Meet Aron, a free-spirited model with a classic Citta Gilera scooter and a somewhat chaotic mind.

We find Aron at home, reading ‘The subtle art of not giving a f*ck’ from author Mark Manson. The book resembles Aron’s way of thinking: cutting through the crap to show us how we can become happier people. We sit down with him to get a glimpse of some of his thoughts about style, transparency and the zeitgeist of our generation.

Tell us something about your background in modelling. Has this always been your ambition?

I dreamed about it as a young boy, but I never had the courage to pursue it. But then I got scouted on social media and that’s what kicked this whole thing off. Now I can definitely see a future for myself in the modelling industry, although I would rather fancy a managing function for the long term. The last one and a half year I worked at an agency in Ibiza where I coached the models and that was quite a pleasant experience. But I also witnessed all of the gossiping backstage and that made me wonder how everybody used to talk about me! Nevertheless, I’m just doing what comes naturally.

Like skateboarding?

Definitely! Skateboarding shaped my life. Back in the days, I was the typical street kid who hung out at abandoned buildings. Me and the crew, sometimes even up to thirty men, spent most of our childhood skateboarding, spraying graffiti or breaking into parking lots together. I have this one baby pink deck that blurs the line between a piece of art and a skateable deck to me, as it has the signature from American skateboarder Stefan Janoski on it. It would be a sin to ride that one.

Tell me about your connection to Unrecorded, how did you end up there?

A friend of mine, who’s a photographer, approached me for their first campaign. From the moment I saw it I was hooked. Unrecorded is minimal, clean and gangster. It has something extra to it. It’s modern and fresh but you can make it a bit tacky if you like; I always combine the basics with a golden necklace. Furthermore the collection has character, when I wear their gear I always get compliments about them, even about the simple tees!

So it’s fully in line with the way you dress yourself?

I try to tweak it with my own sense of style, which is quite chaotic actually. I envy people who dress themselves properly, with the perfect pleat in their trousers for example. You would never see me wearing one, when I get my laundry out of the washing machine it’s already a rumpled mess. And don’t even get me started on shoes... But don’t get me wrong, I do care about the way I look. A cool outfit for me is my blue overall and Dr Martins, it’s easy and timeless. When I’m abroad I can expect dirty looks or ugly comments, but in Amsterdam everyone is more open-minded. I can wear whatever I like, whenever I want.

If you were a piece of clothing, what would you be?

Definitely an XXL hoodie. I’ve always worn this classic wardrobe staple; when I went outside to skate, when I was sick at home or when I visited family. You don’t even have to wear any pants, your hoodie covers it all! But I have to admit, the moment you put your hoodie on, you start behaving like one. It isolates yourself from your environment and you stop communicating. Although that can be quite comfortable sometimes.

What will we be wearing in a couple of years different from now?

I don’t think there’s going to be a big change, it seems like fashion is dead. When you look back thirty to forty years ago, musicians like Prince, Queen and Bowie were rocking overly-dramatic looks. They pushed boundaries to the highest degree but where completely accepted. If you show their outfits to the teenagers of today, I think they would go nuts. They would find their outfits weird or too feminine. Today people start to look a-like just to fit in. It’s the end of fashion as we know it, especially in menswear.

What do you think is the most important thing a brand should have these days?

Next to their clothing, I think they should be socially responsible for their production. 2017 was a rich year of brand scandals, like the Zara employees who sewed desperate notes on clothing tags. Your PR can be as good as Zara’s, but you can never justify something like that. I wish brands were more transparent, that they give you insight into their production process. Unfortunately that’s not the status quo in the industry.

Having said that, do you try to have a positive impact yourself then?

Hell yeah! I bring all my worn-out clothes to a tailor. When I come back to pick it up, it’s totally customized with crazy pieces of fabric, golden stitches or new buttons. I do this to recycle my old clothing in a sustainable manner, but also because it’s cool to own something that expresses my individuality.

Aron’s selection of supreme skate spots:

1. Skatepark in Utrecht
2. Skatepark Real-X in Apeldoorn
3. Skatepark The canyon in Zutphen
4. Skate park Burnside in Deventer
5. Skate track at Bettekamp in Ede
6. All throughout Barcelona!

Interview: Marije Popping
Photography: Luca Halma