revival FW22
table of contents
02 | Table of Contents
letter from the editors
03
staff list
04
overconsumption
06
revival of seventies fashion
10
brand spotlight: ysabel hilado
12
brand spotlight: natalia trevino amaro
24
finding grace from the ruins
32
getting back into the rhythm
34
in bloom
40
what we deserve
44
new moon
50
florescence
54
to live again
55
empathy
56
begin again
58
revival: from our community
60
trend’s tunes
64
letter from the editors REVIVAL: An improvement in the state or condition of something; a state of being renewed. For many, stepping foot back onto campus in September marked a new beginning. Despite walking the same paths and sitting in the same classrooms, we are different people now than who we were nearly two years prior. Though self-isolation brought hardship, the pandemic gave us space and time to circle back to ourselves. Maybe you rediscovered an old passion or found a new one. Perhaps you realized something new about yourself or were reminded of the importance of the things you already held dear. We dreamt of the life we wanted to live on the other side of it all. Returning to campus this fall kickstarted the transformation of our thoughts and dreams into intention and reality — a REVIVAL of our unique space in the universe and what makes us who we are.
Photographer David Castillo Models Sravya Balasa and Michelle He
Revival also marked the resurgence of Trend. After releasing three issues under remote-only operations, we were able to bring back old traditions, like TRENDing at UCSD and pop-up shops, while pursuing new ventures, like collaborating with small-business designers. We built a new team of talented creatives and a community of like-minded artists, dreamers, and students to share our passions with. Whether you’re a new reader or a seasoned follower, we thank you for being here to support us. To our treasured Trend team, we are so incredibly proud of you all. Your hard work, sheer talent, and love for what you do is astounding. We are honored to be creating with an amazing group of people. You inspire us every day to create joyfully. Whatever Revival means to you, we wish you all the love on your path to rediscovering what makes you YOU. We hope you nourish and preserve your inner light despite whatever comes your way, and that you continually chase after your Revival.
Letter from the Editors | 03
04 | Staff List
staff list Editors-in-Chief Sravya Balasa Michelle He External Shauna Huang Kim Lim Prisca Suhendra Graphic Designer Deyshna Pai Internal Justin Kim Marketing Tiffany Liang Kelly Bae Fiana Yeh Photographers Angelina Dyrnaes Harleen Mander David Castillo Stylists Lois Ramilo Vania Liu Elliot Varon Deepti Rema Web Developers Sydney Wong Writing Sarah Min Shimika Basuroy Danielle Hernandez Samantha Phan
Staff List | 05
overconsumption why our large wardrobes are nothing to brag about By Samantha Phan On Jan. 7, 2021, Tik Tok user “Allison” posted a video of her dumping out a box of clothes she ordered from Shein and Romwe. You could barely see the floor, every inch covered in almost fifty pieces of clothing. This video received over 3.1 million likes. “Allison” is not the only one. Hundreds of videos on Tik Tok, Instagram, and Youtube show massive amounts of freshly bought clothing. “June” got 2.5 million likes for a video featuring a nine hundred dollar “clothing haul” from Shein. “Rachel” has almost two hundred thousand followers on her account devoted to buying clothing from fast fashion companies. These videos are representative of the current fashion landscape, a constant cycle of consumption and waste. But the question is: why do we need so many clothes? In short, we don’t. So many people are buying more clothes than they can use in a lifetime, never mind in a fashion season. Yet, our society has become obsessed with rapidly 06 | Overconsumption
consuming and throwing clothes out for something trendy and new. According to Rachel Bick and Erika Halsey from Environmental Health, the United States alone contributes to nearly 3.8 billion pounds of clothing waste per year. And despite what you may think, our large wardrobes aren’t about expression, they are about business. Trend Cycles, Social Media, & Influencers:
Why We Over Consume In order to understand overconsumption, we must first understand the cycle of fashion trends. According to Masterclass, the trend cycle has five different steps: introduction, increase, peak, decline, and obsolescence. We can look at trends in two different ways. There are fashion trends in a traditional sense, meaning that different styles of clothes come and go. The constant cycling of these trends directly contributes to overconsumption, seeing that obsolete clothing is thrown away in favor of newer, trendy pieces. Today,
these trends move faster and faster. An example of this could be the “coconut girl” aesthetic, a 70s inspired style of clothing that was popularized in late spring of 2021, only to go out of fashion by the end of the summer. These “microtrends” are encouraged by social media influencers. The online world moves fast, and those who make their careers there do anything to keep up. According to Mariel Nelson, each influencer hopes to make their big break by finding the “next big thing”, resulting in hundreds of different attempts at new trends. Each trend only lasts for a short time, seeing that there will always be a new trend available to replace it. But according to Dr. Nigel Barber from Psychology Today, social media also contributes to a trend of overconsumption as a whole. He claims that our ability to perceive the lavish lifestyles of celebrities and influencers makes us want to emulate their lives on our own budget. Influencers are constantly encouraging the “increase” phase of overconsumption, their own
“
our large wardrobes aren’t about expression, they are about business.
Overconsumption | 07
luxurious lifestyles contributing to the general public’s desire for more clothes. The Kardashians never repeat the same outfits on their Instagrams so why should I? This is the mindset of many online consumers. Youtuber “bestdressed” discusses the immense pressure to have a larger wardrobe than you actually need. Many social media users, influencers or not, feel that same pressure and don’t have the funds to back it up. Fast Fashion and the
Race to Buy So we’ve mentioned that, due to social media, consumers want an extensive wardrobe without breaking the bank. The way they get this is through “fast fashion”. The term is defined by itself: a business model that turns the constantly evolving trends of the fashion world into a capitalistic nightmare of quick production, selling, and disposal, all at a cheap price. Fast fashion provides a landscape in which the fast-moving trend cycles can operate, directly contributing to overconsumption. As fads come and go faster and faster, so does our need for consumption, destroying our environment and the lives of workers. When considering environmental standards, it’s no secret that fast fashion is terrible for the environment. In fact, it’s part of the model. Tabi Jackson Gee from Refinery 29 states that when it comes to fast fashion, “making sure you’re not destroying the planet is close to impossible”. The data supports this, with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation claiming that 20% of water pollution in the world is credited to the textile industry. And it isn’t just the environment. Fast fashion is usually produced in what Environmental Health refers to as “LMICs” (Low-Middle Income Countries) due to their lack of labor laws. Fast production is a must, meaning low wages and harmful conditions for the workers that make your t-shirts. LMIC
08 | Overconsumption
factory employees constantly suffer from cancer, lung disease, reproductive complications, workplace-related injuries, and damage to hormone systems. Some of this is attributed to the use of cotton and polyester, which is both harmful to workers and makes up 90% of U.S. fashion. But the worst part is, this information isn’t secret. Many people are aware that their clothing comes from a less than ethical place. More than once have I heard friends joking about the children who make our shoes; laughing more out of discomfort than real malice. It seems to be a grim way to live a life: a constant understanding that you’ve contributed to some distant evil in the world. But yet we continue to buy more and more. Is Fashion
Only for the Rich? Some claim that fast fashion does not always lead to overconsumption. The one saving grace of fast fashion is that it is cheap. Some groups, particularly the lower class, buy fast fashion not out of a need for the newest trend, but because it is the only thing they can afford. I mean, if you only have twenty dollars, then the fifteen-dollar t-shirt is the only thing you can buy, fast-fashion or not. So the concern is this: it isn’t fair to expect people to pay more for clothing that is too expensive for them to buy comfortably. But what exactly is “buying comfortably”? Because while some cannot afford sustainable or more ethically sourced clothing, a large part of the middle class has enough disposable income to avoid fast fashion and choose not to. If we operate on the assumption that we want as much variety as possible, due to the social media hold, then why should we buy more expensive clothes when it forces us to buy less? Fast fashion wants us to overconsume; spend our three hundred dollars on thirty pieces of clothing, not five. There is a sort of comfort in getting the most bang for your buck, even when the moral cost is so much more.
This moral cost is justified by what Pookulangara and Shephard refer to as “social responsibility”. This is a classic philosophical debate: is it on the individual to change their habits for the moral good when the greater corporation will have much more influence? Do we each have a social responsibility to stop our own overconsumption? Or do we wait for the fashion industry to condemn the fast-fashion landscape that supports it? My gut answer is both. Find a middle ground: buy from companies that are cheaper but are also mindful of the impact they have on the environment and their workers. Police your own buying habits while also advocating for a better and more ethical industry. But fast fashion isn’t the only landscape for overconsumption. Thrifting and Overconsumption:
Gentrification Horrors A few years ago, I would have said that thrifting is the new trend, something fun but ultimately fleeting. But as the years have passed, I’ve come to realize that second-hand buying isn’t just a fad; members of younger generations consider it a lifestyle. A growing sense of environmental consciousness, as well as the rise in popularity of vintage clothing, made this possible. Unfortunately, although this is beneficial in terms of saving the planet, there are some deep-rooted issues with thrifting. An article from the Berkeley Economic Review discusses how, in the past, thrifting has been reserved for the lower classes. The stigmas about the “uncleanliness” of secondhand clothes have prevented the upper classes from partaking in this form of consumerism. But now, thrifting seems to be a rage amongst all classes, resulting in a rise in demand for secondhand clothing. If you’ve ever taken an economics class, you know that this means higher prices, especially in chain thrift stores. The article argues that, if this continues,
prices will become so high that the lower class, whom thrifting was first intended for, will no longer be able to afford it. This is clear gentrification of the secondhand clothing landscape. The connection between gentrification of thrifting and overconsumption is fairly easy to distinguish. If members of the middle class and upper class are buying thrifted clothes, they are likely to consume more because the prices are lower than new clothes. Similar to fast fashion, thrift shoppers want to get more goods out of the disposable income they spend, regardless of class. As “thrift hauls” rise, the higher the prices will get, causing a cycle of rising prices and consumption. And just because thrift clothes are more environmentally conscious does not mean that consumers will not throw them out at the same rate as new ones. Platforms for private second-hand selling, such as Depop and Poshmark, also contribute to gentrification. Today, it is common for second-hand sellers to go to thrift stores and buy clothing, only to resell them for a profit. These sellers are often buying large amounts of thrifted clothes at once, leading to both overconsumption and a lack of good, “fashionable” clothes for those who cannot afford new ones. This business isn’t the same thing as “pulling yourself up by your bootstraps’’. As Subaita Rahman states, there is an inherent privilege in being able to partake in
business ownership and becoming an entrepreneur. In actuality, secondhand selling is a wolf in trendy, vintage clothing. The ethicality of thrifting is an extremely nuanced debate. On one hand, it is better for the environment and a healthier alternative to fast fashion. But on the other hand, it contributes to the gentrification of working-class habits. Fast fashion hosts a similar debate, with its mass-produced clothes sometimes being the only affordable option for certain groups. This makes it hard to completely condemn fast fashion or completely affirm thrift shopping. The overconsumption landscape makes it nearly impossible to have an absolute moral win. The only way to succeed is a middle ground. Looking Forward and
Making Amends In a broader sense, the solution for more ethical fashion industry is to advocate for companies to have more ethical and environmentally friendly policies on the production side. Ethical fashion is what we are talking about when we think of a middle ground answer: do what you can about your buying habits. But the methods to fix overconsumption itself are much more clear-cut and much more personal.
Pookulangara and Shephard outline what is called the “slow fashion movement”, which involves buying fewer clothes, using sustainable fibers, and reducing waste. This movement focuses on quality over quantity, meaning that these consumers choose to spend their disposable income on a few high-quality products as opposed to many low-quality ones. This solution is, in a way, meant for the rich. However, it does allow for a better way to source your clothing. Other common solutions include capsule wardrobes and making your own clothes. Both of these have risen in popularity in the past few years. Capsule wardrobes are subscriptions to companies that lend you a new wardrobe every month. This prevents consumers from buying large quantities of clothes while still allowing them variety in their fashion choices. Additionally, due to the pandemic, many individuals have been using their free time to learn skills like knitting and sewing, offering more sustainable ways for them to acquire clothing. And with all that said, there is one clear solution: buying less. This requires us, as consumers, to demonstrate our own agency and fight against the social pressure of having lots of clothes that we do not need. Anyone can contribute to this solution: it isn’t just meant for one group or social class. If we strive to be conscious of how much we buy, then maybe we can stop the trend of overconsumption.
* In order to protect their identity, the names of sources in quotes are pseudonyms. Overconsumption | 09
the revival of
seventies fashion
Photographer Harleen Mander Model Navi Kaur
Seventies Fashion | 11
brand spotlight
Ysabel Hilado is one of the small business fashion designers we have had the pleasure of collaborating with over the past few months. Her pieces are streetwear-inspired with a feminine twist and are made with a focus on upcycling and sustainability. Whether it be creating a drawstring bag out of a skirt, designing a new collection made from eight pairs of thrifted jeans, or making simple and easy modifications to already-existing pieces, Ysabel brings new life to old clothes, sharing the beauty and potential in repurposing materials. Her love for fashion started at a young age — after using Pinterest and YouTube to learn sewing and design techniques at just 13, she began to make her own pieces. Her blog titled “Along the Lines of Ysabel” documenting her journey as a young fashion designer increased her social media presence and in 2015, she was selected as one of
12 | Ysabel Hilado
the twelve teenage designers on Project Runway Junior, Season 1. Since then, the Ysabel Hilado brand has expanded with multiple new collections but has also grown into Ysabel’s passion platform through which she hopes to inspire others through her fashion journey. She is currently attending CSU Long Beach studying Fashion Design and Fashion Merchandising. For one of the three photoshoots highlighting Ysabel’s work, to represent the inherent subjectivity in empathy, our models are wearing two of Ysabel’s patchwork pieces. Stitched together from fragments of old denim and thrifted finds, these unique and beautiful items are not only some of our staff’s favorite picks but perfectly capture the intricacy and intersectionality in every individual’s approach to caring for others.
Photographer David Castillo Models Michelle He and Sravya Balasa
16 | Ysabel Hilado
Photographer Harleen Mander Model Claire McNerney Stylist Lois Ramilo
18 | Ysabel Hilado
Ysabel Hilado | 19
22 | Ysabel Hilado
Photographer Angelina Dyrnaes Models Christopher Tran and Sandiela Dimatulac Stylist Elliot Varon
Ysabel Hilado | 23
brand spotlight
We are so excited to introduce the second designer in our slow-fashion brand collaboration: Natalia Trevino Amaro. Having grown up with an artistic childhood, Natalia had her heart set on fashion design at an early age. After learning to sew in high school and continuing to build her skills, she was accepted to the Fashion Institute of Technology’s international fashion design program, which allowed her to study design in Florence, Italy and New York City. During her time at FIT, she interned at Cucculelli Shaheen and attended Fashion Week in both Paris and Milan, which allowed her to enhance her knowledge of the fashion world and gain an inside look into the industry. After graduating from FIT, she launched her own brand in June 2020. The NTA brand embodies the classic, timeless, minimalist-contemporary wardrobe. Complete with universally-flattering silhouettes, intricate
24 | Natalia Trevino Amaro
detailing, and sleek fabrics, each piece is made so that wearers feel beautiful and confident in their own skin. Sustainability is also a huge component of the NTA brand, with all garments made using repurposed and/or low-carbon footprint materials. Thrifted fabrics and natural fibers, including cotton, bamboo, and hemp, are favorites of Natalia’s due to their natural biodegradability. Additionally, as a zero-waste designer, Natalia ensures that even deadstock fabrics and project leftovers are repurposed, creating new garments from these scraps. Everything, even down to her carbon-neutral shipping process and buyback policy, is truly artful, combining skillful technical mastery with environmental consciousness to produce something authentically beautiful. It’s the flawless execution of the classics, imbued with small details that add slight variation, that make up the NTA brand’s signature flair.
Photographer Sravya Balasa Model Raechel Untalan Stylists Michelle He and Vania Liu
Natalia Trevino Amaro | 27
28 | Natalia Trevino Amaro
30 | Natalia Trevino Amaro
Natalia Trevino Amaro | 31
finding grace
from the ruins
32 | Finding Grace From the Ruins
Photographer Harleen Mander Model Manjot Sahota
getting back into the rhythm
a new chapter for UCSD’s musicians
Pictured Garvin Singh
By Shimika Basuroy After more than a year of online school, fall quarter finally felt like a brief respite, as the campus awoke from its slumber and became alive once again with students rushing to class, socializing with friends, and putting on events for the UCSD community. For me, this revival of interpersonal connection was best captured by an open mic night hosted by the UCSD Musicians’ Club at M.O.M’s Cafe. My roommate had signed up to perform, and I’d promised her I would attend to cheer her on. I wasn’t sure what to expect — I had only been to one open mic night years ago — but it’s safe to say that it became one of the most memorable
nights of the quarter. The sheer talent and vulnerability of every performer, compounded with MOM’s cozy setup and the audience’s genuine love and enthusiasm, created a warm, intimate atmosphere that reminded me how precious human connection is.
The Pandemic Pause
That night clearly meant a lot to the performers, and I realized that for some of them, this might have been their first opportunity to perform in front of a live audience since the pandemic started. Inspired by what I saw at the mic night, I reached out to a few musicians at UCSD to hear about the pandemic’s impact on their artistic journeys, the importance of communities like Musicians’ Club, and
“Look, I was desperate!” laughs Moon Wahal, a master’s student and an outreach coordinator for Musicians’ Club. Moon’s impressive arsenal of musical talent includes singing, playing the guitar and synthesizer, and recently, making music via Excel spreadsheets. “Okay, you can’t actually make music with Excel,” she amends. “I was using it to map out ideas for rhythmic
how it feels to perform live again. Here are their stories.
“Excel!” I exclaim. “How does that even work?”
Getting Back Into the Rhythm | 35
Pictured Moon Wahal
structures. I had to do something!” She tries to explain how this works, but I’m admittedly a little lost. Nonetheless, I can tell how deeply it must have affected her to be unable to perform and work on music. She’d gotten stuck in another state when lockdown happened, and was forced to isolate for months, away from her beloved music equipment back home. She had to make do with what she had. For many budding musicians, the “pandemic pause” posed several challenges to pursuing their growth and identity as artists. The inability to physically practice and perform, like in Moon’s case, compounded with the lack of live performance opportunities stripped away many artists’ abilities to improve their musicianship, share their work, and achieve public recognition. “COVID was obviously detrimental to a lot of performing musicians,” says singer and pianist Mia Martin, a freshman. She had been performing for years as a member of her church band and at various events through her network of musician friends, and it was difficult not being able to showcase her craft to others. 36 | Getting Back Into the Rhythm
Prolonged isolation also challenged some artists’ mental health and drained their creative energy, as was the case for sophomore Azalea Segura-Mora, a sophomore. A singer, cellist, and guitarist who had formed a band in high school, she began exploring more solo work in college, dabbling in composing, writing lyrics, and experimenting more with her instruments. But navigating the loneliness of the pandemic combined with the adjustment to college was discouraging, musically, and Azalea’s creative output started to decline. “I was overwhelmed with dealing with college and living alone,” she admits. “It really affected my mental health not having music as a creative outlet.”
Silver Linings Yet there’s nothing quite like human resilience, and my interviewees proved to be prime examples as they learned to adapt to this new normal. Some reframed quarantine as an opportunity to tap into their creativity and make more time for a passion that might have gotten lost sometimes in the hustle of everyday life. Mia picked
up the guitar for the first time in two years, and had more time to listen to music, get inspired, and practice her craft. “I’m definitely a better performer coming out of this,” she reflects. “This setback was necessary for me to grow.” Garvin Singh, a senior and the president of Musicians’ Club, says that the pandemic allowed him “to dive into doing something new that [I] didn’t have time for.” Prior to COVID, he’d been in jazz band in both high school and at UCSD, and had gotten involved with Musicians’ Club his sophomore year. But though he’d been active in UCSD’s music community, he never had the time to realize his ambitions for creating and putting out his own music. During quarantine, he learned how to produce, and started posting his own music on SoundCloud and Spotify (find him at Blue Mango!) Furthermore, as the country grappled with racial violence and social unrest the past year, he found a way to give back to his community by running a charity project, where he would collect donations from people in return for
creating music for them. And though campus activities remained closed for most of last year, the members of Musicians’ Club still sought to keep UCSD’s music community alive. After reuniting with her beloved musical equipment (no more Excel music, woo!) and starting her grad program at UCSD, Moon joined Musician’s Club and participated in several virtual events, such as collaborative songwriting sessions and a virtual open mic. Finding other musicians to bounce ideas off of encouraged her to tap back into her creative spirit and prepare for the day she could perform live again. She even formed three bands during quarantine which included other Musicians’ Club members!
Returning to the Stage As COVID restrictions eased and UCSD finally welcomed students back, the live music scene was revived, breathing new energy back into musicians like Azalea who had been suffering from a pandemic slump. Azalea is regularly making music now, and she credits the community and
performance opportunities Musicians’ Club offers for motivating her to put herself back out there and perform again. Azalea’s first performance happened somewhat surprisingly. She’d been put on the waitlist for an open mic at the Che Cafe, and had attended with no expectations of performing that night. But, space suddenly cleared up and she was offered a spot. “I almost backed out,” she admits. “I was not prepared!” But in hindsight, she says, she actually did better than she might have if she had been prepared, because she didn’t have the chance to get nervous. She was operating off of pure adrenaline, but the crowd fully reciprocated her energy, which made her feel incredibly supported. Emboldened by this experience, she signed up for another open mic. This time, although she was nervous to perform a song she hadn’t practiced extensively, she was willing to take the risk because it was a song she loved, and once again, the audience enthusiastically cheered her on. “Since coming here, I’ve been a solo
artist, so I have been incredibly nervous performing, but the audience has made all the difference giving me so much love,” she shares. “It feels so intimate and special to share this part of me with the UCSD community.” Moon’s first performance was also memorable. She was slated to perform at a mic night hosted jointly by Musicians’ Club and KSDT Radio, but had gotten injured that day and had to perform sitting down. Although she was a little disappointed she couldn’t show off her normally high-octane style, she was nevertheless able to get into the groove of things, and recalls how amazing it felt to be back.” When I ask her to describe the feeling of performing in front of a live crowd, she mulls over the question briefly, before replying “I don’t feel like myself, in the best possible way. Does that make sense?” Performing aside, Moon and Garvin, as board members of Musicians’ Club, have found joy in creating opportunities for student performers to share their work with the rest of the UCSD community.
Pictured Azalea Segura-Mora
Getting Back Into the Rhythm | 37
Pictured Mia Martin
38 | Getting Back Into the Rhythm
“
i don’t feel like myself, in the best possible way. moon wahal
“It’s really rewarding to see people break out of their shell and vibe with the crowd’s energy,” Garvin shares. Musicians’ Club gave Moon an inspiring, supportive community and a space to grow musically, and she now wants to pay that love forward.
Looking Ahead So what’s next for all of these artists? Moon and Garvin inform me that Musicians’ Club has a lot in store for the rest of the school year, including Iconic, a large-scale production where students perform “iconic” songs from the last 40-50 years. Moon is also gearing up for upcoming performances with friends, and Garvin is jumping back into jazz band and preparing some solo projects, with hopes of playing his own show one day. Mia and Azalea want to grow as songwriters, and hope to inspire and comfort others by sharing their personal stories through their music. You can listen to Azalea’s original songs on her YouTube channel (asália), so be sure to check her out!
The pandemic may have thrown things off track, but these musicians have bounced back with renewed gusto and are ready to tackle this new chapter. “I’m a more comfortable performer now compared to before the pandemic,” says Mia. “This is where I need to be.” To those of you who are just starting to get your feet wet as a musician, are dealing with a slump, or feel nervous about performing, the best advice these artists can give you is to put yourself out there and get involved with UCSD’s music community. “You don’t have to go through the process alone,” says Azalea. “The first step is to just start and get yourself into one mic night or performance. It can be scary because you’re being vulnerable, but there’s a lot of good people out there that will support you.” Garvin promises that Musicians’ Club has something for everyone, no matter what stage you’re at in your musical journey. “All of us understand, and there’s a breadth of experience here to draw on. It’s so important to find other people, and Musicians’ Club is a place for that.” Moon captures the spirit of the music community most succinctly. “Just, I love you,” she says simply. “We all do.”
Getting Back Into the Rhythm | 39
in bloom
Photographer Michelle He Model Ria Coen Gilbert Stylist Deepti Rema In Bloom | 41
what we deserve By Danielle Hernandez Time heals all wounds Wounds heal over time Healing requires time For these wounds to unravel Healing requires travel Wounds need space and time Time is an antidote, an answer A gift, maybe a prayer Because time heals all wounds But time is but an instrument And we, the agents That wield it The secret is If we wish to heal our wounds, We must make use of our time. So, we become intentional About the space and spaces we’re creating For ourselves and for others If we can offer ourselves the space to feel All the darker parts of us, All the darker emotions That we, consciously or unconsciously, suppress Out of fear Or for survival, I hope we’d learn to see the reality Of our own desensitization How we’ve allowed for this numbness Within bodies which were made to feel I hope we don’t allow our bitterness, numbness To turn into violence That harms ourselves And harms each other
What We Deserve | 45
So maybe if we become honest About where we’re hurting About the sadness that has hardened Into anger, anxiety and envy Maybe we’ll find we don’t have to succumb To the frequencies of shame and fear Shame for all our insecurities, for where we don’t measure up, for the parts of ourselves that we hate And for fear that we will never see versions of ourselves that we can be proud of Shame for all the hurt we’re capable of placing onto one another through competition, greed, miscommunication, rage And for fear that we will never reach a version of the world that we can be proud of So we learn that we must resist Staying stagnant in the shame We must resist falling Into the fear Despite how tempting it’s been to spiral And we’ll make space For fearlessness, for tenderness Softening in the ways We were never allowed to When the world has weaponized Our emotions against us Embracing community Despite how they demonize love’s existence We become intentional with our connection to ourselves and with each other.
46 | What We Deserve
Photographer Sravya Balasa Model Vivian Yan Stylists Deepti Rema, Michelle He, and Lois Ramilo
From there, we find that the self is connected to this grander collective That to heal ourselves, to heal the wounds that separate hope from our bodies means to heal means to heal each other I think that it’s time To trust in our collective healing To be driven fierce by love, And to lead with a gentleness that others may have never tasted before. So, we nurture and nourish now because this collective healing, our collective revival is here, if that’s what we choose.
What We Deserve | 49
new moon Photographer Harleen Mander Model Navi Kaur
New Moon | 51
52 | New Moon
florescence By Sarah Min On the shelf Red and green Now singed in tobacco hue Once life Once earth Once promise Now gone dull and blue But in spring, She cut the stem From rotting roots And the leaves are born anew. So I finally ask myself, How can I be born again, too?
54 | Florescence
to live again By Sarah Min Again, again Laced shoes undone once more I could stand where I am As thoughts of all the steps that took me here Eventually run their course
Again, again Laced shoes undone once more I could stand where I am Or lift that shoe Once undone, And look to something more.
To Live Again | 55
empathy
Photographer David Castillo Models Michelle He and Sravya Balasa
Empathy | 57
begin again Photographer Lois Ramilo Stylist Lois Ramilo Model Clara Pham
58 | Begin Again
revival:
from our community
Artist Laine Bradley A watercolor and ink self portrait. Originally this was going to be a larger acrylic piece; however, I got COVID and had to be moved into isolation housing, only managing to bring some watercolors with me. Although it was frustrating at first, being limited to only specific mediums helped me think outside the box. Additionally, the free time in isolation definitely helped me make more art than I normally would. The circumstances it was made under certainly connect to the need to adapt in order to stay hopeful during unpredictable change.
60 | Revival: From Our Community
nightstand: an ode to opulence
Photographer Dre Angelo This still-life diptych centers around opulence, spirituality, and self-care. It’s a celebration of everything to manifest moving forward: luxury, whimsicality, and abundance. Since revival is about breathing new life into the old, the piece features only upcycled, vintage, and heirlooms. Through lush fabrics, vibrant colors, and shimmer I translate aspirations such as self-care, spirituality, and comfort into a diptych. The still life on the nightstand is a reminder that the nighttime presents the opportunity to reflect and recharge towards brighter days.
Revival: From Our Community | 61
dreams project
This mini series represents the internal revival I had coming out of a fight with mental illness and being okay with not understanding what is inside my mind. I hoped to capture the warmth of revival, a warmth that I went through after a hard internal battle during the pandemic. However, I also hope to capture how disconnected and lost you can feel in this warmth. For me feeling better is not about feeling whole. I am better but I am still lost. Photographer Sahil Gathe
62 | Revival: From Our Community
Revival: From Our Community | 63
08 | Light and Dark
trend’s tunes musical picks from our staff
double take • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • dhruv Mystery Lady (feat. Don Toliver) • • • • Masego, Don Toliver anemone • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • slenderbodies Cooks • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Still Woozy SOMEBODY • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • keshi Cig • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Baby FuzZ Mantra • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Kaz Moon Midnight Charm • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Jenevieve Sauce • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Remi Wolf
Trend’s Tunes | 65
Photographer Sravya Balasa
FW 2022
@trenducsd trend.ucsd.edu