Sing Style

 While the modern term ‘Neo-Tribalism’ may conjure up anarchist images of Tyler-Durden-style urban communes, to designer Daniela Monasterios Tan the phrase describes a personal design aesthetic which takes inspiration from the street and sub cultural fashion.

“The concept was to create a post-modern urban tribe thus ‘Neo-Tribalism’ came about. The idea of post-modernism helps me to synthesize elements to create this tribe by putting things from disparate time-periods into a melting pot to create things that are beyond what we have already.”

The film Desperately Seeking Susan was a design starting point. “I wanted to re-work known street wear garments; classic 5-pocket jeans, t-shirts which I turned to bodysuits, vests and hoods to create this myth of an urban tribe.”

Tan’s graduate collection, patchworks influences circa 1980’s Downtown New York with Northwest Native American art. Tan chose these sources of reference as they possessed strong visual communicators of identity. “I took a lot of inspiration for embellishments from the urban landscape – similar to how Native Americans based their art and life philosophy on their surroundings.”

Tan says that differing viewpoints inspire her design ethos. “I love learning about different cultures and time periods; how people viewed things and to challenge these views or bring to light the things that are often overshadowed. Another thing that inspires me is clichés; the way things are known and I challenge this status quo with humour.”

While Daniela has no immediate plans to start her own label, she is optimistic about the future. “I would love to have my own label but I am still quite realistic, it’s a very difficult path. For now all I want to do is continue learning, there’s still so much to learn! And work for someone whose work I believe in.”

Re-enforcing my vision of the designer as an autonomous and slightly rebellious Urban Tribal Leader, Tan admits her dislike for authority and convention. “The reason why I design street wear is because I want to see as many people in my designs as possible. I do not like hierarchies very much. I just want people to wear my stuff and feel happy and perhaps let the clothes be an extension of who they are. Although there is a lot of styling with my pieces, I would love to see how they mix and match my clothes with things they already own… that’s what my post-modern tribe is about!”

And we feel premature enlightenment.