Vintage Hunter: Another Kind's James Chester Interview
James Chester is the founder of Another Kind, one of the most important fashion and rare pieces archives. His reference designers are Vivenne Westwood, Alexander McQueen and Miguel Adrover.
The Instagram page @Another_Kind was born in 2017, because its founder James Chester wanted to collect and share his favourite references and inspirations: art, design, fashion, cinema, photography and history, to become a sort of dynamic and constantly updated visual encyclopedia ; in turn an inspiration that materialized in an online community with a mission: to educate on content and honor its origin. Today the space in Notting Hill , Another Kind World , allows past and present to coexist through collectibles, whether books, vintage clothing or art. It all started with James's move to London in 2012, vintage was a way like any other to support himself while he studied. «The obsession came as a response to the contemporary fashion of the time that didn't inspire me. Vintage clothes instead allow me to explore history and craftsmanship . Watching my discoveries influence new collections made me feel involved in fashion without becoming a cog in the machine». An assiduous involvement that boasts one of the most renowned and envied archives, even among his colleagues. «My wardrobe is full of treasures, each with its own story. I am proud of a rare Issey Miyake inflatable dress from the “Silent Poets” S/S 2001 collection found in a Paris basement, a grey wool corset jumpsuit by Azzedine Alaïa from S/S 1988, exhibited in the Naomi Campbell exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum , and a hand-painted leather dress by Roberto Cavalli from A/W 2003 ». A lucky year, in which by pure chance she also met John Galliano , «I was watching, at work, his Dior S/S 2003 haute couture show online, when he came into the office. He immediately recognized the music and we watched it together on YouTube while he talked about every aspect and inspiration». As inspirational as the work of Westwood and McQueen . And if he had to choose between the two «it is like choosing between the roots and the blossoming of a revolutionary fashion tree. Westwood planted the seeds of rebellion and McQueen nurtured them until they blossomed in an extraordinary way» . Fashion is audacity but also timing, rules that are also valid in the hunt for vintage: «I found obscure pieces before they went mainstream or gems that I couldn’t afford at the time. Building a fashion archive is not only a question of method but also of luck». Like the one it would take to find some pieces by Miguel Adrover , «his work is extremely overlooked and difficult to find».
