VICTORIA CLAY & JOSEPH HAGAN
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VICTORIA AND JOE A PLEASURE TO WELCOME YOU BOTH TO DARKUS. HOW HAVE YOU BEEN ENJOYING 2022?
We are having fun in 2022 and never taking ourselves so seriously! That being said we are so glad to be visiting comic conventions again as that’s something we really enjoy as a couple We love a couple’s cosplay!
WE HAVE SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT, SO LET'S FIRST START WITH YOUR SPECIAL EDITORIAL SHOOT FOR DARKUS. I WASN’T ABLE TO BE THERE MYSELF, BUT HOW DID YOU ENJOY YOUR DAY WITH THE CREATIVE TEAM?
We really enjoyed being on set together; it is our first joint magazine shoot! And we love making memories like this. The styling was also on point, very edgy, spooky and vamp. Shooting on a Harley Davidson was an added bonus; and automatically makes you feel cool
I UNDERSTAND THAT ONE OF YOUR FAVOURITE TIMES OF THE YEAR IS HALLOWEEN SEASON, DO YOU SEE YOURSELF AS MORE OF A TRICK OR TREAT KIND OF PERSON?
Victoria: I am more of a trick kind of person as I love to spend hours creating spooky Halloween makeup looks; and scaring Joseph when I walk into the living room
Joseph: I am more of a treat person, definitely prefer the finer things in life Give me all the treats!
VICTORIA, YOU HAVE HAD SUCH AN INCREDIBLE CAREER RANGING FROM YOUR TIME ON THE 11TH SEASON OF BRITAIN'S NEXT TOP MODEL TO BEING AN ADVOCATE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND ALSO YOUR PLATFORM AS NOT JUST AN INFLUENCER BUT YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS AS A FEMALE ENTREPRENEUR.
WHEN YOU TAKE A MOMENT TO REFLECT ON ALL THOSE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS, WHAT MAKES YOU SMILE ABOUT HOW FAR YOU HAVE COME?
I am a person who loves to create and if I can spend all my time in that flow state and being a creative, that is what makes me really smile! Artists always have a struggle, it comes with the territory, so I am grateful for every creative success and also having that lead me to meet like-minded, nerdy people. I really love the community I’ve found online and in real life through my interests and passions
BRITAIN’S NEXT TOP MODEL IS SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE WILL NO DOUBT KNOW YOU FOR THE MOST, SO WHAT DID BEING PART OF THAT WHOLE WORLD TEACH YOU ABOUT YOURSELF AND ALSO WHO THE REAL VICTORIA CLAY IS?
Honestly an honour to be part of the iconic legacy that is BNTM, I was the little girl who watched the show, wide-eyed and obsessed I love Tyra Banks and I dreamt of being on it myself one day Actually being a part of it taught me to take strength in my uniqueness and to lean into my authentic self
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WORD ON THE STREET IS THAT YOU LOVE YOUR FASHION AND EVEN LIKE TO HAVE A GO AT DESIGNING YOURSELF SOMETIMES, INCLUDING COLLABORATIONS WITH THE LIKES OF CONTRADO AND DR MARTENS.
WHEN YOU ARE VENTURING INTO THESE EXCITING PROJECTS, WHAT VALUES DO YOU LOOK FOR THE MOST IN HELPING YOU TO DECIDE IF A PROJECT GETS THE VICTORIA CLAY SEAL OF APPROVAL?
I like all of my projects to have an element of fun; if the colours are cute and it can make me smile, it gets my seal of approval. Having a degree in Textile Design really helps too; it’s where I learned to nurture my artistic side.
WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE WE SOMETIMES HAVE TO BATTLE AGAINST TOXIC BEHAVIOUR SUCH AS TROLLING AND ONLINE BULLYING. HAVING SOMETIMES BEEN UNFAIRLY TARGETED BY TROLLS YOURSELF, WHEN YOU ARE JUST SIMPLY TRYING TO LIVE YOUR LIFE AND BE HAPPY, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WHICH HAVE HELPED YOU TO NAVIGATE SUCH SCENARIOS?
Yes I’ve experienced quite the onslaught of online bullying in my time; sadly it can become quite overwhelming and stifling if you let it take over There’s no guide book on how to deal with this either, but I’ve found taking a step back from the internet and seeing it from a different perspective helps Something that seems overwhelming now in the grand scheme of things is just a tiny blip. Try not to let someone you don’t know take ownership of your time and thoughts. Focus on making yourself and the people around you feel good instead.
LET'S GO BACK EVEN FURTHER, WHAT WAS LIFE GROWING UP, AND WHAT WERE SOME OF THOSE DREAMS WHICH EXCITED VICTORIA CLAY AS A CHILD?
I was always a dreamer as a child. Oddly enough I wanted to either be an archaeologist or a model on the runway; so you could find me giving my teddy bears a fashion show or digging up the garden
IF YOU COULD GO BACK AND SPEAK TO YOURSELF, WHAT PEARLS OF WISDOM OR ENCOURAGEMENT WOULD YOU TELL YOURSELF?
I would tell myself to not to be so self-critical and to change the internal dialogue I would always put myself down; especially if I had failed at something or felt like it wasn’t my best work. It took me years to realise that speaking to myself with words of encouragement and kindness reduced my anxiety and boosted my motivation
AM I RIGHT IN THINKING AMONGST ALL YOUR MANY INTERESTS, YOU ARE ALSO A BIT OF A GAMER TOO?
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE GAMES TO DIG INTO ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE FEELING LIKE SOME QUALITY YOU TIME?
This might be my favourite interview question ever; I could talk for hours about gaming! Some of my all time favourite games are: Elder Scrolls, Zelda Breath of the Wild, Fallout, Assassin’s Creed, Mario and Animal Crossing
DARKUS IS VERY MUCH IN FAVOUR OF CELEBRATING FEMALE EMPOWERMENT AND ELEVATING VOICESFROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE WHAT DOES EMPOWERMENT LOOK LIKE TO YOU AND IN WHAT WAY HAVE YOUR THOUGHTS, MANTRAS AND OUTLOOK ON LIFE HELPED TO SHAPE YOU TO BECOME THE BRILLIANT LADY YOU ARE TODAY?
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One of the last things my Mum said to me before she passed away was ‘don’t let anyone bring you down’ for some reason this has always stuck with me; it’s the little voice of encouragement at the back of my mind I also have a great quote from my Grandma which I think must have been revolutionary in her time and still applies today, ‘forget the starer, I’m the wearer’ as someone who has always been into alternative fashion. This is one I really love! My own personal outlooks probably stem from being a scouser, we always treat people with warmth and kindness and make everyone feel welcome
LOOKING AHEAD, WHAT IS MAKING YOU EXCITED ABOUT THE NEXT CHAPTER OF YOUR LIFE, AND WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?
Right now I am getting ready to launch my own Twitch streaming channel; so I can game and talk to friends until my heart's content Joseph and I are looking into adopting a cat, which I am majorly excited about! And as always focusing on my makeup looks and content creation, and with it being Halloween the makeup looks are about to get serious!
JOE, IT'S BEEN 7 OR 8 YEARS SINCE YOU FIRST STARTED STREAMLINE PR - WITH EACH YEAR THAT PASSES, HOW HAVE YOU FOUND THE EVOLUTION UP TO NOW?
I have been doing this for close to 8 years now and with each year that passes we try to grow and evolve the business. I really enjoy trying new things as a company whether that be taking on clients whose story is a bit different from the norm or managing to gain press from unlikely sources We always try to evolve and innovate alongside an ever changing industry
WHEN YOU FIRST FORMULATING YOUR IDEAS TO BRING THIS AMAZING VISION TO LIFE, WHAT WERE SOME OF THE THINGS WHICH WERE A PRIORITY
FOR THE FOUNDATION OF WHAT STREAMLINE PR REPRESENTS BOTH INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY?
The initial priority and foundation to Streamline PR is having a hands-on approach with all our clients We pride ourselves on being there for our clients on the red carpets, FROWS and launch events to ensure everything runs smoothly and clients never feel like they are alone at an event. Relationships are another key foundation for Streamline PR I ensure relationships with photographers, other agencies and journalists are always natured I like to think we represent a new wave of personal PR we’re and agency that will go above and beyond for our clients
SOME OF THE CLIENTS YOU HAVE WORKED WITH IN THE PAST INCLUDE THE LIKES OF NETFLIX, DISNEY, ISLAND RECORDS, AS WELL AS REPRESENTING A NUMBER OF PEOPLE ACROSS DIFFERENT CREATIVE INDUSTRIES, INCLUDING YOUR GOOD WIFE VICTORIA. WOULD IT BE FAIR TO SAY THAT STREAMLINE IS MUCH MORE THAN A PR, BUT MORE OF A PLATFORM TO BRING TOGETHER GREAT PEOPLE WITH GREAT CREATIVE MINDS?
I think that is a fair assessment When big companies like Netflix and Island Records come into work with us it’s because they know we are not just another PR company. We like to collaborate with our clients and help amplify their story or event. Our clients know they will 100% of our energy and focus to ensure briefs and targets are hit
TAKE US THROUGH WHAT A DAY IN YOUR LIFE TYPICALLY LOOKS LIKE?
Typical day for me normally starts at 7:30am I like to hit the gym first, I find it helps me start my day the right way Work begins at 9 We start with some email outreach for existing clients Pitching for brand collaborations, event attendance and press release circulation. I like to have a catch up with my business partner around midday to discuss any new opportunities.
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Afternoons normally consist of chatting to clients and managing any specific asks Evenings normally involve preparing to take a client to an event like the Thor premiere for example. We’d have to collect tickets and manage our clients on the red carpet for pictures and interviews before watching the movie. I am normally back home by about 10pm
WHAT I REALLY LOVED DISCOVERING IS HOW ORIGINALLY STARTING IN SALES, YOU WERE ABLE TO EMBRACE THOSE TRANSFERABLE SKILLS WHEN STEPPING INTO THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. BE IT SALES, OR ENTERTAINMENT ITS ALL ABOUT BUILDING DIALOGUE, TRUST AND CLEAR LINES OF COMMUNICATION. WOULD YOU AGREE, OR IS THERE ANYTHING MORE YOU WOULD ADD TO THAT MIX?
I started Streamline PR as I was frustrated at not being given an opportunity in the industry I felt I had enough contacts, business acumen, and people skills in order to become a success. A transferable skill set definitely helped me make the transition from sales to the entertainment industry. I would add self belief into the mix It is so important to believe in yourself especially when things are not going your way You have to keep putting in the work, the right results will come
WE ARE SOON APPROACHING 2023, WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE STREAMLINE PR NEXT?
We put on quite a few events and premieres this year, we’d like to continue this into the new year and perhaps put on some events internationally as well.
WHAT MAKES YOU SMILE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP YOU HAVE WITH EACH OTHER? HOW DO YOU THINK YOU COMPLIMENT EACH OTHER’S STRENGTHS?
Joseph: I think it’s so rare to find someone who has all the same interests as you; It’s not often you find a girl you can watch anime with. Being able to things together we both enjoy always puts a smile on my face
Victoria: Having the same interests created a special bond between us; we know how to make each other laugh and be nerds together Joseph is very organised so he books our flights and sorts out my schedule for me I would never be on time for anything if it wasn’t for him He is also very grounded and creates some much needed stability for me in my chaotic life.
SOMETIMES LIFE CAN GET A BIT INTENSE, WE ALL HAVE GOOD DAYS AND TOUGH DAYS, DO YOU FEEL THAT BEING ABLE TO MAKE THIS JOURNEY IN LIFE TOGETHER HELPS TO KEEP YOU BOTH MOTIVATED WHEN YOU NEED THAT STRENGTH THE MOST?
Victoria: I think Joseph is quite the dab hand at giving advice and lifting a person’s spirits when they need it most. He’s had quite the motivational talk with me at times when I’ve lost self-belief. I also think we make such a good team and he makes me want to work my hardest
Joseph: Victoria is great at reminding me of all the amazing progress I have made When I have a setback she is always there to remind me everything will be alright and it alway is.
VICTORIA & JOE IT HAS BEEN BRILLIANT TAKING TIME TO CHAT TOGETHER, WE LOOK FORWARD TO CATCHING UP AGAIN!
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By Steve Vyse Gaia Wise
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I N T E R V I E W W I T H L E E S K I N N E R ( F O U N D E R )
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WHERE DID THE JOURNEY OF SAINTS OF THE UNDEAD FIRST BEGIN FOR YOU?
My love for alternative culture and the style started in my teens when I first developed my interest in Rock and Metal music. I taught myself how to play guitar and other musical skills and then created my own band, Fallen Fate. We had 3 releases, toured the UK & Ireland and played Festivals like Download. On the release of our 2nd Album, I wanted our image to be more uniform and to give a visual aesthetic to go alongside the music This is when I created my first jacket and being a person who craves to be creative, Ioved the process Unfortunately the band hit our glass ceiling and then ended but the last thing I took from the music world was a demo song I was working on called ‘Saints of the Undead’ and that’s when my next journey started.
AS SOMEONE WHO LOVES MY ROCK AND METAL MUSIC, I LOVE THE WHOLE VIBE OF THE SAINTS OF THE UNDEAD VIBE. TO SOMEONE NEW TO THE BRAND, HOW WOULD YOU SUMMARIZE THE AESTHETIC OF WHAT THE BRAND IS AND WHAT IT REPRESENTS?
It definitely is, on the surface, to fresh eyes ‘Alternative Fashion’ which may turn people off who haven’t experienced that culture or who think of it as fashion for the weird kids who haven't grown up yet but it is much more than that. For me, it's Alternative & Custom Clothing that you wouldn’t find on a shelf and I think Pop Culture has always dipped its hand into the alternative world, so more people are slowly becoming aware that there is some really cool shit out there just waiting to be discovered I mean, Kanye West is wearing Cradle of Filth shirts and the Kardashians are wearing Slayer which says it all and I'm all good with that as long as they can name 3 songs of course haha!
WHAT WAS REALLY COOL TO SEE IS THAT ALTHOUGH YOU ARE BASED IN THE NORTH EAST OF ENGLAND, THE BRAND IS GETTING A LOT OF LOVE, ESPECIALLY WITHIN THE INTERNATIONAL MUSIC SCENE. SO WHEN YOU HAVE THE LIKES OF THE FRONTMAN OF MOTIONLESS IN WHITE, CHRIS MOTIONLESS CALLING YOU UP AND WANTING YOU TO DESIGN A CUSTOM PIECE FOR HIM, HOW DO YOU EVEN PROCESS THAT IN YOUR MIND?
It's really wild because I work so hard and have so much pride in everything I create I feel like I deserve these opportunities but at the same time, it’s just a huge head trip that it’s actually happening haha Chris to me is a fashion trendsetter in the Alt/Goth scene so the fact he wanted me to create a jacket for his new music video was just unreal and I'll always be thankful to him for that. One of my goals was to create for a full band and I was honored to be commissioned by American band ‘New Years Day’ to do this I guess I would need to say thank you to the Internet and Social Media for allowing these opportunities to prevail
ITEMS CHOOSE THE PERSON?
It seemed like fate as I had just finished work on a Red Leather Jacket in the theme of the movie Scream and Steve was looking for a Horror themed piece for Gaia’s Halloween event so that situation was quite straight forward, after I had got over the initial stress of sending a new jacket to a stranger haha but I trusted Steve and my gut. When customers come to commission a piece, the process starts from a basic idea or theme and I would usually build from that and project my vision to the customer about what the finished would look like Once they are happy with the final revision, I'll begin creating their item!
IT IS NOT JUST MUSICIANS THOUGH WHO ARE CRAZY ABOUT YOUR BRAND, BUT ALSO YOU HAVE PROVIDED PIECES FOR CELEBRITY STYLIST STEVE VYSE AND FRIEND OF THE MAGAZINE, GAIA WISE. SO WHEN A PERSON COMES TO YOU AND ASKS YOU TO HOOK THEM UP WITH A PIECE, WHAT DOES THAT CONVERSATION LOOK LIKE - IS IT A CASE OF THEY CHOOSE THE ITEMS, OR THE
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WORD ON THE STREET IS THAT YOU'RE A BIT OF A FAN OF YOUR HORROR FILMS TOO, SUCH AS THE HALLOWEEN FRANCHISE AND SAW. WITH HALLOWEEN FAST APPROACHING ARE THERE ANY PARTICULAR PIECES OR ITEMS IN YOUR WIDER COLLECTION THAT ALWAYS GET A LOT OF LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR?
The past few years we have released some really limited T-Shirt runs of my original artwork based on some of my favorite Horror movies which have always gone down very well! We also run a giveaway every Halloween which is really popular with our followers. Last year the top prize was £150 Voucher towards a Custom Jacket along with 2nd to 5th place prizes. It's great running these giveaways as I love to engage with my followers and I get to feel like a Spooky Santa for a few days!
THE COLLECTION YOU HAVE IS NOT JUST THE BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED CUSTOM MADE JACKETS, BUT YOU HAVE ALSO EXPANDED INTO OTHER THINGS SUCH AS BAGS, T-SHIRTS, BEANIES TO NAME BUT A FEW. WHEN YOU ARE ADDING THESE EXTRA LAYERS AND DIMENSIONS TO THE SAINTS OF THE UNDEAD WORLD, HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL?
It makes me feel like a more multi dimensional creator and of course gives more options to customers who are always looking for new clothing and accessories I always envisioned at the start of the journey that Saints would be a clothing brand first and the Custom’s would just be another service we offer but it’s certainly the other way around. I create all of the artwork myself for all of our clothing line and I am still developing my skills in that department but going forward I want to create more designs and push the boundaries of clothing and garment design which would stand alone from the usual alternative scene
ALREADY YOU'RE TAKING CUSTOM BOOKINGS WHICH GO AS FAR AS JUNE 2023, SO WHEN THE PUBLIC ARE GETTING BEHIND YOUR BRAND AND EMBRACING SAINTS OF THE UNDEAD WITH OPEN ARMS ON A DAILY BASIS, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY TO THEM?
An 8 month wait list is crazy and I feel so blessed that these people are coming to me to create something for them and are so on board with the service I can offer them Every single time we get a new Custom Booking, I always thank the customer for their trust in me and assure them I will do my best to create something which I hope they would keep for the rest of their life and even pass down to their children in the future. Imagine if we were given a custom made jacket by our parents from the 80s, that would be such a cool moment and piece of history I hope that is my legacy from this business!
THINK OF THE JOURNEY UPTO NOW, AT WHAT POINT DID IT FEEL THAT SAINTS OF THE UNDEAD STARTED TO SEE A POSITIVE TURNING POINT?
Strangely it was during Covid when I began to see a real shift in interest for the brand and instead of getting 1 or 2 bookings a month we were getting 3 or 4 and this has consistently improved ever since. Perhaps it was people at home unable to go shopping so they turned to supporting smaller online business or maybe it was just a coincidence but I think the more time people had away from work, the more they turned to social media to feel connected and the content I create seemed to have a positive impact on people which was really good for my business and also my mental health during that time
HAS THAT PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH OF THE BRAND ALWAYS BEEN SMOOTH, OR HAVE THERE BEEN THINGS YOU HAVE LEARNED ABOUT YOURSELF AS PART OF THE PROCESS?
Every new step seemed natural from the business side, from how to increase sales year on year to learning new skills and improving my craft but the personal growth has been slightly more difficult I still have a full time job and although I have a supportive wife and young son....it seems that there are just not enough hours in the day to do all of the things I need to do and it can become stressful if I let it. It’s been a challenging road to the best husband, father, employee and business owner I can be but I feel I’ve found a stable balance at the moment so I'm just going with the flow and keep working hard
WHAT IS NEXT FOR SAINTS OF THE UNDEAD - WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR NEXT CHAPTER TO LOOK LIKE?
For me, I always think of the next steps while always keeping the end goal in mind, to keep myself motivated and inspired. I would love to delve into creating for TV/Movie and also Pro-Wrestling, as those entities are always developing new and exciting ideas which need different aesthetics to the clothing. I would love in the future to go full time with Saints, open a store and start to employ people to build onto the next stages of this business as I know it has the potential to do this Finally, I would also love to revisit music one day under the Saints of the Undead name which would then cross over the 2 worlds to come full circle from where I started my creative journey.
TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SAINTS OF THE UNDEAD VISIT SAINTSOFTHEUNDEAD.COM
