Tom Derickx: Man on the Move

Tom wears the Rail Knit– $159.95 and the Destination Denim Jean– $149.95

Tom Derickx is a career chameleon. The former Sydney Swans AFL star and current 1/2 of the up and coming band Kayex, winner of the Triple J Unearthed competition, has moved from strength to strength. Tom took a break from his hectic schedule to chat to us about his latest ventures.

You have an impressive job history: AFL player, model, and now musician, did you ever think you’d take such a varied path in life?

I never had a concrete idea of where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do when I was younger, so it hasn’t come as a massive surprise. I’ve always been one to take each opportunity as it comes, so I was super grateful to play AFL when that opportunity came along. Although it wasn’t the easiest journey because of all the injuries, I’m still grateful for that time in my life.

What brought about the shift into music?

Music was always a passion of mine­, ever since I was young. After I retired from AFL, I got back into it and formed the band Kayex with my mate Palassi Kailis whom I’ve known since I was young.

Congratulations on the Triple J Unearthed win, that’s very impressive!

Thank you! It was such a great honour and really unexpected for us. It’s made us realise that maybe we have what it takes and has put some wind in our sails.

How are your days different now with the band?

At the moment we’ve been busy with production and spending lots of time in the studio as well as running to meetings all over town, as well as getting organised for a tour. It’s usually quite varied day to day- which I like.

What do you do when you’re not busy with work?

I try to balance work with downtime but it’s not always easy. I’m a big fan of surfing and swimming, just getting outdoors really helps to clear my head at the end of a busy week.

What’s next for you?

We’re touring later this year around Australia as well as a couple of shows overseas which I’m so excited for. I’ve also recently become an ambassador for RUOK?, which is a cause I strongly support. I’m looking forward to continuing to help them spread awareness about the importance of talking about your mental health and normalising the discussion.

 

Tom’s Picks from the Commuter Collection:

The Best Cycling Trails Around Melbourne

Part 1 of a 3 Part Series of Australian Cities

Merri Creek Trail

Explore 20km of the Merri Creek Trail

Winding 20km through Melbourne’s Northern suburbs, the Merri Creek trail offers both walkers and cyclists picturesque views of Merri Creek and lush greenery. Highlights include the Harding Street Suspension Bridge and the Coburg Lake Reserve.

Capital City Trail

Enjoy a scenic route with endless opportunities for sight-seeing!

For those looking to take in the best of what Melbourne has to offer, the Capital City trail includes many highlights along the 30km route around the CBD and surrounding suburbs. Stop off at Fed Square to get your culture fix, whiz through the Docklands to take in the views, take a detour to the Melbourne Zoo to visit the animals- the opportunities are endless!

St Kilda Beach to Half Moon Bay

A breezy weekend ride

Take in breathtaking views of the bayside coast from the path of this breezy 13km ride. Set off from Half Moon Bay and wind your way past Brighton and Elwood Beach to reach the iconic St Kilda Foreshore, where you can enjoy a well deserved lunch with friends.

Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail

Take the road less travelled

Think you’re ready for the Tour De France? Challenge yourself with this 40km cycling trail which follows the path of an old railway line through the Yarra Valley. The trail meanders past dense bushland, wineries and farmland, making it the ideal trail for anyone keen to escape the busy city.

Main Yarra Trail

Follow the Yarra

This cycling trail runs for 35km from Templestowe to Southbank alongside the Yarra River. The scenic route offers ample opportunity to admire the beauty of the river, with notable pit-stops such as the Fairfield Boat House.

Gear up before you hit the trails:

An Interview with Nami Man

You’ve probably come across Nami Man and admired his unique, effortless and cool style, which blends classic menswear pieces with relaxed street wear.

We caught up with the sartorial force, who is now considered one of Australia’s most stylish menswear influencers, to get the scoop on how he expresses his life through style as well as some of his latest projects.  

What path did you take to get to where you are now?

I grew up in Brisbane and really experimented with my style. I was really into skating and grunge and I really used fashion to show who I was and what I was into at the time. I used to hang out at the skate park everyday after school with mates, just skating and hanging out and being free. Nowadays I’m still interested but not as intensely as I used to be when I was young.  Skate culture was what initially got me interested in menswear and led me to eventually make the move down to Melbourne. 

Has Melbourne influenced your style in any way?

It has! I find the people of Melbourne to be really inspiring. Wherever you go you see so many people doing their own thing, and their personal style and personality shines through. People who aren’t afraid to break the rules really inspire me to challenge my own perceptions of style. 

Your style comes across as very individual and expressive of who you are right now, do you think you’ve finally found your sense of style? 

Yes and no. As I’m getting older, I’ve come to understand what works best for me and what makes me feel like my best self, whether it’s a great tailored suit or my massive sneaker collection.  However, I feel like its constantly changing and evolving as my lifestyle changes. I’m always open to trying new things and stepping outside my comfort zone. 

Nami wears the Breakaway Bomber– $199.95

What does a typical day look like for you?

I usually get up relatively early in the morning. I like to have a morning coffee and check my emails to prepare myself for the day ahead. If I’m in a rush, I’ll grab coffee on the way to work from my local café. I typically begin the day at Masons by gathering the sales associate team together to lead our morning meeting, shortly after I take a lap of the store to ensure our visual merchandising is up to par and then I’m in my office and replying to any additional emails I’ve received.

During the day, I commute around the city to meetings, whether by tramming or even skating around sometimes. As creactive director for Masons I’m meeting with artists to develop new concepts and ideas for their store window and merchandising. My day could also involve meeting with new and existing clients, to ensure that their expectations are met. I like to end the day with a final debrief with my team to brainstorm ideas for any upcoming social media campaigns. After work I like to wind down by grabbing dinner with my partner or friends.

What’s next for you?

I’m working on a few projects at the moment but nothing I can reveal as yet! At the moment I’m just enjoying where my career is at in the industry and I’m looking forward to what’s to come!

Nami’s Top Picks from The Commuter Collection:

We hope you enjoyed our interview with Nami as much as we did. To check out more of Nami’s style, head to his Instagram: @nami_man 

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