@DearStephan
In honor of the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop, illustrator DearStephan creates a cast of 20 characters brought to life by his move from South Africa to New York City and his lifelong love of hip hop fashion and culture.
“I'm sure you know what it's like: walking through the streets of New York for the first time, vibrant faces and energy bubbling from every corner. It was as if I had stepped into an alternate universe where everyone was a character from a comic book.
The streets and culture in South Africa are vastly different than New York. So I decided to use real people as inspiration for my own characters. Every morning, I would take the train and bus around New York, sketching faces from the crowd, using the eyes and lips of strangers to create entirely new and original characters for my stories, drawing faces from the crowd, using the faces, eyes, lips of strangers to create entirely new and original characters for my stories.
Every face had its own narrative; what dreams lay behind their gaze? Where were they going? What secrets do they carry?
In this city, you come across such a variety of individual styles from so many eras at once, from those reminiscent of a 1990s hip-hop concert to others reflecting the early 2000s fashion. What's intriguing is that each person's demeanor seemed to perfectly align with their attire, giving them each a distinct persona.
So I took the opportunity to continue my character’s development by going back to the archives of hip-hop's fashion arc since its inception into mainstream culture. Taking a look at old imagery from block parties in the Bronx, logos from head to toe, and finishing off with heavy plated jewellery. Style was personal; you MC'd, beatboxed, breakdanced, or you were tagging every street corner. Clothing was your voice when you didn't have a microphone or spray can. The most iconic and innovative timeframe I drew inspiration from was the 80s and 90s, when hip-hop didn't have a set look and mainstream fashion had not taken over. Brands like FUBU, 5001 Flavours, and Phat Farm emerged with incredible styles. Not to mention designers like Dapper Dan and April Walker, who laid the groundwork for innovative fashion. Additionally, growing up in a black household meant that no matter the circumstances, when you left home, you looked prestigious.”
Known professionally as DearStephan, Stephen Minyi is a South African illustrator who has made his way to New York. His characters speak from the perspective of a black artist inspired by streetwear and the never-ending consumption of fashion and hip-hop culture.
With influences such as Norman Rockwell, John Hassall, and Zapiro, Stephen captures the distinct, unique characteristics of his subjects, rich with story, emotion and nostalgia. He primarily designs for editorial, garments, and prints.
DearStephan Bio
DearStephan’s Collection
73 ‘til Infinity
A sneak peek at some of the NFTs. Coming soon!!
