A Conversation with Aaron Levine

A casual conversation that started over a drink at New York’s Corner Bistro, we’re excited to launch a first-time collection with our friend Aaron Levine— a menswear multi-hyphenate with years of experience and impeccable taste—loosely inspired by everything you might need for a few days on the move.

Below is a discussion about, amongst other things, new ideas, sage advice, “easy breezy” Palm Springs and the colour black.

Drake’s: Hi Aaron, how would you describe your job to someone who might be new to your work?

Aaron Levine: It’s not normal. I work in fashion but try to approach from a point of view of the lowest common denominator. I love relating to people who aren’t as deep in it as I am. I work with brands on design, strategy, organisational structures, art direction and styling.

I love it very much. I’ll do anything to be involved and to play this music with people I love.

Drake’s: What approach did you take with the collection? What were the jumping off points?

AL: Drake’s. But darker.

Drake’s: How do you approach tailoring these days? Has it changed over the years?

AL: It just has to feel right when I put it on. If it feels great, I’ll wear a suit to an event or I’ll fly in one. All occasions if they’re the right ones for me.

I used to be more serious about it. Then you realise how silly you feel when you’re trying to be too serious.

Drake’s: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Mom: Follow your bliss and mind your p’s and q’s. Being polite and empathetic opens doors.

Dad: Treat everyone the same. Be as courteous and empathetic to someone in the board room as you are to someone in less fortunate situations.

Someone else: No one knows what you know or what you don’t know. From a work perspective, it doesn’t matter what your intentions were when you started. Just let it unfold.

Drake’s: The campaign was shot in Palm Springs. What draws you to that part of California?

AL: I feel like the mindset there is mellow. A lot of it feels like another era if you let it.

I walk slower there. Easy breezy.

Drake’s: What’s been inspiring you lately? How do you take on new ideas?

AL: Inspiration comes in fits and starts and sometimes floods, and sometimes not at all. I try to keep my door open and let everything in. I can pull things from anywhere. Why limit ideas?… just invite everything in.

Unless it’s a vampire.

Drake’s: What is your favourite piece from the collection and why?

AL: I love the waxed trucker jacket, and I love that we were able to introduce something into the line that maybe wouldn’t have felt right for Drake’s initially, but once it’s there with everything else, it just works.

Also, we made things in black!

Drake’s: What made you want to use black as a focus for the palette? How do you incorporate the colour into your own wardrobe?

AL: When I first moved to New York I worked for a company that said, ‘We don’t do black. It takes no skill to wear black. It’s too severe.’ That doesn’t make sense to me.

I loved playing with the different levels of black. Washed like the Games suit. Slightly off like the long rainwear. Saturated like the knit tie.

All the levels of texture working together within a finite colour range resonates with me.