Anna Bolina, Fashion Designer

May 22, 2023

In describing the work of independent designer Anna Bolina, who has been aptly nicknamed the “Downtown Donatella,” one doesn’t need to grasp at straws — the writing’s on the wall, or in this case, on the tube dress that states in bold font “DO WHATEVER YOU WANT NO ONE GIVES A FUCK.” It is by way of this overt and unapologetic attitude and aesthetic that Bolina’s brand garnered a dedicated following made up of both New York’s edgiest underground fashion scene, and major celebrity moments. Just last fall, out of all the NYFW content office produced, it was the swaying DJ decked out in fishnet attire at the Anna Bolina show that the internet went the wildest for, and the viral reaction was one replete with excitement, support, anger, confusion, and horniness. Whether the industry is entirely ready for club culture, the couture space is proving to be not only dated but irrelevant, and Anna Bolina is leading the charge in proving this fact. With an eye for flipping staple menswear items and motifs, an “aggressively sexual” attitude, and a cast of friends behind her brand and on her runway, season after season Bolina seamlessly blends Bushwick club culture and high fashion, bringing us along on a fantasy that feels a lot like a Ketamine-fueled night with Thierry Mugler.

Published in office Issue 19. Get your copy here.

Photography by Mitchell Connell
Interview by Anna Zanes

What is your ideal office?

Lots of windows looking onto the streets of Midtown right next to my favorite fabric stores on 38th. I love Midtown, with all its shameless consumerism and business suits – sounds peaceful.

What is the magic word?

I don’t believe in them. I believe in just making it happen with all you’ve got.

Where did you have your first kiss?

A sand dune, or maybe a redwood tree stump. I can’t remember.

What was the last thing to make you cry?

I’ve been crying a lot lately — I used to never cry. It just happens randomly, like the other day, I don’t know why, I guess I just felt lost.

What — or who — brings you to your knees?

If I’m on a stage or the dance floor and the music bangs, I can’t help but put on a show. If you aren’t on your knees at some point while performing – that’s not enough passion for me.

If you were to have a body part cast in bronze, which would it be and why?

My whole body as it is now. Then I want to bury it inside my coffin instead of my old body when I die.

What is your vice?

I’ve had many, and I’ve also quit many. Compulsively online shopping is a current one.

What is your most precious memory related to music?

When Harmen played at my last runway show.

What, where, and with who was the best night out you ever had?

Clubbing in the Dominican Republic with my boyfriend's family, CocoBongo.

What is the sexiest sound? Taste? Texture?

Taste? None. Sound? Voice breathing into your ear. Texture? Skin.

What disgusts you?

Fast fashion culture overproducing cheap clothes with the lowest quality materials and unoriginal designs.

Where below 14th street do you go to find peace?

I’m always below 14th street so, I guess my balcony. I quit chain smoking so now I just go out there and sit and vape. It’s kind of the same.

What is the most nostalgic item in your home?

My grandmother was a seamstress, when she passed away recently I got all of her sewing supplies - that’s super special to me. The LA Xpress collages covering my walls.

What is one trend you wish you hadn’t participated in?

It all led me to where I’m at now, so I don’t look back and regret.

Which words make your heart beat faster?

The cliche ones. Nothing original.

How would you define your community?

Talented, funny as fuck, smart as hell. Who do you design for? People who are inherently unique. People who want to stand out. People who are bold.

Culture

So Far So Good

April 26, 2024

Nolan Zangas’ first solo book So Far So Good, published by Blurring Books, unveils 160 pages of unreleased personal work spanning the last five years of living in New York City. Growing up running around the city's streets, capturing candid moments on disposable cameras during his youth, Nolan's desire to concretize his memories blossomed into the successful career he has today. This project stands apart his expansive body of work as a diaristic exploration of young adulthood, delving into the intersection of beauty and pain, and navigating "the fine line between success and failure" amidst the perpetual motion of a city like New York, shining a light on people and moments that shape its identity yet are often overlooked.

“In the spirit of La Haine as Vinz describes the man who falls from a skyscraper reassuring himself: ‘So far, so good...so far, so good’ on the way down,” the book serves as a tangible reminder that in life ‘It’s not how you fall that matters. It’s how you land.’”

Ahead of the launch at earshot.nyc tomorrow, we caught up with Nolan over email to talk about his selection process, how he got started taking photos, and why he doesn't post everything on Instagram.

Photography Nolan Zangas

How did you select what made it into the book?
My process is very physical. I hand print my images in a darkroom. I start by making a contact sheet. If I like the images on the contact sheet, I often cut them out and glue them into a notebook. Then I go back and print the images I like. Sometimes im in the darkroom like 30 hours in a week.
How many did you have to sort through?
It’s so hard to say. Easily over 100,000 frames. I made over 1,000 prints and most of them did not make the cut.
A book can act almost like an artifact, in that when you’re picking it up, it exists in that moment — whether that’s the day after it launches or five years from then. Did that come to mind and was there a specific thread you followed to ensure that timelessness?
I think that’s what makes books so important. I collect a lot of books. Images now feel so disposable, and I really like physical things. I think the selection of images are feel timeless, and the layout adds a bit of character to it all.
Not every upbringing is the same and as someone who also grew up in NYC, coming of age here is very different from any other place — at what point in your adolescence did you decide to start documenting your life and the people around you?
I started taking pictures of my friends on disposables around the age of 12. I lost or never picked up any of the negatives and the files are long gone. That really upsets me, and I think that made me want to take a lot more pictures as I got older. Around 18 is when I really started taking pictures of my life and things around me. I wanted to be able to look back at it all one day. I also think I’ve been surrounded with such diverse people. I think everyone deserves to have their picture taken.

How do you know when you’ve found a good picture?
There are a bunch of technical aspects that go into a good picture but I feel like for this project that stuff matters less. If it’s a good moment, and the picture makes me feel like I’m there, it’s a good picture.
The title is self-explanatory in context but I’m curious to know what led you to pick So Far So Good as the book's title.
Pretty early on in the process of making a layout actually. I think one of my friends said “so far so good” in conversation, and I instantly thought about the scene in La Haine where they talk about falling from a building. Then in my head I was like, holy shit thats the name right there”. It’s like, how far can you stretch a rubber band before it snaps. It felt really fitting to that point in my life and the book as a whole. A lot of good and a lot of bad around me.
Creating anything is an act of giving. How do you hope people, and those featured in its pages, receive the book?
I think it’s going to be cool for people who are in it because most of them don’t even know the pictures exist. I haven’t really been sending or showing anyone pictures because then they just end up on Instagram and in my head thats basically the trash can. I think some people won’t get it and others will. I don’t really mind. Everyone grew up doing different things.

It’s like, how far can you stretch a rubber band before it snaps. It felt really fitting to that point in my life and the book as a whole. A lot of good and a lot of bad around me.

Culture

I Only Came For the Parties

Between Rihanna and A$AP Rocky surprise appearance to the open bars, food trucks, and dance floors, the party was wild. As I arrived at the ranch, I was immediately met with a friend of mine running up to me saying, “Pookie and Jett are here. We NEED to party with them.” We began the hunt after stopping by the Passes.com table for some cotton candy. With a wrist full of stacked bands on one arm and a drink in my other, I hurried past Justin and Hailey Bieber before reaching the packed dance floor. It must’ve been close to sunrise when I finally came to and headed for the exit. Walking out, I ran into my friends who told me they just drove in from LA and NYC just for the party. This being my 10th Coachella, I'd probably stay home next year if it weren’t for this party.

Culture

Celebrating Earth Day w/ Nike x office

No Earth Day celebration is complete without action, so here are 10 local NYC-based initiatives you can get involved in to preserve the planet we all share.

Join a community garden: NYC has many community gardens (Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Queens Botanic Garden, The High Line) that offer volunteer opportunities and workshops on sustainable gardening practices.
Volunteer with NYC Parks: The NYC Parks Department offers various volunteer programs, including tree planting, cleanups, and habitat restoration.
Participate in beach cleanups: Organizations like the Surfrider Foundation and the NYC Parks Department organize regular beach cleanups in NYC's coastal areas.
Get involved with local environmental groups: Groups like the Sierra Club, the Nature Conservancy, and the NYC Environmental Justice Alliance offer various volunteer opportunities and campaigns.
Take part in citizen science projects: Organizations like the NYC Audubon Society and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden offer citizen science projects that allow individuals to contribute to environmental research.
Join a local recycling program: NYC's Department of Sanitation offers various recycling programs, including organics collection and textile recycling.
Support local sustainable businesses: Choose to shop at local businesses that prioritize sustainability and environmentally friendly practices. (Here's a great resource for finding them)
Advocate for environmental policy change: Contact local representatives and participate in advocacy campaigns with organizations like the NYC Environmental Justice Alliance.
Participate in park cleanups: Organizations like the Central Park Conservancy and the Prospect Park Alliance offer regular cleanup events.
Join a local environmental activism group: Groups like Extinction Rebellion NYC and the Sunrise Movement NYC offer opportunities for individuals to get involved in environmental activism and advocacy.

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Anna Bolina, Fashion Designer

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