The very place where I wanted to wear the RO Robot Jacket is the Bradbury building in downtown Los Angeles. It’s one of the notable locations where my favorite film Blade Runner was shot, set in the future Los Angeles 2019. Where would be a more perfect place to wear a “Robot Jacket” than the elegant structure where replicants reside. What are androids but superhumans—us exaggerated.

What we think is modern or futuristic is often traditional. When something looks “cool” it’s because it’s somewhat familiar to us but presented in a new way. The silhouette of the Robot Jacket is subconsciously embedded in our mind from different periods. The emphasis of the jacket is the pointy shoulders—the leather and neoprene molded to look like the spaulders of an armor. It can even be argued that they similar to the puff shoulders of the Victorian fashion which make a lady’s bodice look narrower, the armpit seams starting closer to the chest.

The movie came out in 1982, so the vision of the city was 37 years from then, but it’s now 2016. LA doesn’t look anything like in the movie, except for the actual building.

It was the first time I had visited the Bradbury building even if I had lived in LA most of my life. Entering it was like accessing a classic, timeless space. The interior is so elaborate with the wrought iron staircase and scrollwork decoration on the bricks. Almost every spot in the building is full of decorative details. The eyes flow from curlicue to curlicue. The building is decidedly sexy—the see-through effect of the black filigree against the pale brick walls. It’s like a woman with pale skin draped in black lace.

Such a place, you believe no one would dare tear it down because it’s so beautiful. You can believe it would be retrofitted 37 years from now. When something is very well-crafted, it ensures its survival—it becomes an heirloom, an antique, and ultimately a history.

The other day when I re-watched the film, I focused on the costumes and realized that the silhouette of the character Rachael’s power shoulder suit jacket is not unlike my RO Robot Jacket’s. And of course, what would a badass Roy would wear? A double breasted, high collar leather coat. You knew it had to be something in black leather.

I came here wearing the jacket to capture a moment where I’m posing to take off–from the past into the future.