Second Skin

January 18, 2021

Gryphyn Hall is an avant-garde model and costume designer who places an emphasis on creativity. Having been inspired by the circus and Broadway shows growing up, Hall uses those memories and essences to create their other worldly, imaginative designs. They use their costumes to create characters where each piece is a new story and emotion.

Most of their costumes have a sex appeal that’s evoked thorough the silhouettes and materials used. This includes latex, Swarovski crystals, leather, and tulle. They tend to favorite their most recent work, which in this case is a Saint Sebastian look where thousands of Swarovski were hand placed to create a second-skin effect. This look is one of their favorites because of all of the things Saint Sebastian stands for, they’re known for being the protector of epidemics and spreading hope and faith during tough times for those around them. Fitting.

Text by Jacorey Moon
Photos by Anna Bloda

In this shoot, captured by Anna Bloda, Gryphyn is seen in their natural state. With a bold black leather jacket and black briefs to match, this shoot gives us a peek into the person as well as the artist.

When asked if they want to be remembered for their contributions to the costuming world, Hall is moved yet not driven by the idea. “When people appreciate my work my heart sings, but at the same time I’ve never been one to box myself in,” Hall says. "There is no one thing I want to be remembered for. Life is so much more than what you do or what you make, it’s the people around you and the things we all build together.”

Interpreting their world and having people appreciate their talent is more important to them than leaving a “mark” per se. “I also love creating worlds and characters, the art of transformation is extremely inspiring to me,” Hall said. “I just want people to get a glimpse of how I see the world, the beauty and the ugly.”

Fashion

TEMET: If Skims Met Skins

November 04, 2024

I often wonder where the first “afters” happened — whether it was right here in New York or somewhere else. The afters: that hazy, half-lit party that stretches into the morning, more intimate than dancing skin-to-skin with someone you just met, where the crowd thins to only those willing to let the night bleed into morning. Here, you get to watch the sunrise together too.

But today, no matter where you go in the world, if you're at a rave or DIY party, there's probably an afters. If you've never been to one, or don’t care to be, you’ve probably scrolled through your feed and seen that one story: morning sun flooding a cluttered living room, hot people still dancing, bodies tangled on a worn couch — lost in the aftermath of a night that refuses to end.

Creative Director Kiernan Francis
Designer TEMET
Photographer (Still) Alejandro Yullo
Director of Photography & Editor (Moving) Ava Papunen
Stylist Abby Bencie
Makeup Rory Alvarez
Casting Director Kiernan Francis
Lighting Director & Retoucher Lida Ramsay
Executive Producer Kiernan Francis
Associate Producer Ava Perman
Brand Producer Juanita
Soundtrack: "Revolution," Billy Doll (EXCLUSIVE RELEASE)
Makeup Assistant Kandi Milk
Fashion Assistant Jackson Prus
Production Assistant Peyton Nguyen
Production Assistant Emmanuel Delator
Production Assistant Axl Checho

This editorial for Chilean-based TEMET, a brand deeply woven into the underground music and nightlife scene, captures that noctural alchemy. Creative directed by New York’s own Kiernan Francis, the shoot draws inspiration from the afters’ electric liminality. Francis sought to celebrate the paradox of private and public life — where our truest selves might emerge within nightlife and fade into the versions of ourselves we show the world by daylight.

The cast was a mix of DJs, artists, and street-scouted creatives — some known to Francis from the scene, others discovered through social media. The styling leaned into shapewear as an experience, framed by a backdrop that evokes the afters: crowded couches, messy rooms, and the chaos of a night extending into morning. The result? A series that feels like SKIMS meeting Skins UK.

Watch the video below.

Fashion

Nikolaj Hansson Joins Diadora Legacy as Creative Director

October 31, 2024

Diadora's appointment of Danish designer Nikolaj Hansson as Creative Director for its Legacy line signals a fresh chapter for the brand. Known for his Copenhagen-based label Palmes, Hansson’s connection to Diadora began in childhood, admiring the brand’s iconic boots on Premier League defenders. Now, his deep respect for Diadora’s heritage and his vision for merging craftsmanship with progressive design will shape the brand’s premium Legacy line.

His first collection launching in Fall/Winter 2025, will blend his design ethos with Diadora’s storied history, tapping into both the brand’s past and a modern sensibility. Diadora’s CEO, Claudio Bora, shares Nikolaj Hansson's vision of sport as an emotional, daily experience, aiming to create apparel that resonates with the spirit of sport itself. As Hansson says, "the falling in love was mutual," and together, they aim to reignite that spark in a new generation of fans.