Issue
No.06.1
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| Cover image shot by Paolo Roversi for I-D Magazine. |
Editor’s Letter/Note
Stumbling
into 2018 has been a rather turbulent experience. Between finding my feet
(again!) and deciding to switch things up with the blog and magazine, it has
been educational in more ways than one. With the first quarter of the year
behind us, it was a tough decision to change the format of the production of
RENASCENCE Magazine; what still remains, though, is the passion that goes into
producing it.
With
that side, for the interim, RENASCENCE will be produced as a long-read post on
the blog, Renaissance Men. This helps us keep you informed, makes the read a
bit more byte size and allows us to track your favourite sections better.
During this time, we are working on rehashing things to provide you with a much
more fulfilling digital experience of one of your favourite men’s content
portals.
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| Image by Neo Baepi. |
In
issue number six we focus on the illustrious relationship between fashion and
music. To keep it clean and easy to digest, we’ve dissected the issue into
three parts; each offering content to give you different perspectives on these
multi-billion, if not, multi-trillion dollar industries.
Part
One looks at fashion collaborations with musicians, whether through highly
acclaimed endorsements, campaign appearances, product placements or even
Creative Director responsibilities. I also look into the ever popular trend
‘Athleisure’ and how it has infiltrated the music scene in music videos. To
close it all off, I give you a feature on Rihanna and the role she has played
within fashion.
So
get your coffee fix, sit back and indulge in some original local content. Don’t
forget to share, comment and like when you’re done. Feel free to read it all
over again, as well, if it’s too damn good to let go of.
Lots
of African luxury love,
Monde
Mtsi
Editor
###
You dig? Perhaps not.
Regardless, I went prowling the digi-streets in search of the hottest,
trendiest and luxurious must-have items for the moment. Whether you’re a
fashion-tech kind of guy, all about the bling or just down right fascinated
with statement style pieces – I think this selection has beauts you definitely
want to buy.
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| Device: Huawei P20 Pro – via Nerdy.co.za |
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| Fragrance: Dior Sauvage – 200ml – via Carethy |
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| Apparel: Limited Edition Cherry Red Beret – via The Real Crystal Birch |
###
Engage the world with these three grooming products to make a long face, short and sweet. Active your skin with a charcoal infused wash and mask, moisturize with an energizer and replenish with one of skin-science’s best serums for men currently on the market.
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| Face: Garnier PureActive 3in1 Charcoal Face Wash (150ml) via Takealot |
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| Face: Nivea MEN Active Energy Fresh Look Face Gel (50ml) via Takealot |
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| Face: Nu Skin ageLOC Tru Face Essence Ultra (60 capsules – 10ml) via Nu Skin Online |
###
Partnerships
or collaborations are a booming business insight where two or more people or
brands come together to work hand-in-hand in delivering something fresh to
consumers. It might be an experience, a service or a product, but the concept
is to fuse individual selling aspects into one new item for a whole number of
segments in a demographic to consume simultaneously.
The
challenge is combining high-velocity, powerful and distinct personalities or
characteristics into one. For this to work and to be successful, the brands
colliding need to not only be certain of their own existence in the market
arena, they have to be complementary to the other party involved, otherwise, what
should have been an organic experience for all could bubble over into something
else.
One
of this generation’s most successful, popular and globally acclaimed
collaborations has got to be the adidas® Originals X Kanye West collaboration.
Working together and giving West not only Creative Director but Fashion
Designer powers, adidas® Originals worked with the multi-award winning creative
to create a solid diffusion line called Yeezy, first launched with a pair of
Yeezy Boost sneakers and then followed by three incredibly successful fashion
collections consisting of high-end fashion sports luxury wear.
Key
things to note about the success of this partnership: (1) adidas® Originals and
Kanye West are both globally phenomenal brands, independent of each other – so
regardless, there was and still is a market for them. (2) West at this point
had already established his reputation as a highly fashion-forward artist whose
fashion intuition translates into his music and (3) adidas® Originals is one of
the world’s leading sports brands that produce fashionable sports luxe
collections.
Not
all engagements will succeed or harbour the same level of respect and
popularity, however, it’s not to say it’s not possible. Brands need to honestly
evaluate the value being added to the collaboration, discover if there’s a real
desire for such a partnership and its fruit and take it from there. In years to
come I hope we see more of these industry disruptive partnerships in order to
keep things fresh.
###
We
thought athleisure and sports luxe were dying down for a bit – little did we
know. Music and fashion has had other plans for the world all along; even more
so with the introductions of sporty leisure underwear – the act of buying more
fashion-focused under garments and wearing them publicly visible as part of
your everyday look.
What
we are enjoying about the current string of athleisure to be featured in
currently trending music videos is the level of high-fashion we are seeing.
Plenty of musicians locally and abroad are taking the trend to a more fashion
destined interpretation, as opposed to a more traditional ‘Sporty Spice’
dimension.
Case
in point: Migos with the track ‘Motorsport’ featuring Cardi B and Nicki Minaj.
Throughout the offering, the stars are seen sporting exceptionally fashion-forward
garments stemming from the sport of motor racing. From the padded pants to the
thick and protective jackets, the wardrobe and styling oozes plenty of sexy
athleisure with loaded doses of high-end fashion designing and adaptation.
How
To Wear It: With confidence and attitude. The look is ultimately very fashion
and very street while incorporating themes and nuances running through active-wear
and sports uniforms. The idea is to be prepared to be the talk of the moment.
We do recommend fitting on pieces before buying – you still have to be
comfortable in what you wear.
###
We
can’t even remember how it all happened but it did. Robyn Rihanna Fenty,
popularly called ‘Rihanna’ and affectionately known as ‘Riri’ by the Rihanna
Navy took the world by storm and we’re all still gasping for air. From number
one hits and albums to pulling off fashion collaborations the style fraternity
was not ready for; born in Barbados, discovered and signed by Jay-Z and then
one day garnering the coveted Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA)
Met Gala fashion award for Fashion Icon 2014 – Rihanna has worked her way to
the deserving title of Fashion Icon.
At
the height of her ‘ANTI’ album’s success Rihanna starting making highly
credible waves within fashion. It’s not to say she was never on the style
radar, however, these drops in the pond were much more formidable and
consistent than most creatives within her music entertainment guild. Let’s
start with her signing the deal with PUMA to launch the PUMAxFENTY Collections
by Rihanna. We were all skeptical, citing that her role as Creative Director
would not give her enough influence and that the collections would not be true
reflections of the internationally loved bad girl. Months pass by and we’re all
eating our words: Riri dropped a sexy collection of sports luxe merchandise
with key Rihanna elements of sensual cheekiness combined with high-performance
sexual sophistication. The world went wild.
Some
time passed and we bit our nails trying to conjure up concepts of what she
could possibly do next. Then the fashion bomb dropped: Rihanna is confirmed by
the French Couture House, Christian Dior, as their seasonal campaign face. A
thread of campaign elements follows, including a campaign
ad-turned-into-campaign-fashion-film video teaser drops and there she is in all
her glory owning fashion through music in a new-found high-end high-fashion
execution. The campaign ad images drop and all preconceived notions of Dior
being unattainable and not mainstream miss the stitch. Rihanna has brought Dior
to the people and Dior has introduced Riri to cult fashion caretakers.
This
young lady didn’t seem to yield in momentum. Somewhere in-between all the hype,
social media activity and fans trying to keep up, Rihanna bumped creative heads
with major luxury shoe brand, Manolo Blahnik, to launch a saucy range of
limited edition heels inspired by denim and diamonds. Like everything else
happening around was not enough. Meanwhile, a new PUMAxFENTY Collection has
been showcased at New York Fashion Week and a new range of funky FENTY
flatforms and furry sliders have made their way into PUMA stores globally. At
this point, magazines are lining up to get the scoop and the world is asking
for more because it officially can’t get enough.
Undoubtedly,
Rihanna’s successful transition between fashion and music has got to be the
rawness and honesty of her personality. What we have seen on screen is what the
media documents and reports back to us of her off-screen persona. Her innate
sense for fashion and bold style is reflected unashamedly in all aspects of her
life, including her now eagerly anticipated appearances at the annual Barbados
Carnival. Her aptitude for understanding herself and what she wants has been a
pivotal compass in ensuring she works within accordance to her desires.
All
of this culminated and certified her position in the world as an icon to be
taken seriously when she was awarded the prestigious Council of Fashion
Designers of America award for Fashion Icon at the annual The Met Gala charity
event in New York City, back in 2014 already. In 2016 she then went on to cover the VOGUE US Met Gala issue as the ‘Best Dressed’ at The Met and a handful of months later
was invited by VOGUE Paris to be a Guest Editor and grace the covers, three
times, of the magazine. If by now you’re still doubting, don’t, you’re only
making a fool of yourself. Rihanna is a fashion icon and she’s here to stay.
#RENASCENCEmagazine
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