Control Sector: Maxwell Amadeus
“Power in Culture”
I first stumbled across Control Sector on a trip to Chelsea Market in New York City in January. It was there that I first met Maxwell Amadeus, the Co-Founder and Creative Director of the brand. A pro snowboarder turned designer, Maxwell has studied at Central St Martins as well as the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, where Control Sector was born.
The deconstruction of his pieces was the first thing that truly grasped my attention, the combination of advanced silhouettes and innovative fabrics really intrigued me, causing me to make a beeline across the myriad of different pop ups to his in the corner of the room. But what impressed me the most about the brand was the personal connection that Maxwell established with his customers; he was on the floor discussing his brand, taking pictures of clients in his clothing and engagingly answering questions about the genesis of the brand – truly connecting with his buyers.
Read the interview below:
Control Sectors motto is "Power in Culture". How would you say that philosophy is incorporated into your designs?
Since the inception of Control Sector we have shared our platform and vision with our friends. Artists, creators, free thinkers, advocates of a better world for all people regardless of skin colour, gender or background. Power in Culture is an Idea that if all of us like-minded people come together our voices can be heard. There is strength in numbers, there is power in culture.
Moving from a career in snowboarding to one in fashion is quite a drastic change. What was the reason you decided to pursue a career in the fashion industry?
Snowboarding is like a dream that you never want to wake up from. It is a freedom to express yourself through movement and personal style. When I was sponsored and competing it was always a dream of mine to be able to make my own snowboarding clothing line. After a series of injuries I decided to go to school for design at FIT. I met my partners there and Control Sector was born. There are a lot of references and inspirations from snowboarding in my work but I still look forward to introducing real snowboarding outerwear in the future.
Which item was the most difficult to create and why?
A lot of pieces have different challenges depending on the details and silhouettes but I would say the most difficult piece was a floor length post-apocalyptic military parka from our FW16 collection “The End” It was covered in complex pockets, gussets, zippers and hidden compartments so the pattern alone was a real challenge.
What would your dream collaboration be?
I would love to collaborate with film directors like Baz Luhrmann, Christopher Nolan or David Fincher. It has always been a dream of mine to shoot look book videos like movie trailers.
Control Sector collaborated with the photographer Paolo Massimo Testa, what would you say was the best part of that collaboration?
Paolo is one of my best friends and is my favourite photographer. His work is world class and we share a lot of similar views. Our first official collaboration was “The Protest Bomber” It was a piece that encapsulated our rage and discontent for Donald Trump being elected as the president of the United States. Paolo shot all the imagery on the jacket at the protests in NYC.
Although your brand was initially a male clothing brand, what inspired you to move into the realm of womanswear?
Control Sector was created with menswear pieces initially but the androgynous nature of the collection always gravitated to both men and women. It was only natural to create more womanswear focused pieces. I believe it is up to you to decide what you want to wear. Woman in men’s clothes, man in woman’s clothes, I have seen people put outfits together in ways that are incredibly creative and unexpected. Seeing how my work fits into the lives of all these extraordinary people is the most rewarding part of what I do.
What would your advice be for young people who want to start a brand?
I would say to keep on dreaming. Don’t let the cruel world of commerce hinder your ideas. Design should be coming from within and not just mirroring what is already out there. Trust your instincts and make sure your product will stand the test of time. Fewer products with a focus on better quality are better for you, your supporters and the world.