Most fashion brands have a particular demographic they’re targeting. For instance, Supreme’s ideal audience is teenagers and young adults who like streetwear. On the other hand, Gucci is appealing to a more sophisticated, older, and richer audience. However, these high-end luxury brands aren’t ideal for everyday wear. After all, you cannot run errands rocking Gucci from head to toe. As a result, people also have to settle for other clothing brands for everyday wear.
Some people would say there’s a disconnect between high-end fashion and most consumers. After all, how many people would happily splurge thousands of dollars on clothes they only wear once or twice a month? That’s where Noctex enters the mix. The brand is the brainchild of Negin Izad, who started it as a vintage shop in 2011 after turning 18. She had always wanted to be in the clothing industry and would draw designs when she was seven. Her mother was her first influence as she was always well-dressed and enjoyed shopping in stores for new designs.
However, this talented designer differed from most fashion enthusiasts because she would get attached to clothes for years at a time. Nevertheless, her passion for fashion could never subside. Then came the turning point in her life when she visited her aunt in Iran after turning fourteen. Her aunt was a dressmaker and spent the summer teaching Negin how to make patterns. Like most teenagers, she was also undergoing a rebellious phase and was particularly into the metal, punk, and alternative movements.
Thus, she began making her own clothes. Many people often love clothes because they can help them look glamorous. However, Negin was always interested in fashion because of how clothes make you feel. Fabrics, cuts, and other features might not be noticeable to the human eye unless you pay close attention. Yet, these features can add comfort and utility, allowing you to wear the same clothes and power through the most challenging days.
This feeling is also what fueled the idea behind Noctex. The brand’s designs are comfortable and sustainable. In addition, they’re made with meticulous attention to detail. The brand isn’t competing with premier fashion brands because it doesn’t want to position its clothes as something you wear once a month. Instead, the brand creates clothes that people can wear in their daily lives. The only kicker is that these clothes have a certain edge to them.
Noctex might be a recognizable brand today, but it has taken over a decade of hard work and perseverance to get it to where it is today. It was initially a vintage shop because Negin Izad worked at a rag house and would sort through used clothes in good condition. Then, she would repurpose, fix up, and re-market these clothes to give them a second life. Eventually, she also started making garter-stocking accessories. That’s when her business took off. First, they went viral on Tumblr. Then, a client wore them for a photo shoot in a Japanese street-style magazine. It led her to get her first wholesale order from Japan.
But making it in the fashion industry isn’t easy, and Negin Izad often fell victim to doubt. Fortunately, her father saw her potential and empowered her, even when she didn’t believe in herself. He spent evenings and weekends helping her prepare materials and package clothes. He also booked tickets for her to go to tradeshows and took her to the Fashion District in Los Angeles when her brand’s popularity started skyrocketing.
Ultimately, it was all part of the journey to get Noctex to where it is today. The brand’s iconic and distinct style became prominent after Negin graduated from her four-year fashion program at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. That’s when she began creating clothes people could wear to their jobs and formal events immediately after getting off work. Thus, Noctex’s “grungey-utilitarian” look was born.
