Meet Malcolm Malik | Fashion Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Malcolm Malik and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Malcolm, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
After parting from collegiate football mentally and emotionally while still actively playing. The politics of football along with the trauma of enduring racism, favoritism, being misunderstood, and alienated amongst other things, lead me in another direction. I decided to get in my creative bag and find something niche that I had complete control over. This transition occurred while I was still in college, I had no actual knowledge about this arena besides having a knack for being stylish. To this day, I can’t pin point exactly why I was called to start a fashion brand. Nevertheless, I went from drawing sketches and logo’s to represent the brand’s identity to now fully operating as a business and I haven’t looked back since.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I would say that my art is a direct reflection of me. A representation of my experiences, my thoughts, my everyday questioning of societal norms and practices, my culture, my passion, my taste, which influences my style, which influences how I create. Even before I started designing I knew I was different from others. One, because I was often teased for my eclectic, eccentric, and daring style. I love to go against the norm and challenge my own boundaries of what I was comfortable wearing. My sense of style in terms of color has tapered down much, but it now shows in my work. What sets me apart is my ability to question societies boundaries and not be afraid to be judged for how others perceive me or my art. How they dissect my art is something they have to digest, good or bad. I’m most excited about exceeding my limitless potential. I have no limit to what I can do, that’s what makes this so fascinating and exciting. Nothing is unattainable with my creativity, skillset, curiosity and my drive. More specifically, I’m most excited about this years release. It’ll be my most profound, groundbreaking, self reflective, and compelling release. It’s liberating, controversial, edgy, vibrant, and there’s a story behind it with many conceptual meanings.

I’ve learned a ton of lessons along the way, still learning everyday. I’ve learned that mistakes are inevitable, there’s no such thing as perfection, you have to dislike being comfortable with being content. Growth requires some of the most uncomfortable decision making. I’ve learned that you can’t exploit your self because society says you should work non stop. Pace yourself but know when you have to kick it in full gear. Motivation is temporary, discipline and discernment wins each time.

I want the world to know that everything I do I put my all into it. It’s authentic, it’s original and it’s its a manifestation of my beliefs, my passions, my drive, my influences, my family and friends, my blackness, and the music I enjoy. My brand will allow you to tap into my mind while also relating and feeling the story. My brand aims to bring joy and light because there’s already so much darkness in the world. However, I won’t shy away from what’s really happening. I’ll just present it in a digestible way because at the end of the day, fashion is truth. Art is truth. And I will always tell my truth. I would just recommend that people follow me on this journey. If they aren’t now, they’ll catch on soon.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is a tough question because I don’t get out much lol. And I’m a homebody. But a place where you’d have fun with some good energy is Easy Does It, which use to be Eastroom. There aren’t many black spaces in Chicago nowadays. I’m also not the club type. As of recent, I’ve had a plant-based diet so that’s open up a whole new world for me. I recently went to Planta Queen and it was 10/10. The Black Vegan is also great. Owned by a black woman. Chicago has some nice speakeasys I’d take someone to as well.

There are some really great museums, art exhibits, social lounges to experience. In the hotter months I like to go hiking, running, skating, the lakefront, etc. That’s all I have for now lol

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I appreciate this, I want to first shout out my mom. She gave me my first sewing machine before I even knew how to sew. She also help me build a showroom for my business so that I’m able to work and live out of. I would say she’s played a significant role in my journey as a designer. I often bounce ideas off of her, whether I agree with them or not, It’s good to have a trustworthy second opinion. I also have a few friends and family that have helped contribute to my success. They say it takes a village and it most certainly does. I’m still putting the pieces together to the puzzle.

Website: malcolmmalik.com

Instagram: @MalcolmMalik_

Linkedin: Malcolm Malik

Twitter: @MalcolmMalik_/ @Malcolm1995_

Facebook: Malcolm Malik

Image Credits
Credit to Malcolm Malik – Photographer. The strawberry image is a sample of my future collection and not the actual editorial fyi.