Streetstyle Superstar - Sophia Chang for Puma

Every day I spent a large amount of time pouring over style blogs and getting myself worked up over some serious wardrobe envy. So when I was sent these images, video and interview from Puma, I was grinning from ear to ear. Its such an honour to feature this superstar of style on my little blog today.

Sought out from the streets of Paris, Los Angeles and New York City, PUMA’s global group of Collection Directors have been assigned to enhance PUMA’s seasonal key products with their creativity, vision and passion under the ‘Next Starts Now’ platform.  The first of the Collection Directors to be introduced this month is Illustrator, Designer and self-proclaimed ‘Bun’ Queen, Sophia Chang. NYC-born and bred, Chang’s enthusiasm for killer product designs and POP culture was infectious for her first collaboration with PUMA.  Tasked to visually reinvigorate the season’s Women’s Lifestyle Footwear collection, Chang and her dream team of talents, used the city streets of LA and New York as her backdrop for a photo-shoot that was remarkably colourful, spontaneous and empowering just as the collection itself.

Read the interview below and be inspired!

    What is the best part of being an illustrator and why?

     SC:  You’re living your dream as a kid! Well, I am at least. Fortunately, I work for myself so I set my own deadlines and act as my own boss.

     Finish this line – I get my best ideas when:

     SC:  …I’m hanging out with friends and chatting.  So I tend to interrupt 90% of the conversations I’m in.

     Your illustrations have a signature style – how did you develop this aesthetic?

     

     SC:  I didn’t have a “style” throughout college. That was a real struggle for me.  I think the style just came thru time. The more I worked, the more exposure I had with different tools…it eventually just evolved. 

    

     You say you love and are inspired by hip-hop…Who are your top 3 hip-hop artists/acts of all time and list your top 5 tracks?

SC:  I’m inspired by a lot of hip-hop and R&B overall. The list changes over time. It’s very difficult for me to pick a top 3. I guess maybe SWV, Jay-Z and 2 Chainz for now.

Do you remember your first pair of PUMAs?  Do you have a favorite PUMA style & why?

SC:  Yes! My first pair was when I worked at PUMA Retail in college. It was a pair of black and white PUMA Clydes. I’d say that would still be my favorite pair, it’s an all-time classic!

This is the first season you have partnered with PUMA on a project, what was it like to work with the campaign from start to finish? Which part of the PUMA collaboration do you find to be the most interesting?

SC:  Working with PUMA on this campaign has been a great experience!  I was able to wear different hats as a design consultant, producer, stylist, and illustrator.  I was also able to reach within my own network of creatives and form a dream team for the vision – photographer, Ja Tecson, Fruition LV’s team and NaiVasha Thomas.  Team work makes dream work!  I love multi-tasking and wearing different hats…or should I now say sneakers?

What does “Next Starts Now” mean to you?

SC:  It’s an optimistic message.  It means so many things to me…. It’s an encouraging message - the future is bright so don’t delay and take hold of your goals!

 What does the PUMA brand represent to you?

SC:  PUMA represents a classic brand that is a staple in footwear culture.

 Are you a self-proclaimed “Bun Queen” or did that title come with time, and finally, how high does your bun really go?

SC:  Good question (laughing)!  I have a lot of hair and it’s super thick…basically like a lions mane.  When NY summers got really hot and humid, the hair went up in a bun.  I’ve done this my whole life but the summer of 2011, it started to become my nickname.  I would meet up with friends and they would say “I spotted your bun 3 blocks away!”

As I was out and about that summer I started to take photos on Instagram of my hair with people, places, textures, patterns, landmarks and so forth.  It became this weird sensation and I just went with it!

 What’s NEXT in store for Sophia?

SC:  So many things!  I work on a lot of different creative platforms – magazines, branding, design, apparel, graphics, web/mobile and more.  I have a few upcoming projects with PUMA I am very excited about and the next few months will be very interesting.  Can’t give away too much detail, so you’ll just have to stay tuned!

Sophia Chang, Designer & Illustrator
Site:  http://www.esymai.com                                                                                    
Instagram:  @esymai #bun
Tweet:  @esymai - http://www.twitter.com/esymai

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