Rapolas proves that the beanie is out of fashion

Rapolas (24) is sitting in Polak, working on the final mix of his new song. It’s called Tramvajus, Lithuanian for tram. He sings about a journey with an unknown destination. With his warm voice, gentle acoustic guitar, and soft drumbeats, it has a touch of a children’s song.

Rapolas is wearing a red flannel jacket and a white T-shirt. A scarf is tied around his head, under his chin and over his hair. The scarf, which he got from Morocco, has a burgundy pattern that contrasts with his sea-blue eyes. “I love the colour.” The scarf has been his signature look for years: “I prefer not to wear a beanie because it doesn’t suit me very well.” He laughs, reconsiders for a moment, and scratches his short beard.

Next to his laptop sits an empty jam jar with a lid that has the same pattern as his jacket. He uses it as both a water bottle and a coffee cup because the glass contains ‘no microplastics, which makes it more eco-friendly’.

Like the jar, almost all his clothes are second-hand. They’re made of durable fabrics that have softened over time. “When you wear jeans, they gradually become more vintage. They get that retro look I love.” He combines these fabrics with classic elements like a sharp-collared shirt or lace-up boots. “I look like a classic vintage lumberjack”, he jokes.

As a teenager, things were very different – back then, he was a ‘hypebeast’ with a sneaker collection, always keeping up with the latest fashion trends. “Now I’m freer with my style.” Before starting his bachelor’s in Arts and Culture Studies, he travelled for a year, an experience that left a deep impression on him. “When you travel, you see so much that you realise the things you once believed in aren’t necessarily true.” He pauses, tugging at his beard again. “That applies not just to my style but also to society’s expectations. I want to be brave enough to choose my own story.”