Last night I found myself in the politest mosh pit I have ever been in. It made me miss the decade before when I was a preteen with my asymmetrical hair and teen angst, smoking behind art buildings. I would go to rock shows in dilapidated spaces, not really sure why I was so angry. The rush of seeing a bunch of shit-heads moshing, while the worst sounding bands performed felt so right. My look was comprised of bondage pants circa Marc by Marc Jacobs, a band tee of some band I only knew 2 tracks from and my dad’s leather jacket. It was a time when Myspace meant something, everything.
With that same conviction LA based brand [Rose In Good Faith](https://www.roseingoodfaith.com) just dropped the ultimate scenster approved collection with their signature use of luxury fabrics. Founded by Akiva Alpert and David Teitelbaum the brand bridges the extreme highs and lows of culture and fabrication in a space of earnest appreciation. Past seasons have included collaborations with Christian Audigier and Ed Hardy, evoking the glamorous era of 2000’s bedazzled bad taste with all of the ghost of Kitson fully awoken. When presenting their latest collection, initial PTSD of cringe worthy dutch angled photo selfies and oversaturated malaise comes into mind. Upon further inspection, beyond the distressed fabrics and faded gothic text lay the comfort of heavy weight Japanese French Terry hoodies, silk Charmeuse jackets and all the cotton cashmere needed to combat the thoughts of all the poly hell of yesterday’s Hot Topic wardrobe. We hit up Akiva Alpert to give us the strength to once again embrace the scene within.
**What is the inspiration behind this collection?**
The Violent Dance references hardcore-dancing, which is an esoteric style of moshing prevalent in the hardcore scene. This combined with my experiences within the scene itself, and love for Japanese import-tuning.
**Is there any Myspace subtext in the way you gathered this collection?**
Absolutely. Myspace truly was the epicenter of it all. I utilized old scene makeup, and hair references, as well as my old Myspace profile photos, and mosh-pit photography of that era.
**What places made you think of this era, were there venues you thought of when designing this collection?**
Growing up between Atlanta, and South Georgia, The Masquerade in ATL, and my local venue called The Lot were my biggest reference points.
My teenage years literally existed adjacent to those two venues, specifically. The Masquerade was iconic, and the Norma Jean shows there were always incredible. I was always at The Lot on Friday or Saturday night hanging out at the venue which was simply an elevated wooden stage in a dirt parking lot. Completely DIY.
**What is it about the Straightedge style that fits in with where we are in 2019?**
Straight-edge culture, and the hardcore community at large have always been heavily inspired by athletic apparel, as hardcore dancing is ultimately a sub-cultural contact sport. With the comeback of baggier, more athletic fits, it makes perfect sense in 2019. The standard straight-edge style fit comprised of: basketball jersey, mesh shorts, Nike Airmaxs, and a New Era cap are pretty timeless to begin with.
**How do you see the gothic fonts fitting in the way this era's main focal point of music and subculture?**
Internet culture has blended sub-culture, and nostalgia in such a way that the 90s, 2000s and prominent sub-cultures such as goth, scene, and trap have all coalesced. Gothic fonts can be viewed as one of the binding visual elements for all darker sub-cultures to blend, and coexist together.
**How do you best see this fit in the way you could mosh in the clothing?**
I fully expect to see designer apparel being worn in the pit at rap, and metal shows for the foreseeable future. You should definitely throw on a hoodie from this collection, hood up, paired with denim, or mesh shorts, along with your favorite Nikes and throw down. The more worn-in, and lived-in the garments, the better.
Are we ready to revisit scenster themes of the 2000's?
Definitely. Its time for the Toni and Guy era haircuts, and more hyper-modern styles to make a comeback. I think there is traditionally this societal reaction of growth and progression away from our teenage selves, and then perhaps a profound realization that nostalgia, and teenage experience truly is/was a part of our core identities. Our generation of millennials and beyond aren’t tethered to this antiquated notion of adulthood. Lets bring it all back.
**Where do you see our culture converging?**
Its absolutely incredible to be in a time where self-expression can exist so freely, and untethered; with divisions within fashion, and music being virtually non-existent. Also, I’d like to collaborate on a hair-straighter lol.
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Photos courtesy of Rose In Good. Faith
