Clubber Spotlight: Ezra Alexander and Ramiyah Kofi
This week, we're looking at the work of Clubber duo Ezra and Ramiyah, who share with us how they came to their concept for their new editorial series 'Tie and Error!'
Hi! We’re Ezra Alexander and Ramiyah Kofi, and this is our recent project 'Tie and Error'! The shoot features four young black British creatives who artfully blend traditional school uniform elements with alternative attire. Through this shoot, our aim was really to start conversations around the public's perception of black youth, and to shine a light on the creative and alternative side of Black British culture.
Can you tell us a bit more about the setting and styling of this shoot?
Ezra: We were meant to shoot this project entirely in a studio, but ended up taking to the streets to further convey our message. In terms of location, it was between Ancoats or Castlefield in Manchester, but ultimately went with the latter due to the aged bridge and cobblestone roads. We also got the best of both worlds during shooting as it rained at first, then we caught the sun just before we wrapped. The first half of the shoot was influenced by school picture day to stay in line with the narrative. I also wanted poses to be defined headshots that each model could use in the future.
Ramiyah: Streetwear tends to form the basis of my style, and I pair different pieces in the shoot accordingly. For this shoot, Ezra wanted a school feel to it so we incorporated shirts, ties and skirts to fit our narrative. I like having some sort of a nostalgic feel when it comes to styling; to give observers a sense of youthfulness.
Who or what inspires you the most?
Ezra: I am really inspired by film soundtracks! The good score can really have the power to dictate how you feel, especially if it’s dramatic or romantic. I especially love the work of Hans Zimmer for X-Men and Dune as I’m able to imagine a new concept / world whilst walking to work. I would say that Diesel, Ib Kamara and Jack Bridgland inspire me when it comes to creativity. I absolutely love what Diesel is doing from the runway to Diesel's creative direction – I’m in awe. And Ib! His evolution from ’2026’ shoot to Editor-in-Chief of Dazed… He’s unmatched. The only way for me to describe Jack is cold – his style is fiercely unique and when I see it I feel physically inspired to create.
Ramiyah: What inspires me the most is music! I get a lot of ideas and inspiration when listening to certain songs and genres. One of my favourite genres is Grime. Not only is it one of the most powerful genres sonically, but it also carries a lot of style and community to the UK and has a huge inspiration on streetwear globally. The people who inspire me are creatives such as Ib Kamara, Pharell Williams and Simon Wheatley. I love the creative visions and sense of culture & community that their work espouses.
What’s your scene and style?
Ramiyah: My creative scene is based a lot around music as I grew up in a musical household – my parents are musicians and I was surrounded by many different genres in my upbringing, such as Funk, Motown, Pop, Soul, Gospel and Rap. However, my style stems a lot from the early 2000s British rap scene and has developed a lot over the years. I tend to get most of my style from the boys of the iconic Grime scene, such as Dizzee and Skepta, and from 2000s images by Simon Wheatley, like your tracksuits and your sneakers and your caps etc. I like to add my own accessories to my looks and get a lot of inspiration from my surroundings, while also maintaining my own originality!
Who were some of your collaborators?
Ezra: I want to add a massive thank you to Rachel Tsang – the photographer of this project. I'm so proud of her and her work and she had a major hand in bringing this vision to life. I also want to mention SpaceToCreate! The people who run it are truly genuine and I’m happy to be in a space that wants to see everyone succeed.
Creative Director: Ezra Alexander
Head Stylist: Ramiyah Kofi
Photographer: Rachel Tsang
Models:
Red: Ramiyah Kofi
Blue: Nigel Emordi
Yellow: Jahmiah Simpson
Green: Ezra Alexander
