BOL$HIE‘s a Yorkshire girl made good – so good, in fact, she made it all the way to New York. With the launch of her capsule collection Notorious BOL$HIE, the designer and stylist hit the streets of Harlem to film a documentary about people like the A$AP Mob and Mykki Blanco. Wonderland got an exclusive on her documentary featuring the hustlers, rappers and designers that inspired her line.
So you have a clothing line, but what made you want to make a documentary?
BOL$HIE is a whole lot more than a clothing line. There are so many mediocre labels around now with no meaning or substance.. I wanted to explain to people what BOL$HIE is about, what I’m about and why I do what I do.
What’s Notorious BOL$HIE all about then?
Notorious BOL$HIE started as a capsule collection influenced by my younger years, and my love for rap music. I shot the campaign in NYC, and filmed the trip featuring people who represent what BOL$HIE is about. Over 4 days I met rappers, dancers, designers, hustlers and community leaders all telling their stories as I told mine.
What was the first rap record you remember hearing?
I grew up with a lot of motown and reggae, I’m not sure what the first rap record I heard was.. I was always into a lot of underground rap, Channel U/1xtra freestyle stuff..
Define ‘hustle’.
Getting what you want/making things happen in ways others might not think of.
Are there any similarities between the fashion and the rap world?
The whole rap/hip-hop culture hugely based on style and image, just as fashion is hugely influenced by street style and culture – they go hand in hand.
What do you think attracts British kids to American rap?
Money, bling, cars, hoes.
Words: Zing Tsjeng
Images: Rowan Papier