Levi Tan has, in his own words, “a big love for communities” and we've got proof. Last month he was busy at Te Wiki Āhua o Aotearoa, an underground fashion week that was emerged from the creative scene in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland). Styling three shows and still making time to sit in the crowd and watch others, we were lucky enough to go along for the ride.
With a self professed “unique taste to wearing clothes the wrong way,” his styling always has a unique twist. And when it comes to show looks, “It’s almost a fantasy I get to go into and go as crazy as I wanted to.” Enjoy his bts moments above the scroll down to read about life as a stylist, where he gets honest on some of the best and worst parts of the often less-than-glamorous job.
Can you give us the Levi elevator pitch?
Kia ora, it’s stylist Levi Tan. I am a Tāmaki Makaurau based stylist. With passion for young creative and emerging designers, I bring a unique take to how I style and my unique taste to wearing clothes the wrong way.
What was your highlight of Te Wiki Āhua o Aotearoa?
A big love for communities. This season of Āhua felt like a big change. With the new location, new way of running the shows and the sense of community coming together. The highlight was being able to execute 3 runways with 3 different styles and ideas. Seeing the months, weeks of work unfold within the week made me so proud.
What does your creative process look like from first idea to final look?
For me, this season I took on three runways for styling. My biggest week ever to style so many beautiful looks for Fringes Garments, Jojo Ross and Adrion Atelier. Each designer approached me with different ideas. I usually start with first meeting together to sense the collections and ideas. From there, the ideas usually come to me through the moodboard and the conversation we have throughout the collections. Once everything is made 60% - 70% we do our first fittings. From there, there were a lot of conversations before the final fittings, rehearsal and changes before the show. There were things changing all the time right up to the show day and the time a model walked out. I am so grateful and blessed for all the designers who trusted my visions and gave 100% freedom to style.
What’s something people misunderstand about what a stylist actually does?
People misunderstood a stylist as someone who dresses the models up, glamorous jobs and just to put models in clothes. Stylists play such an important role in delivering the collection on the runway. Stylists could make or break collections. We have to think, invent and find new ways to excite the crowd through styling. A stylist's job is so important with the runway as it would elevate the collection more and capture the audience through clothes. Stylists play a big role in how the collections play out, how garments are being paired, and how the order of looks is going out for the runway. There are lots of things to consider too like eyes for details, years of knowledge of fashion, colour, and the way garments could be styled that took years to perfect.
Where do you usually find inspiration right now?
At this very moment, nature, community and my surroundings. After an intense week of fabulous work, I always turn to my nature ritual for inspiration and keeping my spirit alive. With styling, I find inspiration through garments, how it was made, how it was created and what the garments are being used for or could be as little as the conversation with designers. Inspiration for me always comes from feelings. I don’t take inspiration from trends, but more of the mood and the feelings I have that day. I feel inspired to go deeper into my creativity when I’m in nature for a walk, a quiet morning in the garden with a cup of tea, beaches and long walks.
What’s something small in a look that most people wouldn’t notice, but you over think?
For me it’s the small details and how I layer and place things. It takes a true fashion enthusiast to notice the small details and how things are styled. I am so grateful my mentor Dan Ahwa really loved my styling through the little details I styled for the runway. I look up to him so much and compliments from him always made me so happy with working in fashion. I do over think about a look, but in an elevated way. I have to piece things together to my satisfaction before calling it Levi styled. It’s so fun, it’s almost like playing a puzzle.
What’s a piece or look from this week that you’re especially proud of?
I am so proud of all the looks I styled for this season. For Fringes Garments, it was really fun to create my signature hand knots on the runway. Most models were styled and used my signature hand knotted techniques. I remembered seeing all the models walking back and I walked out to the audience. I couldn’t help but cry so much when I saw my mentors and friends that came to support me. It was pure, it was a proud moment that I will remember forever.
Best things about styling a runway show?
The collaboration process and the visions I have for each designer. I have been around to help with runways in the past, but this season I felt so reassured, I felt belonging and valued through my styling. It was no holding back, but a place to create and be as free as I wanted to. It’s almost a fantasy I get to go into and go as crazy as I wanted to. I love creating an order of models for Jojo Ross and Adrion Atelier. Styling was fun, but adding that final touch to how the collections play out is even more exciting after weeks and weeks of work. I love and embrace each stage of the runway from the first meeting with a small cut of fabric, sketches, to fitting and to the runway. It’s so fun to see the ideas and fantasy we had come to life and for this season was the community that came together to produce the shows.
And the worst?
I land between introvert and extrovert. At some stage, I felt so overwhelmed with everything. I remembered at certain hours I had to go for a walk and stay away from the crowd. The other thing is the ideas were not landing with how things are being executed, there was always something going wrong on the day, but nothing major that held me back.
How do you reset after an intense week of shows?
Social media break, working out, eating really yummy foods, rest and nature time. Since becoming a full time freelancer for almost half a year now, I am safe to say that I have established a really good routine to help with bounce back when the intense week hits. So after a week of intense work I feel recovered faster. My resets include, really good sleep, nature time, alone time, really good foods and lots of journaling. I take my sleeping schedule very seriously and most importantly my diets. Those two are my top priorities to be fully recharged. I limit social interactions, until fully recharged. I also blocked out some time for nature and a massage which I am excited for.
What’s next for you?
Be involved with the community more and continue to up lift and support younger creative, new voices and emerging designers.
Photos: Levi Tan
