Baltimore is always a fantastic source of artistic inspiration. Somewhere in the city’s blue collar history and heavy DIY ethos lies hearts that yearn with creativity and inspiration. Steven “Stevie Boi” Strawder may not be a Baltimore native (he’s an army brat who has seen half of Europe and most of the globe in over ten moves throughout his unique childhood), but the rapidly rising fashion designer of fabricated sunglasses and exciting fashions features a cutting edge, militaristic with industrial glamour style that brings attention and iconic notoriety to the wearer. Having been in the game since 2007, the 20 year old prodigy is easily in this reviewer’s estimation the most inventive young mind in ALL of fashion in my limited fashion universe. What separates him from most is his unerring vision and belief in his own conceptualizations, creating something that is obviously form over function and vastly entertaining.

Stevie does have a music background as well, and with his fashions being sported by the likes of Lil Kim, Young B of “Chicken Noodle Soup” fame with DJ Webstar, and Bmore’s riotouslly fun party starters TT the Artist and the Get Em Mamis, he clearly sees music as an inspiration and motivating force behind his line.

I had the opportunity to sit with Stevie, and with Young B recently, and discussed fashion, influences, Grace Jones, his glasses at this past New York Fashion Week and beyond, future plans, musical aspirations and a plethora of other topics. Please note the photos in this column are of his Winter 2010 fabricated shades line dropping November 15th. Do visit www.StevieBoi.com for more information or for purchase, or visit his twitter account at http://www.twitter.com/sbshades.

DOWNLOAD STEVIE BOI INTERVIEW HERE

DOWNLOAD YOUNG B INTERVIEW HERE