New Yorker of the Week

JanMon 2010 Filed in: New Yorker of the Week

Stevie Boi

Craft: Celebrity Eyewear Designer
Lives: Downtown
Why we think he’s cool: He is a revolutionary designer and in 2010, fashion will never be the same.
Where to find them: stevieboi.com
Interview by: José

If fashion is a true reflection of adaptation, Stevie Boi proves to be a timeless emblem of trend. With retrospect and illusion, the exquisite eye wear designer has infused futuristic elements with geometrical lines that redefine alternative style.

The line, TOxic, which will be launched launched in February of 2010, is totally owned and operated by Stevie Boi himself. He champions supernatural innovation with eclectic remixes of alter-personas. Never to be duplicated, the designs embody individuality, gaining the attention of a huge demographic whose members are not interested in being anything other than themselves. From the edgy accessory line to the signature galactic shades and intermingling of clashing looks, Stevie Boi's designs stand alone in a world where imitation is prevalent.

Jose:  I’ve been going through your collection. Your stuff is brilliant - out there, but brilliant!
Stevie: Thank you so much. You've got to be careful, though. There are a lot of knock-offs of my shades around. I find it interesting that everybody wants to be an eyewear designer now.

J:  I’ll consider myself warned. What are you working on right now?
S: I’m shooting product shots for my next line, TOxic, that comes out this month. I’m also working with different musicians for album promos and music videos, but the biggest thing right now is my new line.

J:  Tell me about your shades.
S: They’re handcrafted and designed by me. I’m a total earth freak, so I use a lot of recycled material, which also makes the quality great.

J: Do you have a favorite pair of shades?
S: It’s all over the place right now. I made these Orbitz SB Shades that Nicki Minaj is going to be wearing in an upcoming Mariah video - they’re gate glasses. Fabricated shades were the first ones I put out for the public. Then I went from fabricated to studded. Then from studded to gates that wrap around your whole face.

J:  What’s the inspiration behind your work?
S: You might think this is crazy, but part of my inspiration comes from nightmares and dreams. I use them to make my creations unlike others by using spikes, black lace, etc. Another big inspiration for me comes from growing up overseas - London, Paris, Germany and Italy. In those places it’s not so weird to be weird. It’s normal to be outspoken. And the fashion industry there has always been ahead of the game.

J:  How do you deal with what’s going on in the fashion industry right now? Particularly in New York.
S:  I think in the fashion industry, a lot of things are recurring, which is what keeps it happening. It’s a constant visit back to the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. What I’m doing now with my eyewear is creating something that hasn’t been created. So 20, 30 years from now, it will be part of a recurring theme. Unfortunately, the fashion industry is lacking innovation, and new ideas are kind of stuck in the box right now. That’s what I’m trying to change.

J: Who in the industry do you admire right now?
S: Everybody who knows me knows that Grace Jones is it for me!

J:How can people find your stuff?
S:  You can go to my website, stevieboi.com. My glasses are sold in Japan and overseas. In terms of U.S. stores, I sell my shades in Baltimore in a store called Colt Boutique on Charles Street.

J:  I imagine they eat your stuff up in Japan.
S: Oh yeah. They love it. Seven months ago Lady Gaga was there, so everybody wanted to have a pair of SB Shades. They literally sold out in the first hour.

J:  What do you think of Lady Gaga?
S: She has great choice of fashion. I’m not even gonna front. They’re aren’t too many people that can do what she’s doing right now. She’s an A+.

J: Did you play with accessories when you were a kid?
S: I used to have a thing for watches. What’s crazy is that when I was little, I used to think they were free. I remember I put on this limited edition Disney watch in a store and walked out with it [laughs]. I had no idea I'd get in trouble.

J: What happened when you got caught?
S: What do you think? My mom whooped me in front of everybody [laughs]. She was like “Hell No!” I learned later that the watch cost $10,000!

J: You know one of my biggest pet peeves is when somebody doesn’t take off their sunglasses when they’re talking to you. How do you feel about that?
S: This is my thing. When I‘m conducting business with someone, of course I’m walking up to them with my shades on, but as soon as we start talking, I take them off. I wear my shades all the time, but I’m really big on eye contact. That’s a must.

J:  When you’re making SB Shades, do you have a preference in terms of making them for women or men?
S: No. I make everything unisex. I let people decide whether it’s feminine or masculine. That’s up to the person’s eye.

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How did Stevie Boi answer our Outsider questions?

1. List a few things in your fridge.
S: Laughing Cow cheese, cranberry juice, tomatoes, spinach.
2. What’s your New Year’s resolution?
S: Make a dramatic change in the industry as an eyewear designer.
3. What do you want to see change in NY?
S: Fresher faces and new talent.
4. What's your favorite NY icon? Person, place or thing.
S: Brooklyn.
5. What freaks you out about NY?
S: The subway smell!
6: Describe your ideal NY Date?
S: Dinner and a horror movie.

Tags: Jose, Interview, new yorker