Dan and Dave Concepcion
Switching from a Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in illustration and graphic design to an Apparel Design and Merchandising program, Bay Area natives Daniel and David Concepcion debut their first full collection under their label Dcepcion.
Having previously graced the SF Fashion Week runways through the “Emerging Stars” show in 2006, the twins gave San Francisco a taste of their vision with three men’s wear looks. This year, the twin brothers will be presenting their Spring/Summer 2008 collection titled “Street Society”, which incorporates street-wear aesthetics into classic tailored pieces and springs inspirations from early 90’s comic books and details from the 1930’s and 1940’s.
I recently caught up with the dynamic duo to pick their brains about their line, fashion, and other fun topics. Here is what they had to say:
What does your label name mean? How was it chosen?
Dcepcion initially started as a combination of our first and last names, but later developed into the concept for our label, using it in a more literal sense. We thought it was a perfect name that would give us the freedom to change our direction with every collection, and basically give us the ability to design what we like without sticking to one particular niche or style.
How would you describe your clothes?
We would describe our clothes for this collection as street-wear inspired ready-to-wear for both men and women. We wanted to design clothes that the consumer could incorporate into their existing wardrobe. Our pieces are versatile, and can be mixed and matched for any outfit, day or night.
Where do you grab your ideas from? What inspired you most when you create?
When designing we pull inspiration from many things including music, art, and utility. Observation also plays a big part in our inspiration for our clothes. We like to look at what people are wearing on the streets, often developing our designs around the idea of them actually becoming staples in people’s wardrobe.
Who do you see wearing your clothes?
The people we see wearing our clothes are men and women in their early 20’s to mid 30’s, who prefer to dress casually, but still want to look put together.
Favorite designer? Designers you love/would love to collaborate with? Mentors?
Our favorite designer would have to be Marc Jacobs. His ability to design highly creative, yet wearable clothing is something that we admire and aspire towards. We also respect the work of several high-end street-wear designers, for their attention to detail and quality. Some of them include Hiroshi Fujiwara, Nice Collection and Jean Touitou.
What’s your favorite piece that you’ve created to date?
Our favorite piece we’ve created to date would have to be our 8-pocket denim jacket. Being able to incorporate a high level of utility into a jacket, while still keeping a clean aesthetic is something we always wanted to design, and we think we achieved it with this piece.
Where do you feel upcoming designers fall in Fashion?
We think upcoming designers are very important to the industry because they are the ones who will eventually dictate the future of fashion. Upcoming designers have something new to offer outside of what the big brands are producing.
What do you think the effect on fashion is of popular shows like Project Runway, What Not to Wear, etc.? Do you see these shows as a negative or positive?
The popularity of shows like Project Runway, and What Not to Wear, have a positive effect on fashion. They have made fashion accessible to the masses. Project Runway has been very good at revealing how much hard work goes into designing, and how much skill is involved in being a designer. What Not to Wear shows how fashion can improve an individual’s self image, and change their lifestyle.
How do you feel about the recent focus on greener/organic methods of design?
The focus on greener/organic methods of design is definitely a step in the right direction. It’s definitely something that we plan to venture into with future collections. Anything that supports conservation and helping the environment is always a positive thing, and will definitely play a big part in the future of fashion.
Why choose San Francisco over more highly recognized cities in the fashion industry like New York or Los Angeles?
We chose San Francisco because there’s something unique about the city, in terms of how people wear their clothes, not only in aesthetic ways, but also out of necessity. San Francisco gives us the freedom to design whatever we like. For example, we could design a wool sweater for summer, and it would work. As a San Francisco designer, you’re encouraged to be unique, and individuality is something that is very important to the people who live here.
What direction would you like to see your line develop towards?
We would like our line to develop into a lifestyle brand. We would love to create other products and accessories that will keep our ideas fresh and creative. We also hope to launch a full men’s wear line, and possibly a children’s line in the future.
Advice you’d give people trying to break into the fashion industry.
Some advice we would give to people trying to break into the industry is to be prepared. Learn the craft, be creative, and always choose quality above anything else. Quality, not only style, is what sells clothes.
Typical day in the life of Dcepcion.
A typical workday in the life of the Concepcion twins usually starts in the evening. We like to put on a good playlist of our favorite music, and do all of our sewing, pattern work, and cutting through the night, usually starting around 9pm and working until about 7am the following morning. The reason we work at night is because it’s the only time where we feel there are no distractions, and we can focus on what we’re doing completely. We squeeze in a few hours of sleep and are usually up and out the door around 10am for meetings, to run errands, or to buy fabrics. We usually take time out to relax during the day, checking email, updating our website, and sketching new ideas, before we resume our nightly work schedule.
Favorite things to do when you’re not working.
Our favorite thing to do when we’re not working is going out and having a couple drinks, or dinner with our friends.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
If we could live anywhere in the world it would have to be Europe, at least for a few years.
If you weren’t designing, what would you be doing?
If we weren’t designing, we would probably be working as graphic designers, or going back to school to get our master in fine arts.
Book you’re reading right now, or last book you read.
The last book we’ve read was “The Fashion Designers Survival Guide,” by Mary Gehlhar. A good read and overview for anyone for thinking about starting their own fashion design business.
Right or left-handed?
We’re both right-handed.
If you were to create a “Soundtrack of My Life” compilation, what songs would be in it?
If we were to create a “Soundtrack of Our Life” it would include too many songs to list, from a bunch of artists. If we were to do a “Soundtrack of the Moment” some of the songs we would definitely choose would be, “No Sleep ’til Brooklyn” by the Beastie Boys, “Make Yourself” and “A Certain Shade of Green” by Incubus, “Pretty Green” by Mark Ronson, and “Find A Way” by A Tribe Called Quest.
If you could have anyone’s wardrobe (dead or alive), whose would it be?
If we could have anyone’s wardrobe it would have to be Hidetoshi Nakata.
Favorite time of the day?
Our favorite time of the day is at night. We do most of our best work at night, and it’s when we’re the most creative.
Piece of clothing or jewelry you could not live without?
The pieces of clothing that we could not live without would have to be a v-neck cashmere pullover and a pair of premium denim jeans.
Best part about being a designer? Worst part about being a designer?
The best part of being a designer is seeing your idea transform into an actual tangible product. The worst part of being a designer is trying to find a balance between what you want to create, and what the consumer wants.
What are you obsessing on these days?
The thing we’re obsessing about the most these days is starting our own business.
If you could choose between sleeping, eating, or being clean, which would you choose? Why?
We would choose being clean over sleeping and eating. Not only in a hygienic sense, but also in an organizational way as well. We can get more work done when we’re organized, and it’s less stressful knowing where everything is.
Favorite holiday?
Our favorite holiday is New Years. It’s always great to look back at what you have accomplished during the year, and it makes us look forward to the future.
Five pieces of clothing every guy should have in his wardrobe?
5 pieces of clothing that every guy should have in his wardrobe would have to be a pair of premium denim jeans, a collared button down shirt, a v-neck cashmere pullover, a pair of low-top converse, and fitted/tailored jacket. These pieces are a good base for any guy’s wardrobe.
Take away message for your line?
“Clean and versatile design”.
Where can we find your items?
You can find our items in select boutiques in San Francisco early next year.
