Stylist and fashion editor, Ravi Kelay, has been in the game for an impressive ten years, with many accomplishments under his belt including the role of Senior Stylist at ASOS. Having worked in the luxury and high street fashion industry for a decade, Ravi initially came to London to study at London College of Fashion to study Fashion Journalism but discovered he enjoyed communicating visually through styling than verbally through writing.
Ravi’s styling aesthetic is inspired by a juxtaposition of minimalism and glamour. His work is very focused on creating narrative opposed to just pretty clothes on a pretty model. “I’m interested in the lives people lead in the clothes they wear. I feel fashion is more than just about having the most luxurious items in your wardrobe but really about expressing your personality and identity through the things you wear.”
Ravi has been a contributing Fashion Editor at Noctis Magazine for three years, styling editorials and a plethora of talented creatives including Alison Wonderland for our newest print issue Noctis XX. “I love the magazines ethos of providing a free space for its team to express themselves and push the boundaries of art, music and fashion. I love the fact that the publication prides itself on promoting emerging new talent and it has been an incredible experience being a part of that process.”
Ravi recently participated in the Noctis x Garment Streak challenge, wearing one item of clothing across the week, styled in different ways to promote slow fashion and get us to consider wearing clothing we own opposed to buying into fast fashion. We asked Ravi some questions about his thoughts on sustainability in the fashion industry.
Do you remember when or how you first became conscious of the connection between fast fashion and climate change?
It was actually working in Ecommerce and realising how many garments were being shot daily in order to keep new product appearing on the website. How ultimately unsustainable it was with the clothing ultimately being considered very disposable because of how much ‘newness’ is required to keep customers coming back to the website and maintain what is ultimately a constant demand for what’s next or new rather than purchasing items that will last you for more than a season. I completely understand that for many people buying from fast fashion is actually all they can afford but I do feel it’s really important for people to work on changing their purchasing behaviour. Fast fashion retailers will continue to operate the way they always have unless their customers change their consumption. The power really does lie with them.
What positive role do you think public figures and influencers could have in the fight against fast fashion and climate change generally?
I feel influencers and public figures could have a massive impact on how people consume fashion and how it is ok to wear things repeatedly. The constant need to have ‘content’ wearing the latest thing is having a huge influence on their following to always be consuming and the idea that being seen in the same thing more than once is in fact a massive social faux pas. This is obviously completely unrealistic, and I feel it is time influencers start being more transparent about how the majority of their fashion content is a result of gifting or paid advertising.
What has it felt like for you, to be seen on Instagram wearing the same thing over and again?
I’ve actually really enjoyed it. I wear a lot of my pieces regularly and my personal style is pretty eclectic. It’s been really fun to share how I wear one of my favourite pieces in a myriad of ways. I hope it’ll inspire others to do the same.
Besides performing in the Garment Streak, what else should we know about you or what you are doing?
I’m a London based stylist and have been a member of the Noctis family for a few years now. I’m newly married and a confirmed crazy cat lady.