Download this ColorWorld post in PDF formatCalifornia native, Caleb Clark is an up-in-coming designer in Charlotte, North Carolina. His line Enemy 2 Fashion was not some lifelong dream of his, but rather coincidence. As a personal goal, he committed to creating something new on a weekly basis. As one of his first projects he restyled twenty helmet bags and posted them on his blog. When he managed to sell them out within a few hours, he attracted the attention of Ships Ltd., a major retailer from Japan. From there things started falling into place. While Caleb still works as a creative director for some of NASCAR’s biggest names, he makes time for his new women’s line that he plans on debuting next season.
Clark’s main focus is ‘made in America’, and he makes great efforts to keep all of his production within the country. “I could send my stuff overseas and have them made for eight dollars apiece and they would be more affordable, but they would lose their purpose and charm. I am about making quality items.” Clark’s Americana style is inspired by old military paraphernalia, the free masons, and his Cherokee roots. When explaining why he gathers so much from history he said “the US military has some of our most timeless designs.” Clark explained that his products were about fifty-fifty; half vintage and half new – “Ancient as time, modern as tomorrow.” Currently his recent obsession with quilts and Navajo blankets is inspiring some of his newer work.
When it comes to color, it is no question that green is the color Clark works with the most. The military as a prominent focal point keeps the color pallet to a minimum. Clark is first to admit that only so many things can be done with green, so for his upcoming women’s line he is moving to mostly neutrals. When I asked him to predict the Spring Summer colors for 2012 he believed it would be nautically inpired with a prominence of blues, aqua and corals inspired by a nautical interest.
What was really interesting was Clark’s overall view of fashion. “I think that fashion is a word that designers need to constantly redefine, I personally do not like to be called a fashion designer because I think a lot more qualified people deserve that title over me.” He even gave a little advice to those trying to make it in the fashion world, encouraging up comers to design what interests them and the market will follow. It is no doubt that Clark is a fashion designer in his own right, with a refreshing view of how doing what you love is the key to success. http://enemy2fashion.com/
