Photography by John Lee
For Gabriel Garcia, the East Coast-West Coast rivalry is a nonissue. “We’re really here to invite West Coasters to come see a certain piece of New York,” says Garcia, co-director of the Brooklyn Circus BKc Brand and owner of the Brooklyn Circus SF, which opened its flagship clothing store on Fillmore last year.
With its antique furnishings and dark wood interior serving as the perfect backdrop for its hip-hop-meets-vintage-East-Coast-prep menswear line, the BKc has come a long way since its beginnings as a street-culture clothing label founded three years ago by Garcia’s business partner Ouigi Theodore in the trendy Boerum Hill section of Brooklyn. Now sold internationally, the brand offers a full range of tailored men’s separates, from classic Melton wool peacoats and newsboy hats to handmade bow ties and Japanese denim.
With music as a key inspiration for their dapper designs (“Hang out in our store and you’ll hear everything from Frank Sinatra, Mos Def, Kanye West and Jay-Z back to Otis Redding and Sam Cooke,” Garcia says), it’s no surprise that the SF team can be found across the street at Yoshi’s every Thursday hosting its own popular soul, funk, hip-hop and R&B night, where the crew and its guests are invited to dress to impress. “A big part of our brand is history, heritage and culture,” says Garcia. “The Fillmore speaks to all of that.”
Styling: Brooklyn Circus SF. On Chasen: BKc western button-down. On Earl: BKc v-neck tee, naval peacoat, gingham pant and scarf; converse shoes, model’s own. On Gabriel: BKc paisley button-up, knit hoodie, overcoat, raw denim jean, leather hunter’s cap and belt; converse shoes, model’s own. On Calvin: BKc gingham button-down, chino pant, bow-tie; socks and
bostonian shoes, model’s own. All BKc pieces available at Brooklyn Circus, 415-359-1999.
