How does your undergraduate background studying politics and economics influence your current work? 

My experience at Johns Hopkins definitely prepared me to be comfortable with tackling the business side of creating apparel. It’s a process and I have lots to learn still, but marketing, supply chain, and distribution don’t feel overwhelming to me. On the design side, my studies equipped me with a certain analytical viewpoint, which has helped me ground my work with societal or anthropological context—especially when first researching a new concept. For me, it’s a lot of reading at the start, whether it be on a certain time period, part of the world, or facet of life.  
 

Where do you find inspiration for your design work?

People, music, history, cinema, materials. You can find good inspiration from anywhere. How to contextualize it, for me, is the important part.
 

What are some staples in your own wardrobe, and why are they important to you?

Mover Sportswear merino wool t-shirt and pullover. They have great comfort, don’t wrinkle, super breathable, and can be chic. They are versatile across any type of day. Those are my only constant staples right now. Beyond those, I am always wearing prototypes of my own work. 
 

What menswear trends are you most excited about? 

I’m intrigued about menswear becoming more gender fluid, as a major macro-trend. I think it will have a trickle-down effect, opening up menswear for more interesting detailing and styling, even within classic menswear silhouettes or garment types for more nuanced points of view. 

See below for samples of Odom's work: