The Empty District

Lead image — Jacket by HERMÈS, trousers by VERSACE, hat by PRADA

"So we decided to focus the whole story on Cao, photographing him in a quite conservative Milanese neighborhood called Quartiere Adriano, where only Italians live and other cultures are not really well seen." With the restrictions that come with a pandemic, IRL editorial photography is feeling a bit unstable. "The Empty District" provides a bit of hope for that world while we all wait for things to get back to normal.

Check it out below.

Left — Shirt by VALENTINO, tank top by SALVATORE FERRAGAMO, jacket by JIL SANDER, trousers by ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA

Right — Shirt by MARNI, tie and trousers by VERSACE, hat and necklace by PRADA

Left — Jacket and trousers by ISSEY MIYAKE, shirt by LANVIN, hat by ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA, belt by VALENTINO

Left — Suit by BOTTEGA VENETA, shirt by PAUL SMITH

Right — Trench coat by VALENTINO, silk foulard by PRADA, sunglasses by RAY-BAN

Fashion

Adidas x Pleasures

July 23, 2021

PLEASURES takes on a collaboration with Adidas by infusing their punk style into the classic Superstar sneaker that we all know and love. The LA-based brand switches up the game by opting for black leather and 10 different patterned inserts that sneakerheads can mix and match into the three stripes that trademarks Adidas.

To showcase this highly awaited collab, European-based photographer and director KOEKKOEK launches a campaign to highlight the quirky grit of PLEASURES. A mannequin situated in intriguing scenarios is seen adorning the punk shoe all while in situations that can’t help but to make you laugh a bit.

From sitting pants down on a photocopier, to having a nightcap with an actual human, the sneaker is the centerfold of this campaign story. While the still images tell a story of their own, there is a visual video clip to further push the boundaries.

Text by Cassie Jekanoski
Photos by Daniel Gebhart de Koekkoek

The aforementioned mannequin rocks a green Adidas tracksuit while contortioning into the Adidas logo seamlessly. As exciting as this collaboration is, there can only be more hope that we see more Adidas X PLEASURES down the line.

Check out the collection below.

Fashion

Naomi Campbell x Burberry TB Summer Monogram Collection

July 23, 2021

Burberry’s Riccardo Tisci launched a new campaign— the TB Summer Monogram Collection starring Naomi Campbell in a CGI utopia. Directed by visual artist Frederik Heyman, this iteration of the "TB" monogram collection acts as an ode to the house’s founder, Thomas Burberry. The bold interlocking "TB" initials of the monogram take on a new summer-inspired design from cobalt and deep royal blues to anthracite greys.

To help bring this campaign to life, Riccardo worked with an iconic creative team including Naomi Campbell, photographer, Danko Steiner, stylist Catherine Baba, make-up artist Adam Fleischhauer and hairstylist Jawara. As well as, collaborating with visual artist Frederik Heyman to bring the campaign to futuristic CGI world.

Text by Jordan Kelly
Photos courtesy of Burberry

TB Summer Monogram Collection celebrates as Tisci puts, “the balance of our heritage with the importance of always evolving and looking forward. The collection captures that optimistic feeling of summer and that feeling of constant momentum, the excitement for what’s next.”

Playing on Burberry’s house code of duality, the campaign captures a journey between worlds, fusing the classicism of stills’ imagery with the modernity of CGI technology. Stills captured by photographer, Danko Steiner, the inimitable Naomi stands atop architectural plinths reflected in mirrored water — a starkly minimalist reinterpretation of coastal terrains. Beautiful, powerful, effortless, these images seamlessly morph into a dream-like digital realm.

The campaign’s video, created by visual artist Frederik Heyman, features a CGI’d Naomi — transcendental energy personified, with the beauty of both timeless classicism and the vitality of summer. Blending beautiful structures, the campaign melds nature and machine, as suspended shell sculptures rise from crafted seaside environments. Here, a futuristic, harmonious vision, connects serenity and adventure for an impossible midsummer optimism.

“It’s magical working with Riccardo. He always has such a unique vision and continually manages to bring another facet out of me, pushing me to do things I don’t think I can do. Working with Burberry is also always such an honor. It’s a British institution and has been since it started in 1856 - in a way, you feel like you’re representing your country. I feel that British style and attitude always lead the trends. We don’t just wear it, we live it,” says Naomi.

The new TB Summer Monogram collection will be available to purchase online and in selected Burberry stores globally from 16 July.

Check out more of the collection below.

Fashion

Ocio: Loungewear You Can Live In, and Learn From

Ocio was a pandemic passion project, created by founders Tayler Coffin and Samantha Meyer. The two wanted to create clothing that was not only cozy, but low-impact and positive for the environment. Ocio’s entire supply chain comes from within a 10-mile radius in Los Angeles. Their products are especially soft due to the unique blend of Organic Cotton and Tencel that was formulated specifically for Ocio (the Organic Cotton is created in IOAS certified factories, to avoid any human right violations that can coincide with the cultivation of Organic Cotton). Good things come in green packages too, as Ocio uses completely compostable and recycled materials to ship out their products.

Ocio shared some exclusive photos with office, which can be viewed below, along with the interview with co-founder and creative director, Tayler Coffin.

What was the original inspiration behind Ocio’s first loungewear launch?

After a long chat about what our *ideal* sweatpants would be, we realized that there weren’t any loungewear companies that checked all the boxes - sustainable (no greenwashing allowed), size-inclusive, comfortable (re: super soft with a little bit of stretch) & tailored in a way where we’d feel comfortable wearing them to grab lunch or head out on a walk. So, we created Ocio.

What was it like creating a small business in the midst of a pandemic?

Starting a clothing line involves so many different moving pieces and each one of them had unforeseen delays due to the pandemic, so it was excruciating at times! But, because of those delays, we also got to take the time to rethink and improve areas of our line that we didn’t see before. We spent so much extra time sitting with our samples, we were able to create new product features, like a pocket panel that prevents bunching and a hidden, internal drawcord that helps you adjust our shorts and joggers to a custom fit without those unsightly strings dangling on the front of your clothes.

Comfort is clearly one of the most important factors of Ocio’s vision - how exactly did you come up with the unique blend of materials that makes Ocio’s clothing so cozy?

Our team tested fabric sample after fabric sample for years (I know, it took forever), and found ourselves loving the softness and cooling properties of Tencel Lyocell (made from natural, sustainable materials), and the structure and eco-friendly processes of Organic Cotton. Our goal was to balance the properties of both these materials in our own blend, and we added a little spandex for stretch to accommodate a variety of body types and sizes.

Ocio is characterized by its “low-impact” classification - what does low impact mean?

Low-impact means that we’ve considered every element of Ocio’s environmental impact and we’ve tried to reduce that impact as much as possible. We’ve chosen to keep our supply chain local to LA to reduce our carbon footprint, we use Bluesign® certified dyes to eliminate toxic chemicals from the dying process, we recycle all of our fabric scraps so that they don’t end up in landfills, all of our packaging materials are either compostable or recyclable… and that’s not even the half of it - our sustainability page lays it all out. 

The first launch was extremely size-inclusive - ranging from XXS to 4X; was inclusivity an important part of the original vision for Ocio?

Absolutely. We believe the future of fashion should be completely inclusive for men and women. Size inclusivity has been a pillar of our brand from the beginning, and it has inspired us to add features to our loungewear that elevate our fit standards across all body types. We have plans to continue expanding our size range, as well as goals to further refine our fit for each current size offering.

Why do you think cultivating a more sustainable, environmentally-friendly space in fashion is important?

Today, many people see sustainable fashion as its own niche, a small subsection of the massive global fashion industry. We believe that in the future, all fashion will need to be sustainable fashion, and equally as important, accountable fashion. With the fashion industry being one of the largest polluting industries in the world, it’s important to create more awareness around the impact of these huge industries, and take actionable steps to reducing that environmental impact in a meaningful way.

What are your future plans for Ocio, as a brand?

We’re currently working on a Fall/Winter collection with new styles and colors in a structured, ultrasoft fabric blend for our next collection (you heard it here first). Longer term, we plan on expanding into new categories so that everyone has a sustainable, comfortable and quality choice when it comes to all pieces in their wardrobe.

I think Ocio has the potential to change the game when it comes to combining loungewear and sustainability. Do you think you are setting a good example for other brands to come?

We hope so! We’ve tried our best to simplify our approach by being both honest and accountable. Our sustainability is grounded in our commitment to making decisions we are proud of, and ones we are eager to share with our community. Nothing would make us happier than seeing other brands follow suit to make more conscious decisions about their environmental impact.