Leave it to Kid Cudi to convert a Grand Street garage into a galaxy far, far away. Stationed in the middle of Soho, enter the Members of the Rage archival pop-up, a vibrant, high-vibrational world removed from the chaos of New York Fashion Week.
Envisioned through the otherworldly lens of Members of the Rage, the NYFW showcase was stacked with a showing of archival silhouettes from past collections, including Fall/Winter 2024 and Spring/Summer 2024.
“My fashion inspirations come from a different pool of inspirations than my music inspirations,” Cudi told Hypebeast, noting that he draws heavily from cartoons and anime to inform his designs. With inspirations ranging from The Ren and Stimpy Show to Akira – which Cudi was "watching for the millionth time" when designing his imminent collection – slated to release for purchase in December or January.
Across an assemblage of layered looks – oversized jackets, sequined suits, fur coats, and, Cudi's favorite, "funky cardigans" included – the musician's intentional approach bleeds through all of the pieces past, with classically Cudi graphics and mantras.
"A lot of people say 'standing on business,' but 'standing on dreams' is what I've been on since the day I started this sh*t," he says of a standout lime green varsity jacket.
In between chatting with guests – Anna Wintour, BNYX, Vashtie Kola, King Chip and Tay Keith – Cudi shared more on his inspirations behind Members of the Rage and how his designs, like his music, “are a direct reflection of where [he’s] at in life.”
How does your approach to fashion compare to your approach to music?
They are a little different. My inspiration behind my fashion comes from a different pool of inspiration than my music. My music is all autobiographical, it’s all my life and my journey and my travels, whereas for Members of the Rage, my inspiration can really come from anywhere. I may pull inspiration from a movie or a piece of art, a cartoon, or maybe I’m in Tokyo and see a kid walking down the street in a fresh-ass fit. I was just at the Guggenheim and I saw a bunch of sh*t that inspired me and reminded me I have to start going to museums more again. Fashion and music are just two different areas of influence, but there’s always music playing in the design studio.
There are ample cartoons and anime influences evident in the pieces on display here – could you elaborate on any specific works that you drew inspiration from?
A lot of the colorways came from my favorite cartoons when I was a kid like. A lot of Nickelodeon – Doug, Rugrats, and The Ren & Stimpy Show. I like these palettes because they feel so fresh and new especially right now when everything is sort of quiet luxury. I wanted a brand that was going to stick out like a sore thumb. Anime is a huge inspiration and going into this upcoming collection, I was watching Akira for the millionth time.
How do you choose what words to print on the garments?
I pick messages that I think are powerful and that I think young kids need to see. I just want to inspire the next generation to do something awesome. A lot of people say “Standing on business," but that green jacket says "Standing on dreams." Standing on dreams is what I’ve been on since the day I started this sh*t. I have another jacket in my next collection that says “Art equals freedom” on the back.
How do your collections build off one another?
When I first started designing clothes, my main goal was to make each collection better than the last, but as I dove into fashion more and started to understand it, I began to use fashion as another storytelling medium. One of the things I loved about Virgil [Abloh] was that he always told a story. Everything was always connected to something in his life or a key point of inspiration. That’s what I want to do with my collections. I made the Steeler Jacket here because I wanted to do a homage to Michael. I love cardigans, especially a funky, colorful cardigan.
How do all of your worlds – music, fashion, comic books – come together?
They’re all just a reflection of my energy and my personality. My clothing, like my music, is a direct reflection of where I’m at in my life. I was just telling Anna Wintour, that if I did this collection five or six years ago, it would have been all black. I’m a really happy place and I want everything I do to reflect that. You’ll hear that in the new album. I only want to put out positivity.
Peep the Members of the Rage New York Fashion Week exhibit above, and expect the line's next collection to drop sometime this winter.
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