Los Angeles, March 2024
Written by Alex Yang
HIPHOP CONGRESS
(HHC & FWD Interview)
Hip Hop Congress is UCLA’s foremost club dedicated to the history and culture of hip-hop. During Hip-Hop Appreciation Month, HHC hosts numerous events including their annual fashion show which highlights student models and designers. Ahead of the magnificent exhibition, HHC student leaders; Anna Jefferis, Mané Torosyan Ararati, Asante Spencer, and Kayla Booker shared their thoughts on the intersection between hip-hop culture and fashion.
Los Angeles, March 2024
Written by Alex Yang
HIPHOP CONGRESS
(HHC & FWD Interview)
Hip Hop Congress is UCLA’s foremost club dedicated to the history and culture of hip-hop. During Hip-Hop Appreciation Month, HHC hosts numerous events including their annual fashion show which highlights student models and designers. Ahead of the magnificent exhibition, HHC student leaders; Anna Jefferis, Mané Torosyan Ararati, Asante Spencer, and Kayla Booker shared their thoughts on the intersection between hip-hop culture and fashion.
Los Angeles, March 2024
Written by Alex Yang
(HHC & FWD Interview)
Hip Hop Congress is UCLA’s foremost club dedicated to the history and culture of hip-hop. During Hip-Hop Appreciation Month, HHC hosts numerous events including their annual fashion show which highlights student models and designers. Ahead of the magnificent exhibition, HHC student leaders; Anna Jefferis, Mané Torosyan Ararati, Asante Spencer, and Kayla Booker shared their thoughts on the intersection between hip-hop culture and fashion.
How has hip-hop fashion changed over time?
How has hip-hop fashion changed over time?
How has hip-hop fashion changed over time?
Asante: I feel like it’s interesting to answer because we’ve only been here for like– alive for a fraction of it, but I guess with my family, hip-hop’s been in our family’s culture for a while, and just getting to go through my mom’s old closet and seeing some of the things she wore in college be exactly what I’m wearing now, it’s just kinda funny to me. So, I think in a sense, it kinda hasn’t changed too much because everything comes back every 20 years or so and I think that’s what's cool about it, you can recycle things that were created at its inception.
Anna: Yeah, I was gonna also touch on the cyclical nature of it. I think it’s pretty cool that it’s come back in the past 20 years or so. I personally didn’t grow up in a household where hip-hop was a main focus, but it’s nice to see that it’s become one of my interests outside of how I grew up. It’s amazing how much hip-hop has influenced other styles too. I think nowadays, everything is so intertwined that there are so many different variations like street style, hip-hop style, they’re all kind of coming together as one, which is nice but it’s still very much distinct
Mané: I think a lot of hip-hop fashion now compared to before is a lot more localized too. You see a lot more designer personality in streetwear and hip-hop fashion today.
Kayla: I feel like, like what was already said, it involves what keeps its roots. Just in L.A. specifically, when things evolve, they come back years later.
Asante: I feel like it’s interesting to answer because we’ve only been here for like– alive for a fraction of it, but I guess with my family, hip-hop’s been in our family’s culture for a while, and just getting to go through my mom’s old closet and seeing some of the things she wore in college be exactly what I’m wearing now, it’s just kinda funny to me. So, I think in a sense, it kinda hasn’t changed too much because everything comes back every 20 years or so and I think that’s what's cool about it, you can recycle things that were created at its inception.
Anna: Yeah, I was gonna also touch on the cyclical nature of it. I think it’s pretty cool that it’s come back in the past 20 years or so. I personally didn’t grow up in a household where hip-hop was a main focus, but it’s nice to see that it’s become one of my interests outside of how I grew up. It’s amazing how much hip-hop has influenced other styles too. I think nowadays, everything is so intertwined that there are so many different variations like street style, hip-hop style, they’re all kind of coming together as one, which is nice but it’s still very much distinct
Mané: I think a lot of hip-hop fashion now compared to before is a lot more localized too. You see a lot more designer personality in streetwear and hip-hop fashion today.
Kayla: I feel like, like what was already said, it involves what keeps its roots. Just in L.A. specifically, when things evolve, they come back years later.
Asante: I feel like it’s interesting to answer because we’ve only been here for like– alive for a fraction of it, but I guess with my family, hip-hop’s been in our family’s culture for a while, and just getting to go through my mom’s old closet and seeing some of the things she wore in college be exactly what I’m wearing now, it’s just kinda funny to me. So, I think in a sense, it kinda hasn’t changed too much because everything comes back every 20 years or so and I think that’s what's cool about it, you can recycle things that were created at its inception.
Anna: Yeah, I was gonna also touch on the cyclical nature of it. I think it’s pretty cool that it’s come back in the past 20 years or so. I personally didn’t grow up in a household where hip-hop was a main focus, but it’s nice to see that it’s become one of my interests outside of how I grew up. It’s amazing how much hip-hop has influenced other styles too. I think nowadays, everything is so intertwined that there are so many different variations like street style, hip-hop style, they’re all kind of coming together as one, which is nice but it’s still very much distinct
Mané: I think a lot of hip-hop fashion now compared to before is a lot more localized too. You see a lot more designer personality in streetwear and hip-hop fashion today.
Kayla: I feel like, like what was already said, it involves what keeps its roots. Just in L.A. specifically, when things evolve, they come back years later.
You guys touched on this a little bit, but as the hip-hop community continues to expand and diversify, how do you envision the fashion of hip-hop evolving with it?
You guys touched on this a little bit, but as the hip-hop community continues to expand and diversify, how do you envision the fashion of hip-hop evolving with it?
You guys touched on this a little bit, but as the hip-hop community continues to expand and diversify, how do you envision the fashion of hip-hop evolving with it?
Mané: With more and more female hip-hop artists coming in, I think there’s gonna be a big feminine twist to hip-hop culture too because a lot of hip-hop fashion has been based more on men’s streetwear style.
Anna: What I’ve seen back home and just like more and more is people incorporating their own traditional outfits, materials, and stuff like that into streetwear, and I think that that’s really cool to see because sometimes you can dress traditionally to your culture or you can dress in a more westernized style. So I really like to see those two different things come together, and I think that a lot of it is rooted in music, it is rooted in hip-hop, it’s rooted in streetwear. It’s just really cool to see how that’s changing.
Can I ask where home is to you?
I’m from Botswana, which is in southern Africa.
Asante: I was gonna say something along similar lines. I feel like people from a lot of different cultures are kind of embodying hip-hop as of the last 10 to 15 years. So I think right now when you think of hip-hop, it’s kind of centralized with black America and black people, because that’s where it was conceptualized, with Latinx folks and black folks. But I think in the next 30 years, it will obviously be more of a melting pot because I do believe it’s a culture and not just a style. As more people grow up in America and are surrounded by the culture, inevitably they’re going to feel just as a part of it as we are. So, I think that’s cool in a sense.
Mané: With more and more female hip-hop artists coming in, I think there’s gonna be a big feminine twist to hip-hop culture too because a lot of hip-hop fashion has been based more on men’s streetwear style.
Anna: What I’ve seen back home and just like more and more is people incorporating their own traditional outfits, materials, and stuff like that into streetwear, and I think that that’s really cool to see because sometimes you can dress traditionally to your culture or you can dress in a more westernized style. So I really like to see those two different things come together, and I think that a lot of it is rooted in music, it is rooted in hip-hop, it’s rooted in streetwear. It’s just really cool to see how that’s changing.
Can I ask where home is to you?
I’m from Botswana, which is in southern Africa.
Asante: I was gonna say something along similar lines. I feel like people from a lot of different cultures are kind of embodying hip-hop as of the last 10 to 15 years. So I think right now when you think of hip-hop, it’s kind of centralized with black America and black people, because that’s where it was conceptualized, with Latinx folks and black folks. But I think in the next 30 years, it will obviously be more of a melting pot because I do believe it’s a culture and not just a style. As more people grow up in America and are surrounded by the culture, inevitably they’re going to feel just as a part of it as we are. So, I think that’s cool in a sense.
Mané: With more and more female hip-hop artists coming in, I think there’s gonna be a big feminine twist to hip-hop culture too because a lot of hip-hop fashion has been based more on men’s streetwear style.
Anna: What I’ve seen back home and just like more and more is people incorporating their own traditional outfits, materials, and stuff like that into streetwear, and I think that that’s really cool to see because sometimes you can dress traditionally to your culture or you can dress in a more westernized style. So I really like to see those two different things come together, and I think that a lot of it is rooted in music, it is rooted in hip-hop, it’s rooted in streetwear. It’s just really cool to see how that’s changing.
Can I ask where home is to you?
I’m from Botswana, which is in southern Africa.
Asante: I was gonna say something along similar lines. I feel like people from a lot of different cultures are kind of embodying hip-hop as of the last 10 to 15 years. So I think right now when you think of hip-hop, it’s kind of centralized with black America and black people, because that’s where it was conceptualized, with Latinx folks and black folks. But I think in the next 30 years, it will obviously be more of a melting pot because I do believe it’s a culture and not just a style. As more people grow up in America and are surrounded by the culture, inevitably they’re going to feel just as a part of it as we are. So, I think that’s cool in a sense.
Who do you consider the pioneers of hip-hop fashion? Who are your influences?
Who do you consider the pioneers of hip-hop fashion? Who are your influences?
Who do you consider the pioneers of hip-hop fashion? Who are your influences?
Kayla: I would say Aaliyah and TLC.
Mané: I would concur. On the men’s side, there’s the obvious Tupac, Jay-Z, and Outkast.
Anna: Outkast for sure. And in more recent years, I think with social media and stuff, it’s so much easier for people to fixate on a certain influence when it comes to certain musicians like you see with Playboi Carti’s influence and Travis Scott’s influence. So there are some heavy hitters nowadays who have their own aesthetic which is rooted in hip-hop, but they’ve turned it into something else. It’s cool.
Kayla: I would say Aaliyah and TLC.
Mané: I would concur. On the men’s side, there’s the obvious Tupac, Jay-Z, and Outkast.
Anna: Outkast for sure. And in more recent years, I think with social media and stuff, it’s so much easier for people to fixate on a certain influence when it comes to certain musicians like you see with Playboi Carti’s influence and Travis Scott’s influence. So there are some heavy hitters nowadays who have their own aesthetic which is rooted in hip-hop, but they’ve turned it into something else. It’s cool.
Kayla: I would say Aaliyah and TLC.
Mané: I would concur. On the men’s side, there’s the obvious Tupac, Jay-Z, and Outkast.
Anna: Outkast for sure. And in more recent years, I think with social media and stuff, it’s so much easier for people to fixate on a certain influence when it comes to certain musicians like you see with Playboi Carti’s influence and Travis Scott’s influence. So there are some heavy hitters nowadays who have their own aesthetic which is rooted in hip-hop, but they’ve turned it into something else. It’s cool.
What do you think hip-hop fashion says about the contribution of minority communities, especially the black and Latinx communities, to American culture?
What do you think hip-hop fashion says about the contribution of minority communities, especially the black and Latinx communities, to American culture?
What do you think hip-hop fashion says about the contribution of minority communities, especially the black and Latinx communities, to American culture?
Asante: I feel like it’s so intertwined you can’t really separate it because you see it in pretty much every facet of American life, even though white America tries to separate it because they’re ashamed of people of color for some reason. It’s just so integrated into everything and I feel like this says a lot about how much people of color have done. I think hip-hop culture really is the core of American culture in a lot of ways, at least not the racist part.
Mané: And I think it’s a prime example of expression that was taken to kind of express racist parts of America, and has now intertwined into like a more broad thing where everyone accepts it and credit is finally being given to who pioneered and developed it.
Asante: I feel like it’s so intertwined you can’t really separate it because you see it in pretty much every facet of American life, even though white America tries to separate it because they’re ashamed of people of color for some reason. It’s just so integrated into everything and I feel like this says a lot about how much people of color have done. I think hip-hop culture really is the core of American culture in a lot of ways, at least not the racist part.
Mané: And I think it’s a prime example of expression that was taken to kind of express racist parts of America, and has now intertwined into like a more broad thing where everyone accepts it and credit is finally being given to who pioneered and developed it.
Asante: I feel like it’s so intertwined you can’t really separate it because you see it in pretty much every facet of American life, even though white America tries to separate it because they’re ashamed of people of color for some reason. It’s just so integrated into everything and I feel like this says a lot about how much people of color have done. I think hip-hop culture really is the core of American culture in a lot of ways, at least not the racist part.
Mané: And I think it’s a prime example of expression that was taken to kind of express racist parts of America, and has now intertwined into like a more broad thing where everyone accepts it and credit is finally being given to who pioneered and developed it.
How has hip-hop fashion influenced what UCLA students wear around campus?
How has hip-hop fashion influenced what UCLA students wear around campus?
How has hip-hop fashion influenced what UCLA students wear around campus?
Mané: I think it’s definitely had a big influence. I mean, walking around campus you can tell people do have their own aesthetics and stuff, but in general, it’s like everyone wears streetwear in some way, shape, or form. And I just think again, with social media and stuff–and I attribute TikTok to this–it’s so much easier for you to pick up a niche and make it your own niche, which in a way’s a cool thing, but then in another way, it’s like kind of too much of a big melting pot. It kind of loses its identity. Like there’s no more die-hard, you can tell this person, this is all they listen to, this is all they wear. And it’s kind of like there’s a lack of individuality. But then, there are some people who really, really, you know… it’s a good thing and a bad thing.
Asante: Yeah, I do agree. I feel like a lot of the aesthetics I see here are based off of hip-hop styles, but at the end of the day, it’s not just streetwear. People will rebrand things and turn them into different aesthetics when they just come from hip-hop culture. Kind of like the clean girl aesthetic debacle that was going on on social media, when people were calling a slick-back bun a clean bun, and I was like, “Okay.” I don’t know, I think it’s really cool how people put their own spin on things, I just wish that they would acknowledge where it came from which doesn’t always happen. It doesn’t need to be a loud proclamation or anything, but if someone asks about the hairstyle, don’t say clean bun–that’s just bizarre.
Mané: I think it’s definitely had a big influence. I mean, walking around campus you can tell people do have their own aesthetics and stuff, but in general, it’s like everyone wears streetwear in some way, shape, or form. And I just think again, with social media and stuff–and I attribute TikTok to this–it’s so much easier for you to pick up a niche and make it your own niche, which in a way’s a cool thing, but then in another way, it’s like kind of too much of a big melting pot. It kind of loses its identity. Like there’s no more die-hard, you can tell this person, this is all they listen to, this is all they wear. And it’s kind of like there’s a lack of individuality. But then, there are some people who really, really, you know… it’s a good thing and a bad thing.
Asante: Yeah, I do agree. I feel like a lot of the aesthetics I see here are based off of hip-hop styles, but at the end of the day, it’s not just streetwear. People will rebrand things and turn them into different aesthetics when they just come from hip-hop culture. Kind of like the clean girl aesthetic debacle that was going on on social media, when people were calling a slick-back bun a clean bun, and I was like, “Okay.” I don’t know, I think it’s really cool how people put their own spin on things, I just wish that they would acknowledge where it came from which doesn’t always happen. It doesn’t need to be a loud proclamation or anything, but if someone asks about the hairstyle, don’t say clean bun–that’s just bizarre.
Mané: I think it’s definitely had a big influence. I mean, walking around campus you can tell people do have their own aesthetics and stuff, but in general, it’s like everyone wears streetwear in some way, shape, or form. And I just think again, with social media and stuff–and I attribute TikTok to this–it’s so much easier for you to pick up a niche and make it your own niche, which in a way’s a cool thing, but then in another way, it’s like kind of too much of a big melting pot. It kind of loses its identity. Like there’s no more die-hard, you can tell this person, this is all they listen to, this is all they wear. And it’s kind of like there’s a lack of individuality. But then, there are some people who really, really, you know… it’s a good thing and a bad thing.
Asante: Yeah, I do agree. I feel like a lot of the aesthetics I see here are based off of hip-hop styles, but at the end of the day, it’s not just streetwear. People will rebrand things and turn them into different aesthetics when they just come from hip-hop culture. Kind of like the clean girl aesthetic debacle that was going on on social media, when people were calling a slick-back bun a clean bun, and I was like, “Okay.” I don’t know, I think it’s really cool how people put their own spin on things, I just wish that they would acknowledge where it came from which doesn’t always happen. It doesn’t need to be a loud proclamation or anything, but if someone asks about the hairstyle, don’t say clean bun–that’s just bizarre.
Do any of you have any other thoughts that you want to express in general?
Do any of you have any other thoughts that you want to express in general?
Do any of you have any other thoughts that you want to express in general?
Mané: When they were talking about the mix of traditional culture, we actually have a designer this year in our show, and she’s mixing Nigerian traditional wear with hip-hop culture. Her name is Bisola, her brand is LovexBisi. And I think that’s such a prime example of the twist you guys are seeing.
Mané: When they were talking about the mix of traditional culture, we actually have a designer this year in our show, and she’s mixing Nigerian traditional wear with hip-hop culture. Her name is Bisola, her brand is LovexBisi. And I think that’s such a prime example of the twist you guys are seeing.
Mané: When they were talking about the mix of traditional culture, we actually have a designer this year in our show, and she’s mixing Nigerian traditional wear with hip-hop culture. Her name is Bisola, her brand is LovexBisi. And I think that’s such a prime example of the twist you guys are seeing.
What are you excited about for the 2024 HHC show?
What are you excited about for the 2024 HHC show?
What are you excited about for the 2024 HHC show?
Asante: I’m excited for the show to happen. Like it’s what we’ve been working on all year, so it’s going to be exciting for it to finally exist.
Mané: I’m so excited for these huge designers. I feel like we have such a good lineup and they’re so exciting.
Anna: I think it’ll be really fun once we’re there and doing it. I think remembering from last year, we were both involved in the show last year, and while it was hectic, it was really fun. We got to meet a lot of really cool people, like really cool models, even just getting to know the rest of our staff. So it’s like a big bonding experience and I’m just excited for that to happen.
Kayla: I’m lowkey excited for it to be done. Not in a bad way, it’s cool.
Asante: I’m excited for the show to happen. Like it’s what we’ve been working on all year, so it’s going to be exciting for it to finally exist.
Mané: I’m so excited for these huge designers. I feel like we have such a good lineup and they’re so exciting.
Anna: I think it’ll be really fun once we’re there and doing it. I think remembering from last year, we were both involved in the show last year, and while it was hectic, it was really fun. We got to meet a lot of really cool people, like really cool models, even just getting to know the rest of our staff. So it’s like a big bonding experience and I’m just excited for that to happen.
Kayla: I’m lowkey excited for it to be done. Not in a bad way, it’s cool.
Asante: I’m excited for the show to happen. Like it’s what we’ve been working on all year, so it’s going to be exciting for it to finally exist.
Mané: I’m so excited for these huge designers. I feel like we have such a good lineup and they’re so exciting.
Anna: I think it’ll be really fun once we’re there and doing it. I think remembering from last year, we were both involved in the show last year, and while it was hectic, it was really fun. We got to meet a lot of really cool people, like really cool models, even just getting to know the rest of our staff. So it’s like a big bonding experience and I’m just excited for that to happen.
Kayla: I’m lowkey excited for it to be done. Not in a bad way, it’s cool.
Are there any other designers that stuck out to you?
Are there any other designers that stuck out to you?
Are there any other designers that stuck out to you?
Asante: JC the Label by Jina Cappo. Well, not just because she’s my friend, but I just think her brand is so cool and she’s been doing it since like 2020, 2021, and she has a manufacturer and she’s running her whole business by herself, and she has like 15k on her brand’s Instagram, and famous people want to wear it at Fashion Week. I just think she’s so cool, she’s so humble, and she’d never say it herself, so I’m going to say it. It’s @_jcthelabel_. But yeah, she’s the best, very talented, and like literally crazy, but the best.
Anna: I’m excited for Ese. I feel like her work is so cool because she experiments with so many different materials and silhouettes and structures.
Asante: JC the Label by Jina Cappo. Well, not just because she’s my friend, but I just think her brand is so cool and she’s been doing it since like 2020, 2021, and she has a manufacturer and she’s running her whole business by herself, and she has like 15k on her brand’s Instagram, and famous people want to wear it at Fashion Week. I just think she’s so cool, she’s so humble, and she’d never say it herself, so I’m going to say it. It’s @_jcthelabel_. But yeah, she’s the best, very talented, and like literally crazy, but the best.
Anna: I’m excited for Ese. I feel like her work is so cool because she experiments with so many different materials and silhouettes and structures.
Asante: JC the Label by Jina Cappo. Well, not just because she’s my friend, but I just think her brand is so cool and she’s been doing it since like 2020, 2021, and she has a manufacturer and she’s running her whole business by herself, and she has like 15k on her brand’s Instagram, and famous people want to wear it at Fashion Week. I just think she’s so cool, she’s so humble, and she’d never say it herself, so I’m going to say it. It’s @_jcthelabel_. But yeah, she’s the best, very talented, and like literally crazy, but the best.
Anna: I’m excited for Ese. I feel like her work is so cool because she experiments with so many different materials and silhouettes and structures.
© Forward 2024
"For the Future"
© Forward 2024
"For the Future"
© Forward 2024
"For the Future"