Designer Olivia Anthony shows us how to “Liv Bold, Liv Brave, and Be You”
New York, New York
Olivia Anthony
8/8/19
Liv Streetwear founder Olivia Anthony is a walking 90s time capsule. After making the move from her hometown of Birmingham, Alabama to enter New York’s fashion arena, the designer is staking her claim and proving that “the South got something to say”!
"Liv Bold, Liv Brave, Be You". What does that mean to you?
My collection is very loud. I love colors and being from Alabama you would think that moving to New York I wouldn’t get as many stares or wouldn’t be that person that when people get on the train they’re like “what the hell she got on?!” But I still get that and I love that. And I love when people wear Liv Streetwear; when they’re wearing bright yellow overalls and they don’t give a fuck or they have a mullet or they stand free and they live their truth. That’s what being bold and being free and my brand is all about. Especially growing up in high school and getting cracked on because I didn’t wear Jordans. I wore Vans and being that brave girl to be like you know what I’m still gonna go to school and I’m still gonna rock my shit no matter how many people crack on me because they’re just late and I’m early. My brand is for that person that doesn’t mind sticking out amongst the crowd.
Going more into your designs with Liv Streetwear, it’s very poppy, 90s inspired. Why is the 90s aesthetic focal point out of all other decades?
Honestly, the 90s for me was when I saw people being the most free like Lil Kim and Gwen Stefani with No Doubt. They were both extremes of “I’m bout to wear what the fuck I wanna wear and be free in it”. My sister grew up in the 90s so me as a child seeing her wear long nails, baby hairs and tall bomb ass hairstyles I just always looked up to it. In the same sense I was kind of embarrassed by it because I feel like back then many people thought “oh they’re twerking, they’ve got these long nails...that’s ghetto, that’s hood!”. Then I saw people celebrating it but doing it in a way where we weren’t getting credited. So my first collection was called “My Love Letter to My Culture” and it was inspired by Freaknik because I felt like that was educated young people from college coming together. They were being free to the point where they wore the short shorts and the baby hairs and they were twerking on cars and they were recording each other and documenting how iconic this time was to the point where we’re emulating it to day.
I just love the 90s. I love the feel and heart of it; and not just for our culture. I could reference every part of the 90s. I was very much so Clueless, No Doubt-very much so all of it. And I love that people are like “oh she’s 90s”. I’ve been doing the 90s feel since 2012. I feel like my sister really showed me a chance to live it and that I could show it to our youth. They have technology. They don’t know what it’s like to have beepers instead of phones. We’re kind of refreshing their memory of iconic moments. It’s home, it’s a vibe.
With your love for the 90s would you say your work is more referential and paying homage or are you aiming to do something more forward thinking?
I always say that my DNA is the 90s but I definitely want to mix it with today and elevate it. I don’t want people to put me in a box. To answer your question it’s kind of all of it. Just having the reference but giving it a whole other twist so when people are googling my work they can also research references like 90210 at the same time. I feel like it’s our job to make sure people don’t forget our history and the things we hold dear to our hearts. It’s like telling the story my way.
When I did my summer collection it was inspired by my parents taking me to the Gulf Shore in the 90s and seeing men wearing button down shirts with beach shorts as well as the hot moms. I reference a lot of Princess Diana looks like her going to the gym in her biker shorts. It’s a feel that I love about the 90s that I want to portray in my clothing.
What do you feel about the state of fashion and the way people are doing things today?
I absolutely love it. I think an example of our today is Euphoria. It’s like a gumbo of time. That’s the definition of what we’re doing today. I think it references back to the 90s because we’re just not giving a fuck and creating our own lanes. That’s what I love about it. It’s exciting to see.
I love your marketing. So full of color and personality! What is your creative process behind this?
I research. I’m a Youtube head so for instance I could be watching Moesha and think “Oh my God, she’s writing in her diary! Wouldn’t it be cute if I write in my diary and use that as promotion?”. I think people fuck with it because it’s almost a code where they think “I know what she’s talking about!”
I just like doing relatable, fun things. I’m a theatre arts major so it gives me a way to let that out. When I did “Freaknik” I honestly told my models to be as ratchet as possible. When I give my models a direction it’s beautiful to see my idea come forth. I was watching Freaknik videos all summer until we did that shoot and I told Micaiah Carter who shot it that this was my vision and it came to life. Every time I have a subject I’ll study it, relate to it, write it down, and think “Imma do it”.
When it comes to my vids I like to have more fun and show my personality. I want to be relatable because I’m that down to earth girl and I want my brand to reflect that . I want my brand to be about living full circle. When I have a vision I set out to make sure that I do it and it always comes out. And I’m like if it’s corny, it’s still me!
How would you describe your journey thus far?
It has been trying but I learned how to be patient. It’s been rewarding but it’s also very difficult because New York will whoop your ass!
When I first moved here I had a roommate who I met in college and she decided to leave. I ended up staying on my prophites couch (I’m an AKA, shout out to all the sorors!). I stayed for 5 months and she was like “What are you gonna do? You’ve gotta get out”. I thought, “Ok God we need to move this along” so I ended up moving into this small ass closet. It shows you how bad you want it and I know how bad I want this. I know I’m gonna get to it because I’ve made it this far. I also had to learn you have to stay in your lane. Once you swerve into someone else’s lane your journey gets longer. I just learned a lot of life lessons being in New York. The best way to learn is to live it (no pun intended). I’m thankful for my journey. I don’t think the Liv now could do what Olivia did back then. I probably would’ve left, it was that bad.
I was working at Bloomingdale’s (hated it). Quit my job started interning at Complex (shout out to Corey Stokes who gave me the internship) and by me being in different spaces I networked.
With everybody and their mama having a t-shirt line I wanted to do something different. That’s how House of Olivia was born. People don’t know I also used to style in college so I wanted to do something that stylists would absolutely love. At the time I thought they wouldn’t pull streetwear so I should make something a bit more elevated but...when streetwear was out stylists were pulling it for editorials so it’s a whole other day and age.
What are some important lessons you’ve learned that would be of value to someone else striking out on their own?
Keep going and money is not an issue. Figure it out. You can do stuff with whatever is in your pocket. God will provide. I’m very spiritual so people might think “she’s a bible thumper” but I keep God at the center of everything I do. I pray whenever I walk into a room. Don’t be afraid to push yourself forward. If you see an opportunity and think that you need to take it, take it. There have been a lot of times where I doubted myself and I could’ve been in a different situation but everything happens for a reason.
Be patient. Take your time and don’t put pressure on yourself. And stay in your lane and know you will get there.