Angie Vasquez
L.A.’s very own artist and DJ, Angie Vasquez, tells LA.Cityzine why she’s on a mission to bomb your handbags. She also reveals how her independent clothing label, Girlfitti Love, was humbly conceived, distributed to the right people, and ended up on Pink’s superstar head.
What made you decide to start Girlfitti Love?
Well it was definitely by accident, but the story goes: I was in a mall and this chick was rocking a graffiti trucker cap. I knew I could do that myself so I went out and bought a trucker and hooked it up with the worst graffiti ever. (Haha!) I knew it wasn’t great graffiti but I was proud of what I did. So I hit the dancer scene in my new hat; before I knew it I had people asking me to do a hat for them.
After that, I was hooked. I started studying letter manipulation and different styles. Then, it was really taking over and I started graffin’ on anything I could; clothes, walls, canvases, shoes, anything I could get paint on. After a few months of constant hat making, I decided I should come up with a name for my stuff and surprisingly it wasn’t hard. “Girlfitti” popped in my head instantly. I am a girl who loves graffiti. So that was a done deal.
Since most of my customers were dancers, my artwork was around a lot of musical artists, which was great. I never had to do anything to promote my stuff. It wasn’t ’til I opened US magazine and [had] seen Pink with my hat on that I realized it was [not only] cool to see your art on a wall somewhere, but it was a major rush to see your artwork in a magazine or on a person walking by especially a person you don’t know. There is no better canvas than people, they travel and are focal points on the daily. So that’s when I decided that Girlfitti was going to move up and do some cool stuff with art and fashion. I’ve had a few troubles with my name because Crayola came up with some kids craft thing and decided to call it Girlfitti. I don’t know how the hell they came up with that. So I added LOVE to my name, because this is one of my first loves!!! GIRLFITTI LOVE!!!!!
How has L.A. influenced your designs?
Wow, L.A. is like a museum for me. As soon as you enter, you see the most amazing pieces of artwork. You can’t go anywhere without some kind of graff catching your eye. It’s a constant inspiration. Imagine an art gallery as big as L.A. with as much art as L.A. It’s mind blowing, and it’s free!!! Wow is all I can say!
What else inspires your work?
Well since I’m Latina the Cholo/Chola lifestyle really inspires me. I grew up around it, and I love everything about that culture. I give it up to Gwen Stefani because she really knew how to make that style crossover.
What do you want to see in the future of L.A. fashion?
I think L.A. is actually getting it right! You walk out and everyone wears whatever the hell they want to wear. Granted, it’s not always right but it’s freedom. And you can’t be mad at that.
What’s the most played-out trend you’ve seen in L.A. street fashion lately?
Two words: ED HARDY ’nuff said!!!
What is street fashion and how is Girlfitti Love related (or unrelated) to it?
Well, I’d like to say you can’t find street fashion in department stores; but that isn’t the case anymore. It’s gone much farther than the streets and onto runways and department stores; but street fashion comes from everyday life and creativity, the inspiration is almost secondary. Things rarely inspired to be street, they just are!
As for Girlfitti Love it just is what it is. Not everyone is going to like it or respect it, but some people are going to love it and live for it! One thing I’ve learned along the way is you can’t please everyone.
Graffiti culture has gained some recognition in the mainstream recently, how do you think this changes the rules of fashion? Of your style?
I think the mainstream isn’t seeing graffiti as an eye sore anymore. They are embracing it as actual art. People have gotten past the guerilla tactics and can’t deny that no matter how it’s done, at the end of the day, graffiti is an amazing art.As far as my style, customization is my shit. (Haha.) Even when I was little I loved watching Laverne and Shirley and my favorite thing about that show was Laverne’s L on her shirt! So my “L” is my graff, whether it be my kicks my purse or some tank I cut and graffed on.
Give me your top 3 shopping spots in L.A.
American Apparel
MetroPark
Kendo on Melrose
Thank you, Angie V.!
*Photos of Angie Vasquez via: Angie’s Myspace
*Photo of Pink wearing Girlfitti Love trucker via: US Weekly
*Photo of Miley Cyrus wearing Girlfitti Love vest via: Angie’s Myspace
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