Isolation Insights: Q&A with Phillip Proyce from Lady White Co.

We caught up with Phillip Proyce, founder of Lady White Co. to talk Brick Lane Bagels, L.A and much more…

Garbstore: What was the concept behind Lady White Co. when you first started the brand?
Phillip Proyce: We wanted to directly dispute disposable clothing with a focus on the White T-shirt. Adding weight to the importance of fabrics, proportion, and technique; product with small details and local production. All garments are sewn within a 10 mile radius from the headquarters in Los Angeles. The concept was to make a sportswear brand that carried my insular view of American aesthetics.

GS: What is your inspiration for when you started to design the latest collection?
PP: Everything I make is usually rooted in photography. SS20 was based off a fictitious summer vacation to Athens, Greece. Blurring the line between the ordinary and unconventional, with very relaxed shapes. My friend Chris Kontos runs a magazine out of Athens and I took a lot of inspiration from his photos over the years. They always seem to be enjoying life in Greece - I wanted our clothes to reflect that.

GS: Which are your favourite areas and spots in London?
PP: I've only been once, I took the Eurostar over from Paris one summer. First thing I ate was a salted beef bagel on Brick Lane. I'll never forget that - delicious. I stayed in Bethnal Green which reminded me of the East side of LA in some ways. At the time I had just started the brand so I opted for the cheapest AirBnB. £30 a night, shared-bathroom type of joint. The building looked reminiscent of a Paul Graham photo in the mid 80's. It was perfect.

GS: What are the new big trends you’re seeing for next season?
PP: I hope the trend is supporting small brands and retailers like Garbstore. This has been a crazy couple months with the Virus!

GS: Looking forward, what is next in the pipeline we can get excited about for Lady White Co.?
PP: More T-shirts and sweatshirts of course. We are very focused in that sense. We primarily use all cotton yarn but next season we developed a cotton/nylon jersey that we're very happy with.

GS: How are you adapting to now working from home?
PP: I've just been spending all of my time at the design studio. Completely isolated of course. Our entire staff is working from home which has given me the chance to basically live at our headquarters/flagship. I took the opportunity to remove all of the stock from our shop floor and created a blank environment to start SS21 concept and designs.

GS: How are you maintaining a positive headspace throughout everything going on?
PP: Spending more time with my wife at home. Trying to cook more. Thinking of new ways to operate the brand remotely, which has been oddly efficient.

GS: What is your go-to outfit to work in around the house?
PP: I try to get dressed like any other day, otherwise I'm uninspired.

GS: What are you listening to whilst working through the lockdown?
PP: Been stuck on some Ethopian Jazz lately, keeps the spirit up.

GS: More time at home means more cooking - which recipes have you been trying out?
PP: Addicted to those little Japanese sweet potatoes, roast them in the oven, like candy vegetables.

GS: What tv / films have you been enjoying whilst at home?
PP: Just saw "Tiger King" like the rest of the world. A lot of documentaries really, just seen one on Robert Maplethorpe, good watch.

GS: How have things changed in your local area since the lockdown came into place?
PP: Ghost town, but on the bright side, it's nice to see families walking the neighborhoods together. Everyone is forced into family time. Maybe we all needed to slow down a little. And L.A. with no traffic is a sight to see.