‘Our core business is making clothing. But for us, the emphasis is on getting people to become part of our story. We use activations, collaborations, and charity support to achieve this. We even have our own football club for young talent.’
From FUBU to Patta, hip-hop also manifests itself in fashion and style. These brands often serve as a voice for alienated youth or underrepresented groups, and share a commitment to community building.
In this short Q&A creative director Jairo Lopez Riestra shines a light on what to expect.
What does BANLIEUE do?
Who does your collective consist of?
‘We have a very young team that deals with every aspect of the organisation. The beauty is that we get to take all the decisions, from PR to logistics.’
What do you want to show in The World is Yours!?
‘Through our installation Past - Present - Future, we mainly want to tell the visitors that dreams can become reality. By sharing our story line, they get to understand how essential the relationship with communities is.’
Can you tell us more about one of the elements of your exhibition space?
‘The final stop of our expo is hidden behind a transparent curtain worked with the text ‘NOTRE TEMPS’. This means ‘our time’, which is a call-to-action for the visitor. The curtain gives access to a cloudy sky with a billboard showing members of our community. This is our way of thanking and spotlighting the community. We want to tell them: ‘It’s your time to shine.’’
Why is this exhibition relevant and why should people visit this exhibition?
‘We want this exhibition to motivate the visitors. To give them a push in choosing the path to their dreams.’