MEET RIKESH CHAUHAN
Welcome back to our 'MEET' series, where you can meet members of the Other Box community and other inspiring individuals making moves in their respective industries. We will spotlight their diverse talents, unique perspectives, and innovative contributions to the industry.
So, without further ado…
MEET RIKESH
A Gujarati/Indian singer, writer, luxury menswear photographer, menswear writer and columnist and editor from Luton.
How do you describe yourself?
I'm a multi-hyphenate driven by new ideas, challenges and a desire to create cool shit. I am a singer/writer, luxury menswear photographer, menswear writer and columnist, and I am also the editor of The Accessible Magazine, a photojournalism print magazine that specialises in stories you don't always hear about, let alone see.
How did you get started?
I studied Performance Arts in High School and Commercial Music at university. I started DJing and performing when I was 14, so it was natural to be in front of the camera. I started going behind the lens in my early 20s, having started working for a creative agency in East London and enjoyed it a lot more than I thought. From then on, I progressed to Senior Creative before deciding to go in-house at a bespoke shirtmaker in London as their photographer, copywriter, and social media manager. That role continued at The Rake Magazine before I went freelance in 2021.
How do you / your work support and celebrate underrepresented people?
Where possible, I try to hire people of colour who are often incredibly talented but don't get the same opportunities as others. While the industry I am in is one of the best in the world, POC is — typically, and unfortunately — wildly underrepresented. I bring in my network wherever possible, as well as programmes such as the Alice Made This Youth Programme, and previously as a Mentor for the University of Westminster. In terms of the magazine, we tell stories from people that are doing incredible things that you don't often hear about. Be it tailors of colour, to general stories from people doing incredibly interesting and different things - such as becoming a helicopter pilot!
How do you Make Space For Difference?
I know there are only so many stories I can tell from my perspective, and as an editor, I need to continue to evolve and learn beyond my comfort zone. I also need to bring in people I know who can tell their stories better than I could. The aim is to grow the magazine and allow voices and creativity to be amplified.
Who/What inspires your work?
My friends, my partner, my daughter.
What can we expect from you in the coming months?
Issue 2 of the magazine has just gone live. We've got a few more parties and an exhibition around that, before we finalise everything for Issue 3 in June 2025. Photography-wise, I've just done a few incredible brand campaigns both in the UK and abroad, which will be released soon. Music-wise, having just released an EP earlier this year, I'm heading back to the studio to re-record an R&B album I started working on over ten years ago.
What is your favourite quote that sums up your philosophy on life?
"A man should look as if he had bought his clothes with intelligence, put them on with care, and then forgotten all about them." - Hardy Amies.
Describe yourself in 3 words:
Creative, meticulous, honest
Where can people find you?
You can find Rikesh @RKZUK on all social platforms and @rkz.uk on TikTok as well as on his website www.RKZUK.com.
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