We chat to conceptual artist, fashion designer and Offspring Community member Akraam.

Tell us about yourself

I’m a British/Bengali, born and raised in East London near Gants Hill. For a few months now I have become a full-time artist and fashion designer, but as I focus on the growth of the business, I still do odd jobs to pay the bills.

We understand that you have your own brand, tell us a bit more?

My brand ‘Akraamaham’ is a mix of my first and last name and represents me as an artist. I am the brand and it’s a reflection of all my interests and perspectives, translated to visual work such as painting, sculpture and fashion. As my work is directly affected by my personal growth, it allows my brand to develop and change as I do. It’s not subject to one category or style of work… as you’ll see my work varies heavily between projects. My most prominent direction is within fashion, and I’ll continue with this as my focus, but not limit myself to it.

I have a vision for my brand, and right now I’m focusing on learning the skills and finding my identity, as I’m in this for the long run.

How would you describe your design work and practice?

I would say my practice is conceptual art. The ideas behind my work hold the most significance to me and there are several ways the artwork could look. Every decision is thought out from the use of materials, colour, composition, and density of the design etc. The combination of these elements can change the meaning or story being told; therefore, a lot of thought goes into what often looks like a simple outcome.

Design wise, I’m into contemporary and minimalist aesthetics – so keeping a simple colour pallete but within that, exposing all the textures and raw materials that are used to make the piece, such as brushstrokes in a painting. I appreciate the process of making the work and try to revel in that as much as possible. Which is why within my fashion pieces I focus on a ‘handmade touch’, using more challenging processes that really make the pieces stand out.

What was the inspiration behind your work?

In my current work, a range of black hoodies with hand printed leaves and sneaker details derive from my childhood growing up in London. I used to live on top of a newsagent and as someone that came from a slightly ‘over-protective’ household, I spent a number of my days looking out the window to see what other people and kids would do. There was this huge patch of grass that people would walk across, leaving marks like bike tires and ‘Air Forces’. It’s these vivid memories of seeing how other people spent their day mixed with my frequent walks in the park, that later became the foundation to the visuals in this collection.

I tried to capture these blissful moments in nature during the Covid 19 lockdown. Some of these moments include playing hopscotch, or simply cutting through a patch of grass, leaving your Air Max print in the mud. The idea is more about capturing moments that focus on the environment in a typically cold autumn setting, represented by the tone of my hoodies against a black background. Then making it more obviously relatable by using the recognisable details in popular sneaker silhouettes that I grew up seeing in the ends. The concept could be represented on a canvas, but this way I elevated a hoodie with intricate patterns printed one by one and finished off with people’s favourite sneakers – a combination I haven’t seen before.

How did you get started?

I’ve always had an interest in customising my possessions as an outlet for creativity, but I mark the beginning of this journey approximately 5 years ago when I had a pair of Axel Arigatos and decided to sketch on them. It was a spontaneous decision on a pair of shoes I couldn’t afford to mess up but did it regardless. I took some photos and posted them on Instagram.

As it happens, I was talking to my partner, and we joked about getting sponsored by the company and how gassed I would be. I’m not sure if that was manifestation but the very next day the actual Soho store emailed me to do an in-store customisation event. That was insane to me. I didn’t follow through with it as drawing isn’t my strong point, and I was crazy nervous and inexperienced, but the significance of that moment was realising the value of my own work and the potential to make a living off it. Since then, I’ve been pursuing this path to becoming a world-renowned artist and designer.

What’s been the greatest and hardest thing you’ve had to come across?

Overcoming doubt and believing in myself. Not to get too ‘political’ but especially as an ethnic minority, life tends to be a fixed set of steps to ‘success’. Following my heart, I ended up dropping out of university twice, and moved out to become a full-time artist. These decisions where the hardest to make with a ton of risk and zero support, especially as they clashed with the foundation of beliefs I grew up with religiously and ethnically. However, in doing so, I’ve seen a glimpse of my potential come to life already, and I wouldn’t have if I took the safe route that was never in my heart to take.

Do you have an early sneaker memory?

My uncle bought me these junior Air Max 9’s based on the OG neons, but it had a side panel with that material where you move the shoe at a different angle and the design changes. It was a massive change from wearing my Astro turfs! They were a little uncomfortable to wear at first but how tall and empowered I felt as a kid was so distinct, I remember that specific moment in time in Year 5.

Do you have any sneaker regrets and what is your sneaker grail?

I’ve purchased some sneakers when in need of some retail therapy that I just never really wore, but my biggest regrets were not doing the most to enter raffles for the Off-White collection and the Sacai’s. As someone who is directly inspired by Virgil Abloh’s approach to art and a big fan of raw materials and exposed processes, it’s a shame I currently don’t own a pair.

What sneakers are currently in your rotation?

I’ve been rocking with the New Balance 220s with that soft grey suede, Air Max 1 x Clot ‘Kiss of Death’, Y-3 ‘Qasa High’ in black with a reflective pattern, and the Viron ‘1992Z’ apple leather boots. I’m moving away from only wearing sneakers to focus on footwear that complete a sophisticated outfit. These pairs all have their own details that achieve that; some of my all-time favourite pairs for sure.

Aside from sneakers what else are you into?

Other than my clear love of fashion and art, I’ve also come to learn I want to travel more, maybe even live abroad as I’m currently in the Philippines which is beautiful. I like exploring and my favourite TV show is Modern family, but one thing that always springs to mind is that I love teaching. I used to tutor children between the ages of 5 to 17 for a few years, and I’ve yet to feel the same sense of self reward in any other job. It’s something I wish to incorporate within my life, potentially by setting up sessions within the community to teach and understand the arts. And later, to set up foundations which allow that to happen on a wider scale as the business grows.

What does community mean to you?

I feel like communities are like gloves, and I’m just trying to find one that fits. When I first joined Offspring, it was to get access to sneakers, and it was pretty cool how involved we all had to be. You’d soon get aquatinted with the names that you’d frequently see popping up. I never really expected more but I found a creative and supportive community within that, from illustrators to customisers, musicians and more. This became the foundation of my growth on Instagram.

I’m an artist born into a community where creativity and individuality are misunderstood, so I see community as people you find that make you feel at home due to a mutual appreciation and respect.

Check out Akraam’s work on Instagram @akraamaham and akraamaham.co.uk