Tastemaker Marcus Troy on Getting Paid to Be Yourself

Traveler, connector, cultural explorer… Marcus Troy goes by many titles, having cemented himself in the early 2000s as one of the leading curators via his blog, MarcusTroy.com, covering everything menswear and street culture. Having lent his services to the likes of adidas, Bentley, Converse and Levi’s, the tastemaker recently spoke to Forbes‘ Julian Mitchell on his beginnings as a blogger, his diverse influences in creating a lifestyle platform, and the art of creating a brand for yourself. Read an excerpt below and find the full article by clicking here.

How important is authenticity in not only media, but in building a sustainable brand? 

I think it is very important, and I see so many others who are striving in a world without being authentic, so I often question myself. Fortunately for me I am not yet capable of being inauthentic. It just doesn’t sit well with me.

We’re in an era where talented young people with diverse skill sets are building personal empires rooted in their unique outlook — How would you explain the role of curators in crafting culture and shaping society? 

As a microcosm, the influence is there, but within a different window of society. These curators have the platform to reveal a lifestyle that people can actively watch unfold and take inspiration in on how they would like to live their own lives. In respect to shaping society as a whole, I believe there are bigger powers at work doing that.

We’re in a time where visuals run the world, whether images or videos, but your platform has always placed aesthetic at the forefront – how important is visual storytelling and where do you see it going?

For what we do, visuals are especially paramount, and with the popularity of apps like Instagram and Snapchat, we all have a front row seat. With that being said, it’s important to create visuals consistently. I see us, as a society, becoming more receptive by visual stimulation.