Meet Suresh Singh, The Cockney Sikh

September 23, 2024

When was the last time you had your face painted? Maybe it was at a childhood birthday party or a local fair, where your chosen mask sparked a day of pretend play. Revisiting this childhood ritual, artists Angel Velluto and Janina Zais took us across London to meet eight seniors whose stories revealed resilience and strength. Each participant was asked to fill out a Proustian-inspired questionnaire, and their responses were discussed with the team before being translated into unique masks by Zais. During the process, we had the chance to chat with each person to learn more about why the face paint they chose felt like a fitting tribute to their lives.

Suresh Singh A.K.A ‘The Cockney Sikh’ has lived in East London his whole life. He is an author, curator, musician, teacher, artist and husband. His mother and father arrived in London as immigrants and their instant warmth towards the local community had an immeasurable influence on Suresh.

From an early age he was encouraged to think for himself and embellish his cultural identity with aspects of modern London life. As an outsider his unique perspective helped him find similarities and create connections between the EastEnd’s diverse range of communities.

Read our interview below.

Creative Angel Velluto
Production Angel Velluto and Janina Zais
Interview Angel Velluto
Photography Jan-Micheal Stasiuk
Face-Paint Janina Zais
Director/DOP Ruby Harris
Editor Helen Teixeira
Casting Angel Velluto

Where were you born?

Mile End hospital in London.

Where do you feel most comfortable?

East London.

What quality do you think defines you most?

Kindness.

What do you look for in a companion?

Divine love.

What is your biggest weakness?

Sugar.

What is your biggest strength?

Sikhi.

What has surprised you most in life?

My followers

What does your perfect day look like?

Sitting in our home

What is your favorite color?

Orange

Who are your favorite fictional characters?

Batman

Who or what is your biggest inspiration?

Guru Nanak ji

What is your favorite food?

Saag and yellow roti

What quality do you dislike most in someone?

Jealousy

What is your earliest memory?

Our house in Brick Lane E1

What is your biggest luxury?

Sicilian Lemonade

How do you show someone you love them?

Being kind

What is your biggest achievement?

Life

Culture

Callie Reiff and Sophia Wilson's Tour de NYFW

September 10, 2024

Last night at Jean’s amidst the whirlwind of NYFW, Producer/DJ Callie Reiff and director/photographer Sophia Wilson hosted a special edition of ‘tour de les,’ the New York party series created by Callie and her creative partner Raquel Michel. In collaboration with NEXT Management, the event celebrated the release of Reiff’s 'My Room' video, directed by Wilson, with photos captured by the legendary Cobrasnake. Party-goers including fashion influencer Clara Perlmutter, models Luisa Piou, Aliyah Wan, Faith Harper and Zahara Davis enjoyed DJ sets from Callie and friends. In a nod to the video, a bed took center stage in the room where guests indulged in pillow fights, makeouts, and devoured cake. Notable faces from Nike and Gucci turned up to support their favorite rising artists, making the night an unforgettable blend of fashion, music, and unrestrained fun.

Photography Cobrasnake

Stream Callie's new video:

Culture

Vans Threw a Block Party for the Books

I'm horny and scared of New Yorkers — Lisandro of @drovision 10:14 p.m.

Exhausted but always down — Matthew from @notaninfluencerbrand 10:17 p.m.

I don’t know when to leave
I feel stuck
I’m pretty hungry and I just wanna smoke
— anonymous 11:02 p.m.

Is there free beer here? Why is there not free beer here? Oh there’s free beer here…
— Carly Goldstein 11:14 p.m.

It’s nice to not be at a NYFW party :)
there is so much trade
I <3 bushwick
There aren’t clout chasers here yay
— Anon plz xoxo 11:35 p.m.

Best seat in the house.
— tyy.dyy 12:05 a.m.

I feel great tonight.
— anon 12:30 a.m.

As the night wound down and the crowd thinned, it was clear that Vans had done more than just throw a party. Everyone had a blast as did we! See for yourself below: