Victor Renna of Sickboyarchive
Wearing Acne Studios beanie, Balenciaga 7 layer parka and Moschino tee shirt.
What can you tell us about your upbringing?
I had an amazing childhood and am very thankful for the friends I made when I was younger that have still stuck with me till this day. They really helped shape me to the person I am today. Whether it be buying and looking at clothes together or just the way we talk and hang out with each other. There’s a lot of history there. I am also very thankful for my parents who are supportive of my somewhat unconventional lifestyle of basically being self-employed.
Wearing Acne Studios knitted hat, Balenciaga 7 layer parka, Moschino tee shirt, Final Homme pants and Ugg footwear.
You are the founder of Sickboyarchive and now it has grown to have a massive following. What was your initial goal or thought process when you started Sickboyarchive?
I didn’t really have a goal. I was pretty much brand new to Instagram. I was very late on the platform and was like I guess I should showcase some of my clothes.
Wearing Morocco hat, Vetements reversible bomber, Phenomenon hoodie, houndstooth scarf, custom airbrushed tee shirt, Balenciaga sweatpants and Ugg footwear.
Tell us where the name Sickboyarchive originated from?
It comes from the character Sickboy, from my favorite movie Trainspotting (1996). That shit is really the perfect movie from start to finish. The dialogue, cinematography and scoring. It's flawless.
A series of books and Sickboy portrait made entirely out of tape by Maltosis.
As a collector, what brands or designers do you find yourself gravitating towards?
Doublet, Y/Project, Rhinodickpill, Balenciaga, Vetements, Final Home, SR Studio, Phenomenon.
Various pieces in Renna’s private collection.
At what point in time did you feel Sickboyarchive started to take off?
Around 2018 was when Sickboyarchive really started to gain traction. I was really putting my all into it back then. It was very exciting to me at the time and I was new to Instagram so it was like a new hobby I picked up. Around that time I linked up with a lot of different figures in the fashion and music industry. It definitely led to a lot of cool experiences that I am grateful for.
What are some of your memorable moments while you were building your expansive collection?
Going to Tokyo! I didn’t really go there for business, more so just as a vacation. But I ended up doing some personal shopping for Charli XCX and the Migos when I was there. I really love it there and I’m going back with my homies in a few months.
Sterling Ruby (S.R. Studio) large tote bags.
What are some pieces you never see yourself letting go and why?
There’s a lot of them and they’re really random. My Dolce [& Gabbana] Bear backpacks, my Ne-Net backpack and earmuffs, random things I’ve acquired in other countries such as Final Home Survival pieces, gifts from my friends, etc.
Various pieces in Renna’s private collection ranging from Dolce & Gabbana, Final Homme and Ne-Net.
Wearing Morocco hat, custom airbrushed tee shirt, Rhinodickpill emoji chains, houndstooth scarf and Phenomenon hoodie.
As an entrepreneur, was there a time you faced challenging experiences?
“One thing I would do is take more risks.”
Facing and conquering challenges is one of the best things you can go through to grow as a person. I am a naturally risk averse person, which I view as a blessing and a curse. This new project I’m working on with one of my best friends Chris (Chrisp3o) is a brand called @rhinodickpill. It’s pretty much my first run around dealing with manufacturers and various other factories to make a complete product. There were a lot of prototypes, samples, design, packaging design and sticker design work that went into the final product. I didn’t want it to be a pre-order type of ordeal so I fronted the money to have all the products in hand and be able to ship out the next day when we launched. It has been a rather long process and there were a lot of small challenges over that period but I am glad we got to the point we’re at today and I’m really excited to have my friends in something we’ve (Chris and I) made.
Wearing Vivienne Westwood hat with various pins, Moschino polo, thermal, Rhinodickpill emoji chains and Ne-Net backpack.
What are some tips and advice would you give someone that wants to start a business like yours or another?
You have to find a sweet spot between being different and being true to yourself. It comes more naturally to some than others, but I think if you meet both of those points people will recognize you for it.
Wearing Morocco hat, Vetements reversible bomber, Phenomenon hoodie houndstooth scarf, custom airbrushed tee shirt and Balenciaga sweatpants.
What can we expect from Sickboyarchive or any further projects in the future?
Rhinodickpill that’s all imma say. Lock in…
Keep up with Victor here and Sickboyarchive here
Words: Mitchell Louis and Victor Renna
Photo: Jayshawn Johnson
Direction: Mitchell Louis
