What do you stand for?

ANTI collective has continued to lead in the way in the expression of individuality via its “What are you ANTI?” campaign. As a brand that feeds off the streets and the eclectic fusion of souls that this brings, ANTI has collaborated with New York identities and asked them what they are most passionate about in a time of considerable change through a series of “What do you stand for?” interviews.

Navigating an unprecedented time in the world, key individuals from our New York street campaign share their salvations and strategies of dealing with a world going through a time of considerable renewal, forcing us to look internally and rediscover the very force which guides us. To empower the new and inspire us to lead in art, business and creativity.

What are you ANTI? Together we are ANTI collective. Anticollective.com

Zeno (@mythnomer)

Tell us what you want the world to know about you.

I am the benign ghost behind every guidepost, disguised in guy’s clothes // a rhizome comprised of rhinestones, crying in tritones // the limestone thickness of abyss in invictus //I got thru with the sickness just to remain in rictus.

What do you stand for?

Liberation of Black and colonized people worldwide. The abolition of prisons and the disarmament of the fascist police forces that terrorize the world. Restorative Justice as the only option for effective criminal justice reform. Reparations for chattel slavery. Redistribution of the world’s wealth. To each according to their need. Not their fucking greed.

What are you ANTI?

ANTI cop. ANTI capitalist

Yanece (@yanece)

Tell us what you want the world to know about you.  

I am a non-binary human from Harlem, New York. I have always been interested in art and all the ways I can try to create.  My experiences have been beautiful, and my traumas have sculpted me.  I learned that through creating and being unapologetic about taking up space I was sharing the human experience. We are all so valuable, our stories are different and healing.

What do you stand for?

 I stand for the raw unedited version of people. That queer black bodies hold value, fat people, homeless youth hold value; we fucking matter. I really stand for marginalized people getting the space and praise they deserve. To tell our stories and create beautiful healings connections that bring us closer and create true community and that is priceless.

What are you ANTI?

I am ANTI the idea that people’s lives are less valuable than the economy and that human lives are expendable. We deserve better!

How are you feeling and coping with the COVID-19 crisis?

In the midst of my anxiety and anger, I am having moments of clarity and real reflection. Taking deeper breaths, because it’s necessary, and taking in the fact that we are all together sharing this weight.

Cheeky (@cheekymaa)

Tell us what you want the world to know about you.

The best way I can describe myself is a multitalented freak, and I always have been. Growing up I always felt like an outsider and was bullied most of my life.  I tried my best to fit in but after a while, I stopped giving a fuck and decided to do me. It became easier to be myself once I left the suburbs and moved to the city. I found a queer community of people that I felt safe with and they made me feel loved and accepted. Expressing myself through my crafts and fashion is the only way I can survive this crazy world.

What do you stand for?

Just allow people to live the life they want.

What are you ANTI?

I’m ANTI status quo

Vene @v101110

Tell us what you want the world to know about you.

I come from Georgia in Eastern Europe, which is a country with an eclectic nature. My family and my social environment didn’t approve of many of my choices. From a young age, I have always had to step into unknown environments. At 16 I moved to Berlin and then my curiosity took me to New York.  I have always been fascinated with the senses and I’m a perfumist. I keep becoming myself more and more every day and I stay open so that I don’t get stagnant.

What do you stand for?

I stand for self-development and self-knowledge. I stand for equality.

What are you ANTI?

I’m ANTI Stagnation. ANTI synthetics. ANTI toxicity.

How are you feeling and coping with the COVID-19 crisis?

Everything is now resetting our values and I’m trying to see sides of things I haven’t seen before. I think this is all a lesson we can learn from. Creatively, this can be a ground-breaking moment as we are making more art. What’s happening is painful but worth it.

Infinite (@4everinfinite)

Tell us what you want the world to know about you.

I grew up very sheltered and kept away from things that were going to help me find out who I truly was. Friendship became very important to me, especially when I learned that you can create your own family from it with people who understand. Right now I may not be out with my girls but I can still express myself and move freely with music and dancing, even painting.

What do you stand for?

I stand for love peace and happiness, and a world where everyone sees each other without judging our flaws. Love and accept yourself and everyone around you and everything else will prosper from there.

How are you feeling about and coping with the COVID-19 crisis?

Right now I’m definitely ANTI coronavirus. I try not to think about it too much cause it makes my mind wander off into places I can’t quite understand. COVID-19 has taken a lot from everyone but we just have to be patient.

Neon (@neonspice)

Tell us what you want the world to know about you.

I’m a pansexual model, creative and visual artist from the Dominican Republic. I was born as Amanda but I found myself as Neon around the end of 2018 when I shaved my head for the first time. Neon was a fresh start. Having no hair for two years was so life-changing and taught me the true meaning of beauty.

What do you stand for?

I stand for everyone in the Latinx, Brown, and POC community. I stand for people without papers that bust their asses off every single day to feed their families. Those people are my people and I will always stand by them when it comes to the government or the police. I stand for the LGBTQIA+ community.

What are you ANTI?

I am ANTI racism. ANTI Donald Trump. ANTI people that are against queers. ANTI negativity.

Robot (@robotmoonjuice)

Tell us what you want the world to know about you.

My name is Jean Carlos Pina Escolastico but I go by the artist name Robot MoonJuice. I was born and raised in a small farm town in the Dominican Republic and moved to Harlem in New York City when I was an early teen. I’m a creative director and songwriter with education in theatre and fine art.

What do you stand for?

I stand for everything that is true to its nature. I believe that everyone should act on their natural impulses as long as they are not hurting or objectifying others. I crave affection and creation. I stand for whatever makes people happy.

What are you ANTI?

I am ANTI shaming. The best way to turn me off is by telling someone the music they are playing is “weird”. I think shaming in any way is unacceptable.