Syban Interview

Syban Interview

Explore dark glamour and avant garde fashion through striking photography, editorials, and exclusive interviews at Darkly. Embrace the beauty in shadows.

In the world of costume design, few creatives possess the ability to transform fabric, crystal, and embellishment into something truly mythic. Syban is one of those rare visionaries. With a design language shaped by opulence, symbolism, and cinematic imagination, her work exists at the breathtaking intersection of couture craftsmanship and otherworldly storytelling. Drawing inspiration from religion, mythology, transformation, and the tension between darkness and light, she creates wearable art that feels both powerful and transcendent. In this interview, Syban opens the doors to her richly layered creative universe, sharing the origins of her passion, the emotional and symbolic threads woven through her work, and the extraordinary vision that continues to define her as a singular force in costume design.

1. Can you tell us how your journey into costume design first began?
My journey into costume design began when my mother showed me Bram Stoker’s Dracula when I was about ten years old. I was completely captivated, it’s an incredible film with breathtaking costume design. Then, when I was 13, I came across The Cell on television late one night. I later discovered that both films featured costume design by Eiko Ishioka, and her work deeply and permanently imprinted on me. In that moment, I knew this was what I wanted to do: create extraordinary, wearable works of art that captivate and move people.
When I was 17, I secured an internship at a couture house in Belgravia, London, where I learned the fundamentals of couture construction and tailoring. That experience solidified my passion and everything grew from there.

2. How would you describe your design aesthetic and creative identity?
My design aesthetic is otherworldly and opulent, rooted in excess, ornamentation, and transformation. I’m drawn to the visual language of religion and mythology, where symbolism, ritual, and grandeur collide. My work is heavily embellished, richly textured, and designed to catch and reflect light, it is glittering, luminous, and lustrous from every angle.
I create from an obscenely lavish place: more is more, and then more again. Layers of crystals, beads, and intricate detailing build pieces that feel immersive and alive. Nothing is ever quite enough, and that sense of abundance is at the heart of my creative identity.

3. What inspires you most when creating a new collection?
My work as a costume designer is rooted in character creation. Rather than building a single collection around one theme, I create distinct figures that inhabit a dreamlike, cinematic universe, each piece acting as a chapter within a larger, evolving narrative.
My practice centres on making wearable art that renders the surreal corporeal, forging a bridge between the ethereal and the handmade language of couture. I create intricate, extravagant pieces that transform the wearer into powerful, otherworldly beings.
This act of transformation, this alchemy, is what inspires me. I am drawn to the space where the brutal meets the beautiful, where opulence borders on the obscene. That tension is where my work lives.
There is a universe within me that breathes through contrast and contradiction. My creations are born from these internal worlds and their conceptual stories—each one exploring the struggle between darkness and light, and bringing complex, imagined characters to life.

4. Can you walk us through your creative process from concept to final piece?
My process begins from a materials starting point. I work within a defined colour palette; black, silver, white, gold, and red, and I’m instinctively drawn to texture and ornamentation within those tones. I collect them, get inspired by them and use them much like a painter uses paint.
Travel plays a big role in how I gather inspiration. I collect objects, surfaces, and tactile references from different places, and through my work in film, television, and events, fabrics often find their way to me organically. Over time, this has created a kind of magnetic ecosystem where materials align naturally with my aesthetic, which I feel incredibly grateful for.
I’m particularly drawn to working monochromatically, layering as many textures as possible within a single colour to create depth and complexity. From there, I begin thinking three-dimensionally—considering how the piece will exist as wearable art, and what kind of space or world it will inhabit.
I then draw on the visual language of my existing body of work—identifying the signature elements that define my practice—and explore how to evolve them into something new, something that feels both cohesive and unexpected.
From that point, the piece is brought to life through an intense and meticulous making process, with an obsessive attention to detail. Every element is considered, refined, and crafted to ensure the final work feels powerful, immersive, and complete.

5. Are there any particular themes, emotions, or stories you like to express through your designs?
I believe all art is, in some way, autobiographical. We each carry our own truths, personal reflections of our histories, our dreams, our hopes, and our fears, and art becomes a vehicle allowing us to give form to those inner worlds.
My work is deeply informed by my heritage. I am half Italian, half Venezuelan, and Jewish, and my upbringing was shaped by a complex relationship with religion. My father’s family were very strict Roman Catholics and strongly opposed my connection to, and identification with, my Jewish heritage. This led to a period of intense religious pressure and trauma, which has left a lasting imprint on my creative language.
That influence is visible in my use of gold, ornamentation, and my reinterpretation of religious iconography. It also manifests in recurring themes of duality, heaven and hell, light and darkness, which run as a continuous thread throughout my work.
Another central theme in my practice is alchemy. Through the use of texture, metallics, and embellishment, I aim to transform the wearer into powerful, divine figures: Goddesses, Queens, mythological beautiful beasts, beings that embody strength, complexity, and transcendence.
Ultimately, my work exists to express the dynamic space between opposing forces—heaven and hell, light and dark, magic and mysticism—exploring tension, transformation, and the beauty that can emerge from both.

6. How do you balance artistic vision with wearability and functionality?
As I work in the realm of costume, the wearability aspect is one of the main parameters. As the pieces travel the world, their durability and functionality are of the utmost importance. I find by having these unviolable boundaries, it actually helps creativity flow. If it cannot be moved in properly, it cannot come alive. Durability, functionality, and artistic vision are the three pillars that must co-exist. It is like a three-legged stool, remove one and the whole thing comes tumbling.

7. What challenges have you faced as a costume designer, and how have they shaped your work?
Do you mean this from an emotional point of view or a practical one?

8. Is there a collection or design you are especially proud of, and why?
Every new piece becomes my favourite piece, as it is the evolution of everything that came before. Work that I am proud of is when I’ve worked on huge tours like Sabrina Carpenter’s UK tour, where I worked heavily on all the crystal embellishments. Being able to do that high-end embellishment and then having it seen by millions is always pleasing. I also designed and had my brand create the costume for Chappell Roan’s band on their last UK tour. Again, making something beautiful but also very practical that then gets seen by thousands and thousands is very gratifying. This kind of work also always has to be created very quickly and to a very high standard, and when you pull that off it is truly glorious.
One of my favourite designs was an incredibly embellished gold piece I designed and made that got worn by the lovely Chinese pop star Xin Liu for her Coachella show. I never got to meet her to take my own measurements or discuss exactly what the choreography was going to be, and created the piece with zero fittings, but somehow it fit her perfectly and on that stage it looked incredible. That’s when you know your design concepts translate to the big stages and that your craftsmanship knowledge can stand the test and work under any situation.
I have also been heavily inspired by the movie The Cell, particularly a scene in the Namibian desert. I had the wild idea to take some of my costumes and one of my best friends to Africa, fly to Namibia, then hire a truck to drive into the desert with a huge backpack of costumes and hike to the exact spot where it was filmed 20 years ago. In that killer summer heat, driving in the dark to get to the spot just for sunrise, wearing my pieces and performing in them whilst we filmed, was truly such a full-circle moment. And also slightly insane, but fortune favours the brave, and I was very proud that my passion managed to pull that project off.

9. How do you see costume evolving, and where do you see your work fitting into that future?
As AI and technology continue to evolve, costume will increasingly expand into digital spaces. Wearable design won’t exist solely in the physical world, there will be a growing demand for pieces that live across virtual environments, gaming, and immersive media.
This is something I’ve already begun exploring by having my work 3D scanned, allowing my pieces to exist within digital landscapes as well as physical ones. I’m especially excited by the potential for collaboration in this space, particularly with 3D artists, as it opens up entirely new ways of building worlds and characters.
That said, I believe there will always be a deep and ongoing need for real craftsmanship. The tactile, handmade quality of costume, especially for screen and stage, can never be fully replaced. It brings a level of depth, authenticity, and presence that is essential to performance.
I see my work existing in both of these worlds: bridging physical couture and digital creation, while continuing to champion the artistry of handcraft.

10. What would you like people to feel when they wear your designs?
Powerful, like Gods and Goddesses, eternal and beautiful and extraordinary and truly one of a kind. Wrapped in a beautiful dream that makes them feel electrically awake and alive.

Syban’s work is more than costume design, it is alchemy in motion. Through lavish embellishment, emotional depth, and an uncompromising devotion to transformation, she creates pieces that do not simply dress the body, but elevate it into something divine, cinematic, and unforgettable. Her ability to merge wearability, durability, and fantasy with such precision speaks to both her technical mastery and artistic power. As costume continues to evolve across physical and digital worlds, Syban stands as a designer whose vision feels timeless yet entirely future-facing. Her creations shimmer with beauty, but beneath the surface lies something even more compelling: a deeply personal language of strength, duality, and becoming.

Photo: @cmcdade

Fashion: @sybansyban

MUA: @alyona.artistry

Model: @monhublot

Carrie Cannie

There is an undeniable authenticity to Carrie Cannie—an authenticity shaped not by surface aesthetics alone, but by lived experience, emotional resilience, and a fearless embrace of identity. With over a decade in front of the camera, Carrie has cultivated a visual language deeply rooted in the dark, the macabre, and the unapologetically unconventional. Her presence does not simply inhabit the frame—it transforms it. Drawing from a lifelong connection to horror, goth, grunge, and alternative culture, she embodies a rare kind of honesty that transcends performance and becomes something far more visceral.

What makes Carrie’s work so compelling is her ability to channel vulnerability into strength, turning personal history into artistic power. Her interpretation of dark fashion is not costume—it is truth. In this editorial, she steps into a narrative that reclaims and reshapes traditional archetypes, infusing them with raw emotion, rebellion, and autonomy. Through her collaboration with visionary creatives, Carrie brings forth an energy that is both haunting and empowering, inviting viewers into a space where darkness is not feared, but embraced as a source of transformation, identity, and beauty.

1. Dark aesthetics are central to this collaboration. What does the dark and macabre represent to you on a personal or artistic level?
The dark and macabre personally, to me, represent the outcasts—those who stand out and aren’t afraid to speak up. I developed this mindset through hardships and trauma growing up, like many others, and I’ve chosen to embrace my past and turn it into something meaningful. Dark does not mean bad. Artistically, it’s everything. It’s horror, suspense, mystique, and ethereal energy. It’s deeply inspiring and allows emotions to exist without restriction.

2. This project brings together creators drawn to goth, grunge, and eccentric high-fashion influences. How do these worlds intersect in your own visual identity as a model?
My visual identity as a model is honestly fully goth, grunge, and dark fashion. I’ve been modeling for 10 years and started acting in haunted houses 6 years ago. That experience naturally led my modeling further into macabre and goth aesthetics because it always felt authentic to who I am. I grew up surrounded by horror films and grunge, metal, and rock music, and those influences continue to shape my creative identity today.

3. How do you transform emotion into presence when working in darker, more atmospheric editorials?
For me, transforming emotion into presence is about letting go completely and embracing the rawest version of myself. Darker editorials allow space for honesty. The more raw and real the emotion is, the more powerful the image becomes. It creates that mystifying, emotional energy that allows viewers to truly feel something.

4. Do you approach posing differently for dark fashion compared to more traditional beauty or commercial shoots? If so, how?
Yes, absolutely. Dark fashion allows me to pose more emotionally. I don’t just pose physically—I feel with my body. It becomes a full emotional release rather than simply creating visually pleasing shapes. It’s very therapeutic and allows deeper storytelling through movement and expression.

5. Fashion can tell powerful stories. What narrative did you feel you were embodying during this shoot?
During this shoot, I wanted to portray the traditional housewife—but through a goth and grunge lens. Historically, women were expected to remain in the home, to serve and conform. Through this editorial, we transformed that image into something powerful, confident, and reclaiming control. It was about taking that symbol and reshaping it into one of autonomy and strength.

6. Which elements—styling, makeup, lighting, or mood—help you connect most deeply to dark or macabre imagery?
80s and 90s grunge and goth makeup always helps me connect deeply to dark imagery. Candlelit or darker red lighting enhances the atmosphere and emotion. Most importantly, allowing myself to connect fully with my raw, authentic emotions creates the strongest connection to the concept.

7. Goth and grunge aesthetics often challenge conventional beauty standards. How do you personally define beauty within this darker creative space?
Beauty, to me, is authenticity. It’s embracing what makes you different rather than hiding it. In darker creative spaces, beauty exists in emotion, honesty, and individuality. It’s about expressing truth rather than fitting into expectations.

8. Collaboration is essential in projects like this. How does working closely with photographers, stylists, and other creatives shape your final performance?
Working with Dan Seagull and ROTN Reviews played a huge role in shaping my performance. Dan is a lighting genius—I call him the magic camera man. Grim and Matt from ROTN Reviews create an environment where I feel safe, comfortable, and supported, which allows me to fully access that raw emotional state. That trust is essential in creating honest, powerful imagery.

9. Was there a particular moment during this shoot where you felt especially connected to the concept or energy of the project?
The moment I felt most connected was when I was setting the table like a traditional 60s or 70s housewife—but in a darker, macabre way. Reimagining that role and transforming it into something confident and empowering made me feel deeply connected to the concept.

10. What do you hope viewers feel or take away when they engage with this editorial?
I hope viewers feel the rawness and honesty of it. I pour parts of my soul into every project I’m part of. There are no facades—just truth, emotion, and embracing the macabre. I hope people see the beauty in darkness and feel empowered to embrace their own authenticity.

Carrie Cannie’s work reminds us that darkness is not the absence of light, but the presence of depth. Her ability to translate emotion into physical expression creates imagery that resonates far beyond the visual—it lingers, unsettles, and inspires. By embracing the macabre as a symbol of resilience, individuality, and reclamation, she challenges conventional narratives of beauty and replaces them with something far more honest and profound.

This editorial stands as a testament to her fearless creative spirit and unwavering authenticity. Carrie does not simply portray a concept—she becomes it, dissolving the boundary between subject and story. In doing so, she invites viewers to confront their own perceptions of darkness and recognize the strength that exists within it. Through her artistry, Carrie affirms that beauty is not defined by conformity, but by the courage to exist unapologetically in one’s truth.

Model: Carrie Cannie @carrie_cannie

Photographer: Dan Seigel @danseagullphoto

https://danseagullphoto.mypixieset.com/

Makeup Artist: ROTN REVIEWS @rotnreviews

Bianca Frusi

Photographer: Riccardo Dall'Amico @dallamico

www.dallamico.it

Model/Makeup Artist/Hair Stylist: Bianca Frusi @biancafrusi

https://wwe.bisncafrusi.com

Wardrobe Stylist/Creative Director: Nausicaa Frusi @nau_ph

In a muted space between shadow and softness, the gothic Japanese lolita aesthetic becomes an inner language.

Lace is not decoration, but shelter. Black is not darkness, but depth.

This vision moves through fragility without fear, embracing decay as a quiet form of beauty. There is innocence, but never naivety.

Each detail feels intentional, almost ritualistic, holding together grace and gravity.

The image lingers in a suspended moment, where elegance carries weight and delicacy becomes a form of strength.

A beauty that doesn’t ask to be understood, only felt.

Your style is deeply inspired by gothic Japanese lolita. What draws you to this aesthetic?

It feels like a safe structure for emotions. It allows softness and darkness to exist together without cancelling each other. I don’t wear it to escape reality, but to face it more honestly.

Fragility is a strong presence in your imagery. How do you relate to it?

I see fragility as awareness, not weakness. Being sensitive means noticing things others overlook. I try to protect that feeling instead of hiding it.

There’s a sense of decay in your work, but it feels gentle rather than tragic. Why?

Because decay doesn’t always mean an ending. Sometimes it’s just a quiet transition. I’m interested in that in-between state, where things are changing but still holding on.

Your beauty feels ethereal, yet serious. How would you define it?

It’s not light or playful. It’s calm, intentional, and a bit heavy. I like beauty that stays with you, not just something pretty to look at.

If this editorial had a feeling, what would it be?

A soft stillness. The kind that feels fragile, but very real.

Schakya Sinhara

In a world where photography often pursues perfection above all else, Schakya Sinhara offers something far more profound: emotion. His work transcends the purely visual, transforming light, color, and contrast into a language of feeling. Each image he creates carries a quiet intensity, inviting the viewer not only to see, but to experience. With a distinctive sensitivity to atmosphere and human presence, Schakya reveals the fragile space where vulnerability and strength coexist.

Guided by both instinct and discipline, and shaped by mentorship from some of the most respected figures in contemporary photography, Schakya has developed a visual signature that bridges fashion and fine art. His images balance precision with spontaneity, elegance with authenticity. Rather than imposing his vision, he enters into a dialogue with his subjects, allowing their essence to emerge naturally. In this exclusive interview, Schakya shares the emotional foundations of his work, his creative process, and the philosophy that continues to shape his evolving artistic journey.

1. Your work is known for its vibrant use of color, light, and contrast. How do these elements shape the emotional tone of your images?

Light and color are emotional languages to me. I use them to build atmosphere, to whisper rather than shout. Contrast brings rhythm, a kind of heartbeat, guiding the eye but also the mood. Together, they form the emotional skin of my images, that first layer through which you feel before you see.

2. How do you approach revealing the unique essence of a subject while maintaining your own artistic signature?

Every subject has a vibration, something silent that only appears when trust exists. My approach is to listen to that energy and filter it through my own perception. I never want to impose my universe, only to let it merge with theirs. The result becomes a dialogue, honest and instinctive.

3. You blend creativity with precision in your work. How do you balance spontaneity and control during a photoshoot?

I usually begin with words, ideas, sensations, or colors that form the core of a concept. From there, I build a moodboard that connects everything: light, textures, makeup, tone. But once on set, I let go. The plan becomes instinct. Spontaneity, even small “mistakes,” can bring unexpected authenticity. That’s what I look for, the fragile, human moment you can’t stage.

4. How has being trained by renowned photographers influenced your technique and visual philosophy?

My mentors taught me rigor and discipline, the ability to shape light and compose with intention. But beyond the technical aspects, some, like Nath-Sakura, opened me to art history and conceptual thinking. Others such as Lindsay Adler, Chris Knight, Gemmy Woud-Binnendijk, Félix Barjou, or Quentin Décaillet have inspired me with their mastery of storytelling, light, and emotion. I learned that rules matter only if you know how to break them, because photography, before being technique, is a language of emotion.

5. What role does emotion play in your creative process, from concept development to the final image?

Emotion is everything for me, both strength and vulnerability. When I was a nurse, I had to put emotions aside; now, as an artist, I have to face them. I create with them. They influence how I see, feel, and capture. Each image comes from that inner place, raw but honest. It’s my truest compass.

6. Fashion and fine art often intersect in your photography. How do you navigate the space between commercial intent and artistic expression?

I’ve always felt that fashion and fine art share the same roots. They both explore transformation, identity, and beauty in their own languages. I don’t separate them, they complete each other. Fashion brings precision and form; fine art gives depth and emotion. Together, they create the balance I love.

7. Can you describe your process when preparing for a shoot, from mood-boarding to execution?

It always begins with a feeling, sometimes a single word, a color, or an atmosphere that stays in my mind. Then I build around that: textures, references, light, styling, makeup. Preparation helps me set the rhythm, but once the camera is in my hands, I let instinct take over. I want the shoot to breathe and feel spontaneous, not rigid.

8. What makes a photoshoot feel successful to you—beyond technical perfection?

A shoot feels successful when there’s real synergy between everyone involved. When the atmosphere is light, respectful, and full of good energy, when everything flows. Each person brings their own spark, and together we build something greater than any of us could alone. It’s like a fluid exchange where ideas, emotions, and intuition merge naturally. Those are the moments that feel magical to me, human, creative, and deeply genuine.

9. How do you adapt your visual style to meet a client’s vision while preserving the integrity of your work?

Collaboration begins with listening, not to imitate, but to understand what emotion is expected. I reinterpret that through my own style and sensibility. I don’t really see myself as a service provider; I’m an artist first. My work comes from instinct and emotion rather than execution. There are many photographers, but what I bring is my inner vision, something that vibrates from within. That authenticity is what makes each collaboration meaningful.

10. Looking ahead, how do you hope your photography will evolve, and what kinds of projects excite you most at this stage of your career?

I want my work to keep finding its rhythm naturally, by staying curious and open. I’m drawn to collaborations that unite photography with other creative worlds: fashion, flowers, or materials like metal, fabric, or wood. What excites me most is when photography becomes more than an image, when it feels alive, textured, and imperfect, like a story captured between stillness and motion. For me, each photo carries a narrative, an emotion, a trace of life. It’s close to cinema in that way: every frame tells something intimate and real. I don’t want to force a path; I just want to explore and grow through genuine encounters, letting emotion guide my lens.

Schakya Sinhara’s work stands as a quiet yet powerful testament to the emotional depth photography can hold. His images do more than capture appearances—they reveal presence, atmosphere, and truth. With a rare balance of technical mastery and intuitive sensitivity, he transforms each collaboration into a moment of shared authenticity.

As he continues to explore new creative territories, Schakya remains guided by emotion, curiosity, and human connection. His photography reminds us that the most meaningful images are not defined by perfection, but by honesty. Through his lens, we are invited into a world where light becomes feeling, and where every photograph is not just seen, but deeply felt.

Model: Jem Athéna Wacheux @_.jem._w_

Photographer: Schakya Sinhara @schapicshow

https://www.schapicshow.com

https://www.tiktok.com/@schapicshow

https://youtube.com/@schapicshow?si=4W1DoRuLZAA02L4E