Trapstar London founders Mikey, Lee Will and Mikey Trapstar have relied upon their unwavering determination and have persevered to get over every obstacle that has been put in their path. Before they became the preferred streetwear brand of stars like Rihanna as well as Cara Delevigne, their clothing collection was met with a lot of resistance from established retail stores and retailers who were wary of taking chances with the emerging brand. While other brands might have collapsed in such circumstances The London-based group became more creative. To find innovative ways to market their clothes and accessories, they launched a pop-up store system that they called “Trapstar Invasion.” Then that mindset of a hustler of theirs started to pay off and in a huge way. Trapstar quickly went from being a cult popular choice for supermodels and megastars.
Already with London Town on lock, Trapstar is currently preparing for what seems to be an the inevitable global takeover. One of the reasons for this is the recently announced Red Line label. In announcing the new Trapstar expansion, Mikey says, “Over the last eight years, Trapstar has grown to the point and we are owed the public to create additional avenues to enter Trapstar. Trapstar brand. The brand’s premium quality is one of the portals.” Life+Times caught up with Mikey Trapstar who is the clothing line’s creative director and chief designer in order to talk about Trapstar’s Red Line collection, Trapstar’s collaboration and Roc Nation’s partnership Roc Nation, and UK fashion.
L+T: What’s the red line of the latest collection represent?
Mikey T: Let me describe it in this way The red mark that has been utilized in Trapstar for a long time. Trapstar brand for a long time and symbolizes 20/20 vision. If you have 20/20 vision , it indicates that your eyesight is flawless So the red line represents the ability to be open in looking further and seeing clearly beyond the smoke screens of everyday life. These are things that can cloud your eyesight and cause you to make decisions like insecurity and prejudice.
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L+T: What were the elements that inspired you in creating this collection?
Mikey T.: I’m very in love with sportswear, military aesthetics, and other life elements like Earth marble, water, and art. We decided to create silk scarves that don’t have patterns, but instead that has an image. We believe that fashion is an art and we offer you the option of framing the image and wear it.
L+T: What is the difference between this collection from previous Trapstar collections?
Mikey T Mikey T.: This is more daring. There are printed denim, capses and silk scarfs. There aren’t any logos and therefore there is no brand name. We’ve only used high-end fabrics and have paid greater focus on the finer details. As the company has grown, we’ve adopted a playful, yet sophisticated approach to symbolize the expansion.
L+T: What made you select Harvey Nichols for the launch of your new collection?
Mikey T. The principal motive behind this move came from Reece Crisp. He was the previous purchaser of our other supplier within London, Selfridges. He’s a part of the emerging fashion culture. He’s not just writing an amount of money. He’s honest about it. He’s fully aware and we can trust him. Harvey Nichols’ world renowned fame, paired with our fresh DNA and our new regulations, made this the perfect mix. That being said we thought Harvey Nichols would be the ideal place to launch the fresh chapter for Trapstar.
L+T What does Trapstar’s latest collaboration in conjunction with Roc Nation mean for the future of the brand?
Mikey T: It’s about that you can expect to see growth, flexibility and long-term longevity as Roc Nation is a master in all of those areas. Who better to teach you then JAY Z, Jay Brown and Ty-Ty? See how far they’ve come , and they’re continuing to grow ever stronger and more powerful, and pushing boundaries like it’s nothing. As Hov said to me a few years time ago, “You know it’s time to go further, don’t you?”
L+T: It’s like the initial resistance to Trapstar triggered the desire to succeed within you and your team to achieve success and a desire to prove that the critics were wrong. What can you do to maintain the same fervor after you’ve built such an impressive brand?
Mikey TNah Bruv. I’m still in awe of what I was back when I bought my first t-shirt in my car’s boot [trunk]. Being within New York and being around the Roc naturally has triggered higher financial and personal goals. It is a lesson that you will always improve. It’s like we’ve been able to compete with heavyweights. The next step is to take on the title of champion, which requires a lot of effort. Once you’ve achieved that, you must defend that belt to be regarded as legendary. Being content is not an alternative.
L+T: You’ve mentioned that you believe that UK fashion isn’t acknowledged on the international stage. With Trapstar being able to partner with an internationally-respected imprint like Roc Nation or collaborating with a US-based brand like 40oz NY, don’t you feel as if Trapstar has helped UK fashion, especially UK streetwear gain more recognition?
Mikey T.: Each of of those qualities have contributed to a change of 100. Trapstar is a major contributor to a certain extent. No doubt. There’s a bright outlook in the future, however I recognize that Rome was not built in one day. I’m not expecting a huge amount of recognition in the next few hours.