I started by making jeans for friends who were in bands. I was crafty, and that was my way of contributing to the community. I wasn't aware of my interest in fashion until after I had started to learn how to make clothes. I never had imagined that I would be a designer – it all just sort of happened, and it felt good playing the part.

It was very exciting to get into some bigger accounts. But afterwards, I feel none of that matters, unless they are with you for the long run. My business partner, Mitch Mosley, and I attacked some major obstacles and goals, and it was nice to have someone going through the tribulations of having a business, although my understanding of what success is has changed dramatically, to say the least.

Back in Endovanera time (2009-2011) we already had an androgynous tone, putting women in men’s clothes. When I moved to NY, I wanted to work more closely with the women's side of fashion. I saw a hole in the market for what I wanted to create, and womenswear allowed me to experiment with a broader range of silhouettes and fabrications.
The feeling of New York is one that drives you to work hard. I mean, you have to, in order to be here. The energy is fast paced, and you see how much can happen in such a short period of time. Also, starting from scratch in a new city was a chance to do what felt right. I wanted to make every pattern and have all the pieces made here in New York. Naming it DAVID MICHAEL was a way to hold myself accountable to the initial ethos. That ethos is being rediscovered every day, but falls in line with something I can sleep with at night, knowing that I am helping the people who work with me and that they are helping me – being in touch with the community that is making my clothes, and buying my clothes.

The fabrics are usually the inspiring factor. I use many cultural references: elements from ethnic subcultures, lightly, from collection to collection, not ever really paying homage to one particular group. Also, anything from movies to bands and musicians, passing through social and political movements. The people who have the righteous messages also tend to have great style (just saying), and pictures of people are ultimately what inspire the types of clothing I make now: what can they wear that they would be really happy within 10-20-50 years from now? That's where my clothes tend to fit in.

Not always, but I find musicians have a lot of the character that I like to celebrate: they’re free thinkers, people who listen to their inner/higher self. I think musicians are constantly working with that internal battle as an artist. Yes, music is a unifying factor in celebrating the clothes.

I'm Only Sleeping by The Beatles is the first one that comes to mind. Not because of the title, but for the meaning of the lyrics. 

People inspire me, I also get lots of inspiration from history and science – I think the knowledge creates a rich timeline where to find inspiration, and using these allows me to stretch my imagination and make clothes for this imaginary landscape, where “when it is” seems less important than “what it is”. Making clothes has become a way to contribute to this timeline of humanity. The more I can contribute, the more fulfilled I will feel. It is also good to note that love and creation are the most profound inspirations that I can think of.