Stepping Out With Kate Ahn and YUME YUME

March 17, 2023

We at office have long appreciated Kate Ahn's fantastical self-portraits — creations that are both an act of reclamation and a rebellion against conservative ideas around sex.

Ahn's depictions encourage radical self-expression with their liberated sexual femininity in a way that aligns with the ethos of Amsterdam-based brand YUME YUME. The LA-based artist continues to show that her musings are not confined to the typical canvas, incorporating it into bedding, and now, the unconventional surface of three YUME YUME silhouettes. Creative director Eva Korsten came together with Ahn to create an ethereal dreamscape with a bold, tender softness that calls forth a world where being yourself is of utmost importance.

The edit includes three signature styles with unique artwork on each, making it possible to wear Ahn's captivating works wherever you go. What better way to complete an outfit than with a pair of shoes that grounds you in yourself?

Text by Cassie Jekanoski
Photos courtesy of YUME YUME

“As a young girl, I quickly fell in love with dressing myself, because it was one of the first forms of expression that taught me the confidence to be myself. There is no other feeling when I find the perfect pair of shoes to bring an outfit together. And that feeling is exactly what I felt when I first got a pair of YUME YUME’s. So when Eva asked me to work on this collection with her, words cannot explain how excited I was. Just like my own work I know that we both want to help create a world where being and expressing yourself is worth it and so liberating," said Ahn regarding the new collection.

The collaboration is now available for sale across the US and UK.

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.