Experiences and legacy: the 10 years of VERSUS

What started as a friendship between seven young Black individuals in the North Zone of São Paulo turned into a movement, a reference, and fuel for an entire generation. In a powerful conversation with VERSUS, we revisit the organic origins of the collective, its inspirations that range from A$AP Mob to Virgil Abloh, and the impact of truthfully occupying spaces that have historically been elitist.

From Tumblr to parties full of identity, VERSUS is about seeing oneself in others, about shared self-esteem, about transforming experiences into legacy. We talked about dreams, learning, the future, and what to expect from the celebration of a decade — which promises to be yet another love letter to the Black, young, and creative community. Check out the article below.

• How did the idea of creating Versus come about? What was the turning point that made you bring the project to the streets?

Everyone who asks this is surprised when we say that Versus emerged naturally, and it wasn’t something premeditated. It is the result of a friendship among several young people who breathed the same energy and shared the same creative sense, the same customs, the same experiences, the same ideology, and the same ideals.

Thiago and Jorge, for example, met in school and only later discovered they lived in nearby neighborhoods in the North Zone of São Paulo. The street was our first showcase, accompanied, of course, by the advent of the internet, which gained significant strength in our generation. We used social media platforms like Tumblr and Instagram to share records of our experiences, based on our way of thinking, dressing, and acting. And before we knew it, we were already seven young Black individuals cruising the streets of downtown São Paulo.

That was very strong, because together, we were able to assert ourselves and access spaces that, alone, might not have been possible. And everything was very organic. Naturally, people began to recognize that group as a collective movement, because we embodied many virtues: everyone was, in some way, interested in fashion, music, and various other artistic platforms, with references and knowledge that were very immersive and ahead of their time, especially for 2015.

And more than anything, our existence, in our way of being and asserting ourselves, greatly elevated the self-esteem of our peers. Because seeing us occupying historically elitist spaces, creating and being a reference, with truth and connection, generated identification and made other young people not only see themselves in us but also feel part of the whole movement, and especially feel capable of doing the same. Unknowingly, we were planting a seed of self-esteem in an entire generation.

In fact, it is from this greatness that the name VERSUS emerges, which means to be and stand in opposition to all this elitist artistic and cultural movement that oppresses Black youth from the neighborhoods, while draining their energy, their aesthetics, and their creative potential.

• Who were the people or movements that inspired you the most in the beginning?

Versus emerged breathing art from all sides. We remember as if it were yesterday, spending hours and even days discussing music, fashion, art, and behavior… From listening to and analyzing the sounds of rappers we enjoyed at the time, such as Skepta, Tyler, Kanye West, Young Thug, Playboi Carti, Kendrick Lamar… while we deeply admired the work of artists like Basquiat, Dapper Dan, Keith Haring… names that, each in their way, transformed culture from the streets, with their experiences and aesthetic boldness.

Not to mention that we would always hang out at Guadalupe just to exchange ideas about the creations of Virgil Abloh, Raf Simons, Rick Owens, James Jebbia, Shawn Stussy… We spent hours analyzing model by model, fabric by fabric, material by material, even without a penny in our pockets to buy anything. But knowledge was what mattered. The exchange was everything.

But if we have to cite a direct reference of what Versus drew inspiration from, especially in its early days, we definitely cannot fail to mention A$AP Mob. It was a collective that connected with us on several layers: the sense of aesthetics, behavior, style of dressing, creative freedom, and primarily the spirit of collectivity, where everyone pushed each other up. There was something very genuine in that movement. A group of young Black people taking fashion, art, and music with authenticity, "with both feet in the door," without asking for permission. It was exactly what we were doing here in São Paulo.

• If you could summarize the spirit of Versus in a sentence at the beginning, what would it be?

When we read this question, a sentence a friend of ours once said automatically comes to mind, and we later discovered it was actually an African proverb. The sentence was:

"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."

This has always struck a chord with us. Because it perfectly translates what was, and what still is, the spirit of Versus. That sense of collectivity, which moves us to the point that we not only walk together but strengthen all of our peers. That’s what has driven us for 10 years. It has never been about rising alone; it has always been about everyone pulling each other up, being together, and dreaming big as a group.

• Over these 10 years, what have been the greatest collective and individual learnings?

Understanding the power of community as part of building legacy is the greatest collective learning. VERSUS had a moment of hiatus for various reasons but mainly due to the pandemic, but being at events and seeing how important it is for people to be present even after that gives us the assurance that some things are built in a lasting way. Individually, I think it is understanding how the movements made in adolescence can place you in a space of recognition and relevance, even if within a bubble. In addition to showing that that so-called networking is much about affection, beyond what the other can give in return.

• Do you feel that the initial mission has changed or expanded along the way?

The essence is always the same, but we believe that everything improves and we refine it over time. Before, everything was very organic, and we hardly imagined that the experiences we collected together could influence and shape a scene, but as time went by and maturity came, we began to truly choose our purposes and understand our role. Today, Versus is a creative hub focused on developing products that are more than just projects; they are experiences for our community, which is Black, young, and often in need of familiar spaces where we can feel like ourselves. The idea is more than just representation in a scenario; it is actually showing the power of our own when developed from start to finish by ourselves.

• What was the moment when you realized that Versus had really become a consolidated movement?

It was when we started to see ourselves in others. When young people with the same daily lives, the same experiences, and sometimes those who even went to the same parties said they felt represented by our existence, by our way of dressing, speaking, and our ideals. From this, we realized that what we were doing, naturally, was generating real identification and inspiring other people to express themselves with freedom and pride.

VERSUS became something consolidated when it stopped being just about us and started being about everyone who saw themselves in it.

• How do you see the role of Versus in the current scene of São Paulo?

VERSUS was born at a time when collectives, companies, and movements were happening throughout the city of São Paulo simultaneously, independently, but always looking at culture as the central point of the entire narrative. Whether due to the need to create spaces for Black people, going against elitist spaces, as we have said, but these movements have been created and consolidated as the creative market we have today, for example. VERSUS comes very much from this place of collectivity, self-expression, and also placing happiness and entertainment as a way of combating the system that we live in. Today we have young people using the internet to bring issues to light and express themselves in ways that they find comfortable, reclaiming this narrative for themselves; we believe that this is our greatest role today.

• What are your biggest ambitions for the next few years?

VERSUS has always been driven by purpose, not by trend. Therefore, our ambitions for the future are much more linked to the impact we want to generate than to the reach per se. We want to continue creating narratives and experiences that strengthen the sense of identity, belonging, and self-esteem of our peers. However, we believe that more than just occupying space, our focus for the next decade of Versus is to structure pathways. We want to transform all the knowledge we have accumulated over the years into something that surpasses the present. That’s why one of our main goals is to create educational projects that are accessible, formative, and genuinely transformative. We want to share knowledge generously and strategically, helping to train other creatives with more autonomy, repertoire, and self-awareness.

At the same time, we continue to work to expand our actions with consistency and truth. This involves carrying out authorial projects on a larger scale, collaborating with brands and institutions that share our vision, and creating our own distribution platforms. Always with the same commitment that has driven us since the beginning: to build a collective, powerful, and possible future.

• What do you want Black youth to feel when they connect with Versus?

We want Black youth to feel at home. To feel pride, inspiration, comfort, and belonging. To see in Versus a space where their existence is celebrated, their identity is validated, and their dreams are possible. If upon connecting with us they feel like smiling, creating, or simply being, then the mission is fulfilled.

• What can the audience expect from this 10-year celebration? Any spoilers?

All Versus events come from a very familiar place. Beyond ensuring that friends, family, and the community built over the past 10 years are present, our goal is to make those coming for the first time feel part of this, like that cousin who is being introduced to the family, you know? We always look for comfort and, above all, putting culture and entertainment at the center of everything. We say that our parties are a space to enjoy, beyond just posing. Dancing, talking, reconnecting with friends who we haven’t seen in a while due to the rush, flirting, feeling comfortable without worrying about what others will think. On the 25th, our goal remains this, bringing a stellar lineup that we have admired and followed for a long time, fostering the DJ scene which today is, more than ever, getting hotter.