Your first brand, Obesity + Speed has been a huge success and cool-kid favorite. What prompted you to launch your new synonymous label?
I started O+S in college on a whim and mostly as a fun hobby. It grew very quickly into a larger business. It evolved as much as I think it could while still maintaining true to it’s core aesthetic. I love doing O+S but started to feel less connected to the brand and the inspiration that I was drawing from. I am a different person now and what inspired me is very different. I had done O+S for years and started to feel burnt out. I wasn’t sure what my next move would be, if it would even be fashion. I think that crisis of faith moment is an important part of any creative process. And then it hit me, and a few things fell into place for me to start a line again. I knew it had to be something personal and close to my heart. I also knew it had to be under my own name and stand for something larger than just clothing. I became interested in the idea of making something that was part of a broader vision. This new line has a large focus on using recycled materials and sustainable methods of production. Everything is made in between NYC and LA. We (meaning myself and the Lyz Olko clothing team headed by my assistant designer Nicollette and myself) hand sew and dye the majority of the garments in studio as well as distress the denim ourselves.
