Yvan Rodic, ‘Face Hunter’ blogger and international fashion photographer, to visit UCLA
Shown is one of Yvan Rodick’s favorite photographs that he has taken. His fashion blog features a mix of couture and street fashions. FAST will host Rodic tonight for “Meeting the Face Hunter: An Interview with Yvan Rodic.”
courtesy of YVAN RODIC
By Tammy Lin
Nov. 9, 2010 1:20 a.m.
There is a new hunter coming to town, and no, he doesn’t hunt crocodiles.
Yvan Rodic, more commonly known as the Face Hunter, is an international fashion photographer, blogger and author.
The Face Hunter blog offers a mixture of couture coverage, such as Paris Fashion Week, and casual street styles from countries like Peru. By offering an international perspective, Rodic aims for a balance not defined by the traditional fashion capitals of Milan, Paris and New York.
Tonight, Fashion and Student Trends will host “Meeting the Face Hunter: An Interview with Yvan Rodic,” which is free to all UCLA students who would rather hear about fashion and blogging than watch Animal Planet. Taking place at 5:30 p.m. in the Ackerman second floor lounge, the event will consist of an interview panel and a Q&A session with Rodic himself, followed by a book signing.
Rodic’s work is dedicated to showcasing authentic styles and trends as he finds them on the street. However, Rodic said his true inspiration comes from the concept of faces. Beginning his career as a photographer, Rodic initially worked with headshots, emphasizing the personality of his subjects. While the concept has since evolved to include style and fashion, the originality of faces remains the inspiration behind the title of his blog and recent book, “Facehunter.”
“In the end, it is about the people more than just clothes. Style is a way for people to show who they are more than just an obsession for different collections,” Rodic said.
For students interested in the fashion industry, Rodic’s story can be a great source of education and inspiration. While breaking into the industry may be difficult for many aspiring fashionistas, Rodic said the fashion industry found him.
“I didn’t try to work in the fashion industry. It happened organically. I was doing my work on the streets mostly, and suddenly the media got interested in getting my view. Step by step, there were more brands and magazines that included me. The fashion world approached me more than (I went) after the business. It happened without any effort, really,” Rodic said.
With fashion no longer limited to magazine newsstands, blogging is a growing outlet for sharing trends.
“I think with technology going on today, blogging is very accessible. People all over the world can tune in at any time.
Fashion blogging is not just for people who can afford high fashion,” said Elizabeth Fong, a fourth-year economics student and FAST president.
According to Jason Smith, a third-year undeclared student and model director for FAST, blogging is also a gateway to portray individualism.
“I think the main reason why fashion blogging is so popular right now is because it’s so personalized and so individual. Everyone wants to give their point of view about fashion. I don’t have a blog now, but I’m going to start (a blog) as a way to brand myself,” Smith said.
Although there is no fashion major at UCLA and Rodic is not a professor, this event is a way for students to talk to a professional in the field and gain a deeper insight into fashion blogging.
“There is not a lot of opportunity for students to go deep inside blogging, so I want to give them the chance,” Rodic said. “Some people think blogging is shallow somehow, but I want to show that it is deeply changing our behaviors, the media, and how we perceive individuality.”
