Warning Graphic Content!

We all love graphic content. Whether its extreme violence in films (like the infamous Tarantino) or your favorite adult starlet's Instagram feed, we devour it fully. So its only natural that our love for all things we're not supposed to be into makes it way into fashion. Graphic Content is a new LA based clothing line integrating unique graphics into streetwear attire. Created by friends Austin Hunkins and Justin Gonzalez the brand just dropped their first collection appropriately named "Therapy Session 1." Keep reading on what inspired Graphic Content and how I styled one of their pieces! 

Who are you (pretty much give us your Tinder bio without the scamming)?

A: My name is Austin Hunkins I'm a graphic designer living in downtown Los Angeles. I'm currently attending FIDM as well as working as a freelance designer.

J: My name is Justin Gonzalez and I'm a graphic designer from LA

Justin & Austin (shot by yours truly)

 Where does the name Graphic Content come from?

A: The name Graphic Content took my best friend Justin & I a year to come up with. We went through more than you can think of before we were satisfied. Well first off we are both graphic designers and have stockpiles of graphics we bounce off each other. Also for some fucked up reason we both love actual graphic content. Like if I’m watching a video and it has that warning in the beginning I already know I’m going to like it, so it just made sense the moment we said it out loud as a name.

J: We both make graphics and we both like dark shit. The name just fit perfectly when we came up with it.

A quick look featuring one of the GC tees! Shot by https://www.instagram.com/austinhunkins/

-What was the inspiration behind “Therapy Session 1”?

A: Our inner evils. really a lot of the graphics we make have a deep picture but even deeper ideas within the statements, a lot of it coming from my real life or situations I've witnessed.

J: We just wanted to express the inner anxieties and stress that we all have deep down somewhere. Therapy Session 1 represents that.

Do you think the internet is a great source for creativity or is there too much saturation of content (for example graphic designers/rappers etc)?

A: The internet is a great source for inspiration; everything can be improved. Everything is recycled these days but as long as you can add your own direction and creativity then it is original. I think where people lack is the digging and searching on the internet to find the less recycled things to inspire you.

J: There is no better resource than the internet. Yes, there is a lot of saturated content out there but if you stay in your lane and stick to what is true to your identity then people will begin to recognize your work as genuine as opposed to forced.

-What’s the best of the 7 deadly sins?

 A: Sex sells. So I'd have to say lust.

J: Envy ;-)

Check out Graphic Content for for that #newnew

https://www.instagram.com/_graphiccontent_/

https://graphiccontent.us/password

Empowering Latina Women Through Style with Ella Loca

As someone who lives in Los Angeles (let alone any other part of the U.S.) recognizing the huge impact that the Latina community has on this country is a neccessary step towards truly accepting this country for what it is. This is even more relevant now as we face the upcoming presidential election, and the debates that have sprung from the various candidates.

Maybe its because I'm actually an immigrant myself (I was born in Helsinki, Finland), but I truly believe there is no difference as to where someone is from in consideration of if they should be allowed to live in this country. If we truly believe we are a 'melting pot' nation we have to allow everyone to embrace their heritage and culture to the fullest.

Even though you might not think this is relevant to my normally fashion/ art based blog, but I believe these to be great mediums to express opinions and ideas. Because of this I'm excited to present to you Ella Loca, an upcoming brand focused on empowering Latina women and embracing characteristics which are often frowned upon in communities across the world. 

What is Ella Loca and when did you get started with the brand?

Ella Loca is an online clothing store I created to bring fashion to women but also help promote feminism within the Hispanic culture. I started brainstorming in January of 2016 and my first release was in late March of 2016.

How did you come up with the three specific shirt designs (the cochina, llorona, and puta)? For ex: what was the design process like

One night I just had a dream about a shirt with Puta on it in Old English text. I think that Old English is so beautiful and very based in Spanish culture. I came up with Cochina and Llorona later on. My idea was to create a way for Latinas to reclaim words made to put them down. These shirts aren’t about shock value, each design has its own story. Puta, for a woman who is strong and independent, often knocked down by those that are intimidated by her. Cochina is for women that have been shamed because of their sexuality. I think Latina women are very fetishized, if you search #latina on instagram it’s mostly porn, but once a Latina woman wants to take control of her sexual nature she is considered a disgusting slut that nobody wants, and that’s wrong. Llorona is for any woman who has ever been shamed for showing her emotions which in Hispanic culture is considered “feminine” and “weak.” 

Do you think there’s less respect for feminism in the Hispanic community versus in other communities?

I think there’s less respect for women in most colored communities. I think that in a lot of these colored communities women are taught that they are meant to be wives. We are meant to learn to cook, clean, and be beautiful all in an effort to find a man to provide for us. There is so much pressure to stay thin, have long hair, dress nice, etc. We are taught that we should have all these Eurocentric traits that are often impossible to achieve.  Domestic violence is more prevalent in families of color, and I think that’s due to the fact that women are taught to be obedient to their husbands, we aren’t given the confidence to speak up for ourselves. 

(This one is slightly off the topic off fashion) Since you embrace being Hispanic and are trying to have an impact on your culture, how do you feel about people like Donald Trump who (in my opinion) don’t respect the diversity in America?

I have actually cried over the fact that Donald Trump is a respected candidate. The year of 2015 was such a progressive year with the legalization of gay marriage and I really believe America has taken 10 steps back with the support for Donald Trump. It has truly shown how alive racism still is. It is so scary knowing that this many people have so much anger towards people of color.  If Donald Trump was to become president some of my friends families would be separated, and although it isn’t right to be here illegally I believe everyone deserves a chance at life and some can’t get that in their native country.  You may think Trump has good ideas and decide to push the racism to the side, but if you do vote for him I think you’re still a part of the problem.

What do you want women to get from wearing these pieces of clothing?

First off I want women to feel confident, I want women to embrace their bodies. For years we have been ashamed of our big hips and thick thighs, until recently the Kardashians have made it trendy to be thick. I also hope to share knowledge, I think a lot of my peers don’t even realized how oppressed we are still being. I want these garments to be conversation pieces, I want a girl to be walking down a street with her “Puta” shirt and have an opportunity to inform a commentator on the movement I am trying to create. 

Describe the Ella Loca girl?

An Ella Loca girl is any Latina who is ready to embrace and grow her culture. She’s a woman who wants to create a progressive community for the next generations to experience. She is strong and independent.

Where do you want to take the brand in the future, what’s your ultimate goal?

I will be releasing more clothes for Summer, Fall and Winter in 2016, all of which will have the same intention of empowering Latinas. My ultimate goal is to create a group of informed women.

Be sure to follow Ella Loca on social media to stay up to date!

https://www.instagram.com/_ellaloca/

https://twitter.com/_ellaloca

https://www.instagram.com/_ellaloca/ 

Not So Basic with Basics Co.

Valentine's Day is almost upon us. And even though this holiday is almost certainly a scheme by marketers to get extra revenue in the chocolate, jewelry, and slightly trashy lingerie categories, I still enjoy it. What's not to love about a holiday thats literally about love? Luckily, even if you're #singleaf, February has its perks...  

Basics Co. is launching their Valentine's Day capsule collection on February 6th, meaning you have a few more days to not order Grub Hub and to save up some cash. And in case you don't yet know this brand out of Seattle, I have you covered below: 

Dad hat on @FreshestPilot & @kyefromthe6

How did the name Basics Co. come about, and how did the label get started?

I came up with name "Basics" based off emotion really. I was tired of seeing all these fake high fashions brands I just wanted to create something back to the basics, like the 80's-90s when all the clothes were simple but so dope. 

What’s your ultimate goal for the label and for yourself? Perhaps what you want to offer or who you would want to be wearing it.

My goal for the moment I can say is just to expand as much as I can with the brand. I just want to offer good quality timeless merchandise. I don't really care who wears it as long as girls do. 

Where did you get the inspiration for the logo “dad hat”?

I was just started playing with fonts on my computer really. I like vintage clothes so I tried to pick a font that wasn't too extra, the pin drop came from me always having to use it lately. From the brand perspective it really represents "it's not where you're at its where you're going." I want this brand to be everywhere forever.

Since it is such a huge industry right now, what current street-wear labels do you personally look up to style wise?

I got my own style so I can't say I really look up to anyone but I do admire the Carrots brand by Anwar Carrots . My bro Uwila  & Teezy got their brands they're releasing in 2016 and everything they do motivates me just to be more creative with my pieces I make. 

Does Seattle have a specific look that people gravitate towards, or would you say its more unified with the rest of the world because of the internet?

Seattle fashion is unique to me. Obviously we have a lot of hypebeast (what city doesn't) but I think a lot of people got their own sense of style. A lot of the people I be around, including myself, get inspired by things they see and do something completely different upon how they seen it first.

And finally, what other pieces can we look forward to in 2016?

I'm gonna drop a hoodie soon but besides that I like do things spur of the moment so expect the unexpected.

Hit that follow:

https://twitter.com/BasicsCO

https://twitter.com/FreshestPilot

http://thebasicscompany.bigcartel.com

Downtown with Gabby

Yes I go to fashion school.

I'm that person you tell, "Let me guess you go to FIDM.." to at a party. But even though FIDM has a reputation in LA as being full of so called 'basics', its actually pretty full of totally cool (IRL) people. One of these people, and my #wcw this week is Gabby. With her ability to mix designer pieces with streetwear and thrifted gems, she's definitely one of my favorite people to outfit watch on the regular. I'm sure you'll agree:

Follow Gabby on Instagram to keep up to date:

https://www.instagram.com/____schwan/