INTERVIEW WITH POSSE [Translated]

John Wong [Action-HQ.com] > Hey Simon, can you tell me something about yourself or your company?

Simon Wong [Posse] > I've been in the commercial fashion industry for 10 years mainly in garment construction and treatment having worked with some well-known companies traveling a lot from Florence, Seoul, Tokyo to Hong Kong. Studied fashion design in the UK. Anyway, gave that up last year and started Sugoi Production and my Posse line of fashion figures or dolls, as they are both.

John Wong [Action-HQ.com] > So how and why did you get into the designer toy business?

Simon Wong [Posse] > Being passionate is very important to me. And in doing these, I get a chance to express myself. In the fashion industry you are always restricted somehow whether by cost or market and this was my outlet.

Being a hobbyist and in fashion, I am very stubborn when it comes the quality and getting it just right. You can see that in my figures, especially the clothes. I am very strong with color and that is my asset. I mean wearing something cool on a person does not usually translate well when on a figure, and knowing clothes and fabric, I think that I can create something that people will like.

John Wong [Action-HQ.com] > What inspired you in this style of urban trendy line figures?

Simon Wong [Posse] > Passion is fashion for me. This line came from my eye for the street-wear in the Japanese trendy urban districts. In the Tokyo fashion scene, the style is about breaking the rules and that is what this line is about for me. In respects, I am "breaking the rules" with my line of fashion figures as no one has put so much time in the quality and authentic-ness in a 12" figure.

John Wong [Action-HQ.com] > Tell me about this quality and authentic-ness?

Simon Wong [Posse] > Posse is all about that. I can go on and on about this but here is a good example. For Ami, I actually designed the fabric for her top and there are 4 layers of stitching in the fabric to the double layer lace trims. The quality sequence beads of her bag are all stitched by hand. For those who are not familiar, this type of quality is usually not possible and rarely done. I mean for a vinyl doll, once you make the mold, you can make 50 or 50,000 pieces, it does not matter. But you cannot go to fabric factory and say, I want only 30 yards of this super small camouflage fabric that I designed. Without the industry support [of my friends], these figures could never have happened. It would be outrageously expensive. Personally, I go through 13 suppliers to get everything made; who else does that when making a fashion figure?

John Wong [Action-HQ.com] > After these 3 figures, what next?

Simon Wong [Posse] > Lot's of things and I am sorting them out myself. There will be a special Negative [B/W] Version for Milk Magazine [Hong Kong magazine] that will be limited to 60-80 pieces. Will come with its' own black monogram LV inspired sleeve and useable tote bag. It will be out this month. I'll get you some to sell on your site. [John (Action-HQ.com)> Alrighty!] There will be Ando's other girlfriend, he has many, haa-haa, Yummi. I like her as she is actually smiling unlike most dolls that look so glum. I think when people have it posed in their room, it will bring a smile to their face. She will be out around August. And then there is possibly a new line of figures for the price sensitive collector around then also. Can't confirm that.

click to visit Action-HQ.com

Read more interviews:

Thomas Chou of Da Joint

Tim Tsui of Da Team Bronx

Alex Lau of Covert

Casey Lau of HyperChild

Daniam Chou of Garbage Robots

Alex Chin of Abnormal Toyz

Images courtesy of Action-HQ.com.