Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Holm.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My journey to becoming a fashion designer is a long one full of ups and downs. It was only recently that I felt like I could accept the title of Designer because of the responsibilities, knowledge, and perseverance that come attached with the role. I became intrigued with the platform during my time living in Japan. I spent the summer thereafter college not speaking the language or knowing anyone, so I took up a job as a photographer because I knew how to work a camera and started shooting events. One night after taking a photo of a group of girls they reached out to me via Instagram inviting me to a local show. Having nothing better to do I decided to go, and it ended up being my first fashion show. I remember loving the energy and artistry deciding then I wanted to pursue being a designer.
After that, I got introduced to a designer in the city who taught bi-lingual design classes so I spent the rest of that summer and the next one enrolled soaking up as much as I could. When I came back to Los Angeles, I decided I wanted to learn production so I interned for a manufacturer DTLA till I decided I knew enough to start creating my own garments. I worked odd end jobs to make ends meet during this time including being a stylist at stores like Maxfield and H. Lorenzo here in Los Angeles. In fall of 2020, I released my first ready to wear men’s and women’s collection called “Lovers.”
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Hahaha no! At one point, I renovated my friend’s van to make it a livable space so that I could just have somewhere to sleep. I remember financially staying afloat and trying to invest in a collection that matched the quality and visuals in my head was a struggle for the first couple of years. As well as staying inspired during long hours working at jobs I had no interest in. I’ve always believed that if artists win the battle of their minds, then the other struggles they eventually face come easy.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I would say I’m an artist whose chosen fashion as my platform to express the things I want to say. With my brand Castles & Queens, I design from personal experiences, cultural inspirations, or societal narratives that I feel need to be told. With my last collection “Lovers,” it was based off the narrative of an American girl caught in human trafficking. As a designer, I’m still evolving and learning but I take pride in my creative direction, collaborations, and work ethic. As well as being a designer, I’m the LA production manager for a brand based in Canada known as Frankie Collective. Their ethos is to rework garments in efforts to save the Earth from fast fashion and even as recently as this summer during Covid-19, I spent three months making over 200,000 PPE gowns and masks for local hospitals here in Los Angeles.
How do you think about luck?
I don’t know if I would say I am grateful with all the bad luck that’s come my way, but I would say I am more prepared when adversity arises. I use my experiences to never get too high or too low and stay true to the course.
Contact Info:
- Email: support@castlesqueens.com
- Website: www.castlesqueens.com
- Instagram: @joshjholm @castlesandqueens
Image Credits
Images by Ace Barro.
