How creative collective ‘The Gang is Beautiful’ has taken Amsterdam by storm

Interview by Chloé Heyart - Photography by Andrea Amponsah

“The Gang is Beautiful is real, it’s raw. I don’t think a lot of people move the way we move,” says Foday about his Amsterdam-based collective. A statement that is undeniably reflected in the way that TGIB (for short) operates, both online, as well as in their home base, Studio Papa, where we sat down for a conversation with Foday, Ike and Yoeri. The space lives and breathes the TGIB aesthetic, blending cosy living room feels with creative atelier looks, filled with fabrics, reworked fashion and collector’s accessories. But this collective is so much more than its uniquely de-and-reconstructed pieces. “It’s a community, a lifestyle in all kinds of forms,” explains Foday. 

Born out of a need for connection, TGIB came to life during a time when we all felt the fallout of the pandemic. To resist this increasing rift, the friends turned brothers created a platform for people to come together again in the name of fashion, art, music and community. What started as a mantra among friends eventually shapeshifted into a movement that’s more than relevant, almost necessary, for current times where the collective consciousness is ever-shifting. Today, TGIB also doubles as a creative agency and is best known for its unmatched collection of thrifted fashion, its distinct approach to nightlife and events, and, above all else, its people. 

“I don’t think a lot of people move the way we move”

TGIB is clearly a family affair, seeing that the brotherhood between the three spearheads created its authentic foundation. “Ike and I have been like brothers since the day we met. I wear this ring he gave me 5-6 years ago every day,” says Yoeri, proudly pointing to the piece of jewellery on his finger. “Fo and Ike were very close, Ike and I were very close, and we were all around each other a lot,” he continues. “When Ike went to Aruba for a while, Foday and I were together one on one for a month. That’s when it clicked, we’re going to do this together.”

The evolution of TGIB and Ike’s very own OSSO archive, now operating under TGIB archive, also ran parallel for many years. Ike “started OSSO archive to curate and make art, to reconstruct and deconstruct.” During OSSO’s early days, he was already working closely alongside Foday, which explains why the recent unification of the two collectives under the same moniker happened in a “very organic way,” as the three of them put it. “I don’t think it’s the end of the story for OSSO though, it might pop up again in a few years, or next week, who knows. What matters is same team, same energy,” hints Ike. 

TGIB has always gone about its business in a dynamic and interdisciplinary way that gives everyone room to flourish. “It doesn’t happen very often that three superstars are capable of working together the way we do,” says Yoeri with a grin on his face, before continuing, “we work as a team and we know what everyone is capable of.” 

Many of the creatives they now work with started as spontaneous encounters formed in nightlife. “We meet a lot of people because of their energy without even knowing what they do. When you search each other up on social media you’re like ‘oh dope this person does this, we do this’, and the ideas start popping up.” shares Ike.  

“The community has our back and we got theirs”

Community and collaboration are some of the building blocks that make TGIB the force that it is. “Collabs really bring us to the next level, to a different stage. By tackling things together you generate new ideas, you build on each other,” says Foday while recounting some of their projects. This doesn’t take away from the fact that they also have to be selective. “We’ve definitely said no to certain projects in the past because it wasn’t the right time,” reveals Yoeri. 

Foday goes on to explain that, as a creative collective that also operates as an agency, many companies approach them as a bridge to certain groups and subcultures in Amsterdam and beyond. “Little do they know that it’s nothing new, we didn’t build some sort of bridge. These people have always been there, we have always been there,” he says. 

Big brands increasingly want to tap into certain communities, but they’re so far removed from them that they rely on creative agencies to do the translating. Instead of taking on the role of cultural translator, TGIB simply is the people, as their Instagram bio states. “We’re very big on bringing the community into new places and spaces that weren’t accessible before. The community has our back and we got theirs,” explains Yoeri.

It’s evident that TGIB is not just for show. “This is not an act, we actually live it,” says Ike, before continuing that they’re “not the kind of people who only dress up for a shoot or an event”. He believes that the way that TGIB moves through the world is a reflection of our inherent human nature: “people love being together, being part of a group and standing for something. I think that’s in our nature.” Foday agrees that this collective is an extension of its people’s roots: “Our background is built like that. You always move as a family.”

“We’re just busy building our empire”

With a crystal clear vision, TGIB is destined to last. “I’d love to see the next generation take over the mic and push things forward,” says Ike. “The way we work, the way we throw events, the way we dress, the way we are, it should all live on when we aren’t here anymore,” adds Yoeri. Inspired by their lived experiences and the people around them, they want to “leave behind a great legacy, a blueprint,” as Ike puts it. “I want to prove to that little boy who had a dream that it’s within reach. I’m going full force,” adds Foday, “Amsterdam is cute, but we’re talking about the entire world and the universe beyond. We’re just busy building our empire, respectfully.”

The trio encourages everyone to keep on dreaming big. While Yoeri talks about “the importance of removing yourself from environments where you’re not always capable of evolving the way you should evolve,” Ike asserts that there’s plenty of room for everybody to thrive. “Don’t be afraid to fail, there’s enough time. Life is long, not short,” he says. Foday preaches that we shouldn’t let the world drive us crazy, “if you have a goal, don’t let society’s obstacles get you off track.” 

While TGIB will continue to evolve, the captivating energy with which this collective shows up in the world will undoubtedly remain a constant. “It’s all about the way you carry yourself,” says Ike. Similarly, Foday affirms that it’s about “energy, feeling good in your own body, owning this world, and not letting anybody tell you what you can or can’t do.” One thing is certain, TGIB is here to stay and they’re just warming up, so brace yourself for what is yet to come.

In the meantime, keep an eye on The Gang Is Beautiful Instagram for their latest “denim on denim on denim, leather on leather” capsule collection. Every piece captures the raw TGIB essence and is wearable on the daily for both casual and elevated looks. Have a look at some of the unreleased pieces in the sneak peek below.