From attending as a fan in 2019 to commanding the main floor, multi-hyphenate artist and designer CJ Stowklyn has officially arrived. For its landmark 10th anniversary, ComplexCon serves as the ultimate backdrop for Stowklyn’s label, ABSORBED6, merging high-end grunge, underground music energy, and visionary streetwear into a singular, immersive experience. In this exclusive conversation, we dive into the creative crossover of fashion and music, the hustle behind building a brand from the ground up, and what it truly means to stay rooted in the culture.
Let’s jump right into the conversation and hear straight from CJ about building the world of ABSORBED6.
Official Fame Magazine is all about celebrating standout talent—what does it feel like to step onto the floor at ComplexCon for its landmark 10th anniversary as an exhibitor with your label, ABSORBED6?
Walking onto the ComplexCon floor as an exhibitor for ABSORBED6 feels surreal. I was here as a fan in 2019, taking everything in and imagining what it would be like to have my own space one day. Now, seven years later, I’m actually here building that space from the ground up. It feels like a full-circle moment, but also like the beginning of something much bigger.
Your press release mentions looking up to ComplexCon veteran Jae Tips and his advice: “It’s not how you get there, it’s how you stay there.” How does that perspective shape your long-term vision for ABSORBED6 in the culture?
That quote really speaks to how I look at ABSORBED6. Getting attention is one thing, but building something that people still care about years later is the real goal. I want ABSORBED6 to have its own identity and world, something that can evolve with culture without losing its core.
Moving from attending ComplexCon in 2019 to officially launching your brand on the main floor in 2026 is a massive milestone. What has been the most transformative part of that seven-year journey?
The biggest transformation has honestly been realizing that I’m capable of creating the opportunities I used to wait for. In 2019, I was experiencing ComplexCon from the outside. Now I’m bringing my own world into the building. That shift from consumer to creator has changed how I see myself and what I think is possible.
You are well known for blending a unique high-fashion and streetwear aesthetic in your personal style. How did that personal style evolve into the high-end grunge and Opium-inspired aesthetic of ABSORBED6?
My personal style has always been about experimenting and not really following one lane. I’ve always been drawn to darker, oversized, futuristic and slightly chaotic pieces. ABSORBED6 basically became the physical version of that mindset, high-end grunge, underground energy, distressing, darkness and a little bit of the unexpected.
Mainline pieces like your oversized silhouettes and distressed textures stand out visually. How do your music and tour experiences influence the physical cuts and feels of your garments?
Music definitely affects how I design. When I make music, I’m thinking about texture, atmosphere, distortion, space and emotion, and I approach clothing the same way. I want the pieces to feel lived-in and expressive, almost like they already have a story before you even put them on.
Beyond fashion, you’ve toured across the U.S. and U.K. alongside Mark Battles and collaborated with artists like Matt OX and BigBabyGucci. How do you balance being a recording artist with running a burgeoning fashion label?
I honestly don’t separate them as much as people might think. Music, fashion, touring and content are all different expressions of the same creative world for me. Touring taught me how to move, adapt and connect with people in different places, and I bring that same energy into building ABSORBED6.
You’re dropping your new single “Back to Me” featuring Cherrypopsoda on September 22nd. How does the sonic vibe of this single align with the visual world you are presenting at ComplexCon?
This particular single “Back to Me” doesn’t have any specific correlation to my clothing brand and booth for complexcon, it’s an early 2000’s pop single feat Cherrypopsoda, definitely check it out if you like pop music, often i do find myself combining fashion in my music generally.
You have a massive reach across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. How do you maintain authentic, direct connections with your fans amidst rapid growth on social media?
I think the biggest thing is that I never want people to feel like they’re just numbers to me. I still like showing the behind-the-scenes, the wins, the mistakes, the process and the random moments that happen along the way.
Fashion and music often intersect, but you’re also deeply passionate about humanitarian and environmental causes. How do those values weave into your creative projects?
For me, creativity has always been connected to something bigger than just making things look cool. Whether it’s fashion, music, water, sustainability or supporting different communities, I want the things I build to have some type of purpose behind them. I’m still figuring out exactly what that looks like long-term, but I want ABSORBED6 and Wet AF water to be part of that conversation.
Alongside music, fashion, and entrepreneurship, how do you manage to project a cohesive brand image while wearing so many different creative hats?
I think the common thread is that everything I do comes from what I love, Whether I’m making a song, designing a garment, performing, creating content or building a brand, I’m always trying to create something bigger than me
When festival-goers walk away from the ABSORBED6 setup at ComplexCon, what legacy or main statement do you want them to attach to your name?
I want people to leave ABSORBED6 feeling like they discovered something, not just bought something. I want them to remember the atmosphere, the details, the attitude and the fact that it felt different. If someone walks away thinking, “that was a whole vibe, then I’ve done my job
Photo Credits: Ike Thimonier/CJ Stowklyn