Our new menswear designer Jay Escobara is an '80s kid at heart.
What does your job at Urban Outfitters entail?
I hear it begins with adding cool concepts one gathers from research and mixing them with a lot of "gut feeling." But for me, I just show up fingers crossed, and create product I think kids will get into. The modern man is changing all the time, so part of my job is to be able to see this change.
What's the best part about your job?
The best part comes in meeting people. My career as a designer has been about the handshake. To me, it's about sharing ideas, colors, concepts, humor, passions and so forth.
Where did you grow up?
Don't know— kind of all over San Francisco, Chicago, Pasadena and New York, so it's hard to say.
What got you interested in fashion?
My ex-girlfriend Renata (a model), my Aunt Clara (a seamstress), Helmut Lang and my father, who was an impeccably dressed man— they all seemed to have pushed me in that direction. I began as a freelance writer for magazines like Blackbook, Visionaire, and Trace, and though I should have become a doctor like my folks hoped I'd be, me opting to be a writer was the best career deviation I could have come up with. Ten years later and under 30, I have lot of shit to show for it and I'm proud of that. More so, I am grateful.
Do you own any pieces that carry special meaning for you?
I have three: my Mongolian lambs-wool sweater from the fashion collective I work with, SAENAI. Only 10 were made in the world. My YSL purple silk velvet/14K gold cufflinks given to me by one of my best friends, Michiyo. My Number (N)ine Anniversary T-shirt. It was only made for the seven staff members and 12 of their friends, one of them being me. It's pretty bad-ass and not many people even know what it is, which I enjoy more than anything.
Who do you admire
style-wise?
Patrick Bateman, Ricardo Tubbs from Miami Vice, Sebastien Tellier, Ron Mael of Sparks, Helmut Lang, Keith Richard's 1968 Moroccan era, Kurt Kobain, Minimalism, Jil Sander (the person, not the label), Antoine Doinel, 1960s post modern beach houses in Malibu or Santa Cruz.
Favorite trends in menswear right now?
I do like the whole "chaotic boyfriend" style that's been on the creep-up. My closest pals and I are all about that. It's easy: Camel or Raven colored trench coat, tick-stripe shirt, leather neck-tie, jeans, monogrammed boxers, cotton-cashmere hobo and tattered suede derbies.
Tell us about your zine ZAMANIG.
ZAMANIG is AMAZING...I think they call it an anagram? I began the ZAMANIG along with an artist pal of mine MADSAKI. We wanted to create a publication that would feature work and thoughts from creative writers, artists, musicians, and designers. Since we began in March 2010, we've managed to cover a lot of cool people like Robert Geller, Helmut Lang, Davi Russo, Neon Indian, The Acrylics and a lot of other cool cats!
What was the last film you saw that left a lasting impression?
I don't know really. I would like to say Manhunter, but then there's The Karate Kid, and then there's all those back seasons of Miami Vice I grew up watching that all have influenced me. Lately, I'm into westerns or action films starring Clint Eastwood. The Dirty Harry series is so great. It's unbelievable how much fun I have watching them.
You haven't lived in Philadelphia very long. What do you like about it?
I like my loft. It's big and near all the restaurants I like to go to. I still feel like an exclamation mark on an empty page. It's going take some time to generate a thorough crew of friends, weirdos, babes and animals to share my time here with. One thing's for sure, I love watching bands here better than NYC.
What's the worst hair cut you've ever had?
I was seven years old and I got a hold of my dad's hair clippers and gave myself a cut. I was doing well up until my older brother called my name and I looked the other way—oops!
When you were a kid, what was your favorite outfit?
I dressed pretty ridiculous, although I did wear a lot of Hang Ten and Ocean Pacific.
Do you ever wish with you lived in a different era?
No. I grew up in the early '80s and I loved every minute of it. Reagan, Beach Boys, UFOs, Bruce Springsteen, Phil Collins, pop art, Versace, Armani, glass tables, Luther Vandross, Whitney Houston— it rocked!
What's your go-to karaoke song?
“Satisfaction" by the Rolling Stones or Depeche Mode's “It's No Good."
Bar soap or shower gel— which kind of man are you?
Soap.
What's a menswear trend that should go away and never come back?
Let's start with most trends— why can't people just dress how they want to? Short or shrunken suits need to be burned, maybe trousers that are too long, and ratty beards.
Have you ever gotten into a lot of trouble?
No, I never spent a day in detention or in Cop Land. The cops once came to my home one year to shut down a raging party. I met the police captain— he was nice, but that's it. I stay out of trouble.
Who would play you in the movie of your life?
Donald Glover. Woody Allen would have to direct it though so it could be pretty funny— my mistakes and achievements are neck and neck with each other.
