Gary Ladd - I doing my own to wear

AÑO: 4 | NÚMERO ESPECIAL

The13th UNA R E V I S TA IMAGINARIA

ESPECIAL Punk1977 GARY LADD I DOING MY OWN TO WEAR

[ Interview with Gary Ladd by Diego Centuriรณn. ]

I DOING MY OWN TO WEAR

3 In his profile he is named as "Shirt Designer for the punk rock family at the University of Punk Rock." According to what he has told us, he started making his own t-shirts because if you did not live in London, it was very difficult to get them. Thinking that one of the ways to differentiate from the rest was clothing, we needed an authoritative word on the subject.

And thanks to the management of Dave Alucard we get to "Gaz Punk" as he likes to name himself, so he can tell us the importance of punk fashion.

To begin this interview, let's talk about its beginnings. How and why and when do you decide to devote yourself to punk fashion?

I suppose it was at the very start in 1976 that I saw photos in the NME and various magazines of punks in London wearing outrageous t-shirts with safety pins and coloured hair. I thought it looked great and refreshing and as I had always worm drainpipe Levis with holes in the knees with baseball boots I was halfway there. All I needed to do was cut my hair shorter and bastardize a few t-shirts I had with Roxy Music and the who on them, by using spray paint to go over them along with soy sauce and vinegar to stain them and make them smell abit too.

If we see the origin of punk fashion in the 70's, How do you think the first clothes are born?

I think like most youth cultures jeans and leather jackets always seem to play a big part but also thanks to designers like Vivian Westwood there was much more that evolved such as bondage trousers and jackets along with mohair jumpers and controversial t-shirt slogans that all helped put two fingers up at society.

While at first the clothing was more to provoke a rigid and routine society (we talked about Nazi symbology) where did those badges come from?

Again things like the nazi armbands and pat-

ches were used by certain bands as a shock tactic which got you noticed and talked about, but didn’t mean you were a nazi sympathizer just that you wanted to stand out and be noticed.

Some time ago I had read that the use of the Scottish fabrics had a sense of identification with the working class. And on the other hand because the Scots always opposed the monarchical regime. What can you tell us?

Tartan fabrics were used on various things from bondage suits to shirt collars but as for the reason behind its use I don’t really know other than it stood out and looked good.

What importance do you attribute to fashion in the punk movement?

It’s just something that gives you an identity and an individuality whether it’s the clothes you wear or the style and colour of your hair.

I think of a phrase "Fashion is the container of an idea". How do you see punk fashion with respect to music and punk attitude?

I think punk fashion has had a far reaching effect on fashions in general. I am 59 and still dress like I did when I was 18 simply because it’s very important to me and I love the look.

What was it like to design clothes in those early years?

As I said earlier it was a case of making your own t-shirts by ripping holes and spray painting and adding some safety pins which was very exciting at the time and was an eye opener going to gigs and seeing different ideas of what others had done.

How did you manage to sell your products in that 1977?

I wasn’t selling in those days just doing my own to wear and pose in.

What anecdote can you tell us about that 1977?

I just remember getting asked to leave a lot of pubs we went into before gigs as we looked different and people thought we were going to be spitting and being sick due to what the papers

and something you just have to accept.

Vivienne Westwood is recognized as the most important designer born of punk. What do you think about her as a designer?

I have always admired Vivs work and what she has achieved. She more or less designed the punk uniform with her wonderful and often outrageous creations.

had been reporting.

Have you had contact with her in those first years of SEX? No I never unfortunately.

With what bands have you made friends from that time until today?

I’ve got to know quite a lot of band members through the years from Jimmy Pursey (sham69) Wayne Barrett (satd) all of the uk subs, tv smith, knox etc etc.

How much has punk clothing changed in these forty years?

To me it hasn’t changed that much, I still find it very important to each individual as you try to find your own look so you can be unique and individual.

As a fashion designer, what can you tell us about the cost of realization and the cost of the raw material? Both in 1977 and in 2017.

Both in 1977 and in 2017. Obviously things keep going up in Price but that’s the way of the world

Throughout these forty years, what great changes has suffered punk fashion?

For me the heavily studded leather jackets and Mohawks which weren’t part of the original scene are something that I’ve never really liked, but

5 each to there own.

What differences do you find between the 1977 punk scene and the current one?

The main one is we were mainly all young teenagers were as nowadays there’s more of us in our 50`s than there is young ones but still as passionate about our music.

Forty years of the best year of Punk. Today, in what state do you find that revolution?

I still go to loads of gigs and often they are pretty full if not sold out so there is still a strong scene with many younger bands coming through so things are very healthy.

What do you think it meant to be Punk in the 70s?

To be different, to go see new exciting bands in smaller more intimate venues that made it special.

And what do you think it means to be punk today?

It feels with all the friendships it’s our punk family and we all look out for each other and share nostalgic memories.

Johnny Rotten once sang... were the poison in the human machine, were the future, your future.

We want to thank your answers and tell us where can we find your designs?

My business is called Punkiladd and you can find me on face book were I do most of my business along with my website www.Punkiladd. com. I design mainly shirts and cover most punk bands with my designs. I also do a lot of commissioned work for band members with their own logos, lyrics, etc.

Thank you Gary!

The13th U NA R EVISTA IMA GINA RIA