Who would think that a 21 year old, Mexican Dutch Jewish Accessory Designer, inspired by Ralph Lauren, Pokemon and RuPaul would make such a huge impact on street fashion? Rembrandt (Remy) Duran is the owner, Creative Director and head designer of the New York based clothing brand ADEEN (ADEENYC.com) that promotes, “Giving you that Saturday morning cartoon feeling”.
Photographer: Adolphus Amissah
Model(s): Brian @ Colby . Khoca @ Identities inc
Article: Keith Dougherty
This Lower Eastside native attended the High School of Art and Design and originally, wanted to be a cartoonist. He later realized that fashion and style were his true passions so by fusing the two together it gave him the opportunity to give life to characters he loved for years. Remy is inspired by cartoons he grew up with, or drew himself when he was younger, and the fun feeling that comes with them. Remy makes sure that ADEEN goes above and beyond to proclaim to the world – Just Have Fun. ADEEN is actually a slang word used in certain neighborhoods in Brooklyn as a substitution for “very” or “a lot” or to agree with someone. A lot of people are agreeing that Remy’s designs, although street and urban, are becoming very fashion forward and high end yet allow us to have fun because he’s having fun. Sharing that wealth of good times, Remy pursues his passion as an unconventional “family business”. While he controls artistic direction and design, his mom is brand manager and handles the business and even Grandma sews in labels and backcharms to the hats. However it’s put together, Remy wants people from all walks of life to, not only, look good in what they wear but feel that they look good in what the wear.
The first release was the ADEEN collection, consisting of plush pins (The fav being Assman), boy short underwear and knit caps. The plush pin idea came from his childhood collection of Beanie Babies and Remy found his niche incorporating non-fashion things that were part of his past into his future in fashion. Continuing this trend, ADEENS second line release was the RoseHood plush pin collection, an ode to Remy’s childhood memories of his Nana’s garden. RoseHood is the concept that one should believe in being one’s self. More recent lines are ADN, a collection of snapback caps, necklaces and earrings using colored, clear and mirrored acrylic and SATURDAY and SATURDAY NIGHT, adding black, white, silver and neon acrylic, giving style and fashion not just a look but a feeling. His CITY/COUNTRY collection honors the cities and countries that inspire Remy but it’s edgy BLACK AND WHITE series that’s had bloggers working overtime.
The BLACK AND WHITE SERIES lookbook stars famed androgynous model Andrej Pejic, posing with shirtless masked men, sporting a snapback cap with the word C*NT in 3D acrylic. Did Grandma sew that one on too? Some say the controversial campaign was pushing the envelope but Duran says he was paying tribute to the gay community, naming his muse, RuPaul, as his inspiration this time. Remy stresses that the C word’s use is non-offensive and only meant to represent The Diva of Drag Race’s belief “that one must always have Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve and Talent. In that case, Rembrandt Duran should be wearing that snapback cap daily because he exudes it all. Remy is living his dream of building street chic ADEEN into a lifestyle brand using individuality, originality and knowledge of style. When asked where he sees himself in ten years he says “Successful and happily married, doing what he loves and staying inspired”. Remy assures us that “I have collection upon collection in my head already, there is plenty more to come and we will continue to do poppin’ things!”