DJ Boygirl Archives

Couch Fashions Hit The Runway At Mamersass

Aviance Hawkes | March 9, 2020

Topics: Derek Garrett, DJ Boygirl, eco-streetwear, events richmond va, fashion show, Jamey Brittingham, Mamersass, richmond fashion, The Couch Collection, upcycling

With their Couch Collection, eco-streetwear brand Mamersass showed that upcycled “grandma couches” can transform into glamorous fashion.

Sometimes when someone is wearing a gaudy patterned outfit, people joke that they are “wearing a couch.” It’s an easy joke to make, but not many people ever wonder: could you really pull off wearing clothes made from old couches? Eco-streetwear fashion brand Mamersass Reinvented Fashions decided to find out at their first Richmond fashion show, The Couch Collection, which launched on Saturday, February 29.

The launch party was held at the Mamersass store on Broad Street in Richmond’s Arts District. It was free and open to the public, and once doors opened, the space filled quickly with supporters and curious individuals who came out to see the new collection. The show featured contributions from local stylists, designers, photographers, and videographers, as well as fashion design students from VCU. Music was provided by DJ Boygirl, who set the tone from start to finish.

The energy of the show was amazing and full of artistry, diversity, and inclusiveness. The crowd encouraged and cheered on designs and models as they came down the runway. Hot tea was served, and visitors were welcome to shop after the show as well.

Mamersass, pronounced “May-Mer-Sass,” is run by sustainable designers Jamey Brittingham, aka Mamer, and Derek Garrett. Their mission as an eco-streetwear brand is to rescue and reinvent unwanted textiles and vintage clothing, combating textile waste by upcycling used fabric into clothing and accessories. Their love for fashion is second only to their love for the earth and their desire to give back and use fashion for good.

Brittingham wanted to be a fashion designer ever since she was a kid. “My mom taught me the basics of sewing in middle school, then put me in sewing class, where I learned even more,” she said. “I used to paint shoes and make clothes for myself throughout high school.” Mamer said. Along with Garrett, she started Mamersass in 2012, originally on the island of Chincoteague. Though they are new to the Richmond area, this will be their eighth year in business.

According to Brittingham, the inspiration for the Couch Collection derived from the textures and patterns of upholstery fabric, specifically what she calls “floral grandma couches.”

“We used materials that have been rescued from living rooms of the past and recreated into one-of-a-kind garments. No one piece in this collection was constructed from new materials,” she said. “Grandma’s living room to me is warm, inviting, and home-y. This line tells the story. Even the smell of the shop is to remind you of Grandma’s house.”

To stay up to date with Mamersass, you can follow their Instagram @mamersass, or visit their shop, which is located at 420 W Broad St.

Good Feelings For Late Lovers

Aviance Hawkes | February 26, 2020

Topics: B LOVEE, DJ Boygirl, Feel Good RVA, Quoyah, Saeyki, Shy Lennox, The Dark Room, The Hofheimer, The Late Lovers Holiday, Zhé Aqueen

Extending Valentine’s Day through the weekend, Richmond blog Feel Good RVA held their first-ever showcase, The Late Lovers Holiday, at The Dark Room earlier this month.

Richmond blog Feel Good RVA is all about “enjoying the life you’re living.” In that spirit, earlier this month they decided to extend Valentine’s Day by hosting their first showcase, The Late Lovers Holiday, on Sunday, February 16th. The live event at the Hofheimer Building’s Dark Room featured musical performances by four local artists; Shy Lennox (@shylennox), Quoyah (@quoyaaah), Zhé Aqueen (@zheaqueen), and Saeyki (@sayki_), along with live poetry from B LOVEE (@bloveespeaks) and music from DJ Boygirl (@ecnaiva).

The space was filled with a diverse crowd of individuals who came out to support those performing. The energy and vibe of the room was completely accepting, genuine, and very involved; the crowd sang along and interacted back with the artists during every performance.

The night started with poet B LOVEE who left the crowd in awe with his relatable, yet sentimental poetry. This then led to singer Quoyah, who blew the crowd away with her powerful songs of self-love. Saeyki followed with his wicked word-play and energy to the roof. Containing the energy, DJ Boygirl kept the night going with the groovy sounds that kept the people moving.

There was then an amazing transition from the DJ set to the band preparing to play for Shy Lennox. His performance was absolutely nostalgic, and the crowd reacted very pleasantly. Finally, Zhé Aqueen ended the night with her unique, jazzy style. Considering that this was her first time ever performing, she definitely left her mark!

There’s sure to be more to come from Feel Good RVA. To stay up to date with them, you can visit their blog at feelgoodrva.com, or follow them on Instagram and Twitter @feelgoodrva.

Photos by Gabe Eyamba (@polaroidgabe)

INK at ICA: VCU’s Culture Mag Celebrates Latest Issue

Aviance Hawkes | April 15, 2019

Topics: DJ Boygirl, ICA, INK Magazine, Institute for Contemporary art VCU, release party, student publications, VCU’s Institute for Contemporary Art (ICA)

Celebrating their new issue with silkscreens and face paint, VCU’s INK Magazine took over the ICA for First Friday.

INK Magazine celebrated the release of their new publication, INK Magazine Volume 11: The Camp Issue, at The Institute of Contemporary Art as part of ICA’s First Friday celebrations on Friday, April 5.

The completely free event included a free copy of the magazine, face painting, photobooths, an INK tote, and live music from DJ Boygirl (full disclosure: that’s me). The museum was filled with a combination of local artists, students, and members of the community who had an interest in VCU’s student-run arts and culture magazine.

INK Magazine releases a print issue every Spring; the student staffers work hard throughout the school year on every aspect of the issue, from design and photography to writing and creative direction. It’s a huge relief to get the issue to the printer, and by the time of the release party, everyone was ready to cut loose and celebrate.

As the DJ for the evening, I wanted to fill the room with upbeat and acoustic sounds. My picks worked out: artists like Solange, Pharrell, The Internet, and Kali Uchis really had the room moving. Considering that it was my first time DJing at a museum, I was feeling the pressure beforehand. Thankfully, it turned out to be the most comfortable and entertaining event I’ve ever done. What’s more, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, and the music.

But enough about me! A lot of other attractions graced the event as well. The free INK tote bags were being decorated with a silkscreen right there in the ICA, and attendees got to watch the silkscreening process happen live. A helpful sign next to the rack of finished totes read “Pick up your tote here (Please allow 15 minutes drying time).”

There was a photobooth that included numerous props, including shimmery bags and cowboy hats, for people to come and take pictures with. Attendees got creative, showing personality and having some laughs as they snapped a few pics. Face painting was a fun element of the event as well, and there was almost universal participation; designs ranged from cherry tops to eyeballs and from smiley faces to crying eyes.

At the end of the party, everyone headed home clutching brand-new copies of INK Magazine Volume 11: The Camp Issue. If you didn’t get one of your own, never fear: it will soon be uploaded to the magazine’s website. Keep up with what INK has going on at inkmagazinevcu.com, and at their instagram, @ink_magazine.

Photos by Raelyn Fines