Q&A: Stylist Angel Emmanuel
☆ By Martina Taylor ☆
STYLIST ANGEL EMMANUEL IS KNOWN FOR MANY THINGS -his I LIKE LOVE NEW YORK shirts, his work as a stylist and that one time Rihanna (unintentionally) blew weed smoke in his face. This isn’t enough for the NYC based artist; he’s looking to try it all. Emmanuel is very much already on that path, having lived all over the world and done everything from art school to working on fashion week shows to making and selling clothing. “There’s style and beauty in everything, it’s up to you to interpret and translate it through your work,” the artist says. This philosophy is exemplified in his recent clothing collection “I LIKE LOVE NEW YORK,” a result of a summer spent watching the city respond in its own beautiful way to the harsh reality of the pandemic. The Luna Collective caught up with Emmanuel to talk creating during the pandemic, the ins and outs of representation in the creative field, collaborations, and much more. Read below to dive into the mind of one of NYC’s most fashionable residents.
LUNA: Growing up you moved around the US a bit and your family is also Ecuadorian, how do you think your cultural background and upbringing around the US has played into your style?
EMMANUEL: It’s taught me perspective. Growing up, at least for me, I’ve developed an understanding as to why people are the way they are and why they do and think the way they do. A lot of that has to do with where they developed. An 18 year old, for example, in New York wouldn’t dress the same as an 18 y/o in Virginia, or as an 18 y/o in Florida. But I’ve lived and grown in all three places. Not to mention I studied abroad in Hong Kong and spent close to a year between France and Germany. I’ve grown and am growing up all over the world essentially. It’s influenced my style in major ways because I’ve been able to draw first hand inspiration from all over the world and reinterpret it through my personal style and work.
Unfortunately I haven’t been to Ecuador since I was 3, and haven’t been in touch with my Ecuadorian roots. Recently though I’ve been feeling very drawn to those roots, and have been looking at a lot of different paintings, weavings, and textiles from Ecuador. I really want to create a piece inspired by Ecuador, but I’m not sure what that is yet. I’d like to visit though when it’s safe again because I think there’s a lot that I have to learn and gain by being there and I can totally see there being a shift in my style.
LUNA: How did you make your transition from being interested in fashion for fun to styling as a career?
EMMANUEL: It’s been a long journey, but not one that had a direct path. From the 6th grade through college I attended art school. In middle school through high school I studied Production Design. I liked to concentrate on costume design, and all designs would always be inspired by fashion in one way or another. Then for college I went to SCAD and studied Fibers, again I tried to make my projects fashion based. I think I knew I wanted to be a stylist but I never outright said it. When I graduated and moved to New York, my friend put me in touch with a stylist to assist her. I assisted her for the summer and then NYFW rolled around and I emailed everyone I liked who was showing and offered my assistance in one way or another. They all got back to me. I ended up working like 6 or 7 shows that season. I did that for a few years. Assist stylists here and there, working fashion week shows while also working another job at the same time, and also styling my own shoots.
I started styling in 2017, and I’m still learning on how to make it a career. I’m lucky enough though to know and be around so many talented artists to collaborate with that I can hit up to brainstorm on big projects with. I try to focus on projects that I really believe in, or work with people that I fully trust because I take what I do seriously, and don’t want to do just any shoot. This year I’ve learned to take ownership over myself and my styling. People will try to take advantage of you or your work but when you put your foot down and assert yourself, you’re giving yourself the respect you deserve. Whether people like it or not, they’ll know that you mean business and this isn’t just a hobby.
LUNA: What are some of the key lessons you’ve learned since you first started your career as a fashion stylist?
EMMANUEL: Most important lesson; stay hydrated, no joke! Especially during the summers when you can be running around town all day long picking up, dropping off, and lugging around garment bags, suitcases, boxes, etc. Styling and assisting stylists is very exhausting, and if you’re not taking care of yourself, you can easily burnout. Unfortunately, not everyone has your best interests in mind, so it’s important to pay attention how people treat you. There will be people who treat you with the utmost respect and are such a pleasure to work with/for, and then there will be the people who treat you as just another set of hands.
I’ve worked for people who really appreciate me and what I offer, but I’ve also worked for places where some people wouldn’t even bother learning my name but had no problem talking down to me while I was working for them for little to nothing. Some jobs aren’t worth the stress they put on you and your mental/physical health. Being yourself is one of the more important lessons with styling, express yourself through your work!!! There’s way too many people dressing the same!!
LUNA: Beyond styling you’ve also recently released some clothing including your I LIKE LOVE NEW YORK, like right?? as well as bucket hats - congrats! What lead to you creating these pieces? Do you have plans to create more clothing?
EMMANUEL: Thank you!! And thanks for asking! When the pandemic started back in March I had just moved into my new apt in the city, two weeks later all my roommates had left to quarantine back home and didn’t come back until they moved out. So for a little over 4 months I was alone, in my apt and in New York. My roommates were gone, and many of my friends also left the city. During that time I was able to see the city like I’ve never seen it before. It was empty. I saw all the small businesses and restaurants in my neighborhood close. I saw the streets completely empty - no cars, no tourists, no shops, no one. But everyday at 7PM, the pots and pans started banging and people were out of their windows cheering for all the health care workers. This reminded me that no matter what, even through hard times, New Yorkers are here to uplift their community. As restrictions started to ease up, I saw the community come together to rebuild and help those who were affected. I saw New York hurt, rest, and get back on its feet which made me fall in love with New York all over again. I’m constantly reminded that I like LOVE New York!!! Like right?! Like everyone else this summer, I spent a lot of the time at home tie-dyeing t-shirts. At the same time I was working on drawings and writing. Then I combined all those things to make the shirts . I like to cut the hems off the sleeves and the bottoms of almost all my tees, so I did the same with the ILLNY shirts.
With the scraps I crocheted the bucket hats blended with some of my favorite wool yarn, which were inspired again by neighborhoods - Chinatown/Two Bridges. I drew inspiration from the colored banners that hang over all the restaurants on my street, from the skateboarders who would skate all day and night, and from the blend of communities that this city has to offer. Luckily I’ve sold over half of my ILLNY tees, and I’m currently making more - these will be white versions. I’m currently working on new designs that I hope to have done by the end of the year, if not the beginning of next.
LUNA: Are there any other creative avenues you’d like to explore more in the future?
EMMANUEL: I think I’ve built that confidence to wanna get into acting. A fashion stylist and an actor? Sounds silly, but whatever!! I want to try it all though; I want to enhance my photography skills, I would love to make films, It’s a work in progress but I’m continuing to push my designs further. I would LOVE to make music, produce and sing. I’ve always been influenced by music, so I think it would be so sick to make my own.
LUNA: Representation, more so lack of representation, in the creative fields has definitely been a hot topic lately - what role do you hope to play in this ongoing conversation?
EMMANUEL: Where do I start?! How do I start? Throughout my career so far, I’ve been lucky enough to work with some amazing teams where I never felt left out, or like I was the ugly duckling in the room, teams like Telfar. When working with Telfar, you’re surrounded by POC and Queer folx and it feels like family, no matter how long it’s been since you’ve seen them. On the other hand, I’ve also had jobs where my team was nothing but white women + 2 POC (myself included). I felt alone on that team, I felt like I had to conform to a box that I wasn’t trying to be in. Some might say that’s just the way the corporate world works, but I call shade. In a lot of these positions; I can’t speak for everyone, but I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that, it feels like when you take on these rolls, you’re expected to whitewash yourself in order to fit in. It’s a survival tactic for most and it sucks.
I can have a lot of experience under my belt, worked with some of the biggest names in fashion and entertainment, and still be looked over because I’m not a cookie cutter version of what they want me to be. It’s our responsibility to call these places out, and the people inside. We need to see more POC and Queer Folx not only in images but on the inside as well, roles where theyre making important decisions and who can accurately represent minorities. As a stylist, for me it’s important that I work with a diverse range of models and talent, as well as photographers, hair and makeup artists, and others who are behind the scenes. At the end of the day it’s our responsibility to uplift and highlight each other.
LUNA: What role has collaboration played in your career? What is the dynamic often like with your clients?
EMMANUEL: I can’t do what I do without collaborators!! My favorite part about creating images is being able to work with others who are bringing their best at what they do. Everyone has something to offer, and their own sense of style and direction. Working with someone whose work you respect and who understands you is amazing. I often work with photographer Emma Craft, we’ve been working together for almost 4 years. It’s so easy when we work together because we’re confident in each other's skills and what we bring to the table. There’s a lot of projects that I want to do and I can just throw a random one Emma's way, and instantly she’ll see the vision I’m seeing. Frequent collaboration allows you to focus on your role and be able to bring your A game when you’re not concerned about everyone else doing their job.
Collaborating with new people is also exciting, in the sense that it allows you to challenge yourself and do things differently. It’s important to switch up who you work with so things don’t start to appear repetitive. Some of these larger publications today are so scared to switch it up and will end up with covers shot by the same photographer issue after issue, styled by the same stylist, and don’t get me wrong, they look great, but it gets boring when you know or can predict what the next issue is going to look like.
LUNA: If you could offer a piece of advice to those wanting to get into the fashion world but don’t know where to start, what would you share?
EMMANUEL: Be YOURSELF!!!! And Network!!! Reach out to people, ask questions and offer your assistance! Do all kinds of research, there’s style and beauty in everything, it’s up to you to interpret and translate it through your work. It’s also important to be genuine and respectful. Don’t be a mosquito. If you’re only interested in what someone else has to offer you, or how you can jump onto their bandwagon, then people won’t want to work with you. Assisting someone is usually the best way to get your start in styling. You begin to develop an understanding of the industry, you’re able to get on-set experience, how to conduct yourself in certain settings, and if you’re lucky you’ll get to have opportunities where you can network and expand your contacts.
LUNA: I’m sure you have many, but in this moment, who is your dream client or project to style?
EMMANUEL: I mean, it’s always been a dream and goal of mine to style Lady Gaga and Rihanna. I assisted on a commercial once for Lady Gaga. At one point her assistant asked me to hold her pink guitar and a few minutes later Gaga came and sat down next to me, took the guitar from me and started playing Million Reasons while the film crew was setting up. Joanne hadn’t come out yet, so I was in shock and frozen like a statue since I’m getting to watch LG play an unreleased track right next to me. I’ve also done PA work for fashion shows and events and once I worked a Christmas party, and Rihanna was there and she (unintentionally) blew weed smoke in my face. So if I never get to style them, at least I had those moments with them and I will TAKE IT!!!!
Currently I’m so obsessed with Dua Lipa! Everything from her personality and style to all the music and especially the way she’s handling the Future Nostalgia era. It’s a good time to be a fan of hers because she keeps giving us new content and ways of celebrating the album. First it was the album, then there was the Club remix album, new collaborations, and recently she had her Studio 2054 performance. And she’s been having so much fun while doing it too. I feel like she’s so down to take risks and would allow you the space to do you and create iconic moments with her. I’m obsessed with her current style, but it would be so fun to be able to put my own touch on it.
LUNA: What do you hope the rest of 2021 brings to you?
EMMANUEL: Happiness in all forms. Love in all forms. I hope 2020 and beyond brings the respect I’ve worked hard for, that I’ve earned, and that I deserve. I hope I can keep collaborating with those that I love. When traveling is allowed again, I hope that my work can take me globally to places I’ve never been and to places I’ve grown to fall in love with. I’m going to start looking for an agent soon, so hopefully I find luck with that and am able to take on and create bigger and better projects!!
CONNECT WITH ANGEL EMMANUEL
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From Pavietra 🕊️ https://t.co/BXVgWlZud8 -
slowthai by Rosie Matheson 🤩 https://t.co/z7SDfFQ5iF
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RT @i_D: Ian Kenneth Bird photographs young punks on Polaroid: https://t.co/MKT0tMUqO9 https://t.co/a0tTl12ML5
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RT @AnOtherMagazine: #DreamHome – this isolated idyll in the mountains of Lanzarote 🌵 📸 via Nowness, photography by Clemence Blr 🔁 https://t.co/GUusdxD0cg
