All Star Stories: We grilled two Melbourne creatives on how to make it in the business
Getting creative.
Converse and creativity are two words that go together very nicely. It’s no secret the brand loves supporting local talent (and so do we).
This month, we caught up with some of our creative friends, tried on the Chuck Taylor All Star II Shield Canvas and chatted style, guilty pleasures and career advice.
Name: Carlos Mangubat
Job: Fashion Stylist
How did you get into styling?
After volunteering at MSFW (many moons ago), I decided I wanted to be stylist and not a trend forecaster. I started assisting stylists and developing a folio. After university, I worked really hard to develop a strong enough folio to present to agencies. I’ve been working ever since.
Describe your style in a few words.
Commercial with a twist.
Who’s the coolest person you’ve dressed?
Julian McMahon from Charmed was a starstruck moment.
What’s a typical day for you?
Answering emails, sourcing clothing and eating all the things I can get my hands on.
Favourite on-shoot tune?
All I have been playing lately is Drake.
What’s the best part about your job?
Getting to be creative and seeing my vision executed.
What’s the worst part about your job?
Returning all the beautiful clothing to the people that actually own it.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Still in the fashion industry, I’m not sure in what aspect.
What advice would you give to those thinking about a career in styling?
Assist first. You can’t just have a great Instagram.
Quick fire questions
Fashion is… cyclical.
My biggest strength is… my sassy wit.
Creativity is… open.
Drake or Rihanna… Drake.
The best meal of the day is… dinner.
My guilty pleasure is… fried chicken.
My favourite item of clothing is… my wide-leg pants.
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Name: Elle Graham (AKA Woodes)
Job: Producer/Singer/Songwriter
How did you get into producing, singing and songwriting?
When I was younger I always sang in choirs and liked learning the lyrics to my favourite songs. Around that time, I started playing classical piano and then percussion. When I was about 11, I started writing my own music. Producing was a natural step forward for me after high school, to be able to extend my concepts, record and share them.
What’s been the highlight of your career so far?
Music has allowed me to travel quite a lot. I like exploring new cities. It was really good to get over to Canada for my first international shows a couple of months ago.
Describe your live shows in three words.
Reverb. Stories. Evolving.
Who would your ultimate creative collab be with?
James Blake, Jon Hopkins or Alexandra Patsavas.
Describe your day-to-day style.
I’m really into comfort and layers. I wear sneakers and jeans a lot, though I do love fashion and styling for Woodes. For performances and shoots, I spend more time conceptualising what I wear and working with local Melbourne designers.
What’s a typical day for you?
I’m fond of breakfast, so it starts there, followed by a coffee run. Usually I write, catch up on emails and work on a range of different things. What I like about my work at the moment is there isn’t a lot of repetition day-to-day, it’s keeping me on my toes.
What’s the best part about the local music scene?
It’s very close-knit and active. I feel like we live in a bubble and I love it. I also think it’s cool that in Melbourne you can simply go up to both national and international artists and say hello. It’s easy to reach out to others and it’s easy to grow here.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Hopefully writing for myself, for others and with others, still. I hope to have a couple of albums out, and some larger collaborations in lm and TV. I would love to work on soundtracks in particular.
What advice would you give to people wanting to break into the music industry?
Download some kind of recording software, work with your friends, seek mentors, surround yourself with good people, dabble in things, analyse your favorites, read a lot, be considerate, be kind and make good work that you’re proud of.
Quick Fire questions
My biggest strength is… my imagination.
Creativity is… key.
Heels or sneakers… sneakers always.
My favourite item of clothing is… my Rains raincoat or my Nique hooded anorak jacket.
The best meal of the day is… breakfast. It’s a clear decision. You know the variables you’re working with.
My guilty pleasure is… binge watching TV shows.
My all-time favourite song is… ‘Hide and Seek’ by Imogen Heap.
View the full Converse Chuck Taylor All Star II Shield Canvas collection at converse.com.au
This article was originally published in Fashion Journal 161. You can read it here.
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