Method Atelier

I recently met a young designer who makes custom-designed clothes and he’s pretty damn good at it. I want you to meet 17 year old, Marcus Brooks. What stood out about this guy is that he has a great sense of style and a great deal of creativity at an early age. He has a plan and knows where he wants to go. Marcus and I had a conversation about his love of art, fashion and his one-of -a-kinds.

“Do Your Thing”, is what I live by.

Ken: Marc

Marcus: How’s it going?

Ken: Coolin man.

Marcus: Yeah, same here plus some other stuff.

Ken: What stuff?

Marcus: …like designs

Ken: Oh, ok

Marcus: Yea, thats my first 1st love.

Ken: Tell me more.

Marcus: I’m 17, a designer…

Ken: Ok, that’s it, thanks man for your time. LOL

Marcus: Noooooo! lol My brand is based off of everything I would wear. So my clothes are young, fresh, and creative. I’m very into art. My point of view as a designer it that should do your own thing and be you and original.

Ken: What kind of art are you into? Do you have a favorite artist?

Marcus: YES! I love David Hockney, Roy Lichtenstein, and of course Andy Warhol.

Ken: What about their styles do you like?

Marcus: Roy Linchstein is the MJ of art to me. I love his comic paintings. David Hockney is just the man in general. He makes really huge collages. Andy Warhol was a genius at doing whatever the hell he wanted to do. He pissed on canvases and people bought them.

Hockney(t) and Lichtenstein(b)

Ken: What impression or legacy do you want to leave with your art and fashion?

Marcus: “Do Your Thing”, is what I live by.

Ken: I know. My tag is “Get Up and Go”. I also like “The Time is Now”.

Marcus: Yes

Ken: So, how did you get started in design?

Marcus: Ever since I was 5 or 6, I was into The WWF heavy. My grandmother and mom both sew and if they had left over scraps I would take them and make vest and shorts for my action figures. I had no clue that I wanted to do fashion for the rest of my life. The first thing I customized was a pair of Levis jeans. I got a bottle of bleach and went crazy.

Ken: What’s the first thing you made to sale?

Marcus: Wow, let me think. It was this custom hoodie, I made for this girl. It turned out pretty hot.

Ken: Whats our method for making things?

Marcus: I make things by order. At this point I do one of a kind looks. I try to have something out every month on my online store. You know its art. There’s only one original painting. lol

Ken: So, what if you get 6 orders for you pieces? How do you keep up?

Marcus: That’s where it gets hard. I just have to make some pretty tough choices. It’s like a flash sale. First to grab, gets it. I think I just made up a word.

Ken: What’s ya nickname?

Marcus: Well, my dad calls me “Monster”. I think that’s where I got the idea for one of my t-shirts.

Ken: So what’s the next level for you? Any long-term goals for you and the company?

Marcus: Well, my long-term goals are to be a great designer and to be successful in life and whatever I put my mind to. As for the company, Im not interested in becoming the next Sean John, Phat Farm, or D&G. I want my own thing. In the future I want to mass produce my clothes. I want my brand to be seen as it is…ya know.

-Ken Marcelle

Marcus’ Myspace

MBDClothing.com

p.s. Roy Lichtenstein is now showing at the Gagasian Gallery, 980 Madison Ave in NYC, through June 28

(212)744-2313, gagosian.com