office and Miista Join Forces for an Evening of Invigorating Conversation

December 05, 2024

On one of New York's rainiest fall nights, office and Miista paired up to bring together a variety of women paving their way in the creative industry. The guests drank wine and enjoyed a culinary experience orchestrated by Magdalena O'Neal, while a playlist curated by Lucy McFadin set the mood. Providing an escape from the storm raging outstide, Miista's store became a warm glimpse into the world of fashionable women and captivating conversation.

The conversation, led by office's Cassie Jekanoski, was centered around navigating today's creative industry while bringing hope and joy to the craft. Smiles were exchanged and laughs echoed the walls as the guests got real about their takes on creativity, collaboration, and individuality. Meanwhile, bright flames reflected on the Orchard Street storefront as the culinary team grilled outside.

Photos by Ava Perman

Perfection is the recipe for disaster for a lot of us. You will always fail in the pursuit of perfect... but the journey is fun. - Kevin Ponce

Everyone finds zen in their work in a different way. It's a really important part, having something in your work that feels good despite what else is going on. Once you put yourself into that state of flow, a lot comes out. -Martine Ali

A lot of the time we have narratives of people, what we think they are going to be like, or a certain perception of them. For them to blow away all of those things is incredibly cool. That's my main objective and the whole point of writing, to keep the narrative going, to keep cultural criticism going, to keep history going. - Kerane Marcellus

Kerane Marcellus, Kevin Ponce, and Magdalena O'Neil

Nicolaia Rips, Liv Solomon, and Cassie Jekanoski

Michelle Li, Kim Shui, Laura Pitcher, and Kevin Ponce

Maria Alia, Becky Akinyode, and Shay Johnson

Fashion

Alemaïs Resort 2026: A Magical Collision of Fashion, Culture, and Cuisine in Marrakesh

May 22, 2025

Alemaïs, the Australian label known for its artful storytelling and artisanal craftsmanship, unveiled its Resort 2026 collection in an unforgettable show set in the heart of Marrakesh. Held inside a culinary museum and followed by a decadent Moroccan dinner, the evening unfolded as a sensory journey of fashion, food, and feeling. The show was born from a creative collaboration with local studio LRNCE, and it felt like a homecoming for a brand that has always embraced a global spirit.

Founded in 2021, Alemaïs began humbly on the marble kitchen table of designer Lesleigh Jermanus and her partner—co-founders, a couple, and new parents who took a leap of faith in building something together. “We had a newborn and this dream,” Jermanus has said. “It was chaotic and beautiful and deeply personal from the very beginning.” That intimate origin story still pulses through the brand’s DNA, even as it has grown into an international force in thoughtful, craft-focused fashion.

Words By Simon Rasmussen

The Resort 2026 collection was perhaps Alemaïs’s most ambitious vision to date. The setting in Marrakesh, vibrant with color, scent, and life, echoed the label’s love for organic textures and soulful storytelling. Working alongside LRNCE—the Moroccan creative and culinary studio founded by Belgian-Moroccan artist Laurence Leenaert—the show blended fashion with local artistry and hospitality.

“We really wanted people to feel like they were stepping into both of our worlds,” Jermanus said after the show. “Something wild and magical. Marrakesh just felt right.”

Styling was helmed by Julia Sarr-Jamois, the acclaimed fashion editor known for her bold yet instinctive approach. Models, a mix of local Moroccan talent and international faces, wore sun-washed tones, flowing layers, and textural prints that spoke to heritage and travel, spontaneity and craft. “Julia brought so much confidence and clarity,” Jermanus noted. “She helped solidify the vision. Watching her work was a joy.” Although this was only Alemaïs’s second runway show—the first being their Australian Fashion Week debut two years ago—the execution was sophisticated and emotionally resonant. “It’s overwhelming,” Jermanus admitted. “You work so hard for this one moment, and it’s over in minutes. But it felt right. The people, the place—it all aligned.”

We really wanted people to feel like they were stepping into both of our worlds. Something wild and magical. Marrakesh just felt right.

You work so hard for this one moment, and it’s over in minutes. But it felt right. The people, the place—it all aligned.

Following the show, guests sat down for a Moroccan feast personally curated by Leenaert, who meticulously taste-tested every dish. “She was very critical,” Jermanus laughed. “But it paid off—it was sensational.”

As for what’s next, Jermanus is keeping her focus on growing the brand’s creative roots. “I want to stay close to the craft. Clothing changes how people feel—and if we can do that, we’re doing something meaningful. We just want to keep building that world.”

In Marrakesh, Alemaïs didn’t just show clothes—they told a story. A story that began on a kitchen table, and now stretches across continents.

Fashion

grounds Partners with H. Lorenzo for re-issue of SPIKE SNEAKERS

This year, H. Lorenzo commemorates four decades at the vanguard of independent fashion with a campaign that is rooted in reflection and progression: Past, Present, Future. Since 1984, the Los Angeles institution has been a bold advocate for radical visionaries and experimental design, building a global legacy rooted in risk, integrity, and instinct. Now, in celebration of a major milestone, the anniversary unfolds across multiple platfroms reissuing cult archival pieces, showcasing exclusive collaborations with next-gen talent, and culminating in a landmark event that honors its past while stepping into the future.