Community Spotlight: Function, more than party
Before the pandemic hit and the world closed completely, weekends in cities all around the country were live. But specifically in Philadelphia, there was a party that was grabbing the attention of all demographics and bringing them together for one night - full of fun. Introducing Function, a platform built by creatives - that's bigger than just a party, it's a community.
We sat down with John, Dony, and Rob, the founders of Function, to talk about the party’s beginning, future plans, and put together a few fits from selected styles to wear to the event.
(Shot by Gabriel Rosario)
MORE THAN A PARTY, I ASSUME, FUNCTION IS A BRAND - DEFINE FUNCTION, WHAT IS IT?
R: It's hard to define our brand because we feel like we are constantly challenging ourselves and seeing how we can level up. In summary, we want to experiment with sounds and create a community that embraces self-expression.
J: Whatever walk of life you come from, Function is a safe place for those in search of a sanctuary to let the weight of the world off your shoulders and bond and connect with others.
D: The goal for everything conceptualized with Function is to have as much fun as possible, and that energy builds and grows throughout different groups of people in one central place.
HOW DID THE IDEA FOR FUNCTION COME ABOUT?
J: In 2017, Function was started by a group of friends who had a common goal to throw a party where we could vibe out with the homies.
D: We figured it's gotta have a name, ‘cause all good things are named, and after brainstorming 3-4 names, JB shot the name out Function. It came together as quickly as it's supposed to.
R: We wanted to curate an event where no one knew who was throwing it. The only reason you should be coming is to sweat and have fun.
J: We kept getting requests to continue throwing them, and with consistency, the party grew from being thrown in a speak-easy to some of Philadelphia's largest concert venues.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT COMING INTO A FUNCTION PARTY - WHAT ARE THE VIBES LIKE?
D: You can expect the time of your life moments you won't forget!
R: After all this time, we have never had an altercation at one of our events. Individuals come to show love and feel loved. If you aren't about that, this isn't the party for you.
J: The smiles and excitement from the party are addicting; Function would not be without everyone who attends the party. Every last person is responsible for the vibe that you feel when entering Function.
R: Also, get your best fit on! We might have the "best dressed" party in Philly ;)
HOW DO YOU FEEL FUNCTION CONTRIBUTES TO PHILADELPHIA? DOES IT FILL A VOID?
R: We wouldn't say we are filling a void per se but rather raising the bar for our community. There is something special about a party thrown with the curators not in the limelight. It feels more authentic, and we believe that is one of the most influential factors to our success. We work hard to create a platform that can be shared with other like-minded individuals in this amazing city.
J: Function brings a new form of excitement to Philly. We try to make each of our shows something to look forward to. By being so close to NY and DC, DJs and Entertainers don't always look at Philly as a place to stop by, but we try to put on for the city and bring those acts you would have to travel out of the city to see.
D: For Philly, Function is one of those things that just made sense and needed to happen. That's our motivation to keep it going. Sort of like, The party never ends type shit lol.
(Shot by Gabriel Rosario)
PHILADELPHIA IS A DIVERSE CITY - WITH DIFFERENT STYLES, CULTURES AND MORE. DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR AUDIENCE REFLECTS THE CITY’S MAKEUP, AND HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT TO YOU?
R: For sure! I think currently we attract creatives from all walks of life, and we love that.
J: Function is a very diverse party. It's been our goal to be as diverse as possible from the beginning. It's very important to us.
D: Hell yeah, it's super important! We embrace that the most. There's no dress code or specific demographic we're targeting. Everyone's always invited, and we want everyone from everywhere to pull up.
R: Seeing self-expression through dance and fashion from such a variety of people at our events makes all the hard work worth it! We love seeing new faces! We also don't want to pigeonhole ourselves into one demographic, so if you are reading this, pull up on us this Saturday, 9/4, and come find out for yourself! It's all love.
WE ASKED YOU TO PUT TOGETHER A FEW FITS FOR FUNCTION WITH SOME STYLES FROM THE SHOP. WHAT WENT INTO THE THOUGHT PROCESS OF THESE FITS AND WHY WERE THEY CHOSEN?
J: For me, I wanted to be comfortable. That was my main objective when I'm planning for Function. I know I'm going to be working, but I'm also trying to vibe out and dance with the homies when I can. When I'm shooting, I have to be comfortable to get that good angle, and If I'm DJing, I'm trying to stay cool. I needed a fit that would look good and have me covered for any potential situation. With the great selection at atmos, It's easy to grab some stylish pieces. The next part is just making sure I feel good about what I'm wearing. You have to be confident :)
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE FOR FUNCTION LOOK LIKE?
R: The sky's the limit.
D: Whatever the people make it. We are a collaborative, interactive art piece.
R: We are very, very interested in curating art shows that incorporate sound.
J: We are also trying to work on our community outreach by donating proceeds to schools for art programs and figuring out how to keep our audience engaged in their communities by making it easier to register to vote at every event.
R: We also love fashion so expect more exclusive merchandise from the Function Fam :)
If you’re in town this weekend, and want to vibe out - head to Function on Saturday, September 4, 2021. Click here to get tickets. All presale purchases enters you into a raffle to win a pair of 2-day passes to Made in America. Entries are over Friday (09/03/21) at 9PM. The winner will be announced at 11PM. Good luck!