Today we’d like to introduce you to Darin Maki.
Darin, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was born in Los Angeles and have been back for about a year now. After playing college basketball and stints throughout Asia I made the move to play professionally in Tokyo which was an absolute dream job. After retirement, there was a pit stop in Kuala Lumpur where I had the pleasure of working for AirAsia as a regional brand manager. It was a no-brainer as I knew it was a way for me to travel the world and soak up some corporate game on someone else’s dime.
How I got to where I am today well fashion has always been a part of my life, I was that kid in elementary school laying out all my outfits for the whole week trying to be the flyest kid in school. It was during 8th grade where I started experimenting whether it was restructuring swap meet jeans to sewing Lacoste and Le Tigre logos on polos I copped from Marshalls.
While I was hooping in Japan I dabbled in creating a mini collection for fans and that experience along with working with a Japanese streetwear brand motivated me to do my own line. Tokyo is the fashion capital of Asia and the energy and creativity in that small city were so inspiring that one of my goals is to do a full-on fashion show there.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has not been a smooth road and I won’t trust anyone who says it is but I was prepared for anything going into this. What I’m always trying to do is anticipate, see the bigger picture, and keep learning how to be more efficient. Some of the struggles were shady manufacturers, deadlines with vendors, sales, and basically trying to build a company all by myself.
The problem is having all these ideas but not having the capital to actualize them. People are telling me I should get investors or go get a loan, and this may sound naive, but I am here to really challenge myself. Never say never but I’m doing everything I can to not be in debt or feel like I owe somebody something. Very very impatient but I need to stay on the path and hopefully it will all play itself out in the end.
CRFT by Maki – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My company is called CRFT by Maki, the logo is an origami crane and we officially launched the beginning of 2018. At the moment we make men’s contemporary everyday pieces however the long-term plan is to be a full-fledged lifestyle brand. I’ve always had a fascination with origami, the attention to detail and brilliance behind the artform is what inspires me to create. Everything we do is through a Japanese perspective.
Officially launching and getting my first sale from a stranger was huge and definitely a proud moment for me. That rush was extremely addictive and it also keeps the competitive drive flowing so I’ll never be content. I couldn’t say that we do things better than others however I have noticed brands on that Asian wave who just slap some kanji on a tee and now they’re down with Japanese streetwear. I want to bring as much authenticity as possible because the consumer I’m targeting can see right through it and I don’t want to disrespect the people who came before me.
What I try to do with my brand is to equally focus on content. Since a kid, I’ve always been documenting things and now I am able to use my own platform to tell stories. I feature people who inspire me, people who move the needle in their perspective fields who don’t do it for the fame but for the love of their craft. My first video featured a 17-year-old 4th generation master of a 114-year-old Japanese confectionary called Fugetsu-Do in Little Tokyo. The feature gained a lot of traction and I hope to inspire the youth to not be a cog, to make your own imprint. I’m in the middle of finishing up some other features that will be equally as dope so please stay tuned!
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I feel like defining success is different for each individual. For me, success comes in little waves of completing goals whether big or small, short-term and long-term. Being recognized for your accomplishments is great but I think personally I can never settle so I probably would never say I am successful. Once you’re at the top the only way to go is down so we all gotta keep our blinders on and shoot for the stars.
Contact Info:
- Website: crftbymaki.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/crftbymaki
- Facebook: facebook.com/crftbymaki
- Twitter: twitter.com/crftbymaki
- Other: instagram.com/darinmaki
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