Male model Joshua Williams is known for his all-black-everything attire and his excessive number of tattoos. PAUSE recently had the pleasure of meeting Joshua Williams from AMCK Models and asked him a few questions about his look and his career.
Tell us a bit about yourself; name, age and where you are from?
Joshua Williams, I’m twenty-two years old and I’m from West London – Shepherd’s Bush.
Tell us about some of the magazines and designers you’ve worked with.
Some of the magazines I’ve worked on include VMan, W Magazine, Rollercoaster Magazine. Designers – A lot of up and coming designers for lookbooks and stuff like that, but they’ve been really cool and different.
What was your favourite show you’ve walked for?
Definitely the main one will be Spencer Hart, because it’s a tailored suit brand and it was something I really wasn’t expecting to get. I was in two minds about the casting because tailoring and suits – I really didn’t think it would go. I ended up going, and it was the first show I ever walked as well.
What were you doing before you started modeling?
I was an apprentice in a tattoo shop.
How did you start off in the industry?
My friend was signed with an agency and he told his agent about me. We got in contact over email and he called me in, I went into the office and just ended up signing.
How has your life changed since you became a model?
It’s changed quite a bit. In terms of fashion, every aspect has changed. It’s a lot different transitioning from the tattooing world to fashion, so it’s changed quite a bit.
What are some of the highlights of your career?
One of the coolest things I’ve done was work on a Kanye West project with Nick Knight. That was definitely the most fun project I’ve worked on for me. Another one was a fashion film or W Magazine with Cara Delevingne. That was pretty cool.
Tell us about your own personal style.
My own personal style is pretty much black 24/7. I’m not a big fan of colour in clothes.
How many tattoos do you have?
In the thirties somewhere. I wouldn’t know exactly but it’s in the thirties.
You have a certain image, how do you think you fit in the fashion industry?
It’s difficult because obviously when you have facial tattoos especially, a lot of brands just won’t use it full stop. But, there’s always a market for the urban, and there’s a lot of brands that like to incorporate the alternative looks, so it’s kind of filling that gap. It’s always about trying to break barriers. There will always be some brands that want that one tattooed boy, and you want to try and fill that spot.
Do people stereotype you because of your tattoos?
People are always going to see the way you look and expect you to be a type of way, then they’re always misunderstood, or mislead by that image that you portray.
Tell us more about your new line.
It’s a collaboration with another designer called Lamis (Khamis) and we share a lot of the same fashion interests, like black fashion, so we decided to make a ten top collection first. It all long, black draped clothing and later on we’re going to release a full line of trousers, jackets, hats, all type of stuff.
What is the worst thing about being a model?
It’s the whole waiting game. But that’s also the best part of it as well; it’s kind of vice versa. You never know what’s round the corner, or you never know how much work you’re going to get. At the same time, that can be good because it’s always exciting that you never really know what’s coming up next and what’s next to happen.
Interview by: Ernela Vukaj & Johnson Gold
Video by: Michael Itela
SEE FULL PHOTOSHOOT BELOW – Photos by Jack Alexander
Also check out the Urban Opulence cover editorial featuring Joshua Williams
