It might seem a strange notion that the dead pets of one’s childhood could inspire one’s passion as an adult, but this is exactly the case for Cassius Clay, a stylist who has worked with Kanye West and other luminaries. Cassius’s passion for beautiful silk scarves was inspired by watching his mother bury their pet birds in some of her favorite scarves. Now a student at Yale, Cassius discusses his extensive collection of scarves, what each means to him, and the different ways he utilizes them in his day-to-day dress. Even more intriguing, Cassius explains that it isn’t the scarves themselves that spark his interest and make each meaningful to him, but the ideas behind them. Watch the video above for more.

• Jordan

  This is fast becoming one of my favorite features on SLU. I must admit that I swooned slightly at “rakish” but that aside, it seems rare these days to find someone appreciative of the artfulness and quality in a luxury brand rather than of, say, the H or orange which is their signature. Cheers to collecting something because it has real meaning for you. Not to mention, I’m inspired to tie my scarves in new ways! Thanks for sharing Cassius.