Stylist Taylor Okata Seeks More Representation in the Fashion Industry
Honored by Reebok as the Club C’s Secretary of Style.
Island life can easily lull its visitors into complacency, but growing up in Hawaii, stylist Taylor Okata was anything but stagnant. Without the vast world of the internet at his fingertips, he discovered realities outside his own by flipping through fashion magazines: Dazed & Confused, Dutch, The Face and i-D. Mesmerized by the editorials that sprawled across the pages of his favorite glossies, Okata became galvanized by style.
Since launching his career as a stylist in New York in 2010, his prowess has become defined by a cultural mashup of his heritage and his passions: hip-hop and R&B, punk, ska, skate and surf. Through his work, he noticed a lack of representation for Asian Pacific Americans in the industry, so he took on the arduous task — whenever able — to authentically embed and reference APA culture in anything he touched in the industry. It wasn’t just about giving himself a platform, but elevating brands and designers that he shares an akin spirit with by cultivating greater inclusivity. For these admirable tendencies, Okata is the latest inductee into Reebok‘s Club C initiative, a collective of like-minded creatives who are defying the status quo. Named the Secretary of Style, the stylist is using fashion as more than just a way to communicate “cool,” but also as a medium to amplify the narrative for more voices.
Stay tuned to HYPEBEAST for the next inductee into Club C and head to Reebok’s website to enter for a chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip to New York to celebrate the new campaign.
