Odyn Vovk
When growing up in a small town 45 minutes outside Los Angeles, Austin Sherbanenko got his spark for fashion at a very young age when he spent time cutting up and altering his clothing. The interest in garment making lead him to study design, but after growing tired of getting instructed on what to do he chose a different, much bolder approach.
Instead of wasting money on school, he put all his effort in to creating a label of his own, which was to be titled Odyn Vovk – Ukrainian for “one wolf”. The use of only black and white colours in the first collection has a specific meaning; the lack of colours allows one to focus on the garment itself. Inspired by skate and punk rock scenes of his youth among others, the collection was designed without a precise theme but rather based on a very spontaneous approach deriving from random ideas that would come up in Sherbanenko’s mind. Working from LA, he has recently finished the first full collection for S/S 09.
What have you been up to recently?
I just completed the Spring/Summer 2009 collection, right now I’m in New York showing to a few select accounts. Keeping it very tight for while.
Do you have a clear idea for retailers, or is it still being thought out?
Yes, I definitely know which retailers I want to work with, it was a vision I had from the very beginning. It is all being worked on as we speak, so the bait is still out and some are biting!
You were studying design for a while before making the bold decision to drop it and start Odyn Vovk, what made up your mind?
I dropped out last November; I was over people telling me what to do and what not to do. I just wanted to do my own thing. So instead of putting money towards school every semester I put every dime toward developing my collection.
When did you get interested in fashion?
My mother says that ever since I was about 4 years old I was always finding ways to modify/deconstruct my clothes and colouring my hair, I never wanted to look like the other kids at school.
How has your age affected your work?
Being young definitely has its advantages. I’ve learned so much already and I feel I am ahead of the game. I have more time to recover from my mistakes! It also allows me to focus more on the design side of things, I guess, in a sense, time for me to develop. I really want to push the issue of being recognized at a young age, as many people don’t have that chance. It seems as if 98% of known designers aren’t recognized until they are 30-40 years old.
What about starting the label, has it been harder than you imagined?
It was pretty much everything I had Imagined. I’ve heard the horror stories, so I was prepared for the hard working long nights, early mornings, and tons of headaches and stress. I love it though. This is what I’m here to do and I’m going to be here for a long time!
What was your thought process for this collection?
I designed the collection without the structured direction that a hard lined story would offer. I had a much more spontaneous approach. Ideas would pop into my head and I’d follow the ones worth following. I’m fortunate to have that freedom. Almost all of the garments can be worn everyday with included quality. I handle everything from top to bottom.
What about the practical side of Odyn Vovk?
Creatively I am a one man show, and I handle everything from top to bottom. When production time comes I have someone who will be handling certain things. The manufacturing process is one of the most important parts. I’m with my sewers the whole sample time; editing, adjusting, and making sure everything is done properly, it’s a very time consuming process. Sometimes I’ll hover over my sewers making sure they’re sewing correctly, straight, and being cautious. They love it.
What can we expect from the future of the label?
The future is now! The word “plan” sounds a little too formal to my liking; I’m all about a spontaneous approach.
check out Odyn Vovk at www.odynvovk.com
By Arto M.