Interview with Christen Mooney of Thugpop Magazine

Thugpop Magazine is a new print and online venture that provides a unique perspective on style, art and music through a counter-cultural youthful lens. I spoke with Christen Mooney Editor in Chief of Thugpop magazine  about his inspirations, Thugpop’s origins, the current state of fashion.  He may be only 20, but Christen is someone you’ll be hearing much more about leading up to the inaugural print issue of Thugpop Magazine coming this November.

Introduce yourself and the concept behind Thugpop?

Hi, My name is Christen Mooney and I am the Editor in Chief of Thugpop Magazine. Thugpop is a very lucid name for a movement I’d like to create. Thugpop is a youth driven magazine that caters to the art and fashion audience. Thugpop is in a sense me but yet everyone. Who doesn’t listen to a mix of genres now a days, who doesn’t have decent style now (at least in new york)? Fashion is so mainstream but yet to be new you have to go against what fashion is. By making it very punk and thats what Thugpop is. Changing the way fashion is by youth’s hands. But to give you a clear answer on what Thugpop is it would be “a journal of our art.”

What prompted you to start Thugpop, was it something you have had on your mind for awhile?

Thugpop was first my twitter and instagram name. I never knew what thugpop was going to be exactly but the name stuck. I used to have a blog kind of like Third Looks but you guys are much better at it. But I was just about my inspirations and my ideas. I thought Thugpop was too good of a name for another blog. I had a class where we had to create our own magazine and I’m a really shitty student and the only thing I could come up with in time was Thugpop.  I realized i should use my artistic expression and asked my friends to join me on this journey. My staff which make up 4 of my closest friends (Sean, Amber, Jose, and Henri) they really make sure all my needs are met. I couldn’t imagine Thugpop without them.

Also, a quick note, my dad used to always say I should be an entrepreneur so he made me read books like Rich Dad, Poor Dad at a very young age. I almost feel like I was raised to do this. My childhood plays a very big part in the inspiration for my editorials as well.

Read the rest of the interview after the jump 

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Interview with Rome Fortune

2013 has been a big year for Rome Fortune. Coming out the Atlanta scene he’s built up significant buzz with his ‘Beautiful Pimp’ mixtape. Frequent collaborators C4 and Childish Major have been lacing him with experimental instrumentals that compliment his effortless laid-back delivery. He was a feature on the recent Gucci Mane joint ‘Stripes’ and just ripped a set alongside PTP family Gila Monster at 285 Kent in Brooklyn.

Outside of his music prowess, Rome is someone you’ll always see expressing his personal style through his clothing choices. When we first met, he told me that he had been a fan of Third Looks for some time, so it’s nice to bring things full circle with this feature. Rome and I had a conversation that touches on hip-hop style, girls and world rap domination.

Be sure to check the brand video for his single ‘Get the Guap” HERE and click through to read the interview.

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A Conversation with Highland

Highland FW13 Lookbook

After discovering Highland online last year, I have been tracking the development of the New York based men’s label. I always give alot of credence to any brand who takes risks with their fashion week shows and the one Highland put on last NYFW was one of the most memorable I’ve ever attended.  The presentation was delivered in a room with sururban wallpaper backdrops on one side and on the other: anteractive stoner basement set (complete with Doritos, a N64, bongs and a PBR pyramid). 

I visited Cramer Tolboe (Co-founder of Highland) and Lizzie Owens (Head Designer and co-founder) in their Brooklyn studios to have a conversation on the origins of the brand, the trails and tribulations along the way and where Highland is going next. 

Read the full feature after the jump

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The Talks: Raf Simons

Raf Simons is one of the designers who got me interested in high fashion in the first place. I first discovered his work in the mid 2000s and was instantly drawn into his rebellious vision of menswear. The Talks spoke with Mr.Simons on his journey from a teenager in a tiny town in Belgium to … Read more

Port Magazine Conversation with Jun Takahashi on Gyakusou

Photo Adrian Crispin David Hellqvist of PORT Magazine visited Jun Takahashi at the Gyakusou Showroom in Paris and spoke to him about the evolution of Gyakusou. Jun Takahashi has dedicated to the runners lifestyle and in his person life is taking more time to train and compete in marathons. His preference is to run in … Read more

Interview: Wayne Berkowitz, Founder & Producer of superfuture

Today Rawr Denim posted an insightful interview with the founder and producer of superfuture. I always pay homage to superfuture (and forum culture in general) because the website has been a key influencing force in the evolution of my own personal style. I think forum communities have really played the role of effective middlemen between … Read more

SSENSE Interview with Damir Doma

The good folks at SSENSE posted an interview today with croatian-born designer Damir Doma . In it, Damir speaks candidly on a variety of topics from his mother’s influence on him to the industry to how SILENT has developed over time. YOU’VE HAD THE CHANCE TO WORK ALONGSIDE INDUSTRY HEAVYWEIGHTS LIKE RAF SIMONS AND DIRK SCHÖNBERGER … Read more

The Future of Fashion – An Interview with Hedi Slimane

Saint Laurent Eyewear via Vogues Homme Japan As the fashion set worldwide anxiously awaits Hedi Slimane’s designers under the Saint Laurent Paris label, I believe this is an appropriate time to reflect on his viewpoints on digital media and fashion. In particular this 2010 Style.com interview with the Saint Laurent Paris creative director has stayed … Read more

Words with Tetsuya Suzuki of Honeyee

I came across a telling candid interview on Fashionpost with Tetsuya Suzuki; one of the founding editors of online fashion meccas Honeyee and .fatale. Given Mr.Suzuki’s exposure to both the mens and womenswear fields he is able to objectly access the current trends and direction of global fashion. Reading this interview , I found his … Read more