TFN Talks with Angel Gentle
TFN Talks caught up with Angel, a Belize - born and Los Angeles – raised streetwear designer and creative to talk about Angel Gentle, a label he co founded with his mother Joan Sanker. His unique designs feature bold, artistic patchwork and one-of-a-kind pieces influenced by vintage fabrics and streetwear culture. Angel Gentle has quickly become one of LA’s most exciting and internationally sought after independent brands.
Angel, where are you from and when did your love for designing apparel originally emerge?
I’m from South Central Los Angeles. My love for designing apparel originally emerged when I discovered streetwear and street art, particularly inspired by Virgil Abloh’s contributions to blending both aesthetics into clothing. This sparked my passion for design.
I came across your brand my sheer stroke of luck. I had just returned from Burning Man and I was in LA for a few days staying at a friend’s place in Highland Park. On a morning walk to grab some breakfast I stopped by a vintage store that had a rack of your designs proudly displayed in the front. That morning I bought what have got to be my all time favourite pants, after trying on the entire rack. There isn’t a day out that goes by when I wear these pants that somebody on the street doesn’t pull me over and ask where I got them. In fact, right after I got back to Toronto two guys stopped me on the street in the middle of downtown and they knew how you were and they recognized your design! I find that so incredibly impressive for someone who has built their brand at a grassroots level. Where did the idea for the brand ‘Angel Gentle’ come from and what is the philosophy behind your brand? What makes it stand out?
About five years ago, my mom faced a serious health issue; her diabetes worsened and she lost one eye and half vision in the other. Having spent her career working for big companies, this trauma led to insecurity and depression. I created Angel Gentle to provide her a space to create freely, without the pressure or judgment of corporate design, building a brand based on the beauty of imperfections.
What is the philosophy behind Angel Gentle?
The philosophy behind Angel Gentle is that perfection is a thing of the past. The future is looking at imperfections, whether in humans or the clothing we wear. I believe that by upcycling old blankets, quilts, and materials and giving them new life, it shapes an outlook on life that things don't have to be perfect. Things can have holes, scratches, or be falling apart, but it's just like humans – we're never perfect, so our clothing doesn't necessarily have to be either.
What is it like working alongside your mother on this line? Do you always move in the same direction or do you ever have creative differences?
Working with my mom was challenging initially because she comes from a 'perfection mindset' with sewing, while I had limited knowledge myself and a clear direction for the brand. This created conflict, but once she saw the positive reception and concept gaining traction, she became very supportive, and our collaboration flowed much more smooth.
It blows my mind that I get to work so closely with my mom every day and really appreciate the craft she does and what she's teaching me, passing it down from what her mom had taught her.
On Your Proudest Moment & Future Vision…
My proudest moment so far is the surreal experience of global recognition. It blows my mind when friends send me photos of strangers wearing my pieces in Japan, New York, or Belgium. Seeing the work resonate in the streets across the globe is amazing. Moving forward, I want to continue building on that—taking the brand to a place where 'Angel Gentle' is a recognized symbol of history and craft worldwide
As a visual artist I know firsthand how much love and effort goes into creating a one of a kind piece. Do you ever have pieces that you have trouble letting go of? You want to sell them but you also want to keep them at the same time? Is that something you’ve ever struggled with?
I often struggle with letting go of pieces. Knowing the love and effort that goes into them, and seeing their potential future value and beauty, makes it hard. However, in order to keep the business afloat and move forward, I have to make the difficult decision to sell, a constant conflict I discuss with my mom before ultimately parting with the pieces.
One-of-a-kind Angel Gentle Design
One-of-a-kind Angel Gentle Design
What have been some of the challenges and obstacles that you have had to overcome in your career as a fashion designer and how did you deal with them?
One of the biggest obstacles I've faced is realizing that comparing my art to others' is unhealthy and can create conflict with my own creations. A major part has been accepting that my path is different.
What is it like to run your own business? Would you say that you have a ‘Plan B’ , or are you all in on your brand at this point, and what kind of dedication does that take?
Running your own business is really difficult because you realize that every decision and potential mistake ultimately falls back on you. This requires constant double and triple checking of your work and actions, which can be very challenging.
I don't have a Plan B; I'm completely all in. While I typically believe in meticulous planning, the free movement and proven success of 'Angel Gentle' mean I've never needed a backup. In fact, the main challenge is growing faster in other areas of the business that may not include frequent hand-sewing or creating.
Angel in his studio
Custom Angel Gentle Design
Do you have plans of scaling your brand and if yes, have you thought about how to keep that handmade - touched by you, custom element that has made your pieces so popular - still present in your brand when you start selling pieces in boutiques across the world?
I have no plans to scale the 'Angel Gentle' brand itself, but to scale the name is a future goal. The name will expand, but the product will remain limited. I want to focus on creating limited quantities that are viewed more as art pieces, with maybe 5 to 20 pieces per drop, making them difficult to claim but highly valued.
The fashion industry is a notoriously oversaturated space. How do you stand out and grow in such a tough field?
The thing that makes my brand stand out the most is the idea that everything is old, used, imperfect, and 'holy'—all these things in one. When someone looks at the clothing, they can tell that the fabric is old and has 'been through some stuff,' and I think that's what draws people to it.
What does an average day in the life of Angel Gentle look like?
My daily life is built around three core pillars: family, work, and personal vision. I start each day by connecting with my mom and wife, as we collaborate in our work. A significant part of my day involves driving to various places, which means I have very limited personal time. I strategically dedicate time to social media throughout the day to connect with my dreams and vision, balancing these core areas