No Vacancy Inn x Ray-Ban Embrace the Concept of Being Proud to Belong
Written by SOURCE on July 1, 2019
This interview is part of Ray-Ban’s #PROUDTOBELONG campaign, which celebrates shared moments of connection.
No Vacancy Inn is the portrait of a tribe. Founded in 2015 by style purveyor Tremaine Emory and legendary DJ Acyde, the collective—which now also includes music and fashion arbiter Brock Korsack—highlights the need to own one’s authenticity while simultaneously maintaining a sense of belonging to something much bigger.
I’m proud of NVI, the cultural institution I’ve now created with my friends, and grateful I get to be a part of the nucleus that is culture right now. —Tremaine Emory
In 2010, Acyde, a former marketing manager, met social director Tremaine in London. Instantly, the two bonded over their shared taste in culture. By 2015, because of a mutual desire to make cultural knowledge accessible, the pair started No Vacancy Inn [NVI]. The name was inspired by the idea of hotels being hubs for connection, because every time you check into one there’s always an opportunity to meet someone who might take you on a new journey. Whether that’s an insightful conversation or a path to an unexplored place, you hold on to these moments and they shape you. In that regard, No Vacancy Inn represents a hotel of minds, an ephemeral creative exchange of ideas. NVI brings that philosophy to life through a series of podcasts, DJ sets, interview chats, parties, events, and apparel featuring concepts and influencers from forgotten times, as well as new ones from the current era.
In between their busy lifestyles pursuing their passions, Tremaine and Acyde found time to chat with us at the PleaseAndThankYou store, a vintage shop in Los Angeles where they source materials for collections. The OGs shared their vision for their roving family called NVI.
Walking in the room decked in a colorful shirt and a fresh pair of Ray-Ban shades, Tremaine is cool and reserved, but approachable. He tells us about the days when he used to hang out with key personalities at Union Los Angeles. After receiving his first T-shirt and an invitation to keep coming back, Tremaine recalls, “It was my first little tribe outside of my family. That’s why I’m proud of NVI, the cultural institution I’ve now created with my friends, and grateful I get to be a part of the nucleus that is culture right now. The [point] of NVI is to use our influence to inspire purpose.”
Carrying the vibes of a godfather, Acyde sets the mood for the day by spinning a few tracks. Between sets he tells Complex he’s most proud NVI allows him to keep doing what he loves. “As kids, we used to know these cool guys and cool girls—skaters, musicians, artists…” he begins. “One day you bump into them, and they got a job that’s like super normal, and boring. Why would you be creative when you’re young and then someday become a version of your parents? Where do you draw the line? NVI has allowed us to not do that. It’s not about being young forever. We’ve never given up on our hope, dreams, or desires because we became adults. If anything, we’ve enlarged them. We’re living our dreams.”
Seeing NVI’s influence on younger generations is one of their biggest joys. “We hope that whatever people see in us, they see in themselves, and they can do what we do in their own way,” Acyde adds.
Finding a path to belonging is important for NVI’s founders. The collective represents a chosen family for Tremaine, Acyde, and Brock, a common safety net to navigate life, educate each other, and share creative visions.
We’ve never given up on our hope, dreams, or desires because we became adults. If anything, we’ve enlarged them. We’re living our dreams. —dj acyde
“The people you start with, collectively, if they’re all on their own journey, and you’re doing it together, the end result is always magnificent, in my opinion,” Acyde says. “Whereas, when you end up breaking up, there’s always going to be that moment where, even with all the success and achievement in the world, you’re sharing it with strangers. And that sucks, to be honest with you.”
The true kinship between Tremaine and Acyde is evident as they review a set of vintage crewnecks for their next capsule collection. Although the creatives never meant for NVI to be just a clothing label, they do believe in fashion as a vessel to carry ideas. Stay tuned for No Vacancy Inn’s next clothing drop and be sure to shop the #ProudtoBelong Ray-Ban lineup available now on the brand’s web shop.
