Blondita Shop Dives Into a Nostalgic Dreamscape

Co-founder of OGBFF, Angela Ruis, is chronically online herself, which is how she helped develop an array of outrageously laugh-out-loud, yet ultimately relatable, upcycled and handmade apparel. But after the label took our Instagram feeds and every sartorial tastemaker's closet by storm, Ruis decided to return to another form of inspiration through her own brainchild and online retail space, Blondita Sho p.

“I started Blondita Shop before OGBFF. I had been printing and hand-making clothes under the brand for a few years before OGBFF’s inception. As I'm starting Blondita back up again, a lot of people think I'm just starting this brand for the first time, but actually, I had neglected her for the past 3 years to focus on OGBFFs skyrocket! Now that OGBFF feels like a teenager, I'm back to focusing on my baby again,” she explains.

Through Blondita Shop, Ruis wanted to explore not only internet culture, but the ways that it intertwines with the notion of nostalgia. Ruis dives into a nostalgic dreamscape headfirst by employing deadstock materials, working her magic, and reworking them into it-girl-certified pieces. Ruis currently sells her one-of-a-kind pieces online and in New York’s eclectic Café Forgot, from mini skirts transformed from 1970s bedsheets and garter belts to DIY hand-printed tanks.

“I've always been drawn to nostalgia, and I'm constantly romanticizing the past,” Ruis reflects, “I grew up in a very Italian American household, and my grandfather on my mom’s side lived through the Great Depression. So growing up my mom had always held onto every little thing, and I was raised with that same mentality of holding special memories close. (This is me describing hoarding in a really cute way)"

The DIY designer and queen of nostalgia’s most recent iconic design is her New Hollywood belly-piercing tote bag, which truly encapsulates the Y2K phenomenon that we all can’t get enough of. Ruis hand-pierces every bag with a custom belly ring as well — I mean, why not accessorize your accessories, right? Continuing her bold, hyper-feminine vision, Blondita’s most recent iconic design is the New Hollywood belly-piercing tote bag, which truly encapsulates the Y2K phenomenon that we all can’t get enough of. Ruis hand-pierces every bag with a custom belly ring as well — I mean, why not accessorize your accessories, right? — and she has additional plans to continue injecting fashion with more fun. “Moving forward I'm still exploring the same shape of the previous garter skirt, but evolving it into a skort, and producing them with different fabrics. Blondita is going in a very cut-and-sew direction and I'm really excited to start exploring this side of my creativity more with the brand."

Fashion

Timberland and Veneda Carter Reimagine Classics with Bold Metallics

November 23, 2024

Veneda Carter teams up with Timberland once again, bringing a fresh edge to archival designs in their latest capsule collection. Highlight pieces include towering lace-up boots in electric blue and silver, alongside a sleek reinvention of Timberland’s iconic 6-Inch boot, both crafted with patent leather and recycled materials.

The collection also introduces rugged, versatile outerwear like oversized parkas, utility vests, and a statement boiler suit, all built for layering and durability. Inspired by industrial design and early 2000s fashion, Carter infuses each piece with a contemporary energy that feels both striking and wearable.

The collection is now available and can be found at flagship Timberland stores, online, and select retailers worldwide..

By Enzo Holdt
Photography courtesy of Timberland

Fashion

ECCO.kollektive collaborates with Louis-Gabriel Nouchi

November 21, 2024

ECCO.kollektive has teamed up with Paris-based designer Louis-Gabriel Nouchi for a bold and innovative Spring/Summer 2025 collection. Known for his thoughtful exploration of masculinity and storytelling in fashion, Nouchi brings his unique perspective to this collaboration, blending his modern aesthetic with ECCO’s skill in craftsmanship and material innovation.

The collection features a range of footwear, clothing, and accessories, each designed with attention to detail. The collection uses a mix of black, deep red, and pearl white. Sensual touches, like Nouchi’s signature slits, combine with structured tailoring and flowing shapes, showing how the designer blends bold and refined styles.

We spoke with Louis-Gabriel Nouchi about the collection and his inspiration. From the textures of the human body to his love for stretch leather, Nouchi shared how the collaboration allowed to experiment with new ideas.

By Enzo Holdt
Photography by courtesy of ECCO.kollektive x LGN

The collection debuted at Paris Fashion Week and draws inspiration from the textures of the human body. “The idea came from the textures of skin,” Nouchi explains. “I wanted to create something sensual and fluid, using leather in a way that felt both strong and soft. Leather has this amazing quality—it can feel like armor, but also like a second skin.”

Nouchi worked closely with ECCO to develop designs that showcase the versatility of their materials. High-shine biker nappa leather with a waxy finish appears in tailored separates like a single-breasted blazer, trousers, and long-line shorts. For a more experimental edge, he created a column dress and a pencil skirt using strips of leather embroidered onto stretchy tulle—a design he says was inspired by his younger self. “When I was young, I was obsessed with stretch leather because of designers like Jean-Claude Jitrois. It’s something I wanted to explore and bring into this collection, almost like fulfilling a dream for my past self.”

Footwear is another major highlight, featuring Derby shoes, Helsinki loafers, and the standout Truck Lace loafer with a bold platform. The shoe’s futuristic design draws from Nouchi’s fascination with brutalism and technology. “It might be a bit controversial,” he says, laughing, “but I really like the Tesla Cybertruck. The sharp, angular lines and futuristic look combined with that raw, brutalist vibe—it’s something that resonates with me. The platform on the Truck Lace loafer feels like a nod to that kind of design.”

Another unique detail is the inclusion of removable coins on some of the shoes, adding a playful yet personal touch. “You can take the coins off—it becomes almost like a lucky charm,” Nouchi says. “It’s one of those small details that make the pieces feel more connected to the wearer.”

Louis-Gabriel Nouchi’s signature slit motif, which adds subtle hints of reveal and concealment, runs throughout the collection. “The slit is about teasing the eye,” he explains. “It’s never about revealing too much—it’s about creating tension, a little mystery.” This motif appears on everything from loafers to hems, blending seamlessly with the collection's sensual yet structured aesthetic.

When asked about the versatility of his designs, Nouchi emphasizes their adaptability to different occasions. “You can wear these pieces in super casual situations on the street, looking super chic at night—super sexy,” he says. “From one garment, you can style it in so many ways during the day. For example, the tank top—you can wear it with pants, or without. It’s super hot, super cool, and it works for so many moments.”

For Nouchi, the collaboration with ECCO was as much about innovation as it was about creative freedom. “There are no limits with ECCO,” he says. “As a designer obsessed with materials, having the freedom to push development this far was an amazing opportunity. Fashion, for me, is like a laboratory. It’s about testing ideas and seeing how far we can take them.”

The ECCO.kollektive x Louis-Gabriel Nouchi collection is available now, combining high-quality craftsmanship with bold, modern design that showcases Nouchi’s vision and ECCO’s craftsmanship.