The New Growth & Development: Youth That Stand Together For Fashion

Some may think of Growth & Development as the infamous Black Gangster Disciple Nation's blueprint to progression. The blueprint that quickly shifted from progression to destruction by means of extreme violence over turf, drugs & money. Today, Chicago's new generation have a different blueprint for growth & development. The following feature is a look at Chicago's new breed, who are gang banging less and more focused on dressing fresh, that's COCA!

C.O.C.A Style Presents

AUDACITYxPHLYE.SOCIETY
THE MEMBERS

John (Founder of Phlye.Society)

Mike P (Founder of Audacity)

Armani

Tyrice

Shawn

Anthony

Moses

Genesis

Jordan

Define what Audacity & Phlye.Society is?
John:We are a group of young lil dudes staying on top of our stuff, fashion and school wise. Even though its two groups we joined all as one brotherhood.
Mike P: We are just a joined crew of young people in the chi who share one common interest, keeping our swagg up on the highest level.

When did you all originate & how many members are in your crew?
John: I started Phyle.Society around the beginning of the summer and joined with Audactiy around the middle of August. Right now we at about 20 members.

Mike P: Me and Shawn created Audacity around Septemeber last year. We were originally planning on working on a clothing line, but then we decided to expand it into a group. We are still trying to get up on the clothing line tip too but the group expanded and grew fast once we first put it out there at the beginning of the summer.

You guys are pretty advanced with having a sense of fashion at such a young age, when and how did you discover your love for fashion?
John: I turned my swagger up all the way in like the summer of seventh grade going into eight grade. Me nad my guy Myles was like yo we need to different cause the baggy clothes with the white ones ain't wus up (no disrespect to people who do wear em') and was like let's switch into skinny's with sk8-hi's and fitted tee's. And we both though it was a dope idea.

Mike P: I discovered my style at the end of the summer/beginning of freshman year. I just wanted to put myself out there more, change my style and not do what everyone else was doing.

Who are some of your influences today within the fashion industry?
John: Man yeezy influences me, as well as Pharrell and wayne. Those are the celebrities but the more local people are O fa Show (of ldrs), Josh (ldrs), Ty (ldrs) and Cory (ldrs). "O" and Josh are like my brothers, they keep me posted on all the latest fashion.

Mike P: Some of our influences are Pharrell with the whole bbc and ice cream lines. Takashi Murakami, who messes with Kanye is something I like too. Yea but as far as fashion goes we try to set our own styles and not copy off what others are doing. We trying a set ourselves out as far as possible.

Do you guys consider yourselves to be trendsetters?
John: Of course yo, I mean we go places and people say "why the tight pants?" Then we go back and see them in fitted tee's and stuff, but yeah its all cool. "We Make and Break Tends".

Mike P: We just have out own unique style, whether people catch on to it or not is there decision. Some think we at the top of our game and others hate on our swagg, either way its all good with us.

What is a hipster & would you consider yourself one?
John: Yes, hipster is definitely the word because that is someone who separates themselves from others and no matter what other people think they still keep doing what they doing.

Mike P: A hipster is someone who seperates himself from others. No matter if its cool, lame, nerdy or anything like that. It's your own style, its basically being yourself so we consider ourselves hipsters for sure.

Name some of the musical artists you all are bumping?
John: Lil Wayne, The Cool Kids, Kanye, Lupe, Hollywood Holt, Shwayze, M.I.A, N.E.R.D and Gym Class Heroes (in no particular order).

Mike P: The Cool Kids, Lupe, Kanye West, well basically all of Chicago rap. Also we stay bumping N.E.R.D and anything with a good sound to it. We stay open to new ideas and music.

Do you feel the music and the artists have an influence on your fashion style?
John: No not to where we just go and copy their styles, we may look into what brand they are wearing and that's all, but other than that we just buy their cd's and bump their music.

Mike P: To a certain extent they do, but it doesnt influence us enough to where we try to base thier style and clothes off our own.

What are some of your favorite fashion lines?
John: I sport Levi's, Leaders Clothing, Nike Dunks, Chuck Taylors (the new flavor, after nike bought it), Fashion Geek, Jugrnaut, Vans, Goldspun, 10 deep. Those are just some off the top.

Mike P: 10 Deep, The Hundreds, Leaders, Bape (only the exclusive ish), Ralph Lauren, Fashion Geek, Levi, Lemaur Dauley and much more.

Name some of the places you all shop at?
John: A bit too personal ya think...nah just playing...I live at Leaders 1354, shop at SuccezZ, Urban Outfitters and Jugrnaut.

Mike P: Woah, can't let you in on all that. Nah but i'll give you a few such as nothing less than SuccezZ, Leaders 1354, St. Alfred, Jugrnaut and hella other places, but i'll just leave it at that. We mess with the online game hard too when it comes to buying new gear.

Are you all sneaker collectors?
John: Nope, Im not a collector yo but I can tell you I got about 4 and a half weeks of shoes, no lie!

Mike P: I don't really try to collect sneakers . Collecting is more of a hobby. Now if your asking about having hella kix? We definitely have that. But we just buy what we like when we see it.

What’s the most expensive pair of kicks you own?
John: The Jordan 1's, which were 200 dollars.

Mike P: So many pairs of shoes are bought that I don't even know. Just know that when I go to buy kicks I go in the store with at least two bills set aside just for them.

What’s the price of an average fit you have on everyday?
John: Let's sum this up, Leaders fitted=$35, Leaders tee=$35, Levis=$55, Dunks=$75, Cartoon character bookbag=$15. So everything adds up to about $215 but in the end I don't pay that much for it and it's less when you don't buy everything at one time.

Mike P: $1000. Lol nah but it depends. You don't have to spend the most money to be the freshest person. Some fits a kid might have on might cost more than mines that day but I will be fresher, know that.

Do you all think the skinny jeans and tight clothing is a trend that will die out soon?
John: I agree with my dude Mike, it all goes back to, "We make and break trends". I don't think they will die out and if they do, oh we'll still be sporting them.

Mike P: We don't follow trends point blank. If we stop messing with something then thats just it, it doesnt matter what others think. Since when does baggy stuff go hard anyway???

Where do you see your crew in 5 years?
John: Yo in five years we will all be in college and by then I want a clothing line.

Mike P: We definitely see it being larger and making way bigger moves than now.

Is there anything else about your crew that you want the world to know & how can people get in contact with you all for collaborations?
John: We want to basically tell yall that don't do something based on what society thinks, if you think its dope go for it. You can hit us up on facebook by searching the group Phlye.Society.

Mike P: Definitely hit us up on the facebook, Audacity Runs Chi. And the message we want to go out to the world is that we're just trying to do our own thing. And thanks to the haters for doing what yall do. Keep doing it cause it motivates us even more.