Music and fashion go hand in hand, in Hollywood, more than anywhere else. We may not be the capital of couture, but we are the capital of cool, particularly when it comes to rock n’ roll cool. And so, we present a new HSS bi-monthly feature “Swagger-Style” spotlighting designers who live loud and design fierce. (Also see our piece about Terri King). For our next few profiles, we’ve got guest blogger Doreen Sanchez, a writer, DJ, club booker and artist, who also owns artist management company, Mediamix Management. Sanchez came up in the Hollywood trenches (as did yours truly… we even worked with her at the legendary rock club Coconut Teaszer –referenced here– back in the day), so she’s the perfect person to pen profiles about real deal rockin’ designers who don’t just wear it, but live it too. -LL
By Doreen Sanchez
Every so often a clothing line comes along to define L.A. style and attitude. It quickly gets adopted by influential musicians and artists and soon everyone wants to wear it and know more about it. Hooker L.A. is poised for this kind attention. The line could very easily fit in on the racks of behemoth hipster retailers like Urban Outfitters and Tilly’s or even the swank shops on Robertson or Third Street, but it’s still a best kept secret by those in the know in Hollywood, though probably not for long. Smartly, designer Jaime Scrap Phillips produces it in small numbers maintaining control of quality and protecting the brand from being imitated by L.A. garmentos as he prepares for the official launch.
We’ve known the DJ/artist/musician and Hooker L.A. designer for years, and in all that time, we can truly say that we have never, ever seen him in a bad mood. He has such good energy and the most positive attitude, a rarity in the City of Angels, let alone the fashion business. We both gravitated towards the Hollywood music scene and the same clubs in the early 90s, spots like English Acid, the Coconut Teaszer (we were one of the bookers, he was a musician) and Club Scream.
We’ve always said that the pocket of time between the Guns n’ Roses explosion and the supreme obliteration of the music business by Nirvana was like living in a rock and roll Shangri-La. Bands such as Jane’s Addiction, the Nymphs, Motorcycle Boy, L7 and Celebrity Skin kept the weekly social scene running tight. Sunday nights we were at 1970, at the Probe, run by the glorious Billy Limbo, who single handedly brought back the kitsch and glitter of the 70′s. Tuesdays it was Cathouse run by Riki Rachtman of MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball fame, Wednesdays the dark cavern called English Acid, and Fridays belonged to Scream, downtown, near the gritty lake of MacArthur Park.
Hooker L.A.’s brand of graphic street tees are comprised of bold, clean designs, many reminiscent of the impeccably designed flyers and posters Phillips creates for the events he deejays, his bands, and those that beckoned him to the clubs back in the day. He says he is inspired by Hollywood icons (the ultimate, Marilyn Monroe, graces one of his most popular tees) and street culture, and like the brand name itself, he’s unapologetic about who his stuff is for. “My target crowd is rock n rollers, skaters, punks and hot models high on cocaine,” he says half-jokingly.
Having shared the stage with rock royalty, Phillips came up playing in bands like Shooting Gallery (with Hanoi Rock’s Andy McCoy) and Filthy Ritz (who often played the Coconut Teaszer on Sunday nights, bills so jam-packed, the band member bunches alone could bring the room to capacity). The Viper Room is his home base now, so it is quite natural that this is where Hooker L.A. was born and bred. Phillips shuttles back and forth between Viper and the House of Blues to spin for both venue’s hottest shows, and the Sunset Strip (then and now) is a place deeply influential in his aesthetic.
“The funny thing is creating my art and designs is how I decompress,” he says. “I work my ass of in clubs bartending and DJing. I’m studying visual effects right now, so opening up Google & Photoshop and starting to play with designs is fun to me.”
We’ve all come a long way since the days of hand drawn flyers and posters cut, pasted and printed at the Hollywood Copymat. Back then, fliers were art, and it was dispersed among crowds of kids prancing up and down the Sunset Strip from the Rainbow to Tower Records (now gone). This was our version of social networking. We left our hearts and sweat on the stages, showrooms and dance floors as we stumbled out of the clubs in our stretch jeans, Motorhead tees, vests and velvet hats at 3am. What was left, we took to an after party or a late night stop at Canter’s for the ultimate in rock and roll nosh. For the most part, the rock n’ roll lifestyle today is the same, only now it’s all documented in real time via Twitter and Facebook. [And in many ways, aren't we all virtual "hookers" selling ourselves and our endeavors via social media? -LL]
Surrounded by the cream of the rock and roll crop nightly, playing in bands like Strip favorites Jet 68 and the all-star combo, No Thanks! in recent years, and meeting the love of his life, Juli Massaka (herself, an accomplished L.A. spin-chick, known behind the tables as DJ Miss Juli) has made for a constant evolution of inspirations. Massakas also models for the brand and given her gorgeous looks, it’s no wonder Phillips put a ring on it recently. It’s been an amazing ride watching our pal Scrap evolve into a husband, club staple, artist and designer. We can’t wait to see what the next phase will be, but you can bet one way or another, it will capture the essence of Hollywood and rock n’ roll… past and present.
Check out Hooker L.A.’s Facebook Page for more info or by simply head up to the Strip to find Phillips, who can be found most nights in the DJ booth of the Viper Room or the House of Blues.
