Drue Kataoka
“I feel like I’ve always had one foot in the East and one foot in the West as well. Being biracial, being always between worlds, it’s a part of me, and so the core of my work is this concept of being a bridge, or the core to my art is idea of art as a social bridge.” Drue Kataoka
occupation: artist, musician, and blogger
I love how Drue approaches life with the feeling that “we have a limited time to create” and as a result, there is an imperative to act on our impulses and intuitions, instead of just theorizing them. At the end of her video, she graces us with one of her many talents, and plays her handmade gold flute. The moment and the music leave you filled to the brim with emotion and wanting more. The flute, like Drue, is a “beautiful instrument” with which…
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Rachel Lena Esterline
“Only put out what you want more of in life. The number one thing that I’ve learned recently from one of my dear friends is that we’re all mirrors. If you want negativity, ask for it. If you want rad things to come to your life, invite it.” Rachel L. Esterline
occupation: wardrobe stylist and costume designer for television and film, part of the design team at Harputs OWN, entrepreneur and partner at American Apocalypse
“I would rather dress in a costume,” says Rachel, and I find her wide-open enthusiasm for self-expression intoxicating. She is a stream of innate creative consciousness and is refreshingly unattached to any of the typical trappings associated with fashion, like keeping up with or even knowing who’s who, or buying into the credo that you need years of school (or any classroom experience) to train your eye. Rather, Rachel…
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Arthur Louie
occupation: co-owner of The Archive in San Francisco, manager, and merchandiser
“I love the hidden details about the clothing I have and that I sell in the store. You may not see it, but I know that it’s there, and that’s why I enjoy wearing it.” Arthur Louie
Arthur was on course to be an optometrist, which makes sense when you hear how deeply he sees through (like x-ray vision) the construction of his clothes. With the perfectionism of an architect, his clothes fit his body like a luxurious glove, whether the “C”-shaped skinny jeans, blazers with the highly accentuated cuts in the arm pit, or the extra-long sleeves on his sweaters. He talks with fervor about the boiled wool lining of his jacket, the raw edges of his pullover, and the excitement of being able to wear something inside out when it’s so well-made. But…
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Erika von Petrin
occupation: vintage clothing and accessories buyer and dealer
“[I'm inspired by] C. Jere brass, Brutalist lighting, La Belle Epoque, Art Deco-era opera coats, skin, fur, feathers, Sandor Marai, Yves Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, Margiela, the Industrial Revolution, architectural ruins, the Bloomsbury Group, old school hip-hop, Dolly Parton, and really expensive hosiery.” Erika Von Petrin
Erika had me when she said so humbly about her staggeringly enchanting vintage collection, “alittle bit of glamour in a pedestrian life.” She is so on point, genuinely knowledgeable and contemporary while authentic. When Erika goes searching for the current trendy spikey jewelry on Ebay, she ends up with ancient Indian bracelets, unlike anything you have seen. A sensualist…
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Domonique Echeverria
occupation: designer, costumer, and couturier
“My favorite thing about fashion is that fashion is a game. Think of the characteristics of a game and think of fashion. You can play pretend, play it real, make a move for cause and effect. It helps you learn as you play along (about yourself, about the past and about the future). And like some games, you must find partners to help you play along.” Domonique Echeverria
Six feet tall, “loud, Latin, and curvy,” Dominique is not afraid to embrace all of her. She is all passion and fearless in all of her incarnations of “Liza-inspired glitz,” whether by using sequins, fringe, and now buttons, exemplified by one of her newly designed all-button bustiers. Not short on a lineage of “hutzpah,” her mother once bought her a fur coat just to piss off PETA, and Dominque feels “she rules the world” in her…
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