Textile takeover

STORY BY JOEL P. JACOBSON

David Webb, a 24-year-old graduate of Sheridan’s Crafts and Design program, is about to launch a new clothing and accessory company, DWEEB apparel.

Webb graduated in 2013 from the Textiles program, is living in the heart of Toronto and he says loves the cultural hub.

“Being in the city, you have so much at your disposal, whether it’s different storefronts or museums,” said the young designer. “But the best part is the networking you can do.” With 2.5 million people in the Canadian city, the possibilities for designers to find or create work for themselves are virtually endless. “Collaborating with designers in the city is much easier,” said Webb.

Hamilton’s annual Supercrawl festival is a hub of art, music and food. Living so close, Webb had the chance to set up his booth earlier this year.

He is currently preparing to launch an online storefront for DWEEB apparel.

“We live in a society of consumption and I’m just trying to minimize what I do to consume,”

“Right now my main focus is just building my inventory,” said Webb. His current website is a blog that keeps fans of his work informed about current designs and finished products. Webb enjoys letting friends model his designs. “He’s just such a fun, energetic and inspiring person and that really shows in the clothing he designs and makes,” said Elizabeth Kay, friend and model for Webb.

Webb is always looking to the future and planning where he will end up. “Ten years from now I hope to have a storefront in Toronto or wherever else I’ll be residing,” he said.

Launching a clothing brand and company is a rare occurrence for a recent college graduate. Webb pushes himself and his creative limits daily to stay motivated.

“I try to make sure I sew something every day,” said Webb. “If it’s something to sell or for someone else it just keeps me on the right track.”

The designer uses simple and classic clothing shapes to convey his designs. “I would say my style is controlled chaos,” said Webb. “I tend to have lots of texture or organic line work that I then contain into a simple design.”

The designer uses thrift stores to find unique textures/patterns. Webb has only recently honed in on his style of designing. “Through a lot of trial and error, as well as help from different teachers, I found my style,” said Webb. “I enjoy the chaos but realized I was being lazy and not utilizing my other talents.”

Webb concentrates mainly on the use of recycled fabrics. “We live in a society of consumption and I’m just trying to minimize what I do to consume,” said Webb. “Simple as that.”