Luke, 28
Manchester
The cheeky, likeable streetwear designer, who creates for everyone… Including the disabled.
This cheeky Northerner has bounced back from tragedy to create a clothing and streetwear brand with an important message: fashion should be for everyone.
Although the joker of the pack today, Luke tragically lost a leg after an accident. He has made it his mission to one day design disability friendly but stylish threads.
His collection explores the stories our clothes tell, and he weaves deeply personal messages in his designs (including the date of his accident). The goal of his brand is to expand in to garments that can cater for everyone, and tackle issues young people face today – including battles with mental health and missing limbs.
Tell us about your brand?
My brand is named Dysfunctional and it has that name because I’ve had a very dysfunctional life.
The brand was made after I lost my leg in 2012. I stopped to help a girl who had gotten into a road traffic accident and I went to help her but then I got hit by a drunk driver who took my leg off. I was a hands on guy doing gas and plumbing. My mum also passed away around this time but before she died, she said, ‘You’re mad on clothes so why don’t you start a clothing brand?’ I didn’t think anything of it at first but then I just kept debating what to do. Then, when my mum passed away, it made me just want to do it even more and that’s how the brand started.
Everything on my clothes is something that has a meaning to me – the date I lost my leg, the day my mum passed away. They’re things that mean something to me and to other people too.
What made you want to be on The Drop?
I wanted to show people that I was designing clothes for amputees. Also, I’d actually never made things myself prior to this show so that was a very big challenge for me as a factory makes my clothes for me. But, I learnt so much. It was hard at first but after the days passed, I began to get the hang of it and I loved it. It was just mint!
What are your fashion inspirations?
I enjoyed Virgil Abloh’s work. It was just the way he did things. I’ve got a lot of inspiration from him. I just loved how he could just do what he wanted and it would work because it was him. It’s not always about the brand, it’s sometimes about the person behind the brand.
What would you say to aspiring creatives who may be watching the show?
You’ve got to stand out and do things differently. The packaging, the messaging, just everything. You’ve got to make it unique to yourself. There doesn’t always have to be a story behind it but there has to be a meaning to the brand. It’s about the way you do things – the way you market, advertise it and the way you get in touch with people. Nowadays, people want to see the face behind the brand rather than just a brand. You could show how things are being made on social media and interact with your customers. That’s what I’ve learned is the best thing to do.
