This month we crown our first official “MC” Eric Fobair, creator of Local Tourist, a line of clothing born from the electro music scene and thriving on the streets and in the clubs of LA. His line evokes the spirit of LA industry. Born in Minnesota, raised in Texas, Fobair came to LA to live the dream. Three years later… LOCAL TOURIST BANGS! Here’s MC’s top 5 Q&A with Eric.
Jones N Fay: The name. The women. The look. Explain.
Eric Fobair: Its no lie, I like females, actually I love them, so that was a direct reflection of my art. I’m not gonna draw something I don’t like.
My designs started from models in magazines, no one especially famous, just a look that caught my eye. For the past year now, I’ve been more interested in drawing friends’ portraits. You could say my artistic approach was more tourist at the start and now has become more localized.
JNF: …and the LT inspiration?
EF: My world, my culture – that whole mission taking a personal culture and projecting it back into the world. I stopped watching television for a while and just concentrated on the world around me. I only knew what new movies were coming out because of billboards.
JNF: Where do you think “fashion” is most happening/evolving/coming from in LA?
EF: LA fashion comes from the streets; that was the inspiration to do the logo bandana. I was seeing all these people rocking bandanas around their neck; so when we did it, it was an instant hit. LT has done things different from all the rest, too. No one was doing clothing booths at clubs and parties the way we did it. Once we set up [a booth] at Heist, it was a wrap. As soon as a partygoer came in, they bought a bandana or a t-shirt and put it on….then the next week they came to the club wearing it.
JNF: Your marketing approach is so unique with the bands/parties/clubs – would you consider this the new wave of “lifestyle” branding?
EF: Before we started selling at clubs, I was a part of a co-op boutique in Echo Park that closed down. A friend took me to Heist, and as soon as I saw the people at the clubs, I could see them wearing LT. Before that, I was concentrated on boutiques and stores – now it was to bring the store to the people. Local tourist is, most definitely, a culture. The first collaboration was with scene photographer, Redslurpeee. He was photographing at Heist all the time…and really a simple statement of how the collabs came about was “Real recognizing Real.”
JNF: What’s next for you and LT?
EF: To keep dropping all this dope freshness. More events, more collabs, new stores. Just to keep on shinin’ in the City of Angels!
Check out the Citizen’s website to find more of our Q&A with Eric.