a celebration of diverse music, foods, lifestyles, attitudes.
If we all open ourselves up to it, we will realize how lucky we
are as people to partake in such a beautiful unified experience
Toronto is a great example of it. It is the essence of multiculturalism.
I love walking in Toronto, and seeing the different cultures interacting
with each other. It’s a melting pot of colours, beauty, differences
Thanks...Nuff Respect!
Website:
www.afrodelik.com
Contact info:
Desiree Marshall
416 537-5329
Afrodelik will be showcasing at these summer events:
June 22- Toronto Natural Hair and Beauty Show at 6 Garamond Court
July 5-6- Afrofest in Toronto at Queen’s Park
August 23-24- Afrivillage on Bloor West
Store Locations
Canada
-Afrodelik STUDIO
-Fraiche (womens tees only)- 348 Queen St West
-Got Style (men tees ONLY)- 489 King St West
-Toronto Women's Bookstore(womens tees Only)- 73 Harbord Street
U.S.
-Flo's Boutique- 404 West Willis Street, Detroit, Michigan
-Spectacles- 230 East Grand River, Detroit, Michigan
-Black Whole Collective- 12521 Woodward Avenue, Highland Park, Michigan
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