Q&A with Dalton Bidula, founder and creative director of LAAW DESIGNS
Dalton Bidula is a senior at the University of Denver, majoring in business management. He created LAAW DESIGNS, a Denver-based outerwear company, in May 2021. By using Velcro patches, LAAW products can be personalized by their wearers, promoting sustainability and individual expression.
We sat down with Bidula to discuss past ventures, fashion inspirations and LAAW’s recent launch.
Q: What is LAAW DESIGNS all about?
A: We are starting with outerwear with big Velcro patches you can take on and off to match the trends and match your style. There are going to be different colored patches, and there will also be collaborations with local artists, so you can rep new and upcoming artists you want to support.
I started a fashion company when I was 17—Shape Streetwear. I closed it down at 19. I always wondered what made my product different than other competitors, and I could not come up with something interesting without fully designing it myself. So, I started with a new set of criteria: what do I think is cool and interesting, and what can I do? I put a lot of development and design into this one garment. This coat is something that can be worn for several different occasions.
LAAW has its first launch at False Ego, a retailer in downtown Denver, on Saturday, Dec. 18 [2021]. We will have a huge event where we give away an exclusive False Ego patch along with each purchase. After that, the coats and other patches will be available for purchase online.
Q: How does this idea benefit consumers?
A: Well, it is a positive for the consumer because, come winter, you only have one coat. And, it is kind of a unique take on sustainability. You have this one coat that you can match to new outfits, and you have a collection of patches that you can use for new coats you can purchase down the road.
Sustainability is a key part of fashion right now. My product is unique in this regard. Rather than selling garments that are just sustainable in their construction, this coat is sustainable in the way it promotes using and owning fewer garments. You only have this one jacket, which can be personalized, rather than having several dark jackets, light jackets and so on. It is a different take than what I have seen in the industry, and ultimately it is about creating a good product. Which would you throw away first: a Gucci t-shirt, or an H&M t-shirt? So that quality product is the bottom line.
Q: How did you get into fashion?
A: I got into fashion back in 2016, when Supreme was first getting huge. I wondered, “Why would people spend this much money on a T-shirt?” Then I started to understand the culture, and I really started to enjoy it. Ever since I was a kid, whenever I really liked something, I wanted to try it myself. I started Shape Streetwear, my first label, quite early on. I started out with streetwear, but then I had higher hopes for more runway-level fashion.
There were some problems with Shape Streetwear—ultimately, it did not let me grow and create as an individual. I decided it would be easier to just start fresh with a new label.
Q: Where does the name LAAW come from?
A: The slogan we are running with is: “Most is temporary. LAAW (Law) is forever.” The extra “A” is sort of a hidden idea. I included it to represent the “Law of Attraction,” which is this idea that if you want something and hold it in your mind, it will come to fruition.
Q: How has DU supported your venture at this early stage?
A: A lot of things have really helped LAAW’s development. The grant I received helped on the funding aspect. We will be using things like the embroidery machine and other resources in The Garage to create materials for the company. Mostly, I have benefitted from coming here and learning business from professionals in different industries. No matter how good of a designer you are, you are not going to make anything if you do not have the funds to back it up. I have worked with investors on this project, and I think some of the business classes and opportunities I have been exposed to helped make that happen.
Q: What fashion lines inspire the work you do?
A: I have a variety of inspirations. One that I really love is Tom Ford. He is a revolutionary in the space, but it is completely opposite from the informal wear that I design. But there are aspects of his work that resonate with me. For example, he is one of the only artists that I have seen translate the feel of his clothes and apparel to a totally different medium. He has directed two movies, and when you watch them, you know it’s him.
Check out LAAWDESIGNS.com and @laaw.designs on Instagram to learn more!