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Debonairmag(4:04:02 PM): Since we last met, Vane has started an accessories line. We notice a mix of religious symbolism in your jewelry, is there a meaning behind it?
wearevane (4:05:19 PM): Yea, we try and incorporate meaning behind everything we do. The jewelry piece is a fusion of the big 3, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, with an engraving on the side that reads "we are all vane"
wearevane (4:06:00 PM): The piece is called "god is vane," and it’s a commentary on all the religious strife. In the end, we felt like people are fighting over semantics
Debonairmag(4:06:17 PM): Are you worried about/trying to offend anyone?
wearevane (4:06:54 PM): lol. We aren't consciously trying to offend anyone, but we realize we might step on a few toes.
Debonairmag(4:07:12 PM): Realize or hoping?
wearevane (4:08:15 PM): No, as we were coming up with the concept, we talked about how a good idea will always catalyze people, one way or another. But, we felt that the heads in our audience and our market would feel the concept and understand where we were coming from
wearevane (4:08:59 PM): You can't always worry about making everyone happy. We create what we feel has significance and artistic value, and hope people will get what we're doing
Debonairmag(4:09:22 PM): Speaking of where you’ve come from. How did a couple of business students turn down the allure of high-paying investment banking jobs to start a lifestyle brand?
wearevane (4:10:14 PM): Well, right now, vane is still a second job for most of us
Debonairmag(4:10:33 PM): What are you doing to pay the bills?
wearevane (4:12:10 PM): On the business end, Ravi is doing top line strategy at Ann Taylor. Atif is a freelance photographer and videographer, and I am doing various design jobs and freelance writing
wearevane (4:12:35 PM): The goal is to do vane full time, of course
Debonairmag(4:12:57 PM): Does your parents/girlfriends support what your doing?
wearevane (4:14:37 PM): Yea, for the most part. Obviously the parents want you to be doing something stable, because that's the way they were brought up, but at the same time they understand the dream that we are trying to make happen. Ultimately, I think parents want their kids to be happy, and my parents are no different.
wearevane (4:15:05 PM): As for girlfriends, I'm the only single dude of the outfit
Debonairmag(4:16:19 PM): Do you think you being single has anything to do with your vanity?
Debonairmag(4:16:20 PM): jk
wearevane (4:16:41 PM): lol. It’s possible
Debonairmag(4:15:41 PM): So what type of labels do you wear when the vane wardrobe is in the wash?
wearevane (4:19:17 PM): When I'm not rocking vane, I generally wear Costco plain whites, but I also support some of my friend’s brands, like the knucklehead kids, lola, aliens, and pegleg. Oh yeah, and I have a whole lot of gear left over from when I used to work at triple 5 soul, subscript and boxfresh
wearevane (4:20:10 PM): I've also been getting into a bunch of vintage ish lately too
Debonairmag(4:20:16 PM): So what is your ultimate goal with vane?
wearevane (4:23:53 PM): Well first and foremost, we want vane to pay the bills and be self-supportive. But eventually, as a lifestyle brand, I would like to expand to other related media ventures and brand them under the vane umbrella, and do books, a magazine, and movie production, where Atif has a lot of experience in editing and video. Currently we are trying to expand our efforts to include outside marketing and branding for external clients
Debonairmag(4:24:33 PM): You are trying to create a counter culture underground brand, when do you sell out to the masses?
wearevane (4:28:12 PM): lol. That’s something we have talked about a lot. There's this dynamic between underground and mainstream, where it seems like once something gets big and popular, it loses what inherently made it dope to begin with. Authenticity, especially in the street market, is so important. I think that our goal is to keep doing what we love doing, and keep doing us. I think that as long as that stays consistent, people respect that, no matter how accessible the brand is. Look at Nike or Apple, for instance. They are these huge mass market brands, but they have still managed to stay profitable, global, and respected in the industry and in the market
Debonairmag(4:28:49 PM): Do you say yes to Walmart?
wearevane (4:29:14 PM): hahahahhahaha. heeellll no
wearevane (4:29:30 PM): Walmart is on another level
Debonairmag(4:30:08 PM): Million dollar check in hand, you say no and walk away?
wearevane (4:33:38 PM): lol. I dunno man, I want vane to live forever. Once you put your brand in a place like Walmart, it’s like instant death. vane is to a way for me to do what I love, and I think that when people forget about that passion and only look for the dollar, you get shitty product and a rehash of old ideas. Look at the market now, with all these bape bites and full zip hoodies. At the same time though, I say that now with no check in my hand lol. But honestly, I respect the distro game of a place like Walmart, and there is def opportunity to make a dollar there, but it’s a cash in.
Debonairmag(4:34:31 PM): How long do you try to create this vane lifestyle before you call it quits?
wearevane (4:38:34 PM): Whether vane lives or not, the idea behind it will be inside me for as long as I live, not to sound cliché. But it's the idea of being a creator and not just a consumer, the idea of working for yourself and actively shaping the market instead of being a marketing target. And it's also about finding some sort of substance in our overly mediated culture, and finding some sort of hustle in a society inundated with apathy
Debonairmag(4:39:49 PM): Well Enrique, this has been very informative, your stuff looks great and we wish you all the best. Let us know when your having your next friends and family sale...
wearevane (4:39:57 PM): Definitely sir
Debonairmag(4:40:01 PM): Us debonairs...we don’t pay full price for nothing
wearevane (4:40:08 PM): hahahahahaha
wearevane (4:40:30 PM): We'll send some ish over when we get our production back
Debonairmag(4:40:44 PM): Nice
Debonairmag(4:40:55 PM): Anything else u wanna plug in this?
wearevane (4:41:36 PM): We will be in New York retailers for the first season this spring, so check back at wearevane.com for more info
