Damion Le Cappelain graduated from the Royal College of Art with a Masters in Footwear Design earlier this year and showed a collection that captured the imagination of many in the industry. Cappelain’s latest designs take the ordinary mens shoe and make them extraordinary by manipulative rethinking and thoughtful consideration of the fashionable and adventurous shoe wearing man. Cappelain’s shoes are artful as much as they are masterful and should be an interesting contribution to the menswear scene. MFN caught up with one of the industry’s favourite Graduates to find out about his work and how he is fashioning his future.

Manchester Fashion Network: Tell us a little bit about yourself and why you study Fashion?
 
Damion Le Cappelain: Before studying fashion I was a graphic designer for about 8 years mostly creating packaging for bands, flyers, websites and some boring corporate stuff. I'd always wanted to study fashion, in particular shoe design and I felt I'd taken my abilities as far as they would go with graphic design and needed to get out of the 'sitting in front of a computer all day' environment. It really was a case of timing and thinking, 'actually I can really do this'. Sounds like a cliché, but I've wanted to design shoes since I was about 11 years old.
 
MFN: What interests you about menswear and in particular about men’s footwear?
 
DLC: It’s almost a bit like the new frontier in fashion, I mean there’s so little out there for men right? And what there is out there is pretty boring - the same constructions but with different finishes/colours. I like the challenge of introducing original but wearable footwear to men. And I like to see men themselves challenge the preconceptions of what men should wear.

MFN: Who is you personal style/fashion icon?
 
DLC: Hmmm, that’s a hard one! I'm still looking out for someone with that 'icon' status, but I suppose I do see a lot of 'cool' guys hanging out where I live. Actually I'm generally inspired by dishevelled looking older men, old Goths, punks etc who look like they've had their own original sense of style for years and look comfortable with it. I get bored of guys making so much effort to look different but that end wearing a uniform. 
 
MFN: Would you recommend studying at either RCA or LCF to an undergraduate looking to begin an academic career in Fashion?
 
DLC: Of course, the training and experience you gain really helps. A BA enables you to learn the technical skills and studying an MA provides the time and space to develop your own collection for when you've finished. Studying fashion gives you context and an insight into the industry.

MFN: As a Fashion student living and studying in London do you feel the British Fashion industry is very London centric and if so, what are your thoughts on this?
 
DLC: Maybe? Certainly the fashion industry in London tends to live in a bit of a bubble and probably doesn’t leave London. However, 80% of the fashion students on my RCA course are from foreign countries - Korea, Holland, Germany, Denmark etc. While they are here in London, thriving within the British Fashion industry they are spreading their influence to their native countries. So it’s very international. Also, it seems people outside of London who want to be involved in fashion tend to gravitate to the city. I live in Hackney East London and I'm surrounded by Northerners!
 
MFN: Have you ever visited Manchester and if so, what do you think of the city’s take on Fashion?
 
DLC: Yes I have, once - but I wasn’t looking out for it so it would be unfair for me to comment. For me personally, Manchester has always been an important influence musically. Sorry!
 
MFN: In June of this year you showcased an amazing collection of men’s footwear at the RCA MA Graduate show; are there any plans to produce a similar collection to market?

DLC: Yes. I'm currently producing 3 styles from the collection and am taking orders now. It’s a very exciting time for me!

You may read more of this interview with Damion Le Cappelain at Jordan's personal blog by clicking here. If you wish to contact Damion Le Cappelain you may do so by visiting his website here.

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Words by Jordan McDowell, all images courtesy of Style Salvage

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