London’s disproportionately influential, but incestuous world of fashion gays is pretty much split on the Jaiden rVa James partnership, consisting of 23-year-old Rasharn Agyeman and 22-year-old Jaiden James. Some see these two super hard working S&M fans as the future of London menswear, while others dismiss their stuff as obviously weird clothes for the sake of weirdness and say they’re better at hype than they are style, not that it ever did Roberto Cavalli's career any harm. They are probably the new Henry Holland.Fact is they’re so young most of their peers are still in college, yet everyone in London fashion land knows who they are and their impressive magazine, Re-bel that is full of work by photographers, stylists, and writers who are normally associated with much bigger names.Jaiden rVa James do have some pretty fierce music taste though, they sent a bunch of Rick James lookalike models down the runway wearing inspired harnesses, gags and questionable weaves to the blasting soundtrack of Marilyn Manson, Ministry, and Slipknot. Anyone re-appropriating millennial teenagers love for the latter are obviously pop culture geniuses. Since everyone seems to be losing their shit over these guys, we thought we’d better interview them.So, what’s your deal with fashion?
Rasharn: I’ve known I wanted to work in the fashion industry since I was eight, back when supermodels were huge. I used to starve myself at school, just so I could save up my money to buy new shoes.Oh, thank God. For a second there I thought you were going to say, “So I could be thin.”
Rasharn: Aha, no! That would be a bit worrying.Very. Your last two collections were heavily inspired by S&M, Are you into S&M for real? Sounds hot.
Rasharn: Ha, it’s not something we’re into doing, it’s just a style that inspires us and plays a big part in gay culture obviously.How much of what you do is about sex?
Jaiden: Fashion is always about sex. You put the clothes on to look good, so hopefully people will want to take them off.So, are you guys dating or what?
Rasharn: No! We’re just best friends. People always assume we are but we’re not together.Back in the old days being fashion meant getting in Vogue, now it means working with Lady Gaga like you have already done.
Rasharn: It’s weird, we never expected to be working with someone we idolize. We did the MTV video music awards, a whole set for her tour, and recently we were commissioned for her latest video, Alessandro, directed by Steven Klein.
Jaiden: We made a cream latex jacket with red detailing. It’s kind of like what a priest would wear.Uh, do priests wear cream latex?
Jaiden: Haha, no. But it’s got a big red cross in the middle of the jacket, and it has a hood.You guys recently launched your magazine Re-bel, it spends more effort on selling others talents than it does on marketing Jaiden rVa James. That’s a pretty altruistic attitude for young broke fashion designers to have.
Rasharn: We’ve always been interested in more than just fashion. We want to be part of a community and work with young, up and coming London talent—young designers, photographers, artists, writers, and stylists. We want to use Re-bel as a platform to show people what inspires us and what we believe in.Jaiden and Rasharn from Mandi Lennard's Just Another Colette BlogWhat’s not so great about fashion?
Rahsarn: Fashion is bitchy and very fake. That’s how it’s always been, so you have to be careful about what you say. People also stereotype us; they assume that because we’re black we’re going to make sportswear or something. I think people were a bit surprised to see two black boys making S&M inspired, very gay clothing.KARLEY SCIORTINO
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Rasharn: I’ve known I wanted to work in the fashion industry since I was eight, back when supermodels were huge. I used to starve myself at school, just so I could save up my money to buy new shoes.Oh, thank God. For a second there I thought you were going to say, “So I could be thin.”
Rasharn: Aha, no! That would be a bit worrying.Very. Your last two collections were heavily inspired by S&M, Are you into S&M for real? Sounds hot.
Rasharn: Ha, it’s not something we’re into doing, it’s just a style that inspires us and plays a big part in gay culture obviously.How much of what you do is about sex?
Jaiden: Fashion is always about sex. You put the clothes on to look good, so hopefully people will want to take them off.
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Rasharn: No! We’re just best friends. People always assume we are but we’re not together.Back in the old days being fashion meant getting in Vogue, now it means working with Lady Gaga like you have already done.
Rasharn: It’s weird, we never expected to be working with someone we idolize. We did the MTV video music awards, a whole set for her tour, and recently we were commissioned for her latest video, Alessandro, directed by Steven Klein.
Jaiden: We made a cream latex jacket with red detailing. It’s kind of like what a priest would wear.Uh, do priests wear cream latex?
Jaiden: Haha, no. But it’s got a big red cross in the middle of the jacket, and it has a hood.You guys recently launched your magazine Re-bel, it spends more effort on selling others talents than it does on marketing Jaiden rVa James. That’s a pretty altruistic attitude for young broke fashion designers to have.
Rasharn: We’ve always been interested in more than just fashion. We want to be part of a community and work with young, up and coming London talent—young designers, photographers, artists, writers, and stylists. We want to use Re-bel as a platform to show people what inspires us and what we believe in.Jaiden and Rasharn from Mandi Lennard's Just Another Colette BlogWhat’s not so great about fashion?
Rahsarn: Fashion is bitchy and very fake. That’s how it’s always been, so you have to be careful about what you say. People also stereotype us; they assume that because we’re black we’re going to make sportswear or something. I think people were a bit surprised to see two black boys making S&M inspired, very gay clothing.KARLEY SCIORTINO