A Take On Fashion: Alastair McKimm

Alastair McKimm, born and raised in Northern Ireland, is currently the editor-in-chief of i-D, having previously contributed to T, The New York Times Magazine, British Vogue, Vogue Italia and Self Service among other titles. As a long-time insider operating outside the spotlight, his sense of fashion within any context remains sharp, relevant and widely respected. He continues to work with the most relevant names in photography and has published three books with IDEA: An IDEA book about T-shirts by Stüssy (2017), MICA (2020) and JEAN (2021).

To what extent do you think fashion is about proposing/selling dreams? How might this have this have a positive effect on people?Our responsibility is to harness fashion and utilise it as a vehicle to comment on culture. This can be translated through fantasy or reality, but at the forefront of the conversation must always be the zeitgeist. We comment on the present by predicting the future. For me, this is always an inspiring and positive space to occupy. I’m extremely grateful for that. 

What is one trend or item of clothing that will define the coming year (I think we should keep this one — especially given we are starting a new year)
I’m still obsessed with the perfect hoodie, the most modern piece of practical clothing. 

How does this visual speak your dreams of fashion?
This is a picture I have in my office in New York. (LA haze 1, 2018 by Arthur Jafa) I constantly stare into it. It helps me collate and define my ideas in an almost meditative way. It transports me into the future.