You have a unique approach to fashion. What do you take into consideration when you put together an outfit and walk out your front door, knowing you’ll be photographed wherever you go?
This is my 100th time wearing these pants. This is my 70th time wearing this shirt. And this is my 300th time wearing these shoes. Since I know that people are going to take pictures of me, I know that if I wear the same thing every day they won’t publicize it. It’s like doing an interview and saying the same thing every time. Eventually people are going to stop using it so I try to wear the same thing as much as possible. There are certain times, like the Grammys, when I decide to wear some pants I haven’t worn in a while or just make something like a new jacket. If I really want to surprise the world I’ll just make something. I have a new collection coming out soon and a lot of the shirts are going to surprise people.
We’ve been following the build up to your upcoming movie Skate Kitchen. Can you talk a little bit about your involvement in the project.
I’m so excited and I want people to check it out. I will say that I’m not the main character so people are not confused by that. There’s a whole cast of people. It’s not a “Jaden” movie.
So how did you get involved?
Me and the director [Crystal Moselle] had a sit down. She said she wanted to make a movie about skating and I said, “I’m in.” She said, “Do you want to read the script?” I said, “Yes, but I’m in.” We shot it here in New York and it was such a cool experience because I got to skate in the parks and get in the New York skate scene. Now, if I go to an LES skatepark people are not going to be like, “What are those? You’ve never been here!”
You’ve been extremely passionate about starting JUST Water. What does being a young activist means to you?
It came from the 11-year-old me who just wanted to make something better for the environment—an alternative for people so they don’t have to be drinking out of petroleum-based plastic all the time. That’s really the goal and I feel like people are slowly waking up to it.
