In this issue of ASIAN VOICE, we feature FMACM, youth culture brand born in China. Eliminating prejudice, and becoming bridge of Eastern and Western culture is what FMACM committed to do. From the past themes of collections, such as the “Superstructure” series, “Society of the Spectacle” series, “People are Business” series, “Formalism” series, and for 2022, “East or West” series, we can tell that FMACM has a sharp point of view and a rich brand story.
Nana: Could you give us an introduction about FMACM?
FCACM: FMACM is a youth culture brand born in China. FMACM uses art language to convey design aesthetics, and uses multiple values to eliminate prejudice and mediocrity, hoping to become a bridge between Eastern and Western cultures. “MY BODY, MY CHOIC” is the theme slogan of FMACM, which aims to advocate that everyone’s choice should be understood and respected.
Nana: Why did you initially create the brand and name it “FMACM”?
FMACM: FMACM, the compound name is made up of the initials of two machines：fax machine and cleaning machine. The founder of FMACM, also a designer himself, hopes to deliver a sense of mission through embodying his standpoint of design with the choice of the brand name, as he believes that design is the ultimate demonstration of one’s aesthetics thus it is necessary to dispel the dross and brings out the quintessence of it.
Nana: What has influenced the creation of the brand and the pieces designed for you brand? -Has culture (art, music, film, etc.) or other styles influenced you in the making of your brand?
FCACM: Because of my childhood aspiration for art, I entered an art college and started to study oil painting and clothing art design. Due to the study and the development of e-commerce in China, which gave me the possibility and platform to start my own clothing business. More importantly, during college, the trendy culture of Harajuku in Japan brought by my classmates had the most direct impact on me, which made me want to try to be a youth culture brand. For me, doing fashion design, like other art forms such as painting, installation, sculpture, etc., they all convey ideas and thoughts, so it also satisfies my desire and pursuit of art.
Nana: How do you come up and decide on the themes for your collections?
FMACM: Many artists and designers must have their source of creation from what they are particularly concerned about or from life itself. I talked earlier about how I grew up aspiring to art and artists, my favorite art style, language and the artist’s way of creation, all of which have a direct influence on me. I’m deeply interested in contemporary art with criticalness, controversial social news, the ideological struggles of different camps.
In the last few years, we have published the “Superstructure” series, the “Society of the Spectacle” series, “People are Business” series, “Formalism” series, and for 2022, “East or West” series.
From these names, You may find out FMACM and my personal aesthetic and interest.
Nana: The element of ARROW appear frequently in this season, what does arrow mean to FMACM, and what messages do you aim to convey by it?
FMACM: Since the birth of the Internet, the cursor arrow is used as an interactive tool and a digital
portal. Expressing the role of your alter ego in the virtual world is as simple as choosing different domains and windows to click and open. As an important icon of FMACM, the arrow symbol has been established in this upcoming season, and will be unified and unveiled in the ready-to-wear design.
After so many years precipitation and design output of FMACM, we also realized that we need a brand symbol to concentrate spirit and better communication.
Nana: Is it possible to let readers know a little about your next drop ? If so, what has inspired the theme and the pieces in them?
FMACM: The next theme or series will be a “monument”, extracted from the architectures, sculptures and slogans of the former Soviet Union. The Soviet artistic language permeated all aspects of this camp, such as painting, sculpture, and architecture, and was a school of its own. The functionality and ideology that it embodies appealed to me and made me want to translate it into fashion design.
Nana: Is there a particular artist, movie, place, book that you would recommend our readers to check for inspiration?
FMACM: Artist: @domenicognoli @ xu zhen（madeingallery）@issywood
@liuguoqiang @dingshiwei @zhangding（shanghART）@yanbing（shanghART）
Movie: Werk Ohne Autor, 남산의 부장들, 공작, The Ballad of Buster
Scruggs, Let The Bullets Fly.
Book: Franco “Bifo” Berardi, The Uprising-On Poetry and Finance and Wu Shanzhua,《从最好的方面展现新闻》
Nana: What is your secret to always catch young people’s attention and be loved by them?
FMACM: I think it is the sense of mission and ambition of the brand. I believe that consumers can see the spirit of originality in FMACM products, the struggle with business, no conformity and compromise, and also the ambition and mission of FMACM.
Nana: Can you tell us about some of the most challenging experiences you have had during the process of building your brand?
FMACM: It may be unexpected for many people, team management, brand concept, product development, and even the epidemic for me. It’s not really a challenge for me. Whether or not to accept a partner team or financial investment is something that has bothered me a lot. I need to learn and refresh my knowledge in this area. I believe that everything is a double-edged sword with pros and cons, and I need to balance and manage it with my mixed ability, which is not an easy job for me.
Nana: Do you have any advice for our readers who are seeking to find a way to build an innovative brand like “FMACM”?
FMACM: For the matter of entrepreneurship, I just want to say: do not always think, please do it first, Practice makes perfect. After you start doing it, you will know whether you are suitable, like a talent.
Do not always think, please do it first.
FMACM
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