New year, new Threads of Conversation podcast episode! Firstly - a reminder that you can also listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
This week I’ve got not one but two guests for you - DJ and Ryan, the duo behind New York it-brand Dauan Jacari.
Originally called Duality Junkie, Dauan Jacari have become known for their spiral boxer skirt, a prairie skirt made of deconstructed boxer shorts that’s become fashion’s ultimate ‘if you know you know’ item, popular with the likes of Chloe Sevigny and Charli XCX, who wore the brand onstage for her recent ‘Sweat’ tour.
But DJ and Ryan aren’t chasing hype or exposure. Instead, their focus is on creating a brand with a strong, specific point of view, an antidote to the bland, commercial fashion the industry has been churning out in recent years.
In April last year, Dauan Jacari staged its first runway show, a menswear collection titled ‘Paradise’, at the LGBT Community Centre in New York, and released their ‘Friends & Family’ campaign, a series of images of their community wearing the boxer skirt. They also held their first showroom in London, which is where I met them.
A few weeks after the London showroom, I got on a call with Ryan and DJ to discuss ten items of clothing that reflect their unique ethos, and their thoughts on the state of fashion today.
As always, you can find pictures of their chosen items below. If you enjoy the episode, then hit the heart button and subscribe on your chosen platform. You can also follow Threads of Conversation on Instagram and TikTok.
The pieces that remind them of their childhood…
DJ: “My fruit loops puffer jacket. I found it a vintage store that I ended up working at, and started to explore with my style… maybe too much!”
Ryan: “Jordan Bred 13s. Growing up seeing all of my cousins getting a new pair of Jordans every other week, and imitating their style til I found my own.”
The one that reminds them of their career…
Both: “The Spiral Boxer skirt - the Dauan Jacari cash cow! It’s allowed us to make all the things we want. Kind of like our freedom ticket.”
The pieces that remind them of a low…
DJ: “Camo Crocs. They should’ve never happened - they made me lazy. I would wear workout clothes as loungewear, and I had this tie-dye New York hoodie that I thought clashed well with the camo on the Crocs.”
Ryan: “Some Alexander Wang sweatpants. I was in my freshman year of college at F.I.T. I’d just moved to New York and was depressed in Midtown.”
The piece that makes them feel part of something…
Both: “Martine Rose loafers. A pair of shoes that all of our friends own. We’ll wear different versions of them on the same day, but not on purpose. These shoes started our dress shoe craze.”
The one that reminds Ryan of a great party…
Ryan: “Rick Owens green Ballast boots. I bought myself these for my birthday a few years ago and they were a part of a birthday outfit for a party I threw at the Gerald Luss House, where the theme of the weekend was the movie The Shining.”
The one that makes DJ feel sexy…
DJ: “The All-In boots. These were a birthday gift, so that immediately made me feel sexy and loved. I wear them mostly when I’m working on set as a stylist. I need something to balance out the fact that I’m not the one getting glammed, so at least I’m in this sexy boot that makes me pump around the set.”
The ones that got away…
DJ: “A Rick Owens jumpsuit. It was my first time visiting Paris and we went to The Broken Arm just to browse, where I found this jumpsuit. I was mad the rest of the day because it was too expensive to walk out with on the spot.”
Ryan: “Raf Simons Broken Heel Boots. I was waiting and waiting for a ‘net30’ invoice that came too late, and they were sold out by the time I got the money.”
Two films we discussed:
Ryan’s film, ‘A Different Kind of Church’
‘Behind The Runway: Dauan Jacari Paradise’
Listen to more episodes of the Threads of Conversation podcast here, and on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Subscribe below for more Threads of Conversation, and follow on Instagram and TikTok.
Loose Threads
If you or your loved ones are in LA at the moment, I am so terribly sorry. I hope you are safe.
This is a spreadsheet with links to the GoFundMe pages of dozens of displaced Altadena locals who lost their homes. Many of whom are older folks who might not have the social media reach of younger generations.
I found the above via one of my favourite artists, Martine Syms, an Altadena native whose family lost their home in the fires. She’s already doing incredible organizing for the wider community. Here is another document with links to support her family as they rebuild.
Another tragic fire that deserves our attention -
covered the impact of the fire at Kantanamo Market in Ghana, the biggest secondhand market in West Africa.For some diversion, Crystal Anderson is singlehandedly bringing red carpet commentary back to life.
Which author is a classically trained pianist, a vintage clothing dealer, a collector of old toys, has four dogs, opened a punk club in China when she was in her twenties, spent two weeks in Peru taking ayahuasca and two weeks in a Zen Buddhist monastery in Japan? Answer here.
Giorgio Armani strikes me as a firm mattress kinda guy.
3 Minute Threads
Have you discovered 3 Minute Threads? It’s a new weekly series where I spotlight one interesting person and their chosen outfit. Intended to be quick, fun and digestible. Appears in your inbox every Wednesday.
Start your own Thread
How is 2025 going for you so far? Did you make any New Year’s resolutions? Who do you want to hear on the podcast next?
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