Brit Bones is an incredibly talented creative, based in London. With a vested interest in music, fashion, illustration, and more recently, cigars, we caught up with the talented artist in Florence during Pitti Uomo.
EGM: Tell us a little about yourself…
Brit Bones: I’m Brit, and I’m a creative—that means I do photography, videography and content creation mainly, but I dabble in illustration and music when I have time, too.
EGM: You’re quite the multi-hyphenate. Is there a particular art form you most enjoy?
BB: I really, really enjoy videography. I feel like that form of creation allows me to express myself in similar ways to photography, illustration, fashion and music all combined. I am so inspired by direction, light, angles, narrative, how a video can make you feel, the technical aspects… I love it all.
EGM: Were you always drawn (ha, pun) to the arts or is it something you discovered you were good at later in life?
BB: Children always draw—it’s what they’re “supposed” to do. At what age does it stop being something you’re expected to do and start being creative practice (either as a hobby or job)? I always drew, as did my twin brother. In fact, we both draw, interact with fashion, do photography and make music, so I think maybe it was genetic. Or perhaps nurture? How can you separate it when you’ve grown up so similarly as twins? I remember the first time that it was an urge though, like… I have to create, I have to express my feelings. I was 13 and really struggling to express my emotions. For me, being creative is a very emotionally-charged and sometimes painful practice.
EGM: What does style mean to you?
BB: It’s about taking how I feel inside and exploring it externally. In a way, it is a collaboration with other creatives—designers. I take what they make and I create something else with it. When we take a piece of clothing and style it in our own way, we transform it. No one’s ever going to wear it exactly like you, so in that regard, style is about being one-of-a-kind.
EGM: What book are you currently reading?
BB: I’m so bad at reading books, mainly because I usually read three at once and take forever… I’m currently reading a book about post-Victorian female artists and how the home, kitchen and still life art confined them. I’m also reading the biography of Picasso by Arianna Huffington (she created The Huffington Post) and I’m reading a copy of A Rabbit’s Foot, a friend’s publication on film.
EGM: You've recently started smoking cigars. What do you most enjoy about it?
BB: Growing up up North I was never exposed to the scent of cigar smoke, so the first time I experienced it, it made me think of the past… I love history and so I was hooked on the smell (you can’t even say “West London pub” without smelling the woody aroma of a cigar). I really enjoy the social aspect of it, too. My friends smoke them on evenings at the pub, events, weekends, a lot of great social memories are associated with cigars for me.
EGM: What kind of cigar do you most enjoy smoking?
BB: I can’t say I’m very knowledgeable yet, I usually follow friends leads and recommendations… I recently asked our mutual friend Mike Hughes what his favourites were (I often smoke with him) and he says… Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Especial and the H. Upmann Connoisseur No.1— I’ll take his word for it.
EGM: This is the second year you're attending Pitti Uomo - what are you most excited about this time?
BB: I’m most looking forward to meeting interesting people and being inspired by other people’s styles. It’s really a congregation of creatives from around the world, and I feel so honoured to be able to experience it.
EGM: Do you prefer being in front or behind the camera?
BB: It’s hard to say! I think it depends on how I feel. I really enjoy being behind the camera because I love directing; I enjoy the level of creative control I have. At times though, I enjoy being in front of the camera because I get to share my style with others.
EGM: Favourite restaurant in Florence?
BB: I might regret telling you this (because I don’t want there to be queues out of the door like all the other places in Florence during Pitti…) but I was taken to a small family-run place called Restaurante Natalino where my friend vouched for beautifully friendly service and their Pear-stuffed Pasta (yep, you heard it right). All I can say is, my friend was right…
EGM: What are your rules to live by…
BB: Be as kind to others as you can. Be even kinder to yourself. Create as much as you can and don’t take everything so seriously… you blink and life’s gone.
