WORDSPJ Some
CREDITS
CREATIVE DIRECTION Derrick Odafi
PRODUCER Hassan Gazali
PHOTOGRAPHY Radhika Muthanna
STYLIST Becky O’Connor
STYLIST ASST. Izzie Jones
MOVEMENT DIRECTOR Joe Grey Adams
SET DESIGNER Skye Haley
GAFFER Nonso Onwuta
GAFFER ASST. Alex Sievers
MUA Angel Williams Gray
PROD. ASSISTANT Max Alan
Syd, what are 3 character traits that give a good description of who you are?
S: I think one of them should definitely be ‘bully’, but not in a negative way. If I want something, I’m never going to stop, I’m going to keep trying to get it and be resilient and like a bully. I’m probably one of the most chill people you’ll ever meet. I don’t do too much, I always aim to have a good day, I’m optimistic, bully and relaxed. That’s the best way to describe me.
You are a true student of culture, what aspect of that are you studying now?
S: The most important thing to me right now is the way clothes fit. I’ve been studying a lot of designers, especially Hedi Slimane. The most important part of culture outside of clothes in general is just making sure that the people who care about what you’re doing are the ones that are catered to. All the kids that were in my discord, all those kids that I’ve ever bought, anything from me and any of those kids that I’ve ever done anything with me and my band or my brand in mind. Make sure I cater to them and put them first because they’re the most important people. I don’t care about bringing in new people, getting new fans. I don’t care about any of that. I care more about taking care of the ones that were already here because they’re going to bring more people here. It’s not going to be me to bring them. It’s going to be them speaking about it. That’s going to bring more people.
SYD'S YEARS OF TEARS CARVES OUT HIS DOMINANCE IN YOUTH CULTURE
There is always a need for individuals who transcend boundaries, challenge norms, and serve as vital connectors between cultures, ideas, and communities. Among them stands SLIKSYD, a visionary and designer with his brand Years of Tears, a testament to resilience, creativity, and rebellion. Syd and Years of Tears stand as prime examples of rejecting exclusivity and embracing connection, inspiring others to follow suit.
Syd’s move from Zimbabwe to the UK starts a journey marked by defiance and determination. His mother’s choice to uproot their lives and seek opportunity abroad ignited a fervent resolve within Syd, a resolve to repay her sacrifice through his pursuit of creative expression. From his modest origins to arguably one of the most innovative upcoming designers Syd’s story is one many can resonate with and more importantly learn from. Syd found himself navigating a new world where the language was foreign and the customs unfamiliar. Despite these hurdles, Syd’s motivation and ambition flourished under the influence of his mother’s determination. Her decision to chart a different course for their family planted the seeds of inspiration within Syd, fueling his aspirations and shaping his trajectory. His mother’s support in allowing him to pursue any career of his choice played a pivotal role in propelling him toward the creation of the remarkable brand, Years of Tears.
WORDS Derrick Odafi
"Everyone’s got a level of confidence within them. And it’s down to certain situations which allow for you to find that."
Necklace, Stylist’s own
Bracelet, Vitaly
Top, Stylist’s own
Skirt/Trousers, Yenesai
Talk to us about Japanese street fashion and how important that culture is to you.
S: That era is so important to me. I found myself and I found my confidence because everyone’s got a level of confidence within them. And it’s down to certain situations which allow for you to find that, you feel me? Back then, I didn’t. My mom always used to dress me and do everything for me. Once I found my own swag, I already knew how to dress. I just had to find something I was comfortable in and something that I loved. When I was like 14 or 15, that was one of the greatest things that ever happened to me, because it allowed me to discover more and more and become and develop as a person.When I first got my first Bape piece, I’m not the same person I was when I bought my first billionaire boys club piece. I had to get to that point stylistically, mentally and even physically. I was doing things so I could fit certain clothes. I was losing weight etc. I used to just buy clothes, it didn’t matter the size even till now. I don’t even care what size. I’ll buy some stuff, I’ll just wear it. That era of my life was probably one of the most important, it taught me confidence. And once you have that, you can do anything. There’s nothing you can’t wear, there’s nothing you can’t say, there’s nothing you can’t do.
Definitely, It helps you in other aspects of your life.
S: 100%, learning confidence taught me other things as well. For example, when I was a kid, I didn’t care how I smelled, I didn’t care if my skin was good. I didn’t care if my nails were clean. I didn’t not give a damn. I just cared about the clothes. But over time, as I got into more clothes, I started looking into higher end pieces. I started looking into tailoring, fitting all of this stuff and the way you smell, the way your nails are, the way your hair is, That is part of your outfit. I had to learn over time and I think it’s super sick. That’s why I love clothes so much, because it shaped so many different aspects of my life that I couldn’t explain to you, even down to the foods I was eating. For example, Hedi Slimane. His clothes are for slim people, bro. If you’re really trying that swag, you gotta be slim. That means you need to watch what you eat. You need to watch the lifestyle you live. Even Rick, his swag, his clothes that he’s making. They’re for people that are in the gym, people that are working out. You can even see it from the lifestyle he lives. I think for me, culture and clothes and everything, it all just goes into one. And it’s beautiful what you can gain from it. It’s really good and it can change you as a person in a good way though.
Aswell, as being a designer you are also a visual artist, what inspired you to take on that role?
S: We have this thing called 10V and we put out episodes. 10V is just the group name, That’s the gang. I just bought a VHS like just before Covid. I will just film stuff. I didn’t know how to edit, I didn’t know how to do anything, but I’d film stuff and I’d send it to my boy to edit it. Over time, I got to a point where I was like, yo, why do I keep sending this footage to my boy when I could just learn by myself? Ever since then, I just went down the rabbit hole of learning. One of the very first times I ever edited it was for LF [Lancey Foux]. He asked me, do you know how to edit? And I was like, yeah, even though I didn’t. I went home and I just learned it overnight straight, I pirated Premiere Pro, then just learnt straight away. So for me, being a visual artist as well was really important. If you’ve got an eye for anything visual, you can do a lot of things. The fact that I can film it means I know how to be behind the camera and in front of the camera.
Yes, having a full vision of what exactly that is that you want as a creative director
S: I think that’s a really important thing to have as a creative director. Just any type of creative, to be honest. If you’re a stylist, you need to know what the clothes are going to look like on the camera as well as off the camera, because those are two different things.
BySlik was your brand in preparation for OSBATT, what were some of the mistakes you mad that people can learn from?
S: The biggest mistake I ever made with Byslik, which is also my biggest motivator, was failing to extend the brand past a certain product. With BySlik, we would sample so many things, but because we’d only ever released jeans, we didn’t really understand how to release other things. We would make so many different things, but we’d be too nervous to release it because we fell into a box of doing the same thing over and over, because it was safe. At the time when I started BySlik, no one else was really making denim. So, it was really nice to just have your own little area. There’s a thing called small town syndrome where you forget that bigger places exist. So for me, I kind of had that with the denim. I kind of forgot that there’s other things that exist outside of denim. It really set me up for Years of Tears and OSBATT because I can release anything.
What were some of the things you saw in your audience that gave you the confidence to do that?
S: I’m just down to take the risk, when I started Years of Tears, I just spoke to the mandem about it the other day. When I started this shit, not that they had no faith, they always had faith in me, but they had no understanding as to how it was going to go. Simply based on me building something so big. Byslik at the time was huge. I turned away from it to go do the next thing. It was hard for anyone to understand where I was going to go with it. But I always had my own vision. Even if no one else understands it, I know within time people will understand it. Turning away from that and turning towards Years of Tears was a crazy little era but it was just a risk. If I released and sold one item that’s good because I did something you know, I did something and I wasn’t gonna stop.
I’ve done releases where I haven’t sold a lot of things and I keep going every single time because at the end of it it’s not necessarily about this move that matters, it’s the next move and the one after that. I never really get scared about that type of thing and also my audience, they really showed me that they’re ready for anything I have to bring for them. They’re ready because I brought them a whole different swag and they immediately were ready for it. That’s one thing I’m very grateful for, my audience because they understand that I’m not gonna be the same forever, which means the brand isn’t gonna look the same forever, which is sick. Years of Tears now doesn’t look like what Years of Tears looked like two years ago. Two years ago it was straight leathers, nothing else. This year i’ve been using football tees and polos and denims, all of the above.
Where is the craziest place you’ve seen someone wearing your clothes?
S: I’ve seen someone on Friday prayers, I was just like, what? My mom wore OSBATT to the village. Mum’s wearing some clothes that I made in the Village I’m involved with, that’s flipping crazy to me. But yeah, I see it everywhere now, which is motivating, that it’s super sick, any party I go to, I know I’m gonna at least see one person. It’s not a conscious thing, but when I’ve seen them, I am very grateful. If I see someone wearing it and we’re close to each other, I would always try to tap them on the shoulder, like, yo, fuck with you for that. What they don’t know is that in them wearing it and feeling fly, they’re also helping me. I’m very grateful for anyone I ever see or anyone that’s ever bought this that I haven’t seen yet.
Matthew Williams is a friend of yours, what about being around his process would you want to apply to yours?
S: I remember when he invited me to the Alyx Fall Winter 23 show, in Milan. I went out there on a whim, like I literally got the call up the night before. I just booked my flight straight. I went there on a real whim. And when I meet people, I’m really quiet, especially if I’m somewhere where I want to learn something. So I got there and just watched the whole process of him having his show and how much went into it. I just asked him small questions here and there. And just seeing everything that he did, it really made me respect him on a different level. You’re just a man on your own, and you’re really doing all this stuff. That is sick to see.
Have you already started ideating for an Alyx x Years Of Tears Capsule?
S: That would be something still, I think I’m trying to stay cool for now. I work with my brothers, more than anything, but now that will be sick. I think the last time I sent him my collection was maybe December. I send him a collection and he told me he fucked with it, so it was nice. It’s sick to always get a bit of motivation from the people that you look up to. If you’re a footballer and Cristiano Ronaldo tells you you are really good at football, you will feel motivated and you’ll keep going. And then you keep pushing. Yeah, so whenever I have sent him any of my collection and they said he fucks with it, it’s motivating.
You recently went to China, what did you enjoy most about that experience?
S: China was one of those eye-openers. We live in the west and they’re feeding us things about China. While there is probably some merit to that, there’s also a part that they miss where they forget to tell you that China’s is its own country and allowed to have its own laws, they’re allowed to do their own thing they shouldn’t have to be just like us. When I went to China I expected to get there and it would be the most militant place ever. I even went to Wuhan, that’s where Covid started. I went there and it’s probably one of the most modern places I’ve been to in my life, there’s a lot of surveillance there, a lot. But we’ve got a lot of surveillance here and we’re still not safe whereas over there if you do anything you even steal a chocolate bar, you’re going you’re going to jail! China really opened up my eyes and understood that there’s a world outside of our world, they’ve got a whole different economy. There’s 1.3 billion people that do not need us in the slightest.
We need to get out there and really understand it and take it in. Whenever I travel, I try to understand everything. I was doing all the traditional Chinese things, I’d go out and be with my people from there. And I think that really made my experience really authentic and memorable because I saw the real China, I didn’t see the tourist China or anything like that. I’ve seen the westernized version of China. I went to Wuhan, Shanghai after and I could see the differences, I came back and I’ve got WeChat. It makes so much sense to me, WeChat is an app for everything.
“Resistance to me is a challenge man,If there’s resistance against you, push against it. David beat Goliath, God is stronger than anything.”
London is currently where you stay but do you have any where else you would like to call home?
S: I wanna move to another country every three months. If I start in London, then in three months time I’m gonna be in Manchester. And then three months after that, I might be in Paris, then New York, and LA, and then Chad. I wanna call a lot of places home, but the next place for me that I really wanna call home for a little piece is definitely Paris or Milan. I need some time to truly understand clothes and get to a point of complete understanding. I think those places are the places for fashion, Milan is the birth of fashion, and Paris is the current stronghold.If I live in those places, I’ll understand clothes a lot better, I can be the best design I want to be because all I care about is developing as a designer. I don’t care about the Numbers or the love from people, all I care about is as long as I can develop and become a better designer. That’s all it matters to me because that’s what started me and that’s what’s gonna take me out.
What do you hope for in your progression as a designer?
S: To be the best fashion designer you need to know how to make clothes. Designing is one thing, sitting on illustrators is cool but if you can’t sit down with a sewing machine and some twill and some pattern paper, you will never be a great designer.
I’m learning how to make clothes, how to physically construct a garment by myself. I already know how to, but physically doing it myself is another task. Just making sure I’ve got all of these abilities under my belt where if my pattern cutter is ill I can do it, If my graphic designer is ill, I can do it, If my stylist is ill I can do it, if my photographer is ill I can do it.
All of these talents and also building a very strong team. I realized the weakest area of my brand is the fulfillment side of things because the brand grew so much so quickly In a small space where I wasn’t ready for the amount of orders I started getting. Having to hire a whole new fulfillment team and a whole new customer service team, a whole new website development admin, everything is really me just making sure that that side of things is handled because every other side is perfect. The marketing is perfect. The design side is perfect. The manufacturing is pretty much perfect now. So just getting the fulfillment side to the same standard and same level as everything is really important to me. That’s what I’m really doing right now. That efficiency.
Dress, TRACY CUI.
Ring (Right Hand), KHIRY
Rings (Left Hand), AGMES
Nose Ring, ARTIST’S OWN.
Who would you like to sit down with someday and help you understand certain aspects of the moveable fashion space?
S: I truly wish I had the opportunity to sit down with Vivian Westwood. That was one of my biggest inspirations ever. I studied every single thing about Vivian Westwood, there’s nothing I couldn’t tell you about her. I used to meet people and just speak about Vivian Westwood.She really did a lot for me in a specific area. I started to understand. She taught me the political side of fashion. That no one really ever wants to talk about or would really want to delve into. Her putting the swastikas on clothes, but there’s a message behind it that she’s trying to send. One really important thing I’ve learned is that intention is more important than anything. If you intend on doing something and your intention is positive, then no one can say anything to you. Her intention with putting these clothes out, which are crazy, was to deliver a message.
Obviously, we live in 2024. People see anything and they just get offended straight away. I kind of want to emulate that in my next collection. It’s called No Man’s Land. No Man’s Land is a place. If you’re ever in a war, it’s a place between two enemy trenches or two just enemy areas. There’ll be a patch of land where no one really wants to go there because A, you will die, or there might be a mine and you will die.
This issue’s theme is based on the idea of Resistance, what does that word mean to you?
S: Resistance to me is a challenge man,If there’s resistance against you, push against it. David beat Goliath, God is stronger than anything. Resistance for me is just the challenge you have to overcome. 100% of the resistance in my life to this day and i’ve won every single resistance battle, just gonna keep going. Just win every single resistance challenge that’s put in front of you.
If you could only shed one last tear for something for the rest of your life, what would it be?
S: I want to be when I do my runway show. The final tear will be literally doing that runway. And when I walk down, after showing the looks and I can grab my hand and we can walk back to the back like that will just make me smile more than anything.
They’ll make me share the tears for her. Like being able to show my Mum, Your son actually did what he said he was gonna do.
“The final tear will be literally doing that runway.”
