Behind The Brand - FairFax&Fifth Exclusive.
We'll today we have an "Behind The Brand" exclusive interview and got a chance to sit down with Clothing Line "FairFax&Fifth."
Soles&Oz went blow for blow , question for question with FairFax&Fifth.
Read the interview word for word below
A- Well F&F evolved from Swank Couture, a New York based brand focusing on abstract prints and hip hop pop culture inspired, graphic active wear. When our Owner/Creative Director, Joe Fariello, moved away from the East Coast, Swank Couture seized production. Once our owner arrived in Los Angeles to work on Artist Management/Direction, living on Fairfax Ave., the streetwear scene of LA was too overwhelming to put aside his passion. Upon his last several weeks in Los Angeles, Fairfax & Fifth was born. Upon arriving back in NY, Joe took his previous knowledge of fabrics and manufacturing and began to order only the highest quality raw materials. After releasing a handful of Fairfax & Fifth exclusive shop tees, the name began to make a buzz. After branding F&F it was time to make the planned move onto a Hand-Curated Street Wear Boutique. In the Summer of 2014, Fairfax & Fifth attended its first ever Agenda show, and the rest is history.
Q- Where did you come up with name "FairFax&Fifth" ?
A-The name Fairfax & Fifth came from two different factors: The street wear district in LA(Fairfax Avenue) and the High Fashion district of NYC(Fifth Avenue). The second inspiration for the name was the fact we wanted Fairfax & Fifth to represent the intersection of street wear and high fashion. Our goal is to close the gap between these two conflicting areas of fashion. Many people have said, "I see the streetwear, well where is the High Fashion?" Its not that we stock high fashion pieces, we are bringing to you, the exclusivity of high fashion shopping, with the expression of individualism found in street wear.
Q- What Was The first piece the brand ever release ? Did the Outcome go as expected ?
A-The first official release was The Underworld Collection. Featured in that collection were three tees depicting some of the most infamous Crime Bosses of all time, Al Capone, Manuel Noriega, and Pablo Escobar. We expected great feedback due to the story behind each tee. Each baseball jersey style tee features the criminals home flag, and a jersey number on the back. The unique thing about the jersey that a lot of people dont know is the numbers symbolize a significant moment for each criminal. For example, Escobar is number 93 due to him taking his own life while being chased by Colombian Marines thru Medellin. The outcome was unreal, we initially only printed a 3 styles 6 each which sold out before they could even be posted online.
Q- Compared to other brands, What is something very unique about FairFax&Fifth that the consumers don't know ?
A- Due to our strict quality control, each F&F exclusive is printed on only the finest of raw materials created the way god intended, spun the old fashion way, a little trade secret, Ring Spun cotton. F&F exclusive tees are one of a kind, it may be hard to tell but each tee has one thing that makes it unique beyond the rest.
The thing that makes us different Boutique wise, is that even though each item is hand-curated to ensure the uppermost satisfaction in the end, our prices are the lowest anywhere, on or off the internet. We have the same, but in most cases lower, prices than the Super Boutique, Karmaloop. We offer the prices of a Mega Corp. but keep it on a very personal level by curating each piece by hand before it is allowed into our shop. When you purchase an item, we will never restock or carry 2, even though it isnt a lot, we like to do what we can to ensure just a little bit more of exclusivity.
Every package comes with something extra, could be a discount code, could be clothes, could be music or some Japanese soda, candy, and a ton of other crazy items
Q- What's A Fashion Trend that you wish never started ?
A- During early Millennium all that triple/quadruple XL gear was whack, yall were swimming in that Rocawear/Ecko. More modern trends, distressing. Not that I wish it didnt happen, I just wish people didnt experiment distressing everything, tees, hats, even socks. It got taken advantage of. If it wasnt done poorly Id love it like I love well done distressing, learn a lesson, GO SEE KILLA, THE DISTRESS LORD.
Q- What's Your View On Modern
Fashion ?
A- I really believe everything originates in Japan or the hood.
on a another note
The thing about modern fashion that drives me crazy is when someone cant explain why they are wearing a certain brand or why they are dressed a certain way, they just know other people do it. The type of people that make me proud of fashion is the ones who see their outfit as art, a pure creative expression. The ones that can show their emotions through their clothing are the type of people that really know how to dress. Black is my favorite color. As the great Yohji Yamamoto said“Black is modest and arrogant at the same time. Black is lazy and easy - but mysterious. But above all black says this: "I don’t bother you - don’t bother me".”
Q- What is your favorite Brand of all time ?
A- Fubu, easily. They unknowingly paved the way for street wear & active wear as we know it today.
Q- In the future there will be a lot of different clothing lines dropping, what will you do to remain on top in the game ?
A- F&F clothing wise, keep everything exclusive and never lower our strict quality control. Im all about healthy competition. Boutique wise I really dig on indy brands, nothing beats being able to showcase a new brand to everyone exclusively at F&F. We want to be apart of every aspiring brands journey to the top. If it fits our aesthetic, we will back that brand like it is our own.
Q- Can we get an exclusive leak on some things dropping in the future or any special Collabs we should look foward to ?
A- More F&F exclusive pieces will be coming late Winter/Spring. We are introducing a new project inspired by The Italian Renaissance, world leaders, royalty, and historical artwork.
An announcement a lot of you have been waiting to hear, we will be releasing another installment from the Underworld Collection. This subproject will consist of the classic tees and also cut&sew hoodies featuring 5 of New York Cities most notorious gangsters. The name for this collection is inspired by the yearly run of games vs the Yankees & Mets. It will be titled, "The Subway Series for The Underworld Collection by Fairfax & Fifth. Lookout for items featuring Peewee Kirkland and Richard Porter just to name a few! We are proud to announce for the first time in America Turbokolor, from Poland. We are the first US account holders for this snow/active wear inspired brand! Also stay tuned next month for very rare hoodies and jackets dropping from PLGUE out of Paris, France.
Q- Where Can We the viewers go check and shop FairFax&Fifth ?
A- CHECK IT OUT ON TWITTER/INSTAGRAM @FAIRFAXANDFIFTH SHOP ONLINE ONLY AT WWW.FAIRFAXANDFIFTH.COM POP UP SHOP FOR THE WINTER TBA; IF YOU WANT A POP UP IN YOUR TOWN IT CAN HAPPEN!
Q- Any big shotout a you would like to give out to the viewers reading at home ?
A- Persevere to Prosper. Everyone is told that their dreams are childish and to grow up and just conform to society by working a normal 9-5 or going to school instead of being ambitious and putting in the work to get to where you actually see yourself. Just because theres an obstacle dont back down just take another path, it may take more time, but the view from the top of the mountain is always better than the bottom.
I just want to shoutout one person, Mars from Black Scale LA, I sat down with Mars at Agenda Long Beach and even though due to the circumstances of being a new boutique we were unable to carry BS at the moment, he reminded me to keep doing what were doing and networking with tons of new independent brands and soon enough, the Black Scale at Fairfax & Fifth will be in full effect. The fact he was looking forward to working together and really pushed me in the right direction was the motivator to get where we have gotten in the short few months since Agenda. Once again shout out to Mars for being a genuine guy and helping us put the right foot forward
J. Fariello
Owner/Creative Director
Fairfax & Fifth
Twitter - @FairFax&Fifth
@VeryRareAli_NYC
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