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Welspun announces the opening of its new, branded, creative space at the Penthouse of 10W33 St. called “ The Creative CO/Lab.” It is a space for total creative collaboration and product ideation blended in a holistic fashion, an entirely new thought process. In addition, we are announcing the launch of a collaboration series that is between Welspun and the inﬂuential creative community. By engaging with entirely legitimate brands with preexisting histories, we aim to bring partnership, creativity, and scale to creatives deserving of a larger stage. Each series will cluster around a common theme, in this case:

“CULTURAL REPRESENTATION”

CMY

Born in San Francisco, Peter Som launched his award-winning eponymous collection in 2000. Known for his signature use of color and pattern with streamlined feminine silhouettes, he’s also widely known for his interiors, lifestyle and love of food. Peter’s brand of effortless sophistication in culinary and home space is widely regarded, with recipes featured in numerous publications and digital platforms including Bon Appétit, Pinterest (2.9m followers), Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, The Feed Feed (where he is a contributor), to Purewow, Vogue.com, Elle.com, Food and Wine, Refinery29 and more. His clothes have sold at top retailers worldwide including Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Moda Operandi and Nordstrom. He has had highly successful collaborations with brands including Rent the Runaway, Kohls, Sferra, Lancôme, Anthropologie, Patron. He was a finalist in the first CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, twice nominated for both the CFDA Emerging Designer Award and the Fashion Group International’s Rising Star Award; and was the recipient of the Marymount College Designer of the Year Award. Notable women such as Michelle Obama, Beyoncé, Scarlett Johansson, and Maggie Gyllenhaal have worn Peter’s clothing. He lives in New York City and Sag Harbor.

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A Los Angeles native, Colette Shelton, also known as “Coco”, is an entrepreneur, design blogger and home furnishings designer.�At the beginning, in 2008, her goal was simple: provide design and style inspiration with a personal and sometimes humorous approach. Since then, Coco has published thousands of blog posts and now has millions of monthly views of her content from her blog and social media channels.�Coco is one of Forbes Magazine’s “Top 30 Inﬂuencers”. COCOCOZY has also been featured in numerous online and print publications including House Beautiful, Architectural Digest, Lonny, Domino, Rue and My Domaine. Coco took her design sensibility to television when she starred in and executive produced the “COCOCOZY Design House” series which launched on Amazon Prime Video and is currently streaming on Roku. This short form docu-design series chronicles Coco’s renovation of a stately California Spanish style home.�A few years after launching the blog, Coco took her passion one step further as she introduced the Cococozy textiles collection to the home furnishings market in 2011. The collection features luxury pillows, throws, bedding, drapery, and rugs all designed by Coco herself and manufactured (all or partially) in the U.S. Today, COCOCOZY has also expanded the line to include an assortment of home accessories.

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t’s al about

Texture Recreate the look of your favourite boutique hotel in your very own bathroom with this super soft twistless cotton towel which is trimmed with a luxurious shimmery border. Perfect for adding that final touch of understated glamour to your bathroom.

#christycares About design

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W WELCOME

A NOTE FROM THE EDITORS OF WELSPOTTED, A WELSPUN SIGHTS & SOUNDS MONTHLY

Something for you to chew on, Dear Reader: consider how many ways “hybrid” appears in our mental lexicons these days. Take retail alone. We hear about hybrid shopping methods, hybrid delivery options, hybrid content distribution, etcetera. So when our Editor-in-Chief requested a spring issue all about hybrids, we mulled over what sort of magical combos we might cover. There’s the strict biological definition—“the offspring of two plants or animals or different species or varieties, such as a mule (the hybrid of a donkey and a horse,”—but we wanted a more esoteric take on the concept. So we settled on: a thing that is made by combining two elements, something of mixed character, and composed of mixed parts. And seemingly, if you can dream it right now, you can give birth to it with more ease than ever. Dare we say we are living in Hybridic Times? At press time, a California lawmaker had just proposed a 32-hour, four-day work week, following the path of several European and Asian countries that reported increased productivity and an overall boost in creativity after making the switch. Those same countries also reported decreased power consumption and lower stress levels. As with anything “new,” there is a breaking in period. But it is within this golden light of “acceptance” that we think the best hybrid ideas truly blossom. Remember when you saw your first electric car? Did you snicker? If yes, you surely aren’t laughing now, as over 17 million hybrid electric vehicles have been sold since their inception in 1997. What does it take for “one crazy idea” to not only be adapted but also embraced? We believe the answer, Dear Reader, lies in the magic of hybrids, which, like an elevated form of multiple choice, have something to please everyone. The ultimate answer to “have it your way.” Early adapters hop on a trend and ride the wave. The more conservative among us dip in a toe and see what happens next. Page through this new issue and consider it your invitation to dream bigger, expand wider, toss what you find boring or tedious in favor for making room for what excites and inspires. Come along, as we celebrate brilliant new hybrids, and take a fresh look at some that have been around but not properly celebrated. Myriad hybrids await. THE TAJ MAHAL

The hybrid: true love meets world wonder

WELSPUN

SIGHTS

SOUNDS

MONTHLY

CHRISTOPHER MOONEY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ABBE ARONSON CONTENT CREATOR GREGORY MONFRIES CREATIVE DIRECTOR SHARLENE BREAKEY EDITOR MARY BONANNO, ISOBEL MODICA , MICHELE MANDATO WELSPUN CREATIVE TEAM WELSPUN, 10 WEST 33RD ST. SHOWROOM: PENTHOUSE, MAIL: STE. 1221 NEW YORK, NY 10001

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HASHTAG COLOR

PATTERN TREND

RETAIL

INNOVATION LUXURY

APPAREL

SOCIAL MEDIA

INSIDE LIVE/WORK/BALANCE AMPERSAND

FOR MORE GO TO:

W E L S P OT T E D. CO M

ON THE COVER

Man wearing amazing witch doctor-inspired hybrid costume with old computer parts. This hand-tailored costume is inspired by African tribal and witch doctor tradition. Old obsolete computer parts are mounted to the costume. Photographer Klaus Vedfelt says, “Here is a way of combining folkloric costumery with modern day tech to make hybrid outﬁts that make a statement about the speed in which we’re progressing, what we worship, and how these things become obsolete but similarly are held in nostalgic reverence.” — PHOTO BY KLAUS VEDFELT

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HOW TO TICKLE yourselF

Coming Soon A NEW MUL Ti-M

EDIA BRAND

AN ESSENTIAL RESOURCE FOR

LONGTIME LOCALS, NEWCOMERS + VISITORS ALIKE

Glossies

Are

A New York Times bestselling journalist set out to explore our addiction to the quantification of everything and ended up confronting his own addiction to certainty. In the quiet of 2020 quarantine, writer Duff McDonald decided to choose ease, rather than control—pursuing habits and hobbies that brought joy (or “tickles”) to each and every moment. He was rewarded with peace of mind, renewed creativity, and deepened relationships. In the resulting book and podcast, hybrids of self-help and philosophy, McDonald asks the “Big Questions” – Why do we exist? What are we supposed to do while we’re here? He may not come up with answers, but according to McDonald, if you learn how to “tickle” yourself, the rest will take care of itself. His podcast is available on Apple. The book, Tickled: A Commonsense Guide to the Present Moment, was published late last year to rave reviews for its combo of profound knowledge and relatable common-sense guide to life, and is widely available. As Blue Man Group co-founder Chris Wink said, “this is a very serious book about how to live our lives much less seriously.”

BACK

We almost couldn’t believe the headline when we read it ourselves in The NYPost late last month: “Magazines see silver lining in COVID lockdowns: More glossies launched in 2021.” The Post went on to explain that “COVID lockdowns apparently are good for at least one thing: all that extra time to spend flipping through a magazine” For 2021, 122 new magazines were launched, according to the founder of University of Mississippi’s Magazine Innovation Center at the School of Journalism. We’re particularly taken by two new launches: Grazia and The Mountains. The former, the American version of the iconic Italian fashion bible Grazia, launched this past fall with a 365-page issue titled “Evolution,” which celebrates three women who have been instrumental in orchestrating cultural and societal movements during a rare moment in history: Allyson Felix, Jordan Alexander, and Alek Wek. The latter actually launches just around press time for THIS magazine, and is the brainchild from Alan Katz, former publisher of illustrious glossies including New York, Interview, Vanity Fair and the defunct Cargo. The Mountains is aimed at readers who live, full-time or seasonally, in The Catskills and The Berkshires. We see a return to glossies as a high-stakes hybrid move (as longtime magazine lovers who miss those halcyon days of newsstands that were teeming with periodicals awaiting our page-throughs), the difference being that today, it’s niche audiences who are being targeted by publishers, not Joe or Jane Q. Public.

CHOUQUETTE CHoColATes

How about some consciousness in your caramels? Pronounced “shoo-ket,” this smallbatch, hand-crafted sweets purveyor based in Maryland is known for shouting its opinion loud and proud in its offerings, using Fair Trade and Rain Forest Alliance Certified Chocolate (all of which is gluten-free, soy-free, GMO-free, and uses no corn syrup, with cocoa butter colorants derived entirely from all natural sources). Owner Sarah Dwyer has long produced custom chocolates that run the gamut from stately designs that tony private schools use for fundraising to R-rated Valentine’s Day chocolates for a body-positive sex shop. But we most love the mix of messaging and chocolate in Chouquette’s best-selling retail collections, which tend to highlight what’s hot or in the news. To wit: Phenomenal Women chocolates and Dr. Fauci Fan Club chocolates. Chouquette’s Harry Styles Fan Club collection has found a dedicated fanbase at the Harry-themed café Lucca Fresca in Taylor, Pennsylvania. Talk about putting your money where your mouth is.

BLCKSMTH

Having a bad day? Want to smack the next person who tells you to buck up? Or whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger? Then you’ll love Michael James Schneider, a Portland, Oregon, based artist who has worn many hats (theatrical designer! retailer! author) but is generating the biggest buzz on Instagram as @blcksmth, a balloon artist with a conscience. Posting under the slogan, “A smile is like a hug with your mouth,” Schneider uses brightly colored balloon letters to spell out wall-size (or larger) installations, ranging from “I’m so thankful I didn’t end up with what I thought I wanted,” to “straight men understand consent when they go to a gay bar.” His installations have been applauded by those suffering from broken hearts and busted dreams, and many who simply take artistic pleasure in how he spells out “deep thoughts” with what we consider a child’s toy. Naturally, Schneider has a full line of balloon-art illustrated merch, but the real thing is best: we melt when we see these oft-repeated mottos of self-care or words to the wise looming large on garage doors, street alleys, and football fields. Part tongue-in-chic, part deadly serious, this hybrid artist slays!

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PIRO.

MINDBLOWN ALERT!

We are currently as close to 1970 as 1970 was to 1918.

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#everyone’sdoingit

OLIO

Do you ever consider the health benefits of your EVOO, Dear Reader, or just pour with abandon? We applaud the brother-sister team behind Olio Piro. for successfully hybrid-ing a veritable “health food” in the luxury food category. The Tuscan powerhouse has crafted an award-winning extra virgin olive oil that’s also rich in antioxidants, and an offthe-charts percentage of polyphenols that promote heart and brain health, enhance your immune system, and even prevent cancer. Redolent of fresh herbs and green almonds, this oil shatters the myth that if it’s good for you, it must taste “meh.” It’s been awarded top honors in 17 international competitions, with tasters noting grass and tomato leaf and hints of black pepper. And #didyounknow? The infamous EVOO guide Flos Olei, which references the 500 best olive oil producers in the world, gives Piro. a whopping 96 points (out of 100) in its 2022 edition of “do not miss.” Drizzle away.

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COLOUR THE HYBRID: REBOOTED COLOR MEETS NEW RAISON D’ÊTRE “Soft Greens” are beyond having a moment. As noted by Apartment Therapy gurus, no less than SIX national paint brands have chosen a grayed-out green as their color of the year for 2022. But what’s new, Pussycats, about this sage green? We’ve been down this road before, so why is this one ringing our bells again or (more aptly) smudging our homes with its peaceful presence? Artist and muralist Kevin Paulsen sees it as an organic expansion of the natural world. “Soft greens are a mixture of sun and sky, yellow and blue, and our connection with nature is activated by greens, whether we’re conscious of the eﬀect or not,” he says, adding that green also tempers and calms our passions, because it’s red’s opposite. Likewise, painter Christie Scheele defaults to a dark, almost blackened sage in this new moody piece, titled “Night Fog.” Over in Europe, Fran Gilles, Creative Assistant for trend studio Francq Colors, says sage has hit a stride that is unprecedented. “It creates a cozy atmosphere in which you can escape from the stress that COVID-19 caused, bringing the calm of nature into your space,” he says. “Green, the ultimate natural color, symbolizes hope, relaxation, and rest.” Conversely, Benjamin Moore picked “October Mist” as its color of the year because of its energizing qualities. Andrea Magno, director of color marketing and development, explains: “October Mist (1495) was a standout among the colors being considered not only because of its rooted, organic, and comforting qualities but also because this hue has a mystical quality that captures the desire for escape and imagination.” Now, we know what you’re thinking: hey Pantone, Veri Peri? Quite the opposite direction! The venerable color institute stands by its bold choice for 2022, calling it a nod to the current global zeitgeist and new digital world order. That’s a pretty courageous statement, so, in the spirit of The Hybrid, we see room for super soothing sage and no-holds-barred purple in whatever color story turns you on.

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Left, Jonathan Adler’s Harlequin round mirror and right, as highlighted by Francq Colors: stoopen & Meeüs color pigment/wall finish, Kapsul Collection lamp and shade, and hand-moulded Nelissen Bricks. Thumbnails: mural by Kevin Paulsen (left) and Night Fog, Christie Scheele @Louisa Gould Gallery

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Clockwise from top left, imagery from Manu Franco, Efe Kurnaz, Anicorn Watches, Mellow Splendid vase from Husk Design and ombre glass chair from Studio Germans Ermics

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Patter

THE HYBRID: ’90S NOSTALGIA MEETS 21ST CENTURY OMBRE

Made you look (twice!) didn’t we? Here’s a fun pattern play we’ve watched gather steam as it barrels towards you at top speed: color gradients. Not “new” by a long shot, but resonating heavily in the design and graphic world, color gradients are hot right now, breathing new life into digital imaging, as well as actual products or merchandise. (Its sister trend, ombre color, continues to rage in the beauty/salon world; has there ever been a time when there were so many colors for reimagining your mane?) According to design gurus, the trend toward color gradients was first activated when we revisited ’90s trends a few years back: crop tops, chokers, even hair scrunchies (gulp). Gradients were a way to add color and depth to design, until they took a back seat to flat applications of color in the later aughts. They have resurfaced in a big way over the last few years, enhancing otherwise static design and overlaying photos. Also known as color transitions, gradients are the gradual blending from one color to another color (or, from one color to another, to another, to another, with no limit to how many shades can co-mingle!). Gradients can blend or transition both similar and contrasting hues, and the effect can be bold or subtle. The focal point of a design or just a background element. Because they blend and mix, gradients also create new color combos that feel fresh and modern, and therefore, unique. So, why now? Designers initially considered the trend to be too much of a throwback, but were proven wrong, at least partly because in the sea of content consumers digest in their digital diets these days, color gradients grab attention, adding interest and intrigue to brands. Take Instagram, Dear Readers. It’s one of the most ubiquitous logos out there, and guess what? Classic color gradient at work.

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Trend THE HYBRID: ONCE-ILLICIT HIGH MEETS BIG BIZ

If you indulge, now is a great time to be a recreational pot smoker. Across the country in states that have embraced the consumer toke, cannabis dispensaries are big, big, BIG business, seeing gangbuster growth and record-breaking profits. Yes, there are some eternal “heads” clutching their Grateful Dead tapes, bemoaning the commercialization of the sacred weed, and continuing a long-standing relationship with their pot dealers. But for much of the marijuana-consuming public, cannabis dispensaries are new meccas, many of them chains and some run by sprawling multi-state operators (MSOs). That’s a tiny bit hilarious, isn’t it? If we had told some of you that you’d be buying your pot from a Big Box Retailer of dispensaries, you likely would have turned up your nose, visualizing a more gourmet, or specialized experience. However, many of these players are doing this trend right. Here’s a look at some of the most formidable.

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Beyond/Hello

Smaller than some others on this list, this chain operates some 20 locations across four states and is known for its customer-centered approach and focus on authoritative education, instead of “good vibes.”

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CURALEAF

The world’s largest cannabis company (by revenue), based in Massachusetts, and operating 101 dispensaries (at last count) in some 23 states. The company is known for its customer service and its own branded products, which are packaged more like vitamin supplements than marijuana.

MADMEN

This leading dispensary is sometimes described as “the Apple of dispensaries,” and doesn’t shy away from bold, clever design elements, as well as an aggressive growth strategy.

THE GREEN SOLUTION

Colorado’s largest dispensary chain banks on its friendly, welcoming vibe and family-owned business model. Old-fashioned customer service at its best, some say.

TRUELIEVE

This publicly traded company operates over 80 dispensaries nationwide and represents more than 50 percent of the market share in its home state of Florida. Its brand identity is known as “professional and airy,” appealing to the medical cannabis patients, who are the company’s bread and butter.

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RETAIL THE HYBRID: STRONG POVS MeeT expAndIng AudIenCeS

We’d never suggest you are a jaded bunch, Dear Reader, but you ARE hard to impress. And when that happens, wow, you are as giddy as a kid in a candy store. In this section, we offer a handful of retailers we think you’ll agree deserve to wear The Hybrid crown. We can point to any number of illustrious retailers (established grand dames or newbies alike) that ring our bells—that’s the beauty in obsession, and we’re not afraid to admit we’ve got one. (Raise your hand if, when you are dropped off in an unfamiliar city for business or pleasure, you relish a free afternoon of wandering the streets, sticking your nose into this shop or that shop.) But the hybridization factor crystallizes when we get an inkling that there’s been a “happy accident,” and in addition to the mainstay of the business, there is a gem, or three, waiting to be acknowledged. With all this in mind, take a new or fresh look at some well-known and little-known retailers that are truly: Well. Done.

JULIET DUNN

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JULIET

DUNN

Stumbling upon London-based Juliet Dunn’s sun-drenched resort and beachwear made us happy (how could it not? You can feel the sun on your shoulders just looking at it). But we were truly impressed after learning about the traditional techniques she uses to craft these beautiful pieces. With bohemian glamour at heart and modern silhouettes, Juliet’s line is so simply chic, easy to wear, and just fun, we were already sold on her POV. And then we got the back-story: Juliet has a deep love for India, which has been an endless source of inspiration for the line, but also is the one place that could produce such vibrant and beautiful colors. Juliet works with artisans across India, traveling to explore regional techniques and helping to keep some of these ancient traditions alive. To this end, every Juliet Dunn piece is made by hand. More impressive deets: The prints are mostly made by hand-carved wooden blocks in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Each design has an individual block for each color featured. The blocks are precisely carved by hand and must line up exactly to create a perfect print. Fabric is then pinned to long blocking tables. The printers use only their experience (and eyes) to line up the design and (again, by hand) bring down the blocks to start stamping the design. Printers walk up and down the lengths of the tables layering up the different parts with each block and color. Once complete the fabric is hung up on frame in the sun to dry. And that’s not all. Hand embroidered pieces are mainly made in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, which specializes in Chikan work, a traditional embroidery style. Some of the all-over-embroidery designs can take weeks to complete. Ombre silk garments are partly stitched before being dip dyed (yep, by hand) to create the effect. With tie dyes, sarong lengths of fabric are cut and then twisted and tied in various ways to create different effects. Each color requires its own round of dying, and finished fabrics are left to dry in the sun, so the brightest and best colors can only be achieved at certain times of the year. Rarely have we seen beach frocks made with so much love and care. Just a little cover up? Hardly!

ALEXIS

BITTAR

A constant chameleon, Alexis Bittar has been making waves with his social media ads that feature older models, models with distinctly non-model bodies or faces, and his much-lauded return to retail after buying his company back from bankrupt Brooks Brothers (we like to think Halston would be applauding from that Great Cutting Room In The Sky). Headlines aside, our heads were spinning when we learned more about the designer’s background. How about THIS? A former NYC club kid, 22-year-old Alexis launched himself on the streets of Manhattan in 1990, selling his own line of carved Lucite jewelry, and was soon discovered by Dawn Mello, fashion director of Bergdorf Goodman. He went on to sell to Harrods in London and Isetan in Japan, and designed Burberry’s first ready-to-wear jewelry collection, interpreting its signature plaid onto lucite. In the early aughts, Alexis collaborated with stylist/costume designer Patricia Field, creating custom designs for HBO’s “Sex and the City.” And from there, it was a trajectory up, up, up for Alexis, with awards, celeb collaborations and support (Michelle Obama is a huge fan) and storefronts bearing his name, until he sold the company in 2015 and stepped aside. Alexis returned to the scene in 2020 after the aforemention BB bankruptcy. Urging his fans to “wait and see,” he finally relaunched Alexis Bittar last year, expanding into a lifestyle brand that includes home décor and accessories. His provocative POV is speaking to both a deeply loyal and new and growing clientele. This past fall, Alexis ventured back into brick-and-mortar retail with five boutiques in New York City (one of which is located where the former Greenwich Village mecca Mxyplyzyk stood for years) and one in San Francisco (designed by Tony-award winning scenic designer Scott Pask). Alexis has never shied away from standing out from the crowd—he was one of the first designers to use Iris Apfel as model and muse some years ago— but this new chapter might be his strongest ever.

oeuvres

JULIET DUNN

ALEXIS BITTAR

OEUVRES SENSIBLES

sensiBles

In between issues, our WelSpotted team often pings one another via social media with finds, noting “we MUST include so-and-so in our next glossy!” Such was the case when our Editor-in-Chief stumbled onto Oeuvres Sensibles on Instagram. Via her company, French artist-designer Sarah Espeute elevates simple, humble household items and rituals into art. Sarah’s tablecloths, embroidered as trompe-l’oeil convivial scenes of shared meals, speak to everyday family stories and memories in an almost poetic fashion. Sarah begins by carefully selecting antique linen and cotton fabrics (most between 50 and 100 years old and collected from private sources all over France), then modernizes them with minimalist embroidery. In this way, form and practical function meet delicate artistry—a hybrid YES. In addition to the tablecloths, Sarah also produces runners, placemats, and kitchen towels using a Cornely machine, a veritable relic of the 19th century. One of only a handful of people using the machine in France today, Sarah says its hand-guided by means of a crank, which gives greater freedom of movement, and produces the type of embroidery most suitable for frequently washed items. Back to those incredible tablecloths: when we say they are art, we aren’t kidding. Vintage linen collectors and modern home dwellers alike flock to Sarah, who frequently sells out the line. And BTW, Sarah’s workplace in Marseille is open by appointment, so, if you find yourself out and about on one of those aforementioned strolls…

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Lucid Air, below, is MotorTrend Car of the Year. Far left, Polestar’s forthcoming electric performance SUV. Left, Lucid’s Dream limited edition.

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THE HYBRID: GREEN MEETS SLEEK It should come as no surprise that 2022 is set to be a big year for both plug-in hybrids and fully electric vehicles (aka, EVs), especially given that an EV model, The Lucid Air, was named 2022 MotorTrend Car of the Year. Recently, everyone seems to be going all-in on the electrification trend, with many automakers investing billions of dollars into green vehicles. So what’s the main difference between all-electric and hybrids? Primarily, it’s how they’re powered. All-electric vehicles rely only on electricity, while hybrid vehicles rely on a combination of electricity and fuel. That’s not the only difference, though. Generally speaking, EVs do not generate tailpipe emissions (with some exceptions), while hybrid vehicles do (when their fuel is being combusted). And yes, pure electric cars are making all the headlines, but gasoline-electric hybrid rivals have indeed quietly achieved record sales in the U.S. in 2021. It’s possible, we suppose, to duke it out over the pluses and minuses between hybrids and full EVs, but here at WelSpotted, we are Lovers, not Fighters. What’s capturing our eye right now? We can’t get enough of the gorgeous offerings from a few brand-new electric car companies, many of them true startups. Let’s go back to Lucid. It began as a battery company and now makes some of the most advanced electric cars on the market. Just 20 minutes gives the driver an approximate 300-mile charge. In addition to the much-touted Air, there are two models of Lucid’s Air Dream edition at market now. Or rather, there were. Reservations for both are closed and the waiting list looks looooong. Perhaps it’s time to take a look at another indie beauty, Polestar and its Polestar 3 model, a forthcoming electric performance SUV. It is planned for global reveal in 2022 and features an aerodynamic body that is framed to “define SUVs in the electric age.” Polestar 3 will be built in China and the United States, making it the first Polestar model to be produced in North America.

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LUXURY

THE HYBRID: CURATED SHOPPING EXPERIENCE MEETS THE NATURAL WORLD

With the legend, “an ever-evolving, botanically driven design art studio,” Hort & Pott operates in an almost ethereal space of “sometimes.” The incredibly gorgeous shop in Freehold, New York, is the height of luxurious experiential retail, only open on weekends (and only select weekends in colder months), alerting customers to hours and availability via its website, newsletter, and social media. During the height of Covid, reservations were required to enter the shop, and while no one was heavily policed or asked to leave when their time slot was up, this even more specialized one-on-one interaction between shopper and purveyor reinforced what we love most about Hort & Pott: they live, breathe, eat, sleep, and dream their business. WelSpotted was lucky enough to snag an invitation to visit Hort & Pott during the pandemic and reported that in addition to spending an afternoon in what is, in essence, a gorgeous private home, the opportunity to interact with owners Todd Carr and Carter Harrington was more than special. Seeing their process of crafting and designing products first-hand, learning more about the natural world in which they draw inspiration, and leaving with some beautiful, one-of-a-kind merchandise was like a dream come true. A true hybrid in regard to presenting its devoted customers with handcrafted, vintage, botanical, and truly “uncommon goods.”

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2/16/22 11:03 AM

SMALL IS ALL One luxurious lure this New Season? Hosting small groups of travelers who likely know one other. “Exclusivity will be sexy again, since it implies few people are involved,” said one travel industry exec. Case in point: SkySafari announced it will launch private plane buyout experiences, giving guests an extra layer of convenience and safety to lower travel stress. Its ﬁrst collaboration is with Elewana Collection, known for its luxury boutique lodges in Kenya and Tanzania.

CITY

STARTERS

Recognizing that not every affluent traveler wants to climb Everest and using the hashtag #restarttourism, the World Tourism Organization, a United Nations specialized agency, recently met in red-hot Port, Portugal to brainstorm how the world’s cities, from Athens to Venice, can lure affluent tourists by focusing in on safety, sustainability, innovation, and inclusion. Expect five-star properties in cities-in-the-know to put a premium on safe and hygienic practices—cushy bases for exploring sights, like these ruins in Luxor, Egypt.

THRILLED TO SEEK THRILLS Travelers who love to spend their dollars on pricey outdoor pursuits—such as scuba-diving, kayaking, rafting, and trekking are clamoring to get to remote locales like Borneo and Patagonia and parts of Africa like never before. Luxury travel experts see this as an antidote to past “over tourism,” when the high-end hordes would swarm to popular destinations, like Barcelona, that cater to those who enjoy fancy meals and fancier shopping.

Even the name is a combo. Hort (short for horticulture) and Pott (for pottery) are “two ends of a spectrum with room for everything else we create in between,” explains Carter.

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aPPare

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Fringe, buttons, oversize detailing and eminently wearable fashion are the calling cards of 31-year-old designer Kenneth Ize. Left and right, details from his SS22 Paris Fashion Week show.

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aPPar rel APPAREL

The hybrId: (uSuAlly quIeT) genderleSS FAShIOn MeeTS (STAnd OuT prOud) FAbrICS

At the ripe old age of 31, Kenneth Ize has created an extremely accessible fashion line that’s almost universally wearable, in some ways genderless with generous cuts (an on-purpose design direction for warm-weather comfort). But unlike other “easy fashion” designers, Ize is most certainly a couture-tier craftsman with an incredible pedigree. With a firm footing in his West African birthplace (Lagos, Nigeria), Ize grew up in Austria and studied fashion and design at the University of Applied Arts Vienna. He launched his eponymous label, reinterpreting West African fabrics and Nigerian craft, at Lagos Fashion Week in 2013, but took a two-year hiatus to get his masters. Relaunching his brand for spring/summer 2016, he became a LVMH Prize finalist in 2019. The truly fabulous website “High Snobiety” had this to say about Ize’s most recent show: “The first Instagram post that Ize uploaded after his SS22 Paris Fashion week show wrapped was a close-up of a model’s hand swathed in fringe that drapes from the sleeves of a striped aso-oke tunic. Kenneth Ize is a fabric-first brand, and that’s not just puffery: his textiles are hand-woven exclusively for Ize’s label in a small factory that he owns and operates in Nigeria. Rendered with tiger print, blocky stripe, and ornamental stitch, Ize’s textiles are the star of the show, and he gives them ample room to perform.” Offering jackets, dresses, shirts, sweater vests, skirts, an assortment of pants (many with unexpected cargo pockets), big shoulder bags as accessories, and slouchy silhouettes, the line’s wider cuts also grant more “real estate” to the designer’s handiwork. For this last runway show, editors were delighted by Ize’s attention to detail. That fringe! Elegant buttons! Pattern mixing of the gods! Combined with customized Birkenstocks, the line was deemed wearable by everyone. For us, this is Apparel right now—this season, next season, every season. We’ll take it!

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SOCIAL

MEDIA

THE HYBRID: WHY? MEETS WHY NOT?

You need TikTok. There. We said it. So here’s your crash course: Once upon a time, Musical.ly was a popular short-form (15 seconds) video streaming and sharing app, with over 100 million users. The app allowed users an encyclopedic assortment of music and dialogue options, with which they could lip sync and make funny or entertaining videos, and it was widely popular, with some content creators rising to the “hall of fame,” based on their engaging content. Users shared Musical. ly videos on social media platforms like Instagram, further driving the app’s popularity. However, in August 2018, the app was taken over by the Chinese company ByteDance, and its users, not to mention all that content, were moved to TikTok. Today, while Instagram is still a firm favorite, TikTok is moving up in the ranks, with video consistently named as one of the most engaging forms of content out there today (by the end of the year, it’s estimated that 82 percent of all online content will be video. Our crystal ball tells us that TikTok is the platform to master in 2022, particularly since it launched a number of useful tools, like ads and business profiles, aimed specifically at commerce. No longer just a platform where young creators can show off their dance moves, it’s set to become one of the main platforms that brands can use to reach the younger set. Quit your why-ning and start saying “why not?” to TikTok. Also, ponder this for fun: within 20 years, TikTok will be the new MySpace. Buckle up, Buttercup.

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Providence population about 193K. Locals skip RI’s clear clam chowder but everyone LOVES the RISD Museum.

lwb live

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•

WorK

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BAlAnCe

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GET A JOB

Unemployment in Providence is a cool 3.2% and major employers like Roger Williams Medical Center, Citizens Financial Group, and Textron call it home.

TAKE TO THE STREET

Community events and festivals abound. More than 80 bonﬁres light up Waterplace Park during “WaterFire” and over 200 ﬂicks are offered at Providence Children’s Film Festival.

ARTSY

At RISD, students can focus on apparel, design, graphic arts, photography and more, while culinary arts are the star at Johnson & Wales University.

TASTY

Providence, RI

While Federal Hill gets a lot of ink, there are incredible dining options all over, including downtown’s wood-ﬁre eatery ﬁgidini, home of the iconic burrata pizza.

The hybrId: CreATIVe MeeTS COZy Noted as one of the top 25 best places to live on the East Coast, Providence, Rhode Island, may be one of the best kept secrets in “where to next?” With intriguing local history, a growing job market, affordable housing, and plenty to do indoors and out, we think “bright lights, small scale” Providence needs a closer look. The city offers a similar look and feel to the more expensive New York and Boston, but the cost of living in Providence is far lower (nearly 36 percent lower than NYC and almost 30 percent lower than Beantown). And yet Providence is tony beyond measure. In addition to Ivy Leaguer Brown University, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) is a favorite among students who plan to focus on creative arts. New England winters aside, Providence offers mild springs, summers, and falls, with lots of dynamic outdoor activities, as well as great public transportation and some truly tasty eats. Does it show? We’re sweet on the big-small, kooky-comfy yin-yang hybrid that is Providence.

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BOOK IT

The John Hay Library at Brown is open to the public on weekdays and houses the intimate letters and private manuscripts of world-famous horror and sci-ﬁ writer H.P. Lovecraft.

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1948 - 2022

A N D R É L E O N TA L L E Y Maverick! Button Pusher! Pioneer! Yes, to all that, but also the first Black man to earn his place in the high stakes fashion pack, joining Halston, Paloma, Lagerfeld, and other larger-than-life icons. In the case of ALT, “larger than life” was just the beginning. Let us quote from the fashion bible, Vogue, which ran a spectacular tribute to the editor who died last month at the age of 73. “When the news of his death from a heart attack broke late last night, many of his friends in fashion and beyond took to social media to express their grief, and a theme emerged. The ‘pharaoh of fabulosity,’ as another Vogue staffer once dubbed André, was also the industry’s biggest champion and booster, the first editor backstage, quick with encouraging advice or a course correction. His enthusiasm was prodigious.” André got his start in fashion with an unpaid apprenticeship to Diana Vreeland at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, “a position he seemed to have willed into being,” Vogue charmingly wrote. From the Met, André went on to work at Andy Warhol’s Interview, Women’s Wear Daily, and The New York Times, before taking the fashion news director job at Vogue in 1983. Anna Wintour, with whom he had a complicated relationship, named him creative director in 1988 and, aside from a threeyear run when he contributed to W magazine from Paris, he continued to work at Vogue until 2013. In 2003, André wrote

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his first book, ALT: A Memoir, which he followed up with The Chiffon Trenches (2020). The 2005 ALT 365+ featured a year’s worth of captioned snapshots of his Vogue colleagues, fashion shows, and designers in repose, including a photo of designer Diane Von Furstenberg swimming in her Connecticut pool. The book captured some of the irreverence and wit of his legendary faxes, which inspired the (essential reading!) StyleFax column in Vogue. André came into his own in the age of the internet, as fashion became a form of mass entertainment. As Vogue proudly extolled: “Not a single celebrity said no to an Andre interview when they met him at his perch on the top of the stairs on the Met Gala red carpet, with will.i.am declaring, ‘He’s the Nelson Mandela of couture, the Kofi Annan of what you got on.’” Born in Washington, D.C., in 1948 and raised by his grandmother, a cleaning woman at Duke University during Jim Crow, André went on to Brown University, where he earned his master’s degree in French literature. “I loved my home and my family,” he told Vogue, when the documentary of his life was released. “I went to school and to church and I did what I was told and I didn’t talk much. But I knew life was bigger than that. I wanted to meet Diana Vreeland and Andy Warhol and Naomi Sims and Pat Cleveland and Edie Sedgwick and Loulou de la Falaise. And I did. And I never looked back.”

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Little known ALT fact: In 2021, he was awarded the Chevalier de l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres, a French honor for arts and letters. This award is granted to someone who has significantly contributed to the “inheritance of French culture.” It is one of the highest French honors that can be given.

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Kind•lier™ textiles are crafted using only non-GMO, 100% Virgin Cotton that is manufactured and supplied with ESG Principles of Sustainability in mind.

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