When stars feel like slipping into vintage Raf Simons, they turn to archivist David Casavant, who has amassed a collection that spans thous...
When stars feel like slipping into vintage Raf Simons, they turn to archivist David Casavant, who has amassed a collection that spans thousands of pieces.
David Casavant, 25, is a stylist with an eye, an education (Central St. Martins, though he dropped out to work for Carine Roitfeld) and a secret weapon: an archive of vintage Helmut Lang and Raf Simons, sought by Kanye West, Travis Scott and Rihanna: "She borrowed a 2001 Raf camo bomber just to wear for fun, like, down the street," he says, adding that he charges up to $1,000 per week per item.
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| Casavant photographed on Jan. 19 in New York. |
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| His crowded work closet. Meredith Jenks |
"It became a business through hard work," he says. "I woke up every day and looked on eBay, built a contact list of sellers who would come to me first. I didn't just throw money at it. I learned all the tricks."
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| Camouflage bomber from the Raf Simons A/W 2001 season. “Kanye wearing it really pushed forward interest in archival Raf,” he says. Jacopo Raule/GC Images |
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| “Riot, Riot, Riot” is the name of the A/W 2001 Raf Simons collection from which these shirts were drawn. They’re inspired by Manic Street Preachers guitarist Richey Edwards, who went missing in 1995. Meredith Jenks |
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| Camouflage bomber from the Raf Simons A/W 2001 season. Meredith Jenks |
The idea of youth empowerment, rebellion. That's what Raf's collections really emphasize. It's the idea of it being cool to be young, having new ideas.
The most famous people in the world wear hugely expensive clothes on the red carpet. Hard to think of anything less rebellious. I disagree. That's what's amazing about it. The prices of the Raf clothes have gone through the roof. The clothes are being valued in the way that art is; they can be in a museum and cost $20,000.
Who are you looking at that might be the next Raf?
You can't compare, but I love Craig Green. I love Grace Wales Bonner. For commercial brands I still love Calvin Klein men's collection. They mix new materials but keep it masculine.
Is image more important than ever before, less or the same?
It's more. People love a persona. Rihanna will show us her personality through Snapchat and it's like we can hang out with her. Ten years ago, you wouldn't imagine celebrities showing us their living rooms and kids.
This story originally appeared in the March 19 issue of Billboard.
The most famous people in the world wear hugely expensive clothes on the red carpet. Hard to think of anything less rebellious. I disagree. That's what's amazing about it. The prices of the Raf clothes have gone through the roof. The clothes are being valued in the way that art is; they can be in a museum and cost $20,000.
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| Gucci by Tom Ford Kama Sutra jackets from S/S 2003.Meredith Jenks |
You can't compare, but I love Craig Green. I love Grace Wales Bonner. For commercial brands I still love Calvin Klein men's collection. They mix new materials but keep it masculine.
Is image more important than ever before, less or the same?
It's more. People love a persona. Rihanna will show us her personality through Snapchat and it's like we can hang out with her. Ten years ago, you wouldn't imagine celebrities showing us their living rooms and kids.
This story originally appeared in the March 19 issue of Billboard.
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