Paper People

One thing SCAD seems to get right are the visitors they book (may it be with late notice, odd timing, or cramped spaces). After the elation of Scott Shuman's (The Sartorialist) and Garance Dore's visit, this quarter's second set of guests, Kim Hastreiter and Mickey Boardman of Paper magazine, were a cherry on top. For those unfamiliar with the magazine visit www.papermag.com, or better yet run out and snag a copy NOW!

Hastreiter described the beginnings of the publication in 1984 when it was just her and partner David Hershkovits in an apartment with very little money. The first issues looked nothing like the magazine today. It started out as a large, folded, black and white poster filled with content covering art, fashion and the buzzing New York culture. Articles and photos were made by artists, not typical journalists. It was a publication for the creatives by the creatives.
Why the name Paper? Kim told the intimate crowd that she was inspired by the simplicity and effectiveness of the brand Agnes B. She wanted a name that didn't define the magazine because it wasn't just an art magazine or a fashion magazine or a pop culture magazine: it was a convergence of all that inspired Kim and David.

Much of the talk consisted of Kim and Mickey's distaste of the fashion industry and I couldn't agree with their comments more. "Just because you're cute, connected, and famous does not mean you design good stuff," Kim said. "I see a lot of issues with the fashion establishment. Often they [fashion editors, buyers, etc.] don't look at the clothes; it's about who can sell more perfume." Mickey discussed his days at Parsons when they seemed to have an obsession with producing Michael Kors clones. His style was eccentric (evident from his blingy and bold chain necklace with matching leopard print jacket and sneakers. His Jackie O meets Hip Hop collection ("Jackie Ho") received "crickets." "In my spare time I'd try something they'd like," he said. "I'd put the vest over the jacket and they'd go crazy!" His best advice came from his story on how he got from Illinois with a Spanish degree to New York working in fashion: "Find someone genius [speaking of Kim] and stick to them like glue." Simple enough, eh? Take a look at the genius he speaks of and you'll instantly see why she's not your typical Anna Wintour or Amy Astley:





The talk was fascinating: there were shared tales of Kim's first dinner with the Toledos, receiving a letter from Geoffrey Beene himself and her large collection of fake designer fakes (or "cultural icons" she told us). It was so great to hear about how someone is truly making a unique mark in a world of waxy, high heeled figures and receiving praise from the typical fashion media for what she does. "It doesn't matter what you're doing," she told us. "Just so it really well and do it honestly."