Interview with Jeon Lipa, Head Designer
13,000+ PIECES SOLD
NYC FASHION WEEK
SEATTLE-BASED FILIPINO-BORN
JEON LIPA
INTRO
MemoryLanePark is a Settle-based clothing brand founded by Jeon Lipa, centered around nostalgia and storytelling. The brand has sold over 13,000 pieces, showcasing sports, streetwear, and hip-hop motifs. Lipa serves as the head designer, director, and owner and was recently featured at the 2024 New York Fashion Week.
Kayla Pok Salisbury, a design student at the University of Washington, interviews Jeon Lipa to explore the brand’s journey, Lipa’s inspirations, and the future of MemoryLanePark.
Read the full interview at kaylapoksalisbury.com/jeonlipainterview
THE BEGINNING
Jeon: I was born in the Philippines but I grew up in Canada. Then I moved to Seattle not too long ago. 2016-ish. And the brand kind of started when I was in middle school. I’ve always been a hustler, in my opinion, because back in middle school, I would flip drinks.
I would sell Cokes and Sprite for, like, a dollar and stuff like that to get my money. And of course when you’re young, you want all the cool stuff. I wanted a Bape shirt, Supreme, all that kind of stuff, which was hot back then. But at the time, you know, I couldn’t afford any of those things. So, I made my own Supreme t-shirt.
I wore it to school and people liked it. I realized I liked making clothes and designing things. And that sort of had snowball effect. Rolling into high school, I started making the brand with a couple of friends, we were on and off with it. The brand used to be a different name.
And then not too long ago, actually, I think last year, last year in March, that’s when I started to take things really seriously with the brand and every investment. Ever since then, you know, the brand has become much bigger.
I have a love and hate because, of course, to be known for other “
Kayla: When you saw that people were starting to like your stuff, do you feel that made you change how you operated or designed things? You’ve made a career out of this, so I imagine that changed your design style/goals in some way?
Jeon: Being a designer is, like, you always wanna be the designer, the creative but there’s another aspect, which is the business side of things. I feel like that’s what you’re asking about.
It really did make me change how I designed and how I make decisions. Because there’s stuff that I put out that the audience will like, but I won’t necessarily like it. For example, the LA hoodies. I’m not a big LA fan. At all. But a great business decision was dropping the LA hoodies.
And, of course, the NY stuff, I only wanted to drop it once. But then people kept asking me to drop them again. I have a love and hate relationship with that design because, of course, that’s what I’m known for, but I want to be known for other things, not just the NY hoodie.
MLP IN NYC THE FUTURE
Kayla: This next part is about MLP being in New York Fashion Week and the pop up that you did in NYC. How did you feel to see your work showcased on such a prominent platform? And what about that was the most exciting part?
Jeon: It was a major personal achievement because I’ve always wanted to do my own runway show. It had to be one of my goals to do New York Fashion Week. To be able to do that was, I’d say, a surreal feeling. I was also the youngest designer there and I felt that people liked my stuff the most, which is dope.
Kayla: I see. What was your approach for preparing Memory Lane Park for fashion week? Did you get any feedback from the audience, whether that was online or in person that really stood out or made you feel that surreal feeling?
Jeon: I wanted to showcase that I can do more than just the hoodies, and I wanted to work with luxury fabrics, leather, knits, and stuff like that. After I did the fashion show and showcased the new designs people online loved and supported it.
Someone after I did the show, came up to me and said “I really love your work. You were the only one that showcased POC on the runway.” Hearing that was crazy. You know?
hate relationship with that design course, that’s what I’m known for, but I want other things, not just the NY hoodie”
Kayla: After the success with all of this, I assume you got a lot more exposure as well. So, what do you feel is next for the brand, and are there any directions or themes that you’re excited about?
Jeon: What I’ve been showcasing is called the Fond Farewell. Because I’m going to do a rebrand.
So, it’s not gonna be named Memory Lane Park anymore. I’m going to be making similar pieces, but in a new direction.
I want to have my own blank line, which is everyday wear, more affordable pieces that are always available. That anybody can get.
That will help me with bigger projects and collections. I want to get into semi luxury. A bridge between streetwear and luxury wear. And I’m not the biggest fan of big logos anymore.
But I always want to carry my taste on, my style, as I evolve, which has always been the goal. But yeah, I’m getting older. I want less logos. I want to focus more on texture and silhouettes. So how the pieces will sit on your body and the texture of the fabrics.
So, cracked denim or aged denim, which is more distressed. Yeah, theres a lot of new stuff that I’m working on. I still want statement pieces but there’ll be a lot less logos now.
Kayla: So, a high end, known for quality brand.
Jeon: Yeah, because I like the stuff that I’m putting out, but it’s kinda getting old on me. The jerseys are cool, the hoodies are cool, but I want to make more pieces that people can wear on any day. Because there’s a bigger market for that. I traveled this year, like, Europe, Spain, and Russia, and I noticed there’s a bigger audience in terms of people that wear no logos than those who wear all the big logos with big graphics and stuff like that. Now, that’s what I’m leaning towards. It’s something that I can wear on a daily basis because I’m not always gonna rock the NY hoodie.
33 Jersey in Pink and Brown / Photo by Emily Un, MLP Head Photographer
THE FOND FAREWELL
The latest NY hoodie drop was the final goodbye to MemoryLanePark. In 2025, Lipa will be starting fresh with a new brand name and a sleek semi-luxury edge.
Photo by Emily Un, MLP Head Photographer