If I’m going to represent a brand, I’d rather represent myself.

That’s part of the thinking behind something I’m working on: a small wardrobe of black clothing with my own branding. It’s purely for me, something I can wear regularly.

Black felt like a straightforward starting point. It gives the clothes a consistent look, helps hide some stains, and I find it flattering. Those are ordinary reasons, but they matter when choosing something I want to wear repeatedly.

I like the idea of a capsule wardrobe: a smaller set of clothes that work together, with fewer choices when getting dressed. Converse fit into this too. I wear them because they’re versatile and easy to combine with the clothes I already own.

We’re exploring two directions for the clothes. Some versions will be very minimal, with subtle branding. Others will still be minimal but give the branding more room, with a little more detail to them. I want to see how both feel when worn.

I also want to invest in better-quality materials and pieces I can wear for a long time. I’m willing to pay more for that. If these are going to be the clothes I reach for regularly, comfort and how they hold up over time matter as much as the design.

We’ve now designed the logos and branding. The next step is to print some sample items and see how they work as actual clothes. A design on a screen only takes this so far. There’s still the fit, the fabric, the size and placement of the logo, and how the print holds up with wear and washing.

For now, it’s an experiment. I like the idea of wearing my own branding, but I want the clothes themselves to earn their place in my wardrobe. The samples will be the first chance to find out.