Emerging label J6 has all the makings of an instant hit. Filled with easy silhouettes, nostalgic details, and a cool stay-out-all-night vibe, designer James Garland’s inaugural collection, available exclusively on SSENSE, is what party girl dreams are made of. Garland’s references are vast, including a range of powerful icons like ballroom legend Daesja “La Perla” Mizrahi, showing how truly knowledgeable the Brooklyn native is about his craft. But he wouldn’t consider himself an artist, per se.
The son of a professional dancer who performed in the legandary production of Aida, Garland tells BAZAAR.com that because his mother led such a sartorial life, his passion for working with the medium of clothing was both inevitable and encouraged. Completely immersing himself in the world of fashion, the creative director all but memorized the autobiographies of the greats over the years and read countless magazines from cover to cover.
“I think that when you learn about [designers] as people, their life kind of emanates through their art—it’s the same for me,” he explains. “I grew up in the world of ballet, but then also discovered the world of hip-hop and R&B. So while I am consumer driven, my childhood influences everything that I design. Like, I’m obsessed with the late-’90s, early-’00s ballroom culture, and opera, so it’s really a mix.”
The Milan-based creative cites powerful, original people as the brand’s ultimate muses. Naming Lil’ Kim and Foxy Brown as inspirations for his designs, Garland is also drawn to other female figures like Leontyne Price, the first Black soprano singer to have a lead performance at the Metropolitan Opera, as well as his mother and iconic trans dancer La Perla.
“There’s this strength in a woman that I gravitate toward, but I want to make both men and women feel confident,” he says. “I kind of love that idea of being someone that can help [them] in their daily lives and make them feel beautiful. But it’s more functional rather than just this edifice of beauty.”
Courtesy of J6
Courtesy of J6
As for the clothes in the brand’s first collection, they’re an embodiment of Garland’s vision. Modeled by Anok Yai, the debut campaign features draping to offset the body-con silhouettes of backward-facing dresses. His eye for details is displayed in the placement of exposed shelf bras as a nod to Y2K trends, while he gives the do-rag, a staple in Black culture, a super-chic update. Slinky slips for the red carpet and form-fitting midi dresses that can be worn for the everyday also make the cut. Ahead, shop the standout pieces from the new collection.
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J6 Is About to Be Every Party Girl’s Favorite Brand
Source: Filipino Journal Articles
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