BEST FASHION DESIGNER

Cassette Playa

The way fashion designer Cassette Playa sees things, ravers are a clan just like the Aztecs or the Amazonians. "The whole basis of a rave culture is about losing yourself and becoming part of a tribe," says the twenty-seven-year-old London native, who has styled artists such as M.I.A. and Dizzee Rascal. With paw-print fabrics and evil-looking animal masks, Cassette Playa's fashions do have a certain wrath-of-Technocticlan vibe — the orange she uses was even inspired by Aztec art. But her signature Day-Glo colors and pixelated patterns are also tailor-made for London's music scene, where glowstick-waving artists like Klaxons and Shitdisco are bringing back warehouse parties and Nineties-inspired fashions. "I draw really heavily from ancient hunting rituals, but my collection was also inspired by Eighties and Nineties skate culture," she says. "I wanted to bring that ancient Shamanic vibe to the city today."

Born Carri Munden, Cassette Playa got her first big break when she was hired at Euphoria, a west-end clothing shop where M.I.A. also worked. "We were the only two weirdoes in the area, so we connected," Cassette Playa says. When M.I.A. needed a tracksuit for her "Galang" video, Cassette Playa designed it, and she went on to contribute artwork to the cover of M.I.A's album Kala. Since then, her pixilated prints and voluminous shapes have been seen on everyone from Klaxons to grime artists such as Ruff Sqwad and Afrikan Boy, and her glow-in-the-dark T-shirts are currently selling out in boutiques around London.

Next up, Cassette Playa will design a shoe for Nike, due out this summer. She's also preparing to release her next line, which is filled with references to YouTube, text messaging and circuit-bending. "I'm really into the idea of 'crossing over,'" she says. "In the Eighties, everyone was convinced that with virtual reality, no one would be able to realize the difference between reality and computer gaming. You can see that happening now, when people play World of Warcraft for hours and hours. My work is about that matrix: stepping into the gaming world with no way to get back out." MELISSA MAERZ

Check out photos from Cassette Playa's Spring/Summer 2008 fashion show

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