You know that feeling when you’ve found something yet to be discovered? That’s what the Blue Agency London is serving with their steady breed of new faces and talent that echoes in your mind long after you’ve seen them.
Founded in January, the namesake Agency focuses its grips on young undiscovered faces that otherwise might be overlooked by the commercial fashion industry. Their founder Blue Kizozo, confusedcu1ture (who seems anything but), was in the process of making a name for them-self, scouring London with their lens. With their strong roots as a photographer it’s no wonder that their eye manages to capture the most visually stimulating faces in London.
What sparked the urge to start an agency focusing on grunge faces, with the majority of your models being queer?
My photography is all about anti convention and really championing the ethos of underground culture and I really wanted to illuminate that anti beauty and have underground identities on show. We aren’t marginal in fact we are capitalised on so much credibility is never given to queer, ethnic individuals.
How did you get into photography and how does this impact your process for choosing new faces and talent?
I got into photography randomly, in fact I used photography as a tool for my own exploration and curiosity. I really appreciated the way people expressed themselves, especially being anti-beauty and [looking for] more expression from your inner human, almost as if your identity is a rebellion. When scouting faces I tend to look at ethnic features because the industry tends to mute the beauty of ethnic individuals. People who aren’t afraid of being anti. Understanding that we can capitalise on our curiosity. Our body is a canvas.
What was the most challenging aspect of creating an Agency and curating your portfolio?
I don’t know how I broke into the industry. I think it was mainly my photography, exploring underground identities and their ethos. I think we need to see the underground scene as a movement, people with stories and trauma and they wear their experiences on their skin. These kinds of people are breaking the industry. That’s what I do. My mum as well has always told me to capitalise on every experience, if you find yourself, so will other people.
How did you manage to break into the industry that features faces that are majorly, conventional and commercial, especially alone and as a minority?
The most challenging thing about the come up of the agency was people understanding the vision I have. The vision to really bring the underground culture into light but still somehow keep it underground.
What do you envision for Blue?
I envision raw expression.
This agency, although fledgling and still building its presence, seems to have a strong identity and direction set for itself. Having been established only a handful of months ago, the majority of Blue Angency’s 50+ models being individuals of colour, from diverse backgrounds, queer and most importantly grunge, is a bold statement and an even bigger middle finger up to societies harmful beauty standards. With indie sleaze, the rock star aesthetic and maximalism in full swing, Blue Agency couldn’t have been founded at a better time. Despite this, the trend cycle is unforgiving, and setting up an agency that was built to go against the grain comes with anything but ease.
However, featuring new talent from the UK and Ireland Blue agency has already marked its territory and found success over international waters. With its model Oduenyi, Ché and many others featured in various publications and projects, like Lava La Rue’s ‘High Fidelity’ music video, the sky seems to be anything but the limit.
Instead of breaking the mould, they’re creating their own entirely. So it’s up to us to keep up with them. Blue Agency London has found their talent and is on its way to making blue waves across London and internationally.
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