July 12, 2011 |
FROM THE VAULT (SPRING SUMMER 2011)
We knew Anthony here when he was just a young un’, making his forst foray into the big bad world. And look at him, the Interview, Vogues Italia and Paris commissions are just piling up. It’s rather sickiening how far a lot of talent can go. We’re awfully proud. We told him so. On the phone. And not in the slight bit jealous. Oh no.
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN HAIR? WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?
Basically I was 17 and I didn’t really have a clue what I wanted to do, I dropped out of college and found myself with nothing. I knew I wanted to break free, to really do something with myself but I was never sure what exactly it was I needed to do. Where I’m from in the North of England you either become a builder or you sign on the dole, at least that’s what it seemed like at the time. So I got myself a job in a local salon and I just fell in love with it very quickly but it didn’t pay a lot so to see myself through my apprenticeship I worked in a supermarket stacking shelves of a night time in the week and in a bar weekend nights. I’ve always been very determined.
WHY DO YOU DO WHAT YOU DO?
Because I know I have something to give. The last thing i want to do is to be seen to be completely referencing someone else’s work to get by or just playing ‘safe’. I don’t want someone to look at the hair I do and think it’s just ‘nice’, just ‘ok’ I want to make a difference, I think it’s about time.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER? MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT?
The highlight of my career is right now, I have never been happier, I’m still kinda fresh to the industry and I’m excited and I’m overwhelmed by the response to my work already and the opportunities I have been given and I’m more than grateful to everyone who has given them to me but I have a lot I’d like to do, it’s exciting.
WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE AS A CHILD? DID YOU EVER PLAY HAIRDRESSER?
I never played hairdresser as a child actually I was always drawing, constantly, all I ever wanted to do was draw…
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN LIVING IN NEW YORK? DO YOU LIKE IT? IS IT VERY DIFFERENT TO LONDON?
I have been in New York for two years now and I love it. As much as it’s hectic and full on there’s a certain ease to it, everything is so accessable but I will always love London. Everytime I go back and take a walk down the Kingsland Road I get inspiration from almost anyone that walks past me and thats unique to London.
WHAT MAKES GOOD HAIR? IS IT SHINE?
Good hair is only ever good if the person wearing it carries it off and ‘believes’ in it. It can be any length texture or style but if the person wearing it looks bad then it’s obviously not right for them.
DO YOU HAVE A HAIR IDOL? WHERE DO YOU LOOK FOR HAIRSPIRATION?
My earliest inspiration came from the women in my family, it was never a male dominated enviroment. I saw from a very early age the beauty of women, not just on a superficial level but the way the women in my family stuck together, their loyalty, their tenderness and yet their ferociousness.. I saw something in them the men just never ever showed. It’s such an amazing feeling to see that in a character you project into a picture.
WHAT ABOUT A SIGNATURE CUT? DO YOU HAVE ONE YET? OR ARE YOU STILL SEARCHING FOR YOUR VIDAL SASSON MOMENT?
I’m not sure if I have a signature cut, I mean usually I like things that don’t look exactly right, maybe even a little bit creepy or perverse but right now I’m still perfecting my style, I love where it’s going though!
WHAT DO YOU PUT IN YOUR HAIR?
Nothing!
BLONDES, BRUNETTES OR REDHEADS?
All of them, a different one for every day of the week!!
by Natalie Dembinska
Photograph by Benjamin Vnuk – www.vnuk.se
