Today we’d like to introduce you to Jack Sivan.
Jack, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I’ve always been interested in creative fields. In my sophomore year of high school, I was given the book, “The Suit: a Machiavellian approach to men’s style” which, aside from being a good and hilarious read, got me thinking about fashion seriously for the first time. This melded with my love of making things and quickly snowballed into a neckwear company, Jack and Jacksons, which I ran with a friend out of our bedrooms. We taught ourselves how to sew and set about making bowties from recycled and rare dead-stock fabrics, most of which were one of a kind. Once doing this I knew I had found the field I wanted to work in. For a high school graduation project with another friend, I explored making a wider variety of garments , producing a six-outfit collection. For the following year I enrolled in the Rhode Island School of Design, majoring in apparel design. At RISD we focused on the development of our craft as well as our design. I explored my personal style through a series of project, finding a love for the structure and functionality of tailoring. While there I worked as a tailor for Franklin Rogers, a local haberdasher, and interned as a production and technical assistant at Deveaux in New York. For my graduation from RISD, I created a nine-outfit collection of red velvet pastry themed tailored clothing. Since graduation I’ve begun my second internship as a design assistant at Fleur du Mal in New York, and I’m looking forward to my next step.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I make clothes, mostly for other people, sometimes for myself. I make anything from wool shoes and bags, to floor length gowns inspired by William Blake paintings, and biker jackets made from lawn chair upholstery. Aside from a fondness for red and/or blue coloration, what connects most of my work is an adherence to functionality (and pockets, I like pockets). I want what I make to work, and for people to want to wear it regularly. I want what I make to enhance the lives of those who wear it, and once it serves the purpose of being a comfortable practical garment, to also be visually enjoyable.
Any advice for aspiring or new artists?
Well I’m still pretty green but I’d says you have to accept help when it’s offered and look for it before trying things out on your own. I could definitely do a better job of this myself. People have been making things for thousands of years, don’t waste your time trying to figure something out for yourself before looking for someone who already knows how to do it, and could teach you how in one tenth the time it would take you to figure it out yourself. In other words, don’t worry about reinventing the wheel, just focus on making it your own.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
My red velvet collection is currently up on www.jacksivan.com and many of my other projects from RISD can be seen at jsivan.myportfolio.com. The items there are not currently in production so I’m not sure when purchasing them will be possible. However, jack and Jacksons bowties are available on etsy under jackandjacksons.
Contact Info:
- Address: 49 Harris st
- Website: www.jacksivan.com
- Phone: 6173906026
- Email: jacksivan@gmail.com
- Instagram: @jack.sivan
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jack.sivan.5?ref=bookmarks
- Other: jsivan.myportfolio.com
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/JackAndJacksons?ref=search_shop_redirect
Image Credit:
Photos for red velvet collection by Tiffany NG.
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
