Our Favorite Instagrammers – @illbash
Name: K. Bash
Instagram Name: @illbash
Amount of followers: 17.4k
Age: 34
Residence: New York
Occupation: Software Engineer
Hi, I am K. Bash and I run the @illbash feed. I reside in New Rochelle, a suburb outside of NYC, with my wife and our two boys (5yo and 3yo). Besides taking photos for IG, some things I enjoy are: spending time with my family and friends, working out, traveling, good food and aged bourbon. My favorite foods, besides burgers, tend to be ethnic foods since I really enjoy trying different spices and flavors. Hope you enjoy the interview!
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Why do you share your outfits? And why Instagram?
Originally, I joined Instagram to follow some of the brands that I like; I had no real intention of posting content. As time went by, I found myself following more and more people who shared my interest in clothing, which inspired me to begin posting my outfits as well. Lately, I have taken a bigger interest in photography and have been trying to incorporate that into my posts.
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What makes your Instagram feed so special?
My current approach to my feed is to exhibit my personal style with an emphasis on quality photography. While I do enjoy experimenting, I mainly stick to a clean/minimal aesthetic that is comprised of quality goods. My feed’s tagline has always been: “appreciation of quality and aesthetics” and I try to stay true to that.
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Where does your inspiration come from?
My inspiration can come from anywhere. It could be another Instagram feed or just a stranger on the street. I am always impressed when someone can make a really simple outfit more interesting by styling it a certain way or mixing different textures/colors.
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Where does your love for denim come from? When did it start?
My love of denim started back in Nov. 2011 when I purchased my first pair of Raw Denim (A.P.C. New Standard) and slowly evolved from there. As the years went by I have probably tried a dozen or so different brands but gravitate towards those that use unique fabrics, keep the design clean (no arcuates, basic patch, simple stitching) and the fits modern.
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Your top 3 favorite (denim)brands?
Shockoe Atelier: I picked up my first pair of Shockoe back in Feb 2016. Since then, my Kojimas (and now Hicks) have been a constant in my rotation. I really appreciate their attention to detail and willingness to experiment with different fabrics. Another thing I love about Shockoe is that most (if not all) of their clothing is produced at their own factory in Richmond, VA. Few brands keep the full product life-cycle under one roof and I think that really sets them apart. Lastly, everyone I have interacted with has always been helpful and warm — they’re a really solid crew!
3sixteen: Back when I was in college, I used to be into independent steetwear/urban brands. That gear was somewhat hard to come by so I was buying it from a site that carried a good selection of NYC/LA brands called digitalgravel.com. It was through there that I ordered my first piece of 3sixteen clothing: a 5-panel cap. It wouldn’t be until years later that I found out that 3sixteen began focusing predominately on denim and were making killer jeans. From then on, it was a no brainer for me to continue to support them. Also, Andrew, one of the co-founders, is one of the most chill guys in the business; always nice hanging with him.
Freemans Sporting Club (FSC): FSC has been making clothing in the USA long before it was cool. While they produce both tailored and casual clothing, one thing that is common across the board is quality. I really dig how they elevate typical workwear with some urban influences and unique fabrics. Another thing I appreciate about FSC is that they are always doing cool collaborations. In the past they have done t-shirts with Velva Sheen, sweatshirts with Loopwheeler and sunglasses with Moscot. Their more recent collaboration is with Yoshiyuki Hayashi, known in Japan as “the God of Denim”, looks really dope as well.
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What is your favorite accessory?
At the moment, my favorite accessory is my Stowa Marine Klassik 40. It has an understated design that I really like and it pairs well with pretty much everything.
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Which items do you wear most at the moment?
In the summer, I was rotating mostly between my Blackhorse Lane Ateliers E8 and Todd Shelton Light Jeans since I really liked how they paired with Common Projects, which are my go-to sneakers. Now that the weather is getting cooler, I will be more inclined to reach for a heavier denim like the Rogue Territory 15oz Stanton and Shockoe Atelier Standard Hicks.
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What is your favorite shop? And what is your favorite webstore?
Most of the shopping I do is online. At times, I will buy from a webstore but, usually, I buy directly from a brand’s website. With that said, my favorite webstore at the moment is Withered Fig; @doppki did a really great job with the website layout and product photos. For local brick and mortar shops, I like to drop in at Self Edge NY to see what’s new and hang out; they have one of the best selection of denim in NYC. Also, every now and then, I like to take a look at what people have listed on Grailed and eBay — you never know what you can stumble upon!
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Do you care about the production process?
Absolutely. I wish there would be more transparency from brands about their production process so that consumers can make more informed decisions. I believe that style is not something that changes with the seasons and neither should your wardrobe so the idea of buying consciously-made clothes that will last a long time really resonates with me. I try and do my best to “buy better, buy less”, even though, it can prove challenging at times.
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What are your dreams for the future?
Spend more time with my family and friends. Sleep more. Eat better. Worry less. Workout more. Be present. Take more photos. Explore more. Read more. Slow down and enjoy life!
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