Jacket – Liem Homme, Jeans – Miu Miu, Belt – Bottega Veneta, Boots – Louis Vuitton x Timberland, Jewellery – Alex Moss.

I feel like you should get your flowers for your personal style, because obviously you’re behind the camera a lot of the time. But you’re really fly. If you had to throw one final fit – a casket fit – could you break it down for us?

Bury me in Bottega!

That’s not a bad way to go out, is it?

It’s no secret that you have a lot of sons in the social media game. What parts of the way you create content do you like seeing in other people’s videos? And is there anything you don’t like? 

Yeah, I just think I’m very passionate about this. And this wasn’t ever about no clout for me, or even thinking about making money. I did this because this is what I love and I’m very passionate about it.

So, when I see so many people just copying, doing what I’m doing, and watering down what I’m doing, it’s kind of frustrating. Because I want somebody to really feel like they’re being stopped because they have a nice outfit on, not because people are trying to put them on camera and get likes and videos and go viral and stuff like that.

Even where I’m from, where I started in Soho, there are like 100 people doing the same thing I’m doing. So, it’s kind of like, damn, you know. That’s even why I started on a different platform, to just do other things and not be too much focused on that, because I just feel like it’s getting too watered down. And it’s not something that, to me, I even like or enjoy sometimes.

I mean, from my perspective, when I see those videos, at the very core of it, I still think of The People Gallery…

I don’t get my credit. I mean, there have to be so many videos now that do content based in the street that comes from The People Gallery. Because prior to The People Gallery, there were no celebrities even talking to people, you know. Now they make it a point of their mission to put us as part of the promo, to speak to content creators in the streets.

There was nobody like this, interviewing celebrities or people in the streets. Now there are so many different platforms. People come on now, just grab a phone and try to come on the street and make all different types of content because of The People Gallery. And the fact that when it comes to most influential, we don’t get ranked or get any of that stuff when it comes to the forums, it’s crazy. Most of these platforms looked at The People Gallery and said, “What this kid is doing is amazing. Let’s just do our own thing in a different way.”

Hat – Prada, Brooch – Chanel.

There’s something really beautiful scrolling down your page and seeing how many people you’ve met & how you champion them, especially NYC. What are you most proud of in your journey as a creator so far?

I just think I’m very proud of this. The people that I help inspire and just that I made something out of nothing. I can’t even picture myself right now still working in retail and in that struggle, because I was living paycheque to paycheque. Struggling. And it was tough, you know, it’s tough. And I feel like for my personality, what I do is not something that suits me or fits me.

So, you know, there was a lot of depression, a lot of dark days, because you just want to get out of this misery. Looking back, because I never get a chance to even sit and look back, you look at me four years ago now, it’s crazy! The people I’m involved with, it’s crazy. I’m just proud that I was able to really get myself out of a jam.

Now I can position myself to be able to go to London tomorrow, it’s no problem. You know, I’ve made some good friends. I’ve built a unique platform that I feel I’m always going to be remembered for. I feel like I have a bright future. So, I think the most important part is knowing that as long as I continue to work hard, my future is really, really bright.

You obviously said about how you want to be buried in Bottega. What did you think of Matthieu Blazy’s Chanel show in NYC? I saw you were there, right? 

I was there. It was a really good show. You know, I think it was iconic, not only a great show, I think it was an iconic show. Like, I’m from New York City, so when I first got word that I was going to be in New York City, I was so excited.

Having it done in the MTA was kind of iconic as well. Growing up in New York City, that was just a form of transportation. It’s funny, because I’ve made it to a point where now I don’t take the train that much anymore. I’ve made it to the point where I’m able to Uber everywhere and have a driver and things like that.

So, it was just one of those things that brought back memories of a lot of stuff that happened on the train, growing up and stuff like that. Just to have one of my favourite designers have a show in New York City. And I got invited because the minute Matthieu was named the Creative Director, I was like, I have to go to the show. I was just saying to myself, I don’t know how I’m going to get there, but I need to get there. And when I got the call, I almost fell out of my chair.

What was your mission status at the beginning of The People Gallery? And is it still the same? In what ways has it evolved in line with “virality”?

Yeah, I mean, obviously, my motives in the beginning, it was just about trying to unite people. Like I said, it was one thing at a time. I was pretty much just trying to let people know around the world that it’s okay to give somebody a compliment.

Coming from New York, it’s very competitive. Somebody would see you with a nice outfit, but they would never give you a compliment because they’d feel like it was beneath them. So, I always wanted to just stop that. It’s okay to tell somebody you look good. You don’t always have to act tough, or feel like, you know, you’re too much of a king or too much of a queen to tell somebody that they look good. I was trying to bring this video to people around the world, to let them know it’s okay. And that was my mission. Now, I’m just looking at how it can become a full business, and the potential to be the new Vogue. That was not something that I ever thought I could ever imagine. But with the hard work, you know…there are no limits.

I think it comes down to me really doing my due diligence, really studying, and really continuing to do it for the right reasons. And just stay consistent. Consistency is key. I’ve been consistent for a long time. Just travelling and doing everything is just, man, it’s been a ride. I just want to continue to do that.

Shirt & Blazer – Blumarine, Jeans – Bottega Veneta, Hat – Prada, Brooch – Chanel, Boots – Louis Vuitton x Timberland

Speaking about travel, do you still maintain that New York has got it? You know, does it still have the street style crown? 

New York has the street style crown. I mean, I go to Paris, I’ve been out every day, and I think New York has the street style crown. I feel like New York is a place where you have people from all races in one place, you see. You could go to Paris and it has a certain style, but the diversity in New York is way better in my opinion than Paris or London and places like that. New York’s diversity is insane. You have 10 million people, people from all over the world, all walks of life.

New Yorkers’ attitude is different from anywhere else, you know? And I think that’s part of wearing the outfits, having an attitude. You can wear whatever you want and be confident wearing that. It makes somebody appreciate your outfit even more. When you’re not sure about your outfit, it will show in your body language. And in New York City, we have the attitude, and you would see fits that you would never see anywhere else.

And that’s my whole point of doing The People Gallery. It’s about people not being afraid to wear what they want to wear. You know, not being stuck in that society that dictates what they should put on their body. It’s about wearing whatever they feel and being confident, walking the streets with the outfit on. That’s the whole point of documenting these fits and letting people know around the world. Because I’ve been in Paris where people will look at people from New York a certain way, like, “What the hell is this person wearing?” And my whole point is to let people know in Paris, like, “No, like, this is life. You shouldn’t judge somebody for what they’re wearing.”

Everybody’s style is different. Somebody might feel like a suit and tie is the best fit ever. Everybody that wears a suit and tie or a sweater and a nice clean pair of jeans, that’s considered style. And to me, that’s not what style is. It’s subjective. Everybody has their own personal style, and that’s what makes the world a better place. There’s no such thing as one style. Everybody’s got their own style, and everybody’s style is unique in its own way, you know? That’s what makes everybody different.

Given the spaces you’ve been in – in the fashion world – what are some overriding things you’ve taken away from it? Any hot takes?

I just think you’ve got to act like you’ve been there before. I think so many times people get around certain people for the first time and they just act too fanned out, like they’ve never been there, and they do too much sometimes. And sometimes you just never get invited again.

I just think, “You belong here.” Like, you see me next to Anna Wintour, I’m not scared to ask her questions because I feel like I belong here. You know, like anybody I’m in a room with. I got a chance to hang out with Kanye West, like, come on! Are you kidding me? This is somebody that I idolised growing up. I love Kanye. And, you know, that was one of my biggest things, I had to interview Kanye West. And I finally got a chance to interview Kanye West. Then, a couple days later, I got to hang out with him. And we were just having a great conversation, going to dinner and stuff like that.

And not one time did I ask for a picture, act crazy, or act like I never belonged there. I work hard. This is where I belong.

Lastly, what advice would you give to a kid working retail right now who wants to be in the world you’re in? 

At the moment, I would just tell that kid that consistency is key and you can never give up, because there’s going to be times where you feel like the world is against you. Nothing is going your way. You just don’t have time. You might be in a relationship. Whether it’s your family, or your girlfriend, boyfriend, whatever the case may be, things are not going your way. You might get depressed, you might have suicidal thoughts and things like that.

But one thing about the world: any day could be the day, and all you need is that one day to turn your life around. Just knowing that and having that in the back of your mind is enough to make you keep going.

It’s like, man, I was that kid, you know. It’s very cliché, but “never give up” is really a very powerful statement. It’s so powerful, and I think the minute that somebody gets that in their mind, in whatever they want to do, that’s when the consistency comes into play and that’s when the hope comes.

When you have those things, then you become a very dangerous person in a positive way, where you could do anything in this world you want to do. So, it’s just about having those beliefs. I think that would take them very far.

Jacket & Jeans – Dires Van Noten, Hat – Celine, Shoes – Prada.