John Segura on Crafting a Fashion Brand with Purpose and Personality

Photo: Zane Qureshi

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I'm John Segura, I am 20, I live in Adelaide, I am very passionate about designing & I am six foot five.

When and how did you realise you were into fashion?

I wasn't originally into fashion, I was really into getting my little grubby hands on anything I could create. When I was little, I was more of a builder than anything, and the goal was to create things. I used to invent little machines at home by picking apart controllers and stuff, and it eventually led to artistic ventures where I discovered drawing and digital art. From then on, it opened a big door for me with designing, and I learnt about graphic design and eventually, found out about fashion design. Coincidentally, that was all when I was fifteen, and, as a teenager, you're very self-conscious about what you wear, so then it kinda clicked into place like, what if I can design what I wear and stand out? And to answer the question, that's where I am.

Did you study any art subjects throughout high school?

Oh yeah for sure they were the only subjects I did. It was convenient for me as well because art subjects didn't have exams, so I took all the subjects I could and never had tests & exams. I took classes like art, design, CAD & cooking.

How would you describe your particular style?

It's kind of corny but, I like to stand out. I know everyone says that but I try to find new things. My style is usually very black. I'm inspired a lot by Yohji Yamamoto. It's all about the silhouette for me, it's not the designer but more so the overall structure and look for me.

What inspires you?

It's the daunting fear of not reaching my full potential before I die.

Now you do fashion design, do you do any fashion modelling as well?

I don't do modelling professionally or with an agency but it's come to a point where people think I do. So I just run with it. I say yeah I model. it's not 100% for me, it's quite tiring at times but it's also a good way to get involved in the fashion community.

Where do you hope to be in five years?

John: So currently I'm working on a portfolio to get into RMIT, so I can grow my fashion design knowledge & network with more people. I don't expect to be in South Australia in five years, but I do expect to set up a brand of some sort. I just want to be involved in a lot more fashion-related events or just creative ones in general, whether that's museums or galleries. Since I am a visual artist and I work in lots of other mediums, I hope to be able to delve into that as well as my fashion. That's pretty much where I see myself in 5 years.

Going off that, what mediums do you work with?

I paint a little bit, but I do that more as a therapy thing. I do fashion design and digital art. I used to do acrylics, but that was back in my hipster phase. I also did graffiti and still do, but that's just in my sketchbooks.

Can you tell us a little bit about your brand +1800?

Is there anything I can explain about my brand? I don't get too deep into things like that. I just design what I like and feel in the moment. My overall goal is to just create and reach my full potential. When it comes to the brand 1800, it's just a collection of all things sentimental to me. With my designs, I'll include little messages that have meaning to me.

Tell us about your background and upbringing.

So I was born in 2001 on the 18th of July in Quezon City in the Philippines to a Filipino mother & father. I grew up in a very tough financial and emotional situation. I grew up in the Philippines with my grandparents, my mother & my cousin. My dad was working overseas, so he was providing for us. I was studying, trying to do what kids do. We used to run this shop in this area that wasn't well off, but the community was tight, so that’s where I grew up with the other kids and learned different lifestyles. 

Then around 2011, we moved to Australia when | was 9 or 10. I came and started to adapt and was like damn so many white people haha. But at that time, it was a weird phase for me because I had a completely different personality, and it was hard to interact with people who, you know, hadn't ever hung out with ethnic kids like me. I was the only ethnic kid in my school, so it was weird, and I constantly tried to fit in, which took a toll on me. But now I’m 21, finished high school, and I'm living life surrounded by people who are open and aacceptingand I love that because it allows me to be myself. It's good for me mentally. That's my upbringing, nothing special, just your traditional Filipino family.

John Segura as a child in the Philippines (mid-late 2000s)