Naïsha Cyril
Q. Which interest do you love the most and why?
A: I’m fascinated by black people. Growing up, I honestly thought that all black people were Haitian, just like me, and once I realized that there were black people all around the world, I started digging to know more about our history and never stopped. Everything about our community inspires me.
Q. When was your first contact with fashion? Would you say, your perspective on fashion changed from that first interaction?
A: Probably around 14-15 years old. Growing up, I was really into basketball, and a big fan of Allen Iverson, Dennis Rodman and Michael Jordan. In my eyes, the most important part of a good fit is the shoes, and since I had to wear a uniform in school, the only way I was able to truly express myself was by what I wore on my feet.
I honestly don’t think that my perspective on fashion changed that much. I’m still really into sneakers, and my clothes need to be super comfy. But with time, as I started to get into streetwear and workwear, I put aside my interest for sportswear.
Q. Does music influence your style or inspire it?
A: I really want to say that it does just to feel like I’m super cool but I honestly don’t think that it does. I mostly listen to R&B and a bit of hip-hop, but I would say that my style is mainly inspired by the people around me.
Since I don’t really use social media, I found myself being inspired by my friends and family, and the people I encounter on the streets, which feels more authentic than some guy I found on Instagram. Although I’m not really into his music, I would say that I’ve been really inspired by Lil Yatchy’s style lately.
Q. You are currently studying in criminology. What triggered your interest in this topic?
A: I didn’t realize that I had an interest for criminology up until recently. I had to take a criminology class in an other program, and realized how interesting it was. I was always intrigued by the way and the reason crimes were committed, and what was actually considered a crime. Also, due to my love for Black history, I couldn’t ignore the fact that a huge part of it is surrounded by crimes that were committed against us, but also by us. I think that this subject was able to answer a lot of my questions, and helps me to have a better understanding of my history and the world we live in.
Q. Why did you choose those outfits? Do they describe a bit of who you are?
A: Again, I wish I had a super deep and logic reason behind these outfit, but I really don’t. These are all pieces that I’ve been wearing recently, so I felt like they represented my style at the moment. I chose 3 different pairs of shoes on purpose because I’m constantly changing my rotation, and I felt like it represented how versatile my collection is.
These outfits represent how simple my style is, just like me. I use my clothes to feel comfortable, to expose my queerness and to show people how comfortable I am with my queerness.