Q&A: JASON CHEECH HALL
Jason Cheech Hall, owner of Format, one of the coolest boutiques in Queens stopped by the showroom the other day and we got to chatting. If you haven’t been shopping in the outer boroughs lately, Format offers locals a little taste of the Manhattan experience: with a brand roster that includes The Hundreds, MHI, Nudie, Pegleg, and Accomplice. But the store is just his side hustle: he also has a day job, working as a denim specialist for RRL. When it comes to jeans and trends, Hall really knows what’s up, A dedicated denim head, he actually sits in a tub of freezing water with his jeans on to achieve some cool whiskers, and will walk around all day in wet jeans or abrades them with a nutmeg shaver to get the perfect worn-in look. We’ve got a quick Q&A with Jason after the jump.
92-29 Queens Blvd. Rego Park , www.formatny.com
I was always fresh. As arrogant as that sounds but my mom kept me real preppy like Carlton from Fresh Prince…lol. I fell in love with fashion circa 1994 in Crown Heights Brooklyn, I was 13 years old and fresh from Miami and so engulfed in Polo that it felt like a drug, I still can’t shake it. Thanks mom, for spoiling me rotten so I never had to shop-lift. I thinks it’s ironic that now I work for I guess the biggest drug dealer in the fashion industry ever…lol. I’ve been working with denim for more than 2.5 yrs now, I started at Diesel as a Denim Apostle, now I’m a Denim Specialist for RRL. I also did some independent consultant work for a few boutiques in the tri-state area. I’m so proud to work for Ralph Lauren, because one it’s so hard to get into, and to it’s the best learning experience ever. It’s especially dope to go from Farnsworth to Cheech in hours. I have two identities: I’m like Bruce Wayne, it’s great. I go from the country club to the corner store, and still be respected on both sides of the spectrum.
5 Things I am into now:
POLO Black Label Sport
Black Label Sport is the label to watch from Ralph Lauren. It’s totally geared toward the more trendy younger demographic. It has a European cut, a sleeker fit and definitely will be on Level 10 come the Winter/Fall Collection.
Neighborhood Denim
The uality of this denim, the direction of this brand, along with the collaborations, make this label stand out tremendously amongst the many denim lines out of Japan. My personal favorite they always seem to out doing every wash they create.
Nigel Sylvester
Street BMX Rider…If you don’t Know Google, You-Tube him…get familiar quick…or check X-Games (Brazil).
Ato
Toughest sneaker out of Japan since the Bape….hopefully won’t catch on for a few more years(Doubt It)…But a great find…If you can find them.
RRL
My everyday jeans since Levi’s started doing all these mainstream collaborations that started to break my heart. They break-in well with no heavy logos, and actually give me a little bit of ass…considering its always absent in other brands…lol.
