HubThreads: Celebrating Boston Street Style

Photo by Diana Levine

Critics say this city has no style. We’re here to prove them wrong. Welcome to HubThreads, where we chat with the most stylish people we find out and about in Boston. Think you or someone you know has the best street style? Let us know.

ZOE

What do you do? I go to Berklee. I’m a singer, but I also study music business management and music technology.

What do you want to do after graduation? Honestly? I want to build an empire.

Wow. I’m already a professonial public speaker. Music is my first love, but when I was studying in Valencia they had a TEDx event and I applied on a whim and got it. Ever since, I’ve had offers to do speaking engagements at universities, at colleges, at non-profits and businesses. I got my start talking about millennials, so I go into a business and if they’re hiring interns, I’ll talk about how our work style is so different from the boomers, but both of us can encourage each other to be more productive and be more efficient. I show the commonalities between people. As a gay, black woman, I feel like I have a lot to offer in terms of my intersectionality and identity. I’m really into ethnomusicology, so ideally being able to talk about society and music and how we can use art to improve the lives of those around us, that’s the dream. We’ll see how that manifests.

Well, you’re clearly gonna do something amazing. Yeah, I’m chillin’.

How old are you?? 21.

You’re so well spoken! My biggest inspirations are Angela Davis and Maya Angelou. And Nikki Giovanni is my favorite poet. She’s that bitch, she’s iconic. You have to read Bicycles, that’s my favorite book by her. It’s super short and to the point, but really powerful. She’s also an awesome civil rights activist.

How would you describe your style? The whole style thing starts from the hair and works its way out. I start with the fro. I take care of my hair more than I take care of anything else in my life. When I was little, I was in a performance troupe and they made me relax it. I went to school with a bunch of rich, white people and they didn’t know any better-well, they did, but they didn’t do any better. Then I shaved my head and started with new, fresh growth. It has been a long time coming, but now I got length and I’m so grateful. I really appreciate having it. You see Angela Davis and you see the afro, and you know who you’re talking to; it’s Black Panthers vibe, all black everything. As for clothes, I’m an Adidas girl. Historically speaking, I think they’re the most socially motivated in terms of style. They were the first ones to ever give a nonathletic sponsorship, and that was to Run DMC.