THEME MAGAZINE issue 8

T H E M E PAGES

JOYS OF YOUTH page 4 Tween lil Ms. big hair shoot

AZIA PROOF page 24 Our talent of the hour

READY page 8 Check out Brandon Jerrod

SATURDAY NIGHT page 40 model bathed in red

JOYFUL STROLL page 12 Amazing night shoot with Patricia & Anthony

ON MY RIDE page50 Have camera will travel

JOYEUX page 18 Awa displays her model prowess PURE JOY page 32 Extreme color popping bueaty shoot

PHASE ONE page 53 A great article on black owned businesses by Shade Newkirk

EDITOR’S VIEW Hey one in all another year is about to end and what have we learned? What I internally take in from this end of the year is a mixture of hope which brings a little bit of joy.

I’ve experience a regime change at the top in the middle of the photo shoot for pure joy. We were in the photo studio well we heard what seem to be just a bunch of people yelling as almost if they were fighting outside. As we turn down the music we started to realize that it was people rejoicing in the streets. New York just recognize that Joe Biden had become our president. This gave everybody in the studio at that moment a chance to rejoice because we were so encourage that our voice in some sort of way mattered. That in some strange way we weren’t just crying tears an echo chamber of nothing. In other directions, do you know that we may be on the end of this whole pandemic as vaccines are being developed and may be to us by the beginning of spring. We decided to name this magazine enjoy due to the fact if we’ve been through so much darkness within the last year. 2020 has not been the best for all of us.

So we want to make some kind of distraction until the vaccines for our souls could be presented before us.

In this issue we’ve gotten a chance to sit down and put together a photo shoot with the amazingly talented and versatile AZIA. She absolutely killed it in the studio that day. It also help that we had a dedicated crew who work their rear ends off to get the job done correctly. The visuals are out of control. I am also proud to see our first ever tween model in THEME magazine.

Last but not least, check out our new addition called on the road.

Adventures as we go through a normal day with a photographer journey through local neighborhoods in different environments.

JOYS of

YOUTH

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JULIAN PEEPLES STYLIST LeANAREE MODEL LIL MS. BIG HAIR AKA CHARLI’

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READY Model Brandon Jerrod Photographer Anthony Josey

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JOYFUL STROLL Photographer Anthony Josey . Model Patricia Alves

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JOYEUX A‘ NEW YORK

MODEL AWA . PHOTOS & CLOTHES BY BAILEY.IV . MAKEUP RAVEN MILLER

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PURE JOY PHOTOS BY BAILEY.IV MODEL EMILY OPPER MUA & STYLING GABRIELLE GODINO ARTICLE BY ELIZABETH KIER

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Explosions of pure color follow in hues of red and blue: In the next image, she’s dreaming of more vibrant nights in grounding taupe eye shadow and statement bead necklace in teal.

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This flawless beauty is opening her gold glittered eyes to the entire world of joy seen through the foil wrappings.

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H er bold red lips and that laser gaze pierce through angelic layers of white tulle, resulting in a presence of emotion that emerges from her quietly penetrating mind.

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AZIA

PROOF

Agency: @theevoagency Stylist: @shademarshelenewyork Photographer: @bailey.iv Hair: @skye_dior Makeup: @callme_bonnie Venue: @bronx.photo Talent : @azia.iam

Bustier by Fanny J Skirt JVAL by Jordan Valois Belt by Dsquared Gloves, shoes & jewelry by Stylists Own

AZIA (Pronounced as “AY-Z-YAH”) is a Recording Artist, Actress, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist & Star of BET’s new reality show entitled, Hustle in Brooklyn. Azia loves to showcase her multiple talents when it comes to acting, modeling, and designing. Before all the success,fame and the game, Azia was a creative little girl following her dreams in New York City. Brooklyn, to be exact , and that’s where all her sassiness was born. “Haitian mixed with Trini” was something Azia never shied away from in discussion.

In fact, one of her hottest singles entitled “Pull Up” shows her embracing her coconut Caribbean roots. The musical origins derived early on from her father who has more than enough credits in the music industry to back her up. As a teenager, she hosted parties and a cable access tv show called Flex in Brooklyn

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Her video credits include “Panda” from Desiigner, “Change Your Mind” from Trey Songz, and “Pick it Up” from Famous Dex, just to name a few.

Azia was also featured in Kanye West’s “Yeezy Season” and Nike’s “Caribbean Pack”. After releasing her Debut EP “The Audacity” she has proven that she can hang and bang among the greats. Scheduled to come with much anticipation, her new EP will release in the winter of 2019, aligned with some other big projects in the works. Azia is an undeniable impact in the music industry.

Dress by Videmus Omnia Shoes by Josephine Valarie Necklace by Stylist’s own

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Jacket by Stevie Boi Shorts CHAR Workroom Hat. top, glasses & Shoes by Stylists Own

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Jacket Stylists Own Belt Stylists Own Earrings Stylists Own Shoes Guiseppe Zanotti

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PHOTOGRAPHY & CLOTHES BY BAILEY.IV MODEL IS TIAN-YI CHANG MAKEUP BY RAVEN MILLER WRITER ELIZABETH KIER

SATURDAY

NIGHT

70s The magic wonder-key to transcend the usual decades while hinting at hot style moments is now made iridescently possible by layering only the best textures for a Friday night galivant. Specifically, in this new Age of Aquarius, a glam rock constellational blazer is nothing to shrug at. Whether you stargaze or straddle social distancing measures like a masked butterfly in the night, this piece has the lift to attract blazing looks.

Up-and-coming fashion titan Chris Bailey presided over its design and styling.

The magic wonder-key to transcend the usual decades while hinting at hot style moments is now made iridescently possible by layering only the best textures for a Friday night galivant. Specifically, in this new Age Now, of Aquarius, a glam rockin if you dare to flare constellational blazer is nothing to shrug at. Whether you stargaze or straddle social distancing measures like a masked gold faux leather, then walk butterfly in the night, this piece has the lift to attract blazing looks. Up-and-coming fashionthose titan treasured Chris Bailey presided gams right on over its design and styling. through lockdown or sun-

down, whichever suits your healthy body temperature and fluctuating regulations.

(Saturday Night Fever is for watching, not for catching, right!?)

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While you’re out, these black patent booties were made for your favorite stomping grounds. Pair them with a twist of stripes.

The It-Girls know that provocative prints catapulted from retro kitty silhouettes to modern eyes and lips along with the advent of photo-realistic fabrics while society got a grip on its flashy machinery. Orange lift, anybody? Errr, make that a hot toddy - with alcohol or simply herbal.

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Speaking of steamy chamomile, the sweetest night crawl ensemble of them all throws a nod to the revered High-Waisted Jean via a hint of relaxed denim corset. Layer it over a free flowing festival-esque peachy metallic dress and strappy nude heels The key accessory swings on a strand of statement pearls while you’re standing piping warm under a perfectly neutral furry coat with extra billowy sleeves. It all sets the perfect tone for red lips to seal That 70’s-Fusion Show of style prowess.

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ON MY RIDE

BY CHRISTOPHER BAILEY

Nikon D800 In these times of Covid I decided to buy myself a scooter. The idea was that I was not going to catch this virus while sitting in a train or a bus.

But this presented a whole new world to me.

Places that I would previously walk to gave me an opportunity to get there far faster and explore the land a little bit more. I will have to take my camera with me just to give me an opportunity to use my scooter over and over again.

When I didn’t have my camera I used my smart phone. Here are some of the great shots I’ve gotten on some of my great adventures with my scooter. Enjoy.

IPHONEXR

Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Nikon D3400

PHASE ONE BACK TO BLACK Shade’ Newkirk of Shade’ Marshele New York

Before the world shut down, Black creatives in the fashion industry were in a boxing ring surrounded by an arena full of noise, unheard and overlooked.

When phase one of quarantine went into effect, we had no choice but to be left in the ring with our opponents, forcing all eyes on us. The flaws and racial complexities of both the fashion industry and the country at large were magnified, obliging everyday people to pay more attention to humanistic issues they didn’t have time to combat while navigating through their pre-pandemic lives. I wholeheartedly give credit to the pandemic for making us reset and go back to Black. There’s something about fighting together that drives us to reach our fullest potential.

During phase one, Black creatives realized how underrepresented, underpaid, under supported and underappreciated they were. It took a pandemic to motivate us to push forward in our excellence. With the world being shut down, creatives were forced to re-invent, strategize and improvise their crafts by digging deeper into creative spaces in order to generate income and make ends meet. In the same way pressure makes diamonds; Black creatives started recognizing one another, creating platforms to highlight Black businesses, paying homage to legends who paved the way, opening businesses and investing in financial literacy; all while holding businesses and big brands accountable for their diversity initiatives and reserving open seats at the table. Platforms supporting and highlighting black owned businesses, such as Black Owned Everything, founded and curated by Zerina Akers-endorsed by Beyoncé Knowles-Carter was birthed. The Black In Fashion Council, founded by Lindsay Peoples Wagner and Sandrine Charles, was launched bringing us back to Black, proving there were changes that needed to be made and there was more room for Black creatives to support one another.

We can’t expect other people to accept, acknowledge, amplify, celebrate, support, and showcase our work if we don’t do it first.

While fighting for a seat at the table, we were also fighting for our lives. Phase one allowed us to look at the world around us beyond our own backyards. Being Black is not temporary or a part time job. Who we are and what we embody is a 24/7-365 full time experience. 2020 made us realize we were still fighting the same fight our great-grandparents fought to get us where we are politically, economically, socially, educationally and artistically. The country we pledged liberty and justice for all wasn’t reciprocating its vows, so creatives took to the streets. We spoke up, we fought back, and we stood for something greater than ourselves. It was greater than our latest sketch, runway walk, spring/summer collection and fashion week show. We used everything we had as Black creatives to get our messages across. We turned our pain into poetry and our anger into art. We went back to Black!

For once, the spotlight was on us.

We demanded change that needed to be made in order to excel in an industry that is still predominantly occupied by our white counterparts. Brands started to listen and joined in unity. Brands such as

Marc Jacobs, Alexander McQueen, Area, Versace, Fendi, Supreme, Prada, Dior and Burberry offered support by sharing resources, making donations and diversifying their corporate teams in solidarity of its employees, industry counterparts, celebrity clients and target audience. While some responses to the cause seemed like a PR move, the unity across the fashion industry was well received. This was a long overdue victory for Black creatives, deriving from a place where many high-end brands have misappropriated the culture. Making a mockery of past traumas through misinformed advertisements, insensitive visuals, lack of representation, offensive verbiage and careless efforts. It is imperative for Black creatives to continue applying pressure by holding brands accountable, in order for the effects of change and diversity to become long term. Since the start of the pandemic, it has put a spotlight on the imperfections of the industry. However, I’m confident it will start to shift in a more inclusive direction. Regardless, one thing we can’t deny is it pushed us to prioritize ourselves and motivated us to get BACK TO BLACK.