Aaron Walkley

My name is Aaron, and I founded INSTINCT in 2020. INSTINCT is a brand that champions emerging artists through collaborative streetwear. While directing INSTINCT, I work four days a week in an architecture practice as a Part 2 architectural assistant. My background is in architecture, and it influences how I run INSTINCT. This influence is focused around our events, I treat the events like a project, looking at stakeholders, community, added value and correlation to context. Taking a simple idea and layering in opportunity and people to create what I feel are crucial events.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=k4ItTSCA8iQ&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fmail.google.com%2F&embeds_referring_origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmail.google.com&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjY

What are you working on at the moment?

Currently, I’m working on our next runway event, ‘INTERSECTIONS: ACT III.’ This event is important because it brings together creatives to celebrate their craft. I feel this is vital for the creative community as it forms a hub where people can meet one another, make friends with similar creative interests and realise they aren’t alone in the barriers they face. It also shows what can be possible when you want to make change and that you don’t need to wait around for an opportunity, rather go and create it.

We’ll also be launching our next collection, which focuses on printmakers in Plymouth. These events are vital not just to generate attention around INSTINCT, but also to connect with people who are creative and want to explore that passion. We want to create a brand that encourages people to create, and these events are the perfect opportunity for that.

I believe in this passionately; there’s only been a couple of days since starting this brand in 2020 where I haven’t thought about it. I want to make change that I believe in, work with some incredible people and see what is possible when you follow what you love. In return from my work so far I have seen a change in how I tackle problems when they arise, I enjoy what I do and when someone invests in the brand it feels pretty good. 

What do you generally hope to achieve through your work? Has this changed over time?

Through my work with INSTINCT, I hope to create a beacon for artists, providing them with the means to grow. We aim to give artists a voice and a platform through our work. Our garments will serve as a canvas to help them gain recognition, build a customer base, and earn profit through commission. This idea came from many conversations with friends, spending time in a studio and around recognising the challenges that artists face and using our brand as a way to address potential barriers that could deter an artist from wanting to create.

Where does your inspiration come from?

My inspiration began with wanting to make a mark on the world, which is what initially sparked my passion for architecture. Over time, this transitioned into INSTINCT and creating change and opportunities through our garments. It wasn’t an overnight shift but the result of many conversations with friends and self-reflection. Current inspiration comes from brands like Gymshark, specifically Ben Francis and how he operates, as well as brands like Cole Buxton and Illicit Block, which carry authenticity in their work.

How do you think your work impacts the community in Plymouth? What do you hope people will take away from it?

I think it offers different perspectives depending on where people are in life. It inspires artists to create, leaders to drive change, and encourages people to connect, showing them they aren’t alone in their struggles as creatives. Most importantly, it brings the community together through an active event—something to get excited about, talk about, and enjoy.

Why are you based in Plymouth? What is it about living and working in Plymouth that attracts/keeps you here?

It’s the people. I’ve found that whenever I’m planning an event, people here are eager to help make it happen. Plymouth has a creative spirit that’s just waiting to flourish, and people are willing to contribute to it.

What path did you take to get to this point? Were there any particular organisations that stand out to you as being crucial on your journey?

Yes, Real Ideas, specifically Ocean Studios, has been vital. Our brand officially started trading in January 2023, and by March, I attended a print and prosecco social at Ocean Studios, where I met Francesca. I pitched an idea about a pop-up shop and gallery space with live screen printing, and even though we had no audience or testimony, she listened and supported me. The same goes for Rob at Ocean Studios, who was key in our first runway. PDF (Plymouth Design Forum) also played an important role, with Darren helping me make crucial decisions. Organisations like Ocean Studios and PDF have been pivotal in shaping my journey.

What advice would you give to creatives starting their careers?

Just start. Get stuck in, make mistakes, and learn from them. Don’t wait for opportunities—create them yourself. If you want to be featured in a gallery, host a gallery.

What are your hopes for your work in the future?

I hope to grow INSTINCT into a beacon for artists, where they know who we are and what we do. We plan to expand beyond clothing and support artists in a variety of ways.

What are your hopes for Plymouth? What do you think it should aspire to be? How do you think we need to evolve or change? What does the city need to do better?

I’ve attended events where people speak of Plymouth as a creative hotspot, and I agree—there’s a lot of potential. But it ultimately depends on the people. Look at Birmingham, where the arts and culture sector has suffered due to funding cuts. It’s up to the people to drive the arts forward. My hope is that Plymouth’s creative community grows strong enough to sustain itself, even if funding decreases. We already have great organisations, but we need more people driving the arts from the ground up.

What’s one cultural venue/place/work/person you would recommend to an outsider visiting Plymouth?

Visit the Makers Market at Royal William Yard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7D9WYmc9cE&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fmail.google.com%2F&embeds_referring_origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmail.google.com&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjY