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NBA Star Serge Ibaka Thinks Getting Dressed Is Art. These Five Fits Prove It.

serge ibaka
Five Fits With: NBA Star Serge IbakaChristopher Fenimore

If you’re an NBA fan, you know who this week’s subject is: Serge Ibaka. You’ve probably seen his YouTube show, How Hungry Are You? in which he—while donning chef whites—interviews star athletes and celebrities. If you haven’t seen it, well, get ready: Ibaka prepares a slew of questions spanning a wide range of topics in a relaxed and yet candid manner, injecting the show with his frank and sometimes deadpan sense of humor. Toward the end of each episode comes the pay-off. He feeds them something out of the ordinary, like fish sperm handroll, bull penis and testicle pizza, or goat brain and beer cheese soup. He also makes music, and, of course, is a massive fan of fashion.

Over the years shooting street style, I’ve seen more and more athletes heading to fashion shows, but I have to say, Ibaka was one of the earlier attendees I recognized. Below, Serge and I discuss his path to the NBA from the Congo, how and why he decided to start his Youtube show, Sapology and the Congo’s rich fashion history, Thom Browne, and more.

Fit One

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"I started to play basketball when I was seven in the Congo, playing in the street with my friends," Ibaka says. "The reason I fell in love with basketball was because my mom and my dad used to play, and so that’s how I started playing."Christopher Fenimore
serge ibaka
Christopher Fenimore
serge ibaka
Christopher Fenimore
serge ibaka

Talk to me about your upbringing and give me a rundown of how you made it to the NBA.

I started to play basketball when I was seven in the Congo, playing in the street with my friends. The reason I fell in love with basketball was because my mom and my dad used to play, and so that's how I started playing. Then from the Congo, I went to Spain to play. I was drafted there, and now I'm here in the NBA.

Why did you start your YouTube show, How Hungry Are You?

I always like to do videos and content. I was thinking about something I actually enjoying doing, and it's cooking. I said, "Okay, why not mix the idea of doing some content? And something I love to do is cook.” So I mixed them together to create something. I came up with the idea of not cooking normal things to create something more fun, more funny, that people can watch. There are already a lot of cooking shows out there. I was like, "Yeah, I'm going to create something different." That's how I came with How Hungry Are You? and those kinds of bizarre foods.

Fit Two

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serge ibaka
Christopher Fenimore
serge ibaka
Christopher Fenimore
serge ibaka
"I’m not dressing the same way now that I used to dress 10, 15 years ago" Ibaka says. "It’s normal. It’s age, taste…your style changes, too. And you try to adapt, but not to follow too much, with your own touch at the end, your own taste."Christopher Fenimore

Like bull penis. Do you remember the first moment you discovered or started appreciating fashion?

Well, I don't know if you are familiar with sapology. Ask anybody who knows fashion—sapology comes from the Congo. You remember Guinness did a commercial with some people from the Congo? It's Congolese people who dress nice. That's where I come from. So, I started being interested in fashion since I was young. It’s different when you depend on your parents and when you’re out on your own. You know what I'm saying? Where I come from, where we come from, that's what we do, man. We do fashion. We do art. You just look, but don't touch my clothes. You just look, appreciate my clothes, but don't touch.

Did you make an effort to be interested in fashion or did it just happen naturally?

It happened naturally—but of course with age, your taste changes. I'm not dressing the same way now that I used to dress 10, 15 years ago. It's normal. It's age, taste…your style changes, too. And you try to adapt, but not to follow too much, with your own touch at the end, your own taste.

Fit Three

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"Fashion is something fun for me," Ibaka says. "All my life I’ve been working hard. And you know, some people, they have nice cars. For me, it’s clothes."Christopher Fenimore
serge ibaka
"My advice for young athletes is just dress the way you feel," he explains. "At the end of the day, there are so many designers, and so many styles now—just dress the way you feel comfortable. If you’re enjoying it, that’s most important."Christopher Fenimore
serge ibaka
Christopher Fenimore
serge ibaka
"People may think I’m crazy or whatever, but in my mind when I dress, I’d say I’m doing art and that’s how I feel," he says. "Some people feel they drip. ’I’m dripping,’ or, ’I’m icy,’ like the other people say, ’Oh, swag.’ So, I say, ’Art.’"Christopher Fenimore

What does personal style mean to you?

Fashion is something fun for me. All my life I've been working hard. And you know, some people, they have nice cars. For me, it's clothes. It's one of my things. I can say it's not always perfect. You have to spend a lot of money. But I can do it because I work hard. Thank God. I can do it. So, it's my lifestyle. Fashion is my lifestyle. And culture is my lifestyle. I don't have so many lifestyles, or things I like to enjoy for fun.

Do you have any style rules or any advice for maybe younger athletes that want to dress better?

My advice for young athletes is just dress the way you feel. At the end of the day, there are so many designers, and so many styles now—just dress the way you feel comfortable. If you’re enjoying it, that's most important. When I get dressed, I don't tell myself, "Oh, I'm swagging." I'm not saying swagging is bad. Some people, they like to be swagged out, or drip. It is good for them mentally. You know what I'm saying? People may think I'm crazy or whatever, but in my mind when I dress, I'd say I'm doing art and that's how I feel. Some people feel they drip. "I'm dripping," or, "I'm icy," like the other people say, "Oh, swag." So, I say, “Art.” It is how you feel it. I think it's important.

Fit Four

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"It’s gotten better. Everybody’s interested," he says of NBA fashion. "When I started, the fashion, I remember, was old school. Then a new generation came in."Christopher Fenimore
serge ibaka
Christopher Fenimore
serge ibaka
"I go with Thom Browne because it’s how I like to dress," he says. "It’s not too much, but not too boring."Christopher Fenimore
serge ibaka
Christopher Fenimore

What do you think about NBA style? Has it changed since you started in the league?

It's gotten better. Everybody's interested. When I started, the fashion, I remember, was old school. Then a new generation came in. The NBA is a business, and fashion is a business. It's business and people make money, companies make money, the NBA makes money with it. You see them do collaborations with Louis Vuitton because of this.

Do you have any favorite designers or brands, and why?

One of my favorite designers is Thom Browne. I like Thom Browne because it fits me, because I'm tall. You know what I'm saying? Some designers, I like their style, but they just do not make my size. As much as you want to buy it, you want to have it, it's not your size. So, if I go with something, they have to make my size—for tall people, oversized. I go with Thom Browne because it's how I like to dress. It's not too much, but not too boring.

Fit Five

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When it comes to suits, Ibaka has one recommendation: Canada-based Empire Customs.Christopher Fenimore
serge ibaka
Christopher Fenimore
serge ibaka
Christopher Fenimore
serge ibaka
If he could wear just one outfit for the rest of his life? "I’ll go with a nice double-breasted suit with boots. That’s Congolese. That’s what we do. That’s what I call art," Ibaka says. "Super 200s, in all black, because you never go wrong with it."Christopher Fenimore

Looks good everywhere.

Everywhere. You can dress up, you can dress down, you can just chill. You can do whatever you want with Thom Browne. And I like Empire Customs. They make suits in Toronto; one of the best suits in Canada.

If you had to wear one outfit for the rest of your life, what would that be?

Man, I'll go with a nice double-breasted suit with boots. That's Congolese. That's what we do. That's what I call art. Super 200s, in all black, because you never go wrong with it.

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