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I GUESS WE CAN SAY WE SUCCESSFULLY CONTINUE THE PATH ON WHICH WE STARTED OUR INTERVIEW SERIES, BY ADDING TALENTED JEWELRY&CLOTHING DESIGNER RHARHA FROM BANGKOK VIA SOUTH AFRICA – MOST OF THE GIRLS WE CHOSE DO NOT ONLY KIND OF KNOW EACH OTHER BUT ALSO WORK WITH ONE ANOTHER AS I SAW DURING MY RESEARCH FOR MY INTERVIEW WITH THE BEAUTIFUL DRONE GODDESS. I WAS NOT AT ALL SURPRISED TO SEE PICTURES OF VENUS X WITH RHA’S DRONEJEWELRY COLLECTION WHICH IS COMPOSED OF TRADITIONAL INDIAN WEDDING JEWELRY LIKE NOSE CHAINS AND HEAD PIECES. THIS IS ANOTHER INTERESTING CONVERSATION ABOUT THE ONLY SEEMINGLY SENSATION OF NOT HAVING ANY MUTUAL FRIENDS (WHAT A SILLY PHANTASY), CHICKS COPYING YOUR STEEZ ON TUMBLR AND LIVING IN BANGKOK AS A BLACK WOMAN. DIVE INTO THE DARKNESS AND START TO SEE THAT EVEN YOUR MUCH BELOVED LIGHT CAME FROM JUST THAT – DARKNESS.
TURF: Bangkok via South Africa via BirminghamSTYLE: ethnic darkness
OCCUPATION: designer
WORLDWIDEWEB: http://dronejewels.goodsie.com/
*Who are you and what is Drone?*
I am Rochelle Nembhard, drone goddess and jewelry/clothes designer from Birmingham via South Africa. I am also a member of CapitalCool together with my brother and boyfriend. A stylist named Zandi from London and my brothers. Drone is the mantra. It’s everything that embodies the army we are building. It is about not getting brainwashed. Not just accepting everything as it is. It’s an out of body experience – that we live daily. It’s the mantra to a goddess. It’s life.
*What are your ways to succeed?*
Ways to succeed are to nurture something that comes from a pure place. No matter what that is, just make sure it comes from a pure place. Even if that pure place is a struggle. I think that in a way, art always comes from struggle- but make sure you stay true to it and be consistent. When you are not putting out stuff often, make sure that when you are putting stuff out it is obvious that there was consistency behind it, that it is something you have thought about for a long time. Be original and keep it drone.
*Being into the darker side of life evolved from sub culture status to global trend, real cultural statements turned into trend-sensations. How do you feel about the fashionable globalization of originally personal statements?*
In Bangkok there are real punks, they don’t know anything about trends or any of that shit, and those are the people I hang around. Because in Thailand there is something called high society and it is usually, the whiter you are the higher you rank in society and the more money you have. These punks come from out of the city, they rebel against the whole high society and race discrimination within Asian communities. Usually punks and goths are trying to bring across a message about not conforming with the way they dress and I think that’s what I draw inspiration from. I am not a punk or goth but I definitely do know what it feels like to go against the usual shit people are doing and being discriminated for that. The globalization of that is an unpleasant side effect and honestly that is my biggest problem with the internet. I don’t even use tumblr anymore because there is this 17 year old girl from South Africa who copies me identically. She would even email me to tell me how great she thinks I am and now people are asking me why I copy a teenager. They think I copy her and no one knows who copies who these days.
*Given that the entire scene we move in is constantly expressing their creativity in forms of fashion, jewelry, collecting content, styling, you name it.. what do you think will help each one of us to maintain our individuality / individual form of art?*
To maintain individuality in our different art forms, you gotta be just that, an individual. I understand being influenced by a scene or a person but to straight out copy will not maintain individuality. It’s also mad selfish because if you are passionate and want to see growth in the scene or whatever movement you are into, you will want to contribute. It’s not really about you and if you are real, you will understand that. We don’t need replicas, we’re not about that. That’s not drone. There’s so much people can offer and we need that diversity desperately. Switch off your TV!!
*You currently live in Bangkok. What is your growth like there, as far as your personality and your creativity is involved?*
I came to Bangkok to be isolated and apart from the Internet more. I wanted to learn a new culture and not rely on western obvious cultures. It’s so easy to get caught up in society, you do shit just because everyone else is doing it. In Asia, as a brown woman, it was hard for me to fall back on anything, I had to build my own ideal, my own culture- not just tune into MTV and live through someone else’s. I am the only black young girl out here pushing and doing something different.
Asia has so much to offer. They have the best of the digital age but also recognize the importance of keeping their own culture. I have been able to mix African culture, since I grew up between England and South Africa, with Asian and western cultures. I feel like that’s what I am – a product of these three continents – Africa, Asia and Europe and you see that in my work. Whether it be in jewelry or my style or how I interact. You will be able to feel it.
*Have you ever dressed differently, if so, how? When and why did it change?*
Yea, I used to dress really girly girl like the full deal freakum dress and heels. When I got to Asia I got tricked into going to this school that was more like a concentration camp and they treated me like an inmate. I couldn’t see my brother and I was only allowed two weeks of the month to the ‘evil’ city Bangkok. We had to swipe pure cards for worship and if we didn’t they would take a percentage off our grade. I wanted to get kicked out real bad. I nearly had a mental breakdown. I started listening to different music and changing my style basically to say fuck the system, it also showed u how people judge you based on what you dress like. If you dress all dark and shit they think you have gone evil. It started to become interesting to see how people judged your whole life based on you how dress.
*Which kind of critique would really make you feel like people dont undertstand your work?*
I come from a very conservative background. We grew up quite religiously. Just because I dress in black does not mean I am a dark person inside. People thinking that I worship satan would be the biggest misunderstanding. People who judge me as evil basically did not understand anything. Rebellion comes in dark forms but it does not mean that we don’t want to achieve something positive. I live in Asia and people here do not feel ashamed to look at you and laugh or giggle while pointing at you which is okay because it helped me to develop more self confidence.
*You are an independant artist. Would you prefer to work with an agency or an agent instead or is being independant a must when it comes to your craft?*
I wouldn’t like to work with an agency because at some point they will try to control you. Actually, I don’t know what it is like to work with an agency so maybe it could be good and if they want to give me a certain amount of money to support my art and not try to control what I put out later then I could see myself working with one.
*Where are you personally trying to bring your art to? Whats the aim?*
The aim is to express myself in whatever medium I feel comfortable or inspired by at the moment. It’s always important to just create because it shows those after you what was going on in that space in time and where we were at. I want to continue making music and videos, fashion and jewelry and to express what I am currently inspired by.
When we came across Karina Kinosyan aka Karina Kino in October 2010, we knew that there was far more to her than a Russian street art sovereign with a hell lot of talent. Six months later we had the honor to welcome her as a blogger and present our first exclusive online exhibition in collaboration with the artist, entitled “I Lost You Inside Of Me“.
Now the 26 year old creative is back with some first-class news, presenting her collaboration with the Munich based brand K1X, for which we are thrilled to present the very first exclusive preview of the collection.
The absolute female premium streetwear capsule collection entitled “Soldier of Love” is far away from being another superficial fashion collab. Following her trademark rebellious inclination and honest and direct subjects, Kino goes into portraying elements from Russia’s social status quo and its broad cultural range. Influenced by Orthodox religion, history, politics and Dostoevsky’s literature, she once again performs as a catalyst between the in the western world very much unknown Russian society, transforming the influences into socio critical art.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, Matthew 5:3-12, Luke 6:20-23″ decorates the chest embroidery of the high-class wool flannel meets cow leather sleeved varsity jacket. Another pieces of the collection are crewnecks, hoodies, tanks, tee shirts, a pair of leggings and a 59/50 cap.
Running under a K1Xclusive account, the Soldier of Love pack will be launched globally on April 20th, 2012 at Stockholm’s streetwear address Sneakerstuff, and then also be rolled at Overkill and Dudes Factory in Berlin, and KICKZ Monaco in Munich. Following the lead of Karina’s social work with the elderly in the neurological department of Moscow’s government hospital and the young kids in Moscow’s Pavlin Orphanage, 20% of the proceeds of the collaboration will be donated to the Pavlin orphanage.
Given the occasion we asked Karina a few questions, once again loving to hear more about her, the collaboration, the reason why she called the collection “Soldier of Love”, which her favorite piece of the collection is and much more.
Enjoy the interview and the exclusive eVe without adam pictures below.
*How did the collaboration between you & K1X happen? When did it start?*
Karina Kino: When I was in Berlin 2 years ago my friend and agent Sarah Sheikh, introduced me to Mallence Bart-Williams who works on special projects for K1x and she proposed me to make a collab. I was very happy and when I came to Moscow I started to make sketches. Mallence is a real soldier of love cos she always tries to make charity projects and help children from all countries.
*What was your main inspiration for “Soldier of Love”? Why did you call the project like that?*
KK: My main inspiration was the traditional art of Russia. I watched lots of photos with traditional costumes of Russian woman and used them as an inspiration. I like them very much. But I wanted to make them more contemporary and added some new details like guns and words – Soldier of Love. My main idea was to use the traditional art of my country within street wear. I think that every person should be a soldier and fight for love to people against all negative parts of life. Russian writer Dostoevsky said that: “Our hearts art the place of war between Satan and God.” So I wanted to show people a message which is very important to me. Also every person who buys a piece of this collection, helps Russian children who have no parents, so she/he will also becomes a soldier of love.
*Did you have to follow any guidelines, or did you have complete creative freedom?*
KK: I think I had a freedom 
* Your point of view between female society and street wear*
KK: I like street wear cos for me it is something different from mass market women’s clothing. In Russia women mostly try to look like cheap prostitutes. They always wear high heels and mini skirts even in the Monday morning when they go to the office. All Europeans usually are shocked by this. So I think women should relax a lil bit about clothing and wear comfortable and fresh stuff to feel nice.
*Which is your favorite piece of the collection?*
KK: I think the cap. It is very simple and only has the Soldier of Love message.
*What’s the meaning of the writing on the back of the varsity jacket/on the panel cap?*
KK: This is the translation of “Soldier of Love” into Russian.
*What’s your exact involvement with the Pavlin orphanage?
KK: This is a small Christian orphanage. It it is not sponsored by government. The person who made it is a famous Russian priest, who did a lot of work and good things to people. They try to grow boys in traditional and christian values.
*Apart from K1X, what are you working on right now? What is your goal?*
KK: The last things I drew were wall arts in the church. I also work as a sister of mercy in the hospital. So I try to help people in all ways and don’t want any fame- just serve God, my husband and all people around.
The retail price list:
Varsity Jacket: 250€
Crewneck: 60€
Hoodie: 75€
Tank: 30€
Tee Shirt: 35€
Legging: 40€
59/50 cap: 40€ -
Big thanks to Karina Kino for presenting us another boost of creativity.
