FIGHTING BACK
Photographer: Taz Darling
Photographic assistant: Daragh Houlihan
Stylist: Aldene Johnson
Stylist’S Assistant: Denise Dunstan
Hair: Terrence Wilson for Desmond Murray Hairdressing
Make-up: Terrence Wilson using Sebastian Trucco
Hair & Make-up assistant: Jessica Lawrence

Girls Against Crime Kartel is a group of young women based in South London who organise self-defence classes, focus groups and anti-crime initiatives in and around their manor.

Formed in 2002 by best friends Michelle Phillips and Cass Mothersbaugh, the group was born out of frustration with the local police’s inability to deal with crimes against women, including muggings down dark alleyways, sexual offences like flashing and graffiti using derogratory words about women.

“We train girls in self defence, foreign languages and map reading,” said Michelle. “We have an incident room in my flat in Southwark and it’s from there that we conduct our operations. Recently we’ve started to hang out in gangs of four or five around crime hotspots in an effort to deter would-be criminals from doing their business.

“We’ve been called vigilantes by the local papers. Personally I’m pretty comfortable with that title. We’re heading into such a lawless society that somebody has to do something about it.”

Jacket by Goldigga, Vest by Nike, T-shirt by Duck Cover, Bottoms by Nike

Jess, 1st girl: Jacket by Mavi, Top by Russell Athletic, Jeans by Grab, Shoes by PF Flyers, Necklace by Horace, Cap by New Era 59Fifty Cayetana, 2nd girl: Jacket by Adidas, Top by Carhartt, Jeans by Lee, Shoes by Adidas, Cap by New Era 59Fifty Denise, 3rd girl: Jacket by Etnies, Top by Russell Athletic, Jeans by Gstar, Shoes by Converse, Cap by New Era

Felicity, 4th girl: Jacket by Fly53, Top by Russell Athletic, Jeans by Wrangler, Shoes by Adidas, Cap by New Era Naoko, 5th girl: Jacket by Carhartt, Hoody by Addict, Top by USA PRO, Jeans by Carhartt, Shoes by Gola, Cap by New Era

Cayetana: Tracksuit by Adidas, Top by Michiko Koshino, Shoes by Adidas, Necklace by Horace. Denise: Tracksuit by Adidas, Top by APC, Shoes by Adidas, Necklace by Horace, Bracelet by Horace. Felicity: Tracksuit by Adidas, Top by Grab, Shoes by Adidas, Necklace by Horace

Track top by Addict, Top by Element, Jeans by beyouk, Shoes by Gola

Naoko: T-shirt by APC, Shoes by Cushie

Cayetana: Top by Goldigga, Bottoms by Franklin & Marshall, Shoes by Kickers Naoko: Jacket by Addict, Hoody by Fake London, Shoes by PF Flyers

Felicity: Top by Nike, Jacket by Urban Stone, Jeans by Michiko Koshino, Key Chain by Firetrapp, Jewellery stylist’s own

Jacket by Goldigga, Vest by Nike, T-shirt by Duck Cover, Bottoms by Nike

Denise: Vest by RBK, Shorts by RBK. Cayetana: Vest by RBK, Jeans by Edwin Jeans. Naoko:Top by RBK, Jeans by beyouk