17 Sep
Fashion Figure INC is here to save your Action Figure's day

Fashion Figure INC is unlike any organization you’ve ever heard of. The brainchild of the elusive, artistic savant Reggieknow (who we’ve profiled before), FFINC has arguably the world’s most unique business model: they make dope ass gear for your action figures, and they will style them the hell out. If you’ve ever, absolutely, 100%, no questions asked HAD to get your action figure fully laced out in some quality gear, then Fashion Figure INC is who you want to contact when a vinyl figure sartorial emergency strikes. Does your 12″ Bobba Fett figure not have the proper kicks to get him into that Action Figure Loft Party he so desperately wants to attend? Then you wanna call FFINC, stat. If we’ve lost you here at all (and we were lost at first too), take a moment to read the Q&A with Reggieknow and his collaborator for the project, photographer Robert “BK” Kerian, and they’ll explain it all to you…

So please explain — Fashion Figure INC, what in blazes does it mean?

Reggie: It’s a company that styles action figures for action figure manufactures and collectors. When people have action figures, plush toys, video game characters, etc. that needs styling we provide that service. So if you were looking at your G.I. Joe collection and found yourself over Destro’s boots but didn’t know what to do about it, FFINC would step in and give him the metallic silver Dior sneakers to go well with his chrome dome.

Is it an art project, fashion project, toy project, or sanitarium project?

Reggie: It’s safe to say that it’s all the above. At FFINC we do believe that there is a science to fashion, especially when it’s made to look like it’s not. We go the length to the finest details to express that and believe me it’s no small job.

Are there any plans to take any part of FFINC into production — either making the figures themselves, or the clothes they wear?

Reggie: Indeed sir, as we speak FFINC is creating the main characters of the This Day anime TV series which includes Diz, LaVell, Eamona and Khalil. This line of figures will be our first from scratch and will be a great example of our work. The figures will have accessories that reflect their stories in the episodes. We look for this to propel us into a place to be able to do FFINC figure designs we have. We’re known to create figures of characters that you may never see a figure for, like the Lee from Beat Street we did.

Hit the Jump to continue reading our Q&A with Reggieknow and BK, as well as peruse plenty more figures and a Lost In a Supermarket exclusive behind-the-scenes gallery…

“If you ever see a pic of the Hulk wearing Fred Flinstone’s attire, Biggie’s Versace shades and unlaced Air Jordan 3’s, leaning on a Magnum P.I. Ferrari…FFINC most likely had something to do with it.”

How did you guys get involved together, and how did make it come to life?

Reggie: Robert Kerian and I met in our Le Branche creative family circle of artists. Rob is as gully as I am with creative. We think, react and create in one breath. Our projects are never solo acts; it’s a team effort. I first think of the story of the wardrobe, which is then followed by the editorial story. Rob and I go back and forth and by the time we get to our destination it’s solved. The shoots are rarely permission, they’re mostly guerrilla. After that we upload the pics to music that complete the story.

BK: Reggie and I have an advertising background; we hit it off. I was inspired by his 24/7 full attack in-your-face, fuck you creativity so I asked him if I could work on a project together.

How did you decide where to photograph each figure? Were you there for all the shoots as a sort of Art Director, or did Robert shoot them all?

Reggie: The story of the figure dictates where to shoot. In a few weeks we’re shooting a Pee-Wee Herman figure in a movie theater for a client. Some stories are more intricate than others.Our process is Kerian shoots the establishing shot of the figure in the scene and I shoot the close ups that detail what they’re wearing. We take turns on shooting, lighting and being the lookout.

BK: It was fully Reggie’s idea but I gave my input into where and how it should be photographed. We tried to stay away from the trendy miniature/ photography style that’s becoming too cliché .

You can only see it here, “Money Shot” gallery and behind-the-scenes action

So Robert – How did you decide where to photograph each figure?

BK: Reggie had some great kickoff ideas and with my knowledge of LA we went to the places I felt best would work for each figure. There were some painful frustrations of not finding the ideal spot but we pushed through. For instance we had to drive to Newhall, California over 4 times because the wind kept us from shooting. It was extremely frustrating.

Tell me about the creation process of the clothing itself — do you buy Barbie clothes and alter them, or make things from scratch?

Reggie: The wardrobe is pulled from different sources, just like the approach of a stylist. Style is never buying a whole outfit from one place, so believe figures are in good hands with us. Nothing is left out, so everything in the action figure world is looked at. Making things from scratch, alters and stripping other figures are used to tell the story. So if you ever see a pic of the Hulk wearing Fred Flinstone’s attire, Biggie’s Versace shades and Air Jordan 3’s unlaced leaning on a Magnum P.I. Ferrari talking to two Indian Barbies carrying Hermes Kelly bags, FFINC most likely had something to do with it.

Who’s your favorite figure?

Reggie: It’s always changing, right now I’m crushing hard on Bazooka Joe from the editorial “On Her Cycle” on the site. She’s the girl on the Schwinn named after the bubble gum character and Joe from the TV series Facts Of Life. For a long time it was H.P. from the editorial “Harry Potter” who worked magic in the culinary arts.

BK: I love them all but ‘Harry Potter’ is pretty insane.

Bazooka Joe on the right below, and You Know Who (Osama Big Ben Laden) as one of the rarest and most controversial figures on the left


Which figure do you see most of in yourself?

Reggie: His name is Nine Two and he’s still in development. He’s a collector of rare Polo by Ralph Lauren items that date between ‘87 and ‘94. I relate to his passion of collecting, he’ll stop at nothing to get it. He’s never satisfied but super meticulous about what’s in his collection. So it’s interesting that I collect him collecting.

BK – did Reggie model any figure after you?

BK: I don’t think so but if he did it would be one fucked up figure.

What was the most difficult aspect of putting this project together?

BK: Locations and the weather. The wind is hell in LA. Most people don’t even notice it but go try to balance an action figure with tiny rollerskates on a rooftop holding extremely sensitive small accessories like turntables and micro cigarettes. It was a nightmare at times. In fact it was so bad I gave up and didn’t shoot any of the Mancusso story. I think I snapped and Reggie had to finish it.

After working with Reggie, did you start adopting his Homeless Gangsta style? Are you wearing open-toed boots and Pikachu hats now too?

BK: Nah man. I don’t bite my friend’s style. I do need some style, yes, but I’m not about to rip off Reggie’s.

Which figure was the most difficult to put together? Was there a single item/accessory that took a lot of effort to create?

Reggie: I would say Bazooka Joe because of her combination. Her Fendi military boots were like surgery! The zucca print, paint, tape, etc. the time in making the boots look worn and battered left me worn and battered.

Mary Mary Y.U. Buggin$ reading the greatest website in the known universe

Was there any figure an homage to someone you know?

Reggie: Yes, the Franklin Di$k Darian figure from Go-Ill in the “Snow Beach: Cold Wave” editorial. The figure captures the Frank ice grill stare first and foremost, which is as classic as Ice Cube’s frown. Chicago has brutal winters but he remained to stay fresh in a city that tried to treat him and his comrades so cold.

Tell me a good story that happened at some point in the project, either while shooting or brainstorming.

BK: Reggie and I were shooting the Beat Street figure down in the LA subway. We kept trying to hide from the cops but ultimately they saw what we were doing and these 2 black cops came up to us and were pretty cool. They got it right away; they knew the movie and the characters. All was cool till their asshole dumbass white cop buddy came up to us and was totally ignorant of what the figure was all about. He was like’ Hey man is that the figure from 21 Jump Street?’. We all just looked at him and were like ‘shut the fuck up Donny your out of your element!’ It was just a funny moment in the subway with these 2 cool black cops, Reggie, and this retard with a badge.

Lastly, if you were lost in a supermarket, in what aisle would we find you?

Reggie: Where ever they keep the beef & broccoli.

BK: Do they sell porn in supermarkets?

Psssst…follow Lost In a Supermarket on Twitter or Facebook, and we’ll love you forever…

Franklin Di$k Darian and DJ Dave Mancuso


9 Responses to “The World’s First Action Figure Stylist”

  1. Lauren Switz says:

    My dad thought about buying one of those, but couldn’t find a great price for one. How much did you pay for that one?

  2. […] Game That I Can’t Win” (with Santigold). Directed by Spike Jonze and featuring a very Reggieknow-like cadre of zombie-killing action figures, the full-length video debuted this morning. The […]

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  8. […] serrated blade for cutting harder plastics, a saw for wood, and even a miniature comb for all your action figure grooming needs. But you know we’re feeling the bottle opener above and beyond all the rest — it’s […]

  9. […] on Monday. Until then, enjoy some of our awesome evergreen content like our features on Reggieknow, the World’s First Action Figure Stylist, and marathon swimmer Steve Redmond. Or even that time we drove Jaguar’s landmark F-Type […]

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