How do you make it in America? You hustle. And Shayne Oliver is a hustler in every sense of the word. The gender-bending creator of HOOD BY AIR – the biggest and most legit street-inspired high fashion line in the world – grew up with a single mom, no money and absolutely zero regard for what anyone said that meant for his future.
Shayne’s been breaking all of the rules since he was old enough to understand them. When his mom took a job at Diesel, Shayne was asked to stop coming to work with her. That’s because the 12-year-old spent days offering (impeccable) unsolicited advice to customers. Management worried that having a child essentially working in the store was a liability.
Was he deterred? Not a bit. He walked next door to Roberto Cavalli’s and was so charming and on point that they offered him an unpaid internship. Shayne turned it down but turned up every day anyway to keep spitting advice and talking with employees.
At home, he was raiding his mom’s closet – cutting up the clothes and making his own. That eventually lead him into the underground, street vogue scene that became the genesis of Hood By Air. Shayne’s self-determination, unconventional taste and good ol’ fashion grind sparked a revolution. One that lifted dark styles, street culture, gender bending/destroying/ignoring, and abandoned buildings out of the alleys and into the center of high fashion. You do you, America. And if you ever start doubting your beauty just look to Shayne for a little inspiration. If you liked this article you’ll probably want to read our piece on another rad, queer-friendly clothing line, FLAVNT. Feature photo: Jesse Dittmar/ The Washington Post@manfantastic
