We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Quodd Wheeler. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Quodd below.
Quodd, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with important influences in our lives. Is there a historical figure you look up to?
Zelda Wynn Valdes. Fist black female fashion designer, and boutique owner on Broadway. Her work is amazing and highly influential to me. As a designer, I personally look for inspiration in departments that i have a decent detail of knowledge, but the drive to want to learn more of what i don’t know. Her designs highlighted the figures of woman, and gave confidence. I wanted to do the same but in a unisex manner, where male and females gained confidence in their appearance. With dynamic yet simple pieces that wouldn’t overshadow physical features, but of course highlight them.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My name is Quodd Wheeler, and my brand is called,Treats Pin and Thread Company. My brand specializes in tailor fit streetwear. My journey into this industry started very early, however i started to take things more seriously in 2001. I remember collecting every hardback book, and magazine i could get my hands on that offered a fashion recap. “The Source magazine” and “Complex magazine” had some awesome fashion highlights with city locals or celebrities giving random critiques about outfits. I use to even record on VHS, tv shows and commercials that had fashion highlights. So anything that could give me knowledge about layering, stitching, tones, and patterns. I tried my best to get the information. These were the times before the internet was popular, so you had to search, and commit to finding information. That was my discipline and my commitment to stay on alert to what is trendy or not. Years later the internet became popular. It helped me research more the business aspect of the industry. How to obtain certain license, or certificates. Where, and how to get them. The internet was helpful in many ways. It also helped me learn how to focus more on my craft. Creating a logo picture or font. How to get a copyright. All things business related. With that focus i even learned how to take body measurements in person but i had more of my own time to learn online and practice on family and friends. That was my main focus in learning and building my craft. How to take a T shirt, hoody, denim jack or denim vest and tailor fit it based on your personal measurements. That helped me, help the client gain confidence in their appearance. I take the time to understand my client, that in return give them, and myself a sense of appreciation. Ive always admired the tailoring of suits, and other forms of high fashion, but i wanted to go in another direction and that is what i believe set me apart from other streetwear brand’s. My greatest accomplishments came from helping my family and friends with styling them or helping flip their complete wardrobe, things that were important to them gaining a personal joy and confidence within themselves. My greatest small, small victories were, selling out of my complete first collection of T shirts, hoodies, denim jackets, denim vest, baseball jackets etc. it was a victory to me because it was my first release of my brand. Even though the story lines of the items were a bit all over the place my colleague of a collection sold out. I even helped design merchandise for a podcast that sold out as well. I want my supporters to know I’m working on more sewn and embroidered pieces for the new collection. I feel it will help me push my creativity, and tell more detailed stories throughout certain collections and limited pieces. Im still going to do screen press and heat press work, but my main focus will be in the sew and embroidery department of the brand.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
Major or local fashion shows and, conventions. Its a lot of collective ideas out there, and for these event its an awesome way to network and gain a front row visual to what’s going on. The best part about these events of course are the shows, but its the walks of life that arrive to support. The best ideas are literally seen on goers and supporters of these events. The way they display and execute pieces, patterns, colors, and layers of fashion is amazing. So to be involved in it or amongst it is mind blowing. For me, its the best way for me exercise my view for fashion.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
A few jewels that helped me along the way that i still watch and read from time to time, “Fresh Dressed”, “Built to fail” “Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami” to name a few documentaries. Books that i keep handy “A Bathing Ape by Nigo” “Rebels from Punk to Dior by Janette Beckman” “The little dictionary of fashion by Christian Dior”. “The world atlas of street fashion”. I could go on and on. Honestly my philosophy is simple. Make the client feel appreciated, and confident.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Instagram.com/thequoddwheeler
- Facebook: Facebook.com/vhulcanscience
Image Credits
Quodd Wheeler images taken and images styled.