INTERVIEW: Va$htie Kola x Sneaker Freaker Magazine

Music video director and fashion designer, Va$htie Kola did a interview recently with Sneaker Freaker magazine. Check out a few photos from her shoot and excerpts from the interview here:

How challenging is it as a female director working in such a male ego driven scene?

It’s hard for some men to understand your capabilities if they aren’t used to seeing a woman in a traditionally male-driven occupation, I understand that. What is really unfortunate is that it can be a boy’s club - men wanting to collaborate with other men. There are so many female directors that get overlooked because maybe these men don’t think that we understand the angles of ‘sex’, ‘street’ or ‘masculinity’… but, we do. Realistically, it’s challenging to be anything in the world. I’d have issues if I was a black man or if I was a gay woman or if I was deaf or if I lived in a third world country. Everyone has challenges and I seriously can’t complain, considering there are people who have much bigger problems than me ‘being a girl in a man’s world’.

I’m guessing your siblings paved the way for your induction into street culture. Just how much of their tastes ended up influencing your style?

My brother and sister had a HUGE impact on me! My brother (who is 8 years older than me) would take me to gay clubs at the age of 12 and as crazy as that sounds it was probably one of the safest places to be -surrounded by gay men who have no harmful interest in you! I was mesmerized and as a straight girl I totally fell in love with gay culture - the music, the movement and the people. I can recall my brother’s stories of going to clubs and raves in New York City and hanging out with Michael Alig and James St. James of Club Kid and Limelight Fame. I remember him ‘vogueing’ in our living room, pre-Madonna’s Vogue. He was also a sci-fi nerd and we bonded over episodes of X-MEN and X-FILES. My sister, who was seven years older than me, listened to music like Depeche Mode, Neneh Cherry, Cheap Trick, and Guns N’ Roses. All of that shaped my own musical interests. I can remember believing 100% that my sister was the coolest girl that had ever existed; she flipped her hair to one side (like I do now), she wore denim jackets (like I do now) and she wore beat up concert t-shirts (like I do now). She also worked at a movie theatre in high school. When my mom would work her late shift she would drop me off at the theatre where my sister worked so I wouldn’t be home alone and I would watch movies all night long. I’m pretty sure that played a big part in me wanting to be a director.

Look how far it’s come! You’re now Jordan Brands’ first female collaborator. How did it all kick off?

It happened a little over a year ago. I was getting a lot of press due to my birthday cake, which was in the form of a giant Jordan III. I had run into Astor from Jordan Brand and we were catching up, discussing ideas while talking about my birthday cake and obsession with Jordans. The next day the plan was in motion and I was sketching ideas and playing with fabric swatches.
It happened so fast and very organically!

Check out the rest of the interview and photos here.

via Vashtie.com