THE FUTURE OF FASHION, CULTURE & TECH
John Ashford ATTENTION TO DETAIL
THE FASHION ISSUE
VOL 40
FASHION & ART COLLIDE IN OUR SPECIAL 40TH VOLUME
RAINE HITS THE BIG 40!
contents 07 FASHION AI Fashion Designer & Publisher Ugyen Wangmo, Vontelle Fashion Eyewear, Metri Holliday Purposeful Fashion, Muldooneys Luxury Fashion, Ready for Cannes
29 CULTURE Dylan Martinez Blowing the Art World Away, Photographer Lucas Fengzhao Xu, Interior Designer Bilal Rehman, Sunkissed Safari with Nova Lorraine, Runway Ranch, Empower = Me Power, Story Time, The Elephante in the Studio
66 COVER STORY ATTENTION TO DETAIL: John Ashford
75 TECHNOLOGY Women in Web 3, Vibracool, AbleFit: Master Your Breath and Unlock Your Potential, 12 Top AI Creators: Threads of the Future
FOUNDER, CREATIVE DIRECTOR & EDITOR IN CHIEF
NOVA LORRAINE WRITERS
EDITORIAL TEAM
TIMOTHY NEILL Features Writer
EMMALINE STODDARD Features Writer
MURRAY BLEHART Managing Editor
MURRAY BLEHART Features Writer
BRYSON LITTLEJOHN Features Writer
EMMALINE STODDARD Asst. Managing Editor
SOCIAL MEDIA
CREATIVE DESIGNER
SAGE LITTLEJOHN
ANNA JOHNSON
FEATURES PHOTOGRAPHER & EDITORIAL CONTENT DIRECTOR VITAL AGIBALOW
COVER CREDITS JOHN ASHFORD Designer
TOM MARVEL Photographer
NIKKI JELIN Makeup
GEORGE GRIERSON Hair
KELSEY LIAN Model
RAINE MAGAZINE NEW YORK * LA * MIAMI Raine Magazine is a trademark of Raine Creative Holdings LLC and is published biannually. All logos, and articles are copyrighted materials and all rights are reserved. Any reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of Raine Creative Holdings is prohibited. The publisher also reserves the right to refuse any advertising material for any reason deemed inappropriate by the publisher. To distribute Raine Magazine at your business, please email editors@rainemagazine.com
RAINE MAGAZINE INQUIRIES submissions@rainemagazine.com
Editors Note WELCOME TO RAINE MAGAZINE VOLUME 40 Dear Raine Readers, As I write this note, I can’t help but reflect on the incredible journey we’ve embarked upon together. What began as a humble vision has evolved into a vibrant vision of creativity, innovation, and inspiration, and it’s all thanks to you, our dedicated readers and passionate contributors.
But this 40th issue is not just about looking forward; it’s also about cherishing our rich history. We revisit some of our most iconic moments, reacquaint you with memorable features, and pay tribute to the incredible talents who have graced our pages.
“Raine Magazine: Where Fashion, Culture, and Technology Converge.” These words have guided us through the years, propelling us to explore the ever-evolving intersection of these dynamic realms. In this landmark issue, we revisit our roots and celebrate the essence of what makes Raine Magazine unique.
As we celebrate this milestone, we want to express our deepest gratitude to our incredible team, past and present, who have poured their passion into every page. To our readers, you are the heartbeat of Raine Magazine. Your enthusiasm, curiosity, and hunger for the future propel us forward.
For almost two decades, we’ve had the privilege of showcasing emerging talent and established celebrities and luminaries alike. In these pages, you’ll find the rising stars who are redefining fashion, culture, and technology. Their stories are as diverse and electrifying as the industries they represent. From trailblazing fashion designers who challenge the status quo to cultural icons who remind us of the power of storytelling, this issue is a testament to the dynamism of human creativity. We delve into the avant-garde, the unconventional, and the groundbreaking, uncovering the trends and visionaries that will shape the next era.
So, join us on this journey through the future of fashion, culture, and technology. Embrace the diversity of voices, perspectives, and talents that have made Raine Magazine a lighthouse of inspiration for 40 incredible issues. Thank you for being a part of our story! With immense gratitude,
NOVA LORRAINE Founder I Editor In Chief
READY FOR CANNES PHOTOGRAPHED by VITAL AGIBALOW for HENSEL
BIBHU MOHAPATRA Fashion Collection S/S 2024 STYLIST CAT POPE HAIR by JOSEPH DiMAGGIO MAKEUP by JENNY SMITH MANICURE by PATTIE YANKEE JEWELRY - LASSANAI CRYSTALS - PRECIOSA HANDBAGS - RAIFFE BELTS - BRAVE EYEWEAR - iC-BERLIN x BIBHU
ART
DYLAN MA
Dylan Martinez earned his MFA in Glass at Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana. He has studied with master craftsmen across the U.S. and abroad. His artwork is regularly exhibited throughout the US and internationally. Dylan’s artwork is held in several international public and private collections, most nota-
bly, the Imagine Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida. Martinez has been featured in several publications. Dylan designs and creates all his work by hand in his studio in Bingen, Washington. Dylan’s artwork often examines the boundaries of human perception. His work challenges the viewer’s expectations through the
manipulation of light, space, and the optical properties of glass. While steeped in the traditional techniques in glass making, he constantly strives to discover novel approaches to exploit the material. His hyper-realistic water bag sculptures often trick viewers into believing the glass objects are water-filled plastic bags.
ARTINEZ
Blowing the Art World Away
With his latest series, Dylan introduces colorinto his work for the first time in a few years with his solid sculpted Pac-Man-inspired ghosts that lure the viewer in with their simplistic design and ethereal luminosity RAINE: What made you sign up for the introductory art course in glass in college?
Even if it was a requirement, why glass and not other forms of art (like drawing or pottery)? DYLAN MARTINEZ: I remember walking by the studio one day and seeing someone working with hot glass for the first time and I knew I had to try it. The material is just so exciting. There aren’t many universities that
offer glass-blowing, so I recognized what a rare opportunity it was. As a science major, I somehow got lucky and snagged a spot in the class which was usually reserved for art students. I was never good at 2-D works like drawing or painting, but I excelled at ceramics and wood class in high school. The fire, molten
WRITING
Storytime FASHION IS FREEDOM Many writers find it increasingly challenging to get seen and heard. Raine Magazine, always seeking the new and exciting, has created the Storytime Short Story feature. The word limit for each submitted entry in this second edition was 350 words. After putting out a call for writers on our website and via Facebook and Instagram, we received poetry from new writers Lexi Merring and Bonita Menezes on this edition’s topic: Fashion is Freedom. Enjoy!
All AI Images by Bryson Littlejohn
Fashion is Freedom By Benita Menezes To the young girl who sketches.
Fashion is freedom,
We’re finally on the path we wanted to be
Designing the pretty bright clothes,
To the teenager in college.
walking,
On the back of her notes.
She’s finally here,
Fashion is freedom,
In design classes, let’s kill it.
Fashion is freedom, To the adult here now.
To the young girl in art class.
Fashion is freedom,
We are still quite on our way,
Now she doesn’t want to draw fruits,
To the young adult in her show.
But God! It feels so much more comfortable
The dress sketch feels like a far better pursuit.
This graduation was immense,
somehow.
Fashion is freedom,
She can finally see what she would draw.
Fashion was always freedom,
To the teenager who shops.
Fashion is freedom,
To the adult who began in art class.
Is there ever going to be,
To the young adult working.
We will make it our career,
The exact clothes as she draws?
Let’s always keep exploring,
Is there any better task?
The Elephante In the Studio
MUSIC
A
wildly innovative producer, artist, and songwriter fusing melodic electraonic dance music with pop, blues, rock, and other genres, Elephante (American musical artist Tim Wu) is living what many people might call “The American Dream”. As the son of Taiwanese immigrants, his Asian-American upbringing in Michigan was unique and sometimes isolating. He graduated from Harvard University and entered corporate America at a top global consultant firm – thoroughly disliked it - and pursued his passion in music. To date, he’s garnered hundreds of millions of streams across his two indie EPs: I Am The Elephante (2016), a nine-track exploration of progressive house, synthpop and trap; and Glass Mansion (2018), which shot to #1 on iTunes! U.S. Dance chart. His upcoming project, Heavy Glow, represents his first full-length studio album, a largely solo effort further pushing the boundaries of dance music, featuring the debut single, “High Water.” Elephante has headlined two sold-out national tours, played nightlife residencies including those at Hard Rock and Wynn Las Vegas, and appeared at major music festivals such as Lollapalooza, EDC Las Vegas, and Electric Zoo.
attention to
Detail
Designer
John Ashford
COVER STORY
J
ohn Ashford is a shoe designer, visual artist, illustrator, photographer, stylist, author, and teacher. After graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University with a major in Commercial Art, Ashford traveled to many cities in the United States and around the world.
He learned the process of constructing the perfect stylish and comfortable shoe from an old veteran cobbler in Naples, Italy.
His shoes have also been in numerous high fashion magazines. Additionally, he has made shoes for celebrities such as Wendy Williams, Alicia Keys, Ashanti, Paris Hilton, and many, more. His limited-edition shoe line is currently sold online, in select stores in Canada, select boutiques in the US, and the John Ashford Showroom in New York City. His limited-edition Sneaker line is called J-Ash.
Marrying those exquisite lessons and his natural artistic ability, he created The John Ashford Collection in 2003.
RAINE: Why did you pursue a career in designing shoes?
In late 2012, he birthed Authentic by John Ashford. This unique brand defines couture with high fashion art. Each shoe is an artistic masterpiece that is hand-crafted and signed by John Ashford himself.
JOHN ASHFORD: I pursued a career in designing shoes because an Italian cobbler saw that I had a passion for art, and he was excited about teaching me. I was doubtful at first, but then believed I would become successful at it.
His shoe collection has been featured around the world - including Africa, England, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Switzerland, and many other countries.
RAINE: When did you fall in love with art and why?
ASHFORD: I fell in love with art when I was a small child. The earliest memory was when I was four years old, and I was writing my name on the wall in my bedroom. By the time I got to the second letter, my mom disciplined me and let me know not to draw on the walls. The next day, she brought me a little black book with white pages in it. I started drawing lines, crooked lines, broken lines, wavy lines, and circular lines. That was the beginning moment of my art career. RAINE: Where do you get the inspiration for your shoes?
“
ASHFORD: I get inspiration from nature.
I love colors and textures. Water is a stimulant in my ideas. Transparency is a beautiful contour to fashion.
RAINE: What drew you to become an art teacher, and what impact do you want to have? ASHFORD: When I grew up, I was the youngest between my sister and I. Many of the kids in my neighborhood were either three years older or three years younger. The majority of the children were not my age. As I became a teenager, I learned that I had acquired so much from the older kids. In turn, I ended up being a role model to the younger kids. By the time I finished college, I realized that I had a powerful voice and wanted to uplift other artists like myself. I wanted every artist to be in charge of their own art and manage their own artwork. As an art teacher, I have seen countless students come back years after graduation to say, “Thank you for teaching me this or that!” It makes me proud to know I helped a student become a better person in life. RAINE: What is your favorite place that you have traveled to, and how did that make you a better designer?
women in web 3 T
he world of Web3 and all things Blockchain, crypto, AI, and Metaverse is swiftly evolving. Artistic, talented creators have found a medium where their voices can be heard loud and clear. Among the newly empowered creatives entering Web3, there are a host of phenomenal women leading the way. Raine Magazine caught up to several and asked them about what drives/motivates them.
“
Everyone working in the space is trying to address a challenge, but they’re doing it with a mindset of collaboration and support.
Competition is taking the backseat in this “co-era” where collaboration, community, and co-creation is the ethos. In a world that is littered with negative headlines, strife and seemingly insurmountable challenges, the Web3 space is the opposite. It is positive with a can-do attitude of “we, the people”. It is a collection of people who see a future that looks different (and better) from what media is showing us. Web3 gives us the opportunity to start thinking bigger and doing bigger, because we don’t place limits on what we think
Dr. Annelize Booysen
is possible. What drives me is actually something different. My natural tendency is to look for patterns and finding better ways of doing what we’re doing.
Dr. Annelize Booysen is the founder-architect
RAINE: What drives you/motivates you to be part
SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) are
of Your Global Village, an immersive virtual
of the Web3 movement?
the driving force of an economy but I see a lot of
village for global-minded business owners who want to keep up with the tech changes to ensure they remain relevant over the next decade. A global citizen, having lived in 9 countries on 4 continents, she’s used her international perspective and her background in economics to create a vibrant business community that facilitates personal connection and enables
inefficiencies, and therefore waste, in how we do ANNELIZE BOOYSEN: What motivates me to be
things. Web3 and virtual worlds are giving us the
part of the Web3 movement is the pure poten-
chance to rethink things, create efficiencies, and
tiality of it. We’ve had these moments in history
explore more opportunities for business owners
before but what is different this time is that the
across the globe, regardless of size.
potential is within reach of everyone, not just a handful of people. I believe that most people have
Web3, for me, is as much a set of tools as it is a
the desire to make a positive difference in the
mindset. The key ingredients are curiosity and a
world. Technology is now handing us the tools to
belief that anything is possible, without being Pol-
achieve this, no matter who you are.
lyanna-ish. Web3 is clear-minded about the issues we have to fix but it is also starry-eyed about the
time-strapped entrepreneurs to prepare for
Something else that motivates me about the
possibilities to do so. That is a great combination
the Future of Business, without complexity or
Web3 movement is the positive energy that fuels
for moving things forward, as history has already
the need for a big budget.
it.
shown us.
12 TOP AI
CREATORS THREADS OF THE FUTURE
T
he “THREADS OF THE FUTURE” - AI Fashion Creator” contest was a spectacular showcase of innovation and creativity, where 12 exceptionally talented AI artists ventured into uncharted territory.
Together with Forward Fashion Toronto and Uwangmo Magazine, Raine Magazine went on the hunt for top AI creators. We want to give a special recognition to the top three artists of our twelve which are: Marcel Serrano, Nasim Majidizanjani, and Tapan Aslot. From the world of abstract art to the realms of elegant menswear, these designers showcased their creative AI muscle with their unique design concepts. In a fashion industry evolving at breakneck speed, this event demonstrated the convergence of fashion and emerging technology. It was nothing short of a glimpse into the future of fashion, where AI-driven creations stand at the forefront of design. Each submission was a testament to the boundless possibilities that AI offers to the world of fashion. The intricate
patterns, bold color palettes, and avant-garde designs underscored the limitless potential of artificial intelligence as a creative partner. To all the artists who poured their passion and ingenuity into this contest, we extend our heartfelt congratulations. Your forward facing works have not only redefined the boundaries of fashion but have also set the stage for a future where human creativity and AI innovation coexist harmoniously. As a community, we are thrilled to welcome you to the Raine family of rising stars. Your talents and dedication align perfectly with our mission to foster the next generation of creative pioneers. Together, we will continue to explore the uncharted territories of fashion and technology, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. A big thank you to Baris Gencel for his support to our editorial teams as a contributing judge. Special mention to AI / CC (AI Creator Community) for all you do to support this growing industry.
AI TOP 12
MARCEL SERRANO From Barcelona, Brazilian designer Marcel Serrano fuses design, street art, and fashion with artificial intelligence to push creative boundaries. After honing his vibrant aesthetic with major fashion brands for over a decade, Marcel now explores how technologies like AI and AR can redefine his artwork.
As a muralist, Marcel is integrating augmented reality to make his murals interactive portals. While fashion has always been a passion, Marcel is now focused on learning how to use artificial intelligence in his creative process. In just over a year, AI has become an indispensable part of his creative toolkit.
Raine Magazine | Vol 40
87