A bag might be an appendage. A hiding spot for secrets and techniques. An extension of self. It’s, in its purest type, a deeply private totem. Once I take a look at the Zits Studios rivet wine field bag from the model’s spring/summer time ’24 assortment — extra of an oblong case than a bag, coated fully in studs — I consider the 16-year-old wannabe child goth in me that also runs the present in terms of my private model, or the 21-year-old techno fairy that relentlessly dictates the final vibe. Regardless of how lengthy it’s been, or how a lot these phantom selves have develop into extra covert or refined, they at all times will their strategy to the floor once I’m selecting an outfit. The visible codes of subversion are greatest expressed within the particulars — a studded belt, a studded choker, a studded bag. Studs are like codex for the choice — unmistakable messaging that turns any chill match into an announcement.
The form of this explicit bag, styled on the runway with a streamlined all black outfit and minimal equipment, evokes a toolbox. What sort of instruments go in it are left to interpretation — and depending on the wearer and their vacation spot. The factor a couple of bag: It travels with you and shortly turns into part of the self, the journey. The rivet wine field bag, with its structural nature and sheer quantity of cupboard space, feels robust sufficient to resist a protracted day in L.A. and is light-weight sufficient to not drag you down. A T-shirt adjustments every day, however typically the bag stays the identical. We’re those who personalize it. Even a bit as distinctive because the SS24 rivet wine field bag turns into a special factor solely when worn by totally different personalities — much like how nobody fragrance smells the identical on two totally different individuals.
We requested designer Bobby Cabbagestalk — amongst three different artists, DJs, musicians and stylists — to include the Zits Studios rivet wine field bag into a glance and way of life for sooner or later, dreaming up locations throughout the town the place he would put on it. He opted to take the bag to Ragfinders of California, a world unto itself constructed solely of cloth, whereas juxtaposing it in opposition to items from his personal assortment that had been made in pure supplies — permitting the bag to fairly actually shine. “It’s its personal second,” he says.
The garments that I attempt to make are the way forward for what I feel a normal garment may very well be, must be. I attempt to design as if I’m sooner or later, not as if I’m attempting to think about what the longer term is about.
— Designer Bobby Cabbagestalk
Who’re you and what do you do?
I’m a designer. My label is Bobby Cabbagestalk, it’s self-titled. The garments that I attempt to make are the way forward for what I feel a normal garment may very well be, must be. I attempt to design as if I’m sooner or later, not as if I’m attempting to think about what the longer term is about. Once you work backward from there, you’ve so many various issues the place the societal and political views influence the way you strategy your artistic initiatives. Once I strategy making a costume or a jacket or a T-shirt, I at all times have that commonplace at the back of my thoughts.
Describe your private model.
I grew up in Buffalo, N.Y. And like most youngsters [in the 2000s], my influences all got here from rap. Ghostface Killah and Raekwon sporting head-to-toe saggy Tommy Hilfiger, that was the usual. It was this colourful, assured, exaggerated silhouette to simply let the world know, “I’m right here and that is my private perspective.” Once I was a child, Polo Ralph Lauren, Nautica, Eddie Bauer, any heritage manufacturers I might get my arms on, I used to be obsessive about. Taking that East Coast prep heritage [and] streetwear into my love for science fiction movies created a brand new entry level for me and my self-expression. So leathers, extra tailor-made silhouettes, minimalism with perform — it’s come collectively into this concept of “cyber prep.”
Speak to me about dreaming up an outfit round this Zits Studios bag.
The Zits bag is studded, so it’s very architectural. It has a Brutalist undertone to it with a chrome patina, so it simply flicks actually naturally in opposition to any background — city, countryside, no matter. It’s its personal second. What I needed to do was keep in that dialog and simply juxtapose the fabric of metallic with pure materials: a cotton shirt, leather-based jacket, leather-based pants. Then the ditch coat is three-quarter size, and it creates a pleasant A-line form, so it’s its personal architectural second as properly.
How does sense of place inform sense of favor? How do you journey by means of L.A. with model in thoughts?
Quite a lot of occasions we don’t consider Los Angeles as a commuter metropolis as a result of we’re in our vehicles, not on our ft. (It’s not such as you’re in New York and also you’re going from constructing to constructing on foot or on the practice.) Even nonetheless, I really feel like there’s a brand new pleasure of touring by means of Los Angeles on foot. Perhaps it’s as a result of it’s getting hotter, I’m seeing an increasing number of individuals being expressive with what they put on on the road. I additionally assume Los Angeles is an occasion metropolis. Earlier than individuals go away their home, they know precisely the place they’re going, how a lot time they’re going to spend there. I don’t like going out aimlessly. I wish to go to a gallery opening, or if there’s a particular DJ I want to see. And if I need to journey gentle, I’ll simply have a sling bag or I’ll make the most of a pocket. If I need to deliver a digicam, or if I do know that I’m going to be actually social and on my ft for a very long time, that may dictate a carrying system that I’ve with possibly a bigger bag or a tote bag. I feel private model proper now’s extra necessary than ever, as a result of there’s room for individuals to specific their perspective, not solely about themselves however concerning the world and the way they’re being noticed in an genuine method. And earlier than social media, you could possibly inform the place somebody was from based mostly on what they had been sporting. I feel it’s actually thrilling if we [go] again to the issues that make us distinctive and who we’re.
Producer: Mere Studios
