Despite his idealist aesthetic, Joshua Kim is by no means superficial. When we speak about the industry, he notes that “though the industry is obsessed with more expressive menswear, the majority is still traditional, obviously because of consumers. But I want that day when putting a man in non-traditionally masculine clothes is not a statement anymore and gender bending isn’t even a concept. Clothes are clothes for all.”
Joshua is equally by no means one-dimensional. In contrast to his more light-hearted pastel projects, his industry project with McQueen was a much darker affair: he crafted a series of jackets, shirts and a mask encrusted with rich fabric manipulations. “I came up with a story where forbidden love committed suicide and reincarnated into diamonds.” The resulting garments, photographed against a handmade, silver foil set, are evocative of tragedy which has been long associated with McQueen, and the encrusted masks make for a surreal, macabre image.
For someone who seems to have learnt so much in just the past few months of being at Central Saint Martins, I wonder what the future holds for Joshua: “Well, in five years time I’ll be 29, which is an age that requires a bit of sophistication and organization. I want to be satisfied with myself: love the city I live in, love the way I look, and be working constantly, balanced with a fabulous social life. Basically I want what everybody wants: perfection!”
Until then, Joshua has to survive the remaining crits of the year, for which he has devised a go-to routine to celebrate. “I Skype my family. Then go binge, dance, and kiss; every time.”