Colm Dillane was born in New York City. He is the multimedia artist and entertainer behind KidSuper, a hybrid art brand with a storefront and studio in Brooklyn. Dillane started by selling T-shirts in his high school cafeteria then later went on to showcase his collection in Paris Fashion Week. He has directed award-winning short films, music videos and sold-out solo art fashion shows. A wide range of life experiences fueled Colm’s superhero imagination and the need to create his own world through art and design. Kidsuper’s mission is to remind people that anything is possible.
There’s not much KidSuper founder Colm Dillane hasn’t done over the past few years since his brand/madhouse creative studio has blown up. He’s gone cliff-diving with Steve Aoki off the coast of Spain, collaborated with PUMA on his very own football boot (which was worn in the Premier League by Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin), gotten away with posting nudes to Instagram, and hung out with the who’s who of fashion, music, and sports at KidSuper HQ in Brooklyn.
Unsurprisingly, Dillane is not one to sit still and rest on his laurels. Best known for his fun, light-hearted, ready-to-wear brand, one might even say KidSuper’s art career started before his fashion career did – when he was a kid, painting with his mom, whom he lovingly describes as a failed-artist-turned-teacher. Every piece of clothing features artwork by the man himself. He has hosted his own gallery shows, and even sold a painting in South Korea. The fashion industry is no easy nut to crack. Talent, hard work, connections, and luck all play a big part in whether a fledgling designer or brand will either make it or break it. The same goes for the art world. Dillane is acutely aware of the similarities in both worlds, and the need for progression on his part.
We had an exclusive interview with Colm Dillane about how KidSuper is built on unreal ideas:
When did you first realize you wanted to pursue a career in fashion?
I never expected to have a career in fashion. It began as a creative outlet for my art. When you start at a young age, it’s hard to break through in the art world, but I was lucky enough to break through with my t-shirts. That led to more and more opportunities until it became my career.
We know started out selling t-shirts in your high school cafeteria. How important is your cultural background for your brand?
It’s incredibly important to me because I didn’t skip any steps. None of my success happened overnight. I started as a 15-year-old kid selling t-shirts! Going from such a humble start to becoming a global brand, being on the official calendar of Paris Fashion Week, and winning the LVMH Prize, it’s a dream come true. I hope I can inspire others who are just starting out and show them they can achieve their dreams.
Can you tell us how you decided on your approach to streetwear and how art is related to your fashion career?
I see my clothing as a creative outlet. My dream was never to create a giant brand, or make a lot of money–it was to create art. Streetwear, for me, is an opportunity to put my art on clothes, uncover new ways I can tap into my creativity, and meet inspiring people. It’s very hard to break into the fashion world, but it’s even harder to break into the art world when you have no connections. Streetwear allowed me to be taken seriously as a fashion designer, but more than that, as an artist.
Who have been your biggest mentors in this industry and what is the best advice they have ever given you?
I’m a completely independent artist, so I haven’t had a mentor in a traditional sense, but I’m lucky to work with incredible creatives and brands who help me bring my ideas to life.
If you could go back and tell yourself one thing before beginning your career what would it be?
I get asked this question a lot! It’s hard to answer. Here’s what I can say: for me, starting early was so important. Believing in myself was so important. Being flexible and agile, taking on opportunities when they came in, was important. I’m glad I did things the way that I did and trusted myself.
What do you want people to feel when wearing your brand?
I want people to feel like they’re wearing a superhero cape when they wear KidSuper. You should feel like you have powers, like it gives you a pep in your step. Anything is possible when you’re wearing KidSuper!
We know you are a legend mixing art and fashion. How important is education in both industries and why did you choose Brooklyn for your studio?
I didn’t go to school for either art or fashion, but I try to always be a student. Maybe because I didn’t go to school for those subjects, I work extra hard to try new things and stay open-minded about opportunities to learn. New York City is so, so important to the fashion industry, and being in Brooklyn means I’m close to it but have more space to bring projects to life. New York City is the heart and center of everything we do, with its beautiful blend of different people all working and hustling toward their dreams.
How challenging is the business part for a fashion brand like yours?
Since we’re very much art-first, I’m not always good at being business-minded. At times, I’ve sacrificed the chance to make more money so I could make art. Luckily, with the help of partners like Jägermeister, PUMA, and many more, I’ve been able to reach the point where I can hire people and ultimately, maintain my brand’s independence.
How has the LVMH Prize changed your career and what impact will it have on your future?
The LVMH Prize was one of the most impactful and career-changing moments for me, because I was such an outsider in fashion, especially high fashion. I come from a streetwear background and didn’t go to fashion school, and this was the real fashion and art world giving me a stamp of approval. Now, for the rest of time, I can say I’m an LVMH Prize winner. It took every one of my ideas and placed them in the lens of creativity and art. People might expect me not to care about awards, but gaining that credibility from the fashion world was really meaningful and I appreciate it so much.
Name a few icons you admire or you would like to collaborate.
Ronaldinho. I love him with all my heart and want to collaborate with him so badly.
What is your biggest fear?
Death.
In the future, will we see digital workshops with KidSuper relating art to fashion?
We’re building a 10,000-square-foot building in Brooklyn that will have art, music, fashion, community, sports, a gallery, a recording studio, a store, a coffee shop, editing studios, art studios, and more. With the support of Jägermeister, that’s going to be the hub for workshops and collaboration, and hopefully end up inspiring a lot of people and creating a lot of amazing things.
What’s your favorite place where you feel most inspired?
In New York City at 2am or 3am, under my bunk bed.
A letter to your FUTURE self? What would you write?
Keep going. Shoot for the moon! Let’s try to create KidSuper FC soccer teams, make a movie, get a TV show, make a really successful fashion brand, and collaborate with all the people you love.
