• One of the collaborations I did not see showing up this year is the recently announced collection from British clothing brand Folk and the iconic swim brand Speedo. The Cold Water Swimming collaboration features a wide range of pieces for both swimming (obviously) as well as staying warm before and after your icy plunge.

    Folk & Speedo - Cold Water Swimming Collaboration

    As Folk founder and Creative Director, Cathal McAteer, describes it:

    “Losing yourself in nature has always appealed to me – hiking up mountains, dancing in a field, floating in the sea – all big positive moments. So naturally we have admired and been part of the love for cold water swimming, these small groups & communities of people taking to the rivers, ponds, lakes & coast to get the elemental rush of being outdoors in the water wanting to introduce a lived-in sense of ease to the kit that people use, the aim was to make an excellent range of swim and warm-up gear. So we designed robes, fleeces, base layers, hoodies, hats etc plus partnered with swimming icon, Speedo, for performance quality swimwear. We have tackled the outer cold to help deliver the inner peace.”

    I love what they done with the patterns and colors for the collection. I think the combinations work so well because they contrast so nicely with the water and earth tones. The photoshoot does a great job of selling the idea of cold water swimming, I’m almost convinced it’s something I would do.

    Folk & Speedo - Cold Water Swimming Collaboration
    Folk & Speedo - Cold Water Swimming Collaboration
    Folk & Speedo - Cold Water Swimming Collaboration

  • Ben Newman is a UK-based illustrator and artist who’s primary work is focused on illustrations for children’s books and toys. Yet, I want to focus on his newly burgeoning fine art that began to crop up in late 2022. The pieces are somewhere between paintings and assemblage, with random shapes building together in some fascinating ways. He’s created pieces that seem to focus on the macro, lots of circles and blobs and triangles coming together in a chaos of shapes, as well as the micro, seemingly close-up details of larger compositions which are equally as delightful.

    Painting by Ben Newman
    Painting by Ben Newman
    Painting by Ben Newman
    Painting by Ben Newman
  • This series of objects by Yuri Mo, which have been 3D rendered in a kind of “hyperpop” aesthetic, for lack of a better term, immediately caught my eye. I love how fantastical these are, somewhere between the throwback “transparent everything” trend and if Karan Singh did more acid trip inspired work in 3D. And the complexity of each of the surfaces and how the colors change really blows my mind, this is such beautiful work.

    Yuri Mo - 3D Hyperpop Coffee Pot
    Yuri Mo - Leica Camera
  • There are some everyday objects that you should consider investing in. As Marc Jacobs is known to say, “a nice version.” And as a person who has been a life-long wearer of sunglasses, keep your specs safe (and accounted for) is a top priority. So when I spotted Valextra’s quite sophisticated take on a glasses case I realized what’s been missing in my day-to-day kit. With over twenty colors to choose from, there’s a shade for every bag or outfit. I always default to the more natural tones, though the mint and peony pink/poppy red combo are definitely calling to me.

    Valextra's Sophisticated Leather Glasses Case
    Valextra's Sophisticated Leather Glasses Case
    Valextra's Sophisticated Leather Glasses Case
  • Tim Teven is a Dutch designer who graduated from Design Academy Eindhoven in 2018. He has a technical and material-driven approach to design, and he uses unconventional methods to create functional yet interesting objects. The one that caught my attention, though I’d say all of his work is quite remarkable, are the Pressure Vases he creates.

    Tim Teven — Pressure Vases


    He’s created an array of these vessels, in a myriad number of sizes and shapes, as well as materials, including stainless steel, chrome, and zinc. It’s fantastic that he’s able to take such mundane materials and give them such an interesting twist. In some cases the forms look almost cartoon-ish, like Wile E. Coyote after a run in with an Acme product gone wrong. Yet an elegance still remains in these pieces, and I can quite clearly imagine how many of these would look with a lovely bouquet of flowers in them.

    Tim Teven — Pressure Vases — Detail
  • I somehow missed that James Blake was set to release his seventh album, Playing Robots into Heaven, this Friday, September 8th. From what I’ve read, it’s a return to his early releases, think his CMYK EP from back in 2010, which contains one of his very best tracks, “CMYK.”

    So far there have been two music videos, one for the song “Big Hammer” which has a heist-themed music video. Bu the latest release is for the title track, which as you’ll see below, is moody AF. Director Thibaut Grevet did an incredible job on building out a wild looking world for this track, with Blake playing a kind of Sisyphean role, the weight of the music on his shoulders, or that he’s leading a procession of robots into heaven? Either way, what I’ve heard from the album so far is very weird and very different from his last few releases, very excited for this one.

    James Blake Preps New Album, ‘Playing Robots into Heaven’
  • You could describe photographer Ian Lanterman as a mysterious person. After doing my normal bit of research, I can’t many details about him. What I can say is that he’s a photographer from Vancouver who specializes in portraits and still-life. I was deep in a rabbit hole and came across his work which has a timelessness to it, and very editorial in nature. There’s also a little something fantastic about his images, always an interesting detail, an unexpected pose, a feeling like you’re catching a glimpse of something very special.

    Ian Lanterman portait and still-life photography
    Ian Lanterman portait and still-life photography
    Ian Lanterman portait and still-life photography
    Ian Lanterman portait and still-life photography
    Ian Lanterman portait and still-life photography
  • Los Angeles painter and muralist Abel Macias is a one of a kind talent. Pulling from both Mexican and southwest American cultures, his art feels like it’s telling a very old tale through a very contemporary language. His work tells stories regardless of application, having done traditional landscapes paintings, or through his more standout efforts, his large-scale murals.

    These murals are incredible to see, with my personal favorite living in the entryway of the Proper Hotel. There, his work is like a storybook spread open, a tale of animals and creatures from folk tales, having a conversation with the interior design work Kelly Wearstler. I’ve had the privilege of visiting Abel’s studio and he’s such a rad guy, so down to earth, and so intent on making great work. And I’m super lucky to own one of his paintings, and I can say it’s one of my most precious belongings.

    Abel Macias Mural at the Proper Hotel, Los Angeles
    Abel Macias Alligator Painting
    Abel Macias Painting
    Abel Macias Painting
    Abel Macias Painting
  • Yu Su is one of those artists I try to keep up with, her style of music taking inspiration from a variety of sources, including her classical piano training, her experiences with modern Western music, and the natural world around her. Born in Kaifeng, China, she moved to Vancouver and started producing music in 2014, a unique blend of “forth world” ambience and left-field dance music.

    Her most recent EP I Want an Earth was inspired by her time in the natural landscape of Ojai, a beautiful little town 1.5 hours outside of Los Angeles. She states in an interview with Mixmag Asia that “the reflections of light, wood burning in the fireplace, and materials that “rhymed with the sounds in the room” gave rise to the enchantingly organic demeanor of her release.” I was walking around San Sebastián earlier today listening to this record and it was a perfect compliment. I can definitely recommend this as a great soundtrack for dog walking or on the way to grab a coffee.

    'I Want an Earth' by Yu Su
  • The thing about Barcelona is there’s always something new popping up. It’s that energy that makes it feel like Los Angeles to me, only on a smaller scale that’s much easier to explore. Take for example this new visual identity from Hey Studio (probably the best design studio in the city) for Casa Montjüic, a multi-hyphenate space for creatives containing three different areas: a multi-purpose theater capable of hosting cinema screenings, plays, and intimate concerts; a music venue; and a restaurant featuring a seasonal menu and exquisite wines.

    Hey Studio took inspiration from the ever-changing billboards of 19th century cinemas and music venues to match the energy of the unconventional culture. The result is a branding experience that’s bursting with life, both in the physical and digital worlds, with a vibrant color palette which brings the visual language into the 21st century.

    Love a flexible identity system that can do a lot of things with ease. And this color palette is super fun, making the space feel so contemporary. Huerco S. is playing a set on Sunday and Kyle and I just bought tickets, stoked to check out the space and go drink some natty wine 🥂

    Hey Studio taps “unconventional culture” for Casa Montjüic's dynamic visual identity
    Hey Studio taps “unconventional culture” for Casa Montjüic's dynamic visual identity
  • For their fourth collaboration together, streetwear lifestyle label Stüssy and Copenhagen-based homeware brand Tekla have introduced a beautiful new lime green that I’m loving. What I appreciate about Tekla is their choices around color palettes. They’re always finding these surprising tones of color that are left of center, like the most interesting version you’ve seen. This lime color is a perfect example. Maybe it’s just me but these remind me of the color of glow in the dark stars that I would put up on the ceiling of my bedroom when I was a teenager, core memory unlocked here.

    New Collection from Stüssy and Tekla Has Me Seeing Green
    New Collection from Stüssy and Tekla Has Me Seeing Green
    New Collection from Stüssy and Tekla Has Me Seeing Green
  • For a very long time I’ve leaned toward more neutral colors for my duvet, in the hopes it would create a very serene, calming space. Then I moved to Barcelona, became mildly obsessed with Tekla, and now my bed is covered in red bedsheets. So in the same vein of spicing up the bedroom, I came across this vibrantly colored duvet from Garza Marfa, which I think is gorgeous. The way I see it, as fall starts to arrive next month, and winter around the corner, it’s always nice to have pops of color to offset the grey skies.

    Brighten Your Bed With a Colorfully Striped Duvet From Garza Marfa