CODE 02: Life is Death is Life, "Reality's Organs"

July 06, 2023

All things come from the same source, the moment in-between in which nothingness is replaced by substance. Marie Berger and Stephanie Perez, co-creative directors of CODE Magazine share this understanding. Together they've compiled CODE, a collection of artist’s images, fashion editorials, interviews, and other raw explorations of the liminal spaces between one death and another life.

Ahead of their NY launch party for CODE 02 at M 2 3, we sat down with the two creators for an exclusive look at one of their cover stories in their latest print issue.

Interview by Sahir Ahmed
Photographer + co-director Neva Wireko
Stylist + co-director Stephanie Perez
Models, Sydney - muse models, Alex - New York Models
Makeup Jezz Hill
Hair Luisa Popovic
Fashion Assistants Kellen, Maya Davila
Photo assistants Isobel Rae
Executive producer Maylin Legoff, Aries Rising Projects
Producer @nconvrt

How did CODE come to be?

Marie Berger— I started the project while I was living in Shanghai. Then during Covid I relocated to Berlin and a mutual friend introduced Stephanie and I. We immediately connected and started working on the second issue together.

What is the narrative arc of the cover story?

Stephanie Perez— The cover story’s conceptual aim is to resemble reality and how the wider universe mirrors the organs and cellular patterns inside of our bodies. We focused on macro shots of the models and coordinated them with the looks and set design. For example we used climbing ropes hooked on to the model to visually represent the image of blood vessels in her eye, which we used as our cover image.

What about the significance of the mantra "life is death is life"?

This issue is all about the interconnectedness of all living and nonliving things. How they depend on each other and cannot exist without the other. For Stephanie and me personally it was a means of rebirth. Letting something old go so it can make space for something new.

Does it relate to the space between nature and technology?

One of the magazine's missions is to explore the links between spirituality and science which could be represented through nature and technology. In the most recent issue we have features with CERN (The European Organization for Nuclear Research), focusing on their art programs and residencies, Tianzhuo Chen on Tibetan Buddhism and Kevin Bray on multimedia ai generated art.

How important was an in-person release to you?

We want to expand our community and celebrate with our contributors through the events. We produced a lot of this issue in Berlin and NYC. It's been really rewarding to connect with a new community through the project and see all the exciting ideas coming up since the release. We want to continue throwing events and explore different formats that CODE could operate in. We aim to create spaces for people that are interested in these topics and we'd like to do more than parties, but also seminars, readings etc.

This issue is all about the interconnectedness of all living and nonliving things. How they depend on each other and cannot exist without the other.

Fashion

The Intersection of Craftsmanship and Sensuality: Louis-Gabriel Nouchi x ECCO.kollektive

November 20, 2024

ECCO.kollektive has partnered with French designer Louis-Gabriel Nouchi for the Spring/Summer 2025 collection, which showcases footwear, ready-to-wear pieces, and accessories. Nouchi, known for his provocative exploration of masculinity and gender norms, brings a distinct sense of sensuality to the collaboration, aligning perfectly with ECCO’s innovative leather craftsmanship.

Nouchi is the latest addition to the collective of designers invited to merge their vision with the ECCO's technical expertise. “Fashion is a true laboratory,” says Nouchi. “Being able to push the boundaries of materials and development with ECCO is a unique opportunity. I feel extremely lucky.” His collection, which debuted at Paris Fashion Week, is built around the concept of the human body, drawing inspiration from its textures and sensuality.

The collection features high-shine, polished leathers and a strict color palette of black, oxblood, and pearlescent white. The slit motif, a signature detail of Nouchi’s designs, is incorporated throughout the range—subtly hinting at eroticism through reveal-and-conceal details. These slashes appear on shoes, bags (including a Tote and Crossbody), and ready-to-wear items, adding a provocative edge to the otherwise minimalist aesthetic.

In his collaboration with ECCO, Nouchi incorporates the brand’s renowned stretch leather, a material that plays a pivotal role in achieving the fluidity and refined edge of the collection. “There are no limits when working with ECCO,” Nouchi explains. “The technical capabilities of the leather allow me to create pieces that are unexpectedly lightweight, yet still convey strength and sensuality.”

The collection features a selection of footwear, including unisex Derby shoes, Helsinki loafers, and platform Truck Lace loafers. The loafers take on a 90s minimalism, with squared toes and gently thickened soles borrowed from ECCO’s archives. The Truck Lace loafers, however, take on a futuristic flair, with a platform design developed specifically for Nouchi, inspired by sleek car lines and modern futurism. “The platform is a nod to the relationship between design and technology, but also my love for the Tesla Cybertruck,” Nouchi says, laughing. “It might be a bit controversial, but I really like it. The sharp, angular lines and futuristic look, combined with that raw brutalism, really resonate with me.

Ready-to-wear pieces blend tailored separates with the relaxed, futuristic vibe of the shoes. A single-breasted blazer, pants, and long-line shorts are made from fine biker nappa leather with a waxy finish, which echoes the robust yet refined nature of the collection. In a bold mix of softness and structure, Nouchi also introduces fluid pieces, such as a column dress and pencil skirt, composed of strips of leather embroidered onto bi-stretch tulle.

“The collection celebrates the collision of the refined and the robust,” says Panos Mytaros, CEO of ECCO. “Louis-Gabriel’s precise approach to design is the perfect match for our technical skill with leather. We’re proud to have worked together to create something that truly embodies his passion for innovation and detail.”

The ECCO.kollektive x Louis-Gabriel Nouchi collection is available starting November 19, with prices ranging from €125 to €2,295. The collaboration is part of ECCO.kollektive’s expanding roster of designers, which includes previous collaborations with figures like Peter Do and Nina Christen.

Fashion

A New Lee® and Alpha Industries Collaboration Takes Flight

Fashion

Escaping the Glass Cage

November 19, 2024

For years, she stood still, watching life rush past her, a quiet observer behind the glass. Now, the glass is broken, and she steps out into the unknown. She walks through the city, caught between two worlds—part of it, yet apart from it.

Her journey is quiet but bold, searching for something she’s never understood, something just out of reach. On church steps and under glowing city lights, she questions everything: the rules, the past, and where she truly belongs. Each step feels both freeing and uncertain.

A curious soul in a borrowed life, she keeps moving forward, leaving behind only whispers of her escape, like a fleeting shadow in the night.