Presley Oldham (yes, nephew to fashion legend Todd and son of Dallas sculptor Brad) keeps the family’s creative streak going

Rising up, Presley Oldham absolutely understood he would by no means be an “Beneath-Armour-gym-shorts-Highland-Park boy.” He was too obsessive about performing, dancing, writing and artwork.

As a member of certainly one of Dallas’ most can-do artistic clans, that is sensible. His uncle, Todd Oldham, is the style designer who spent the ’90s making garments and hanging out with fashions on MTV’s House of Style earlier than increasing his oeuvre into furnishings, artwork books and extra. Presley’s dad is Dallas sculptor Brad Oldham, famed because the co-creator of Deep Ellum’s massive, metallic Traveling Man. Presley nonetheless recollects the household manufacturing facility close to the Design District the place his uncle fussed with bolts of material and his dad crafted metallic into funky buttons and {hardware}.

At left, Todd Oldham in 1998 at the presentation of his fall fashion collection in New York. At right, sculptor Brad Oldham stands near 'Traveling Man' in Deep Ellum, which he designed with fellow artist Brandon Oldenburg. — At left, Todd Oldham in 1998 on the presentation of his fall trend assortment in New York. At proper, sculptor Brad Oldham stands close to ‘Touring Man’ in Deep Ellum, which he designed with fellow artist Brandon Oldenburg. ((Adam Adele/Related Press), (Jenice Johnson/DMN File Picture))

So it was maybe inevitable that Presley, now 26, would fall into trend. Granted, it was an oblique route: HPHS was Booker T., which was NYU. He helped out at uncle Todd’s present studio in New York. (A random day would possibly embody actress Susan Sarandon on the door.)

Presley had simply moved to Los Angeles to pursue performing when the pandemic hit. In isolation, he made issues. He liked previous pearls and beads. His pals coveted the funky items, so he made extra. By the point he landed in his grandparents’ arty visitor home in Santa Fe to experience out 2020, he had launched his small namesake line.

Designer Presley Oldham continues his family's creative legacy by launching a new line of handcrafted jewelry, which he is modeling and photographing via selfies during the pandemic. — Designer Presley Oldham continues his household’s artistic legacy by launching a brand new line of handcrafted jewellery, which he’s modeling and photographing through selfies throughout the pandemic.(Presley Oldham / Presley Oldham)

The items are all regionally sourced and handmade. “Mass manufacturing for me is, like, 10,” he says. “I’ve needed to ice down my palms earlier than.” He loves earthy browns and greens, believes strongly within the contradiction of the “informal pearl” and says his items are all gender-neutral.

He fashions lots of his personal items and shoots his personal photographs as a result of, nicely, 2020. His work has already drawn attention from Vogue as a result of, nicely, Oldham.

However he hasn’t given up on his different goals. “I hope to return to LA and begin auditioning once more, and I’m engaged on a TV script as nicely,” Presley says. “It’s all very intertwined — nicely, in my head at the least.”