Today we’d like to introduce you to Candy Scott.
Hi Candy, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I am a multidisciplinary artist known by the handle TechNoirCandy, I design a futurism athleisure line of clothing under the same name. I create collages from paper, photographs, found objects and remix them into glitch art. I use my glitch art as a basis for a story to tell on the prints found on the clothing I design.
From a very young age, I knew I wanted to create fashion. I remember being very keenly aware of what people were wearing or how certain outfits and textures made me feel. Like many designers, I taught myself how to sew by hand with a needle and thread at age seven. They were very small projects clothes for my dolls for instance, but a few years later, it grew into costumes for my 5th grade play. It wasn’t until my twenties that I learned how to sew with a machine…
I’ve had a lifelong fascination for the tech noir genre of movies and literature, I love many things about many other genres and subcultures, but tech noir has my heart. Although to be clear a Cyberpunk future where sentient machines run our lives, days and hours is NOT what we want. I believe that technology will aid humanity into transcendence and that is what my clothing brand and artwork is about. I believe that clothing should always make you feel good and as a former dance instructor and an avid yogi I understand deeply the importance of durability and ease of movement. Can you sustain while breakdancing on the street in the meggings? Sure. Can you walk for 10 miles in the dresses? Yes. Are the materials see through during compromising positions in yoga? Nope. Does the clothing fade after many washes, no.
In January 2019, I begin my clothing company, a few months later I received an email from RAW Artists asking if I would like to participate in their show. This was my very first fashion show and to be honest, I had no idea how to cast models, or what exactly to do. At this show, one of the models suggested that I submit and apply for Phoenix Fashion Week. It was literally the LAST day to submit my samples and application for the 2019 show. I submitted my application and dropped off my samples at the PHXFW fashion hub. I still remember the excitement and shock when I received the text from Brian Hill that I would be showing two looks on Community night October 3, 2019.
A couple of months later, I applied for PHXFW’s 2020 “Spring into Style” and I was cast in the show along with nineteen other designers and stylists. Due to the pandemic and the shut down, the show which was originally planned for March at the Andaz Resort in Scottsdale pivoted and went virtual. It was an amazing learning experience and it was my first of three virtual fashion shows. At nearly almost two years after my first fashion show, I had the opportunity to work with CIE Fashion Magazine and present a collection for the virtual Runway Renaissance show in Los Angeles.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have certainly been struggles along the way, as a self taught graphic artist, maker and clothing constructionist the road can seem to be paved with obstacles and doubts. When I was learning how to use a sewing machine, it took what seemed four months to figure out all the components on my own with help from YouTube. I can still hear a particular YouTuber’s voice talking about “winding the bobby” and wondering if I would ever overcome these challenges. One day came when it all came together and that day to me was like my sewing machine blessing me with fire. I haven’t stopped sewing since and I encourage anyone that has even a shred of interest in clothing construction or design to learn machine sewing.
As a micro start up company running a sustainable & ethical practice business model where the clothing is created upon order, this has also brought on its own unique set of challenges. Although TechNoirCandy is a small athleisure brand based in Arizona, it’s grown despite the pandemic and we have customers as far as Europe, Australia and Japan.
Another struggle is always finding balance amongst the chaos, peace within the doubt, joy and laughter when something does go wrong. Within two years I participated in seven different fashion shows, I have another one coming up in October in Los Angeles and in May 2022 I will be presenting a swimwear collection in Cancún for Cancún Swim Week.
At the end of the day, all the struggles, obstacles and the minutiae are a small price to pay to live my dream.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about TechNoirCandy?
My brand is TechNoirCandy based out of Chandler, Arizona. I am creating sustainably made action wear for the Transcendent Human. TechNoirCandy clothing is known for its premium quality, trippy aesthetic, vivid prints made from eco-friendly vegan based inks, four way stretch and smooth fibers.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
We stand on the shoulders of giants, thank you to all my friends, family and colleagues that have shared the laughs and been privy to the tears on this journey you are deeply adored & cherished.
Contact Info:
- Email: Info@technoircandy.com
- Website: www.technoircandy.com
- Instagram: @technoircandy
- Facebook: @officialtechnoircandy
- Twitter: @technoircandy
- Youtube: @technoircandy
Image Credits:
Tyreik Andrew
Tamila
Edwin Lunes
Mike Vargas
Jovan
Cameryn Lee
Lauren
Syriah
Justin M. Lane
Gilded Edge Visuals
Marlena Elise
Damian Sanders
