TNC Discovering TNC Discovering, Author at The Next Cartel Thu, 09 Feb 2023 15:11:56 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.7 https://stage.thenextcartel.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/THENEXTCARTEL-150x150.png TNC Discovering TNC Discovering, Author at The Next Cartel 32 32 SAMPLE-CM Channels The Strength and Power of The Amazons in New Collection https://stage.thenextcartel.com/observatory/sample-cm-channels-the-strength-and-power-of-the-amazons-in-new-collection/ Thu, 14 Oct 2021 15:27:13 +0000 https://stage.thenextcartel.com/?p=21714 SAMPLE-CM Channels The Strength and Power of The Amazons in New Collection Read More »

]]> [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As the only mixed sports of the olympics and with an overwhelming majority of women members, the equestrian competitions are yet mostly won by white cis-male athletes. The caring and emotional relationships women riders would have with their horses are often pointed through gender prejudices when presented as “ overprotective” and at the expense of the performance.

Mocked and stigmatised, the so called “feminine” ways to ride, are also joined by extremely gendered gear marketing (pink outfit, glittery brushes and grooming kit…) underlining essentialism, reinforcing the gender expectations while masking the systemic inequity at professional levels.

It was precisely all of this that inspired SAMPLE-CM’s latest collection: Grand Bassin. You may remember this ground-breaking brand from their latest collection, which fused martial arts and high fashion. This time round, SAMPLE-CM is back with a general re-appreciation of the care and the partnership that equestrians have with their horses.


Photos courtesy of SAMPLE-CM

GB2022-CLUB articulates sets of elements – combined together through braiding techniques. They pay tribute to this special time of grooming spent with the horse before riding. Tiny gentle gestures and caring daily rituals are here at the center of the creative process. Attached or detached, braided or not, the pieces oscillate between rodeo fringes and tight equestrian gear, amazon one breast top and jockey jacket, pony mottled coat and stretchy velvet. Each design carries the name of  a typical horse name inviting you to care for and interact with.

The new collection of Grand Bassin wishes to combine vulnerability and power. These revaluation strategies are particularly relevant alternatives to masculinization as the only providential way towards emancipation, equality, and success.

In clear connection with the natural world, the GB2022-CLUB interweaves figures of contemporary Amazons with up-to-date witches. These new models offer different paths to examine gender fluidity in sports while they work also as opportunities to re-define sport values and re-design sportswear.

Make sure to check GB2022-CLUB out and get your hands on it here!

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

]]> Lagos Space Programme: A Brand as an Ethical Movement https://stage.thenextcartel.com/observatory/lagos-space-programme-a-brand-as-an-ethical-movement/ Mon, 04 Oct 2021 18:41:40 +0000 https://stage.thenextcartel.com/?p=21377 [vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]After Milan Fashion Week, there are three words we haven’t been able to get out of our head: Lagos Space Programme.
 
These three words form the unique name which belongs to a relatively underground fashion brand from Lagos in Nigeria. LSP may not be a very well known brand, but it definitely deserves all the attention in the world.  The non-binary, luxury design project tries to traverse the future of Africa. The brand was founded three years ago and is revolutionizing Nigeria’s fashion scene with its unisex collections.
 
Designer Adeju Thompson, describes his brand as an ethical movement that is all about working and crafting art as a team. Therefore, it makes sense that the core principle of LSP would be community, as the brand involves many international artists working together, collaborating, and sharing ideas.
 
The brand also makes a point to include fair wages, and to engage in sustainable production. Both of these have become pillar aspects of the brand’s philosophy.
 

Source: Hot Celebrity Reviews
 
Thompson who studied fashion at Birmingham City University but was not able to finish his degree due to the high fees for international students in the UK, moved back to Nigeria and years later founded LSP.
 
The name of the brand comes from his fascination of space travel. The themes of his designs revolve around community, culture, and inheritance, such as the collection Awo-Workwear based on the workwear of the traditional priest Babalawo.The designer attempts to always pick themes for his collections which he can explore and subsequently express via a Nigerian lens, thus delving into his Yoruba heritage.
 
Accordingly, Lagos Space Programme’s methodology, or approach, is called Adire. Adire is the idea of making clothes that tell a story through specific fabrics and dying techniques. By using knitwear, motifs, and woven fabrics for this process, the brand developed its own technique.
 

Source: Male Fashion Trends
 
Despite their departure from customary Nigerian fashion, it seems that their edge, and characteristically disparate style is working. LSP is not only capturing the attention of the public, but also its wallet, as sales for the brand continue to increase.
 
Not only does Lagos Space Programme seek to change the global perception of African fashion, it’s collections are also intended to serve as a discreet revolution against the Anti LGBTQI+ sentiment prevalent in Lagos. This goes to show that fashion can indeed also be used as a tool for social change.
 
So keep an eye out for this one, because Lagos Space Programme is definitely doing something special, and we wouldn’t be surprised if its collections have a major impact not only by revolutionizing the fashion scene, but also by reverberating their story, message, and mission, across society worldwide.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

]]> Get Ready for CRUEL’s SS22 Runway Show at Amsterdam Fashion Week https://stage.thenextcartel.com/observatory/cruel-ss22-runway-show-amsterdam-fashion-week/ Wed, 18 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://tnc.ramdesign.bg/cruel-ss22-runway-show-amsterdam-fashion-week/ CRUEL will host its sixth runway show at Amsterdam Fashion Week, showcasing the CRUEL SS22 ‘AN OBLITERATION IN AMOROUS SPHERES’ collection. A collection created in a state of detachment from reality, in a space where obliteration makes way for fertile dawn.
Armoring its wearers with strength and stability, this collection is an acknowledgment of growth through love. A moment to appreciate the experience of love through its emotional and aesthetic sensibility.
Central to this season’s CRUEL designs stand growth and healing, marked by a balance of distinct contrasting elements that are representative of vacillating emotions. The collection highlights the artistic flirtation between sharp silhouettes, exaggerated proportions, and warm brown shades, melted together through CRUEL’s notorious play with deconstruction, wearable avant-garde styles in high-quality & sustainable fabrics.

You can check out the CRUEL SS22 Runway Show livestream on Friday, September 3rd at 14.00 PM, Amsterdam time, via the website of Amsterdam Fashion Week.

]]> Return On Investment PT.1: Darrell Cole’s New Project Dedicated To His Late Father https://stage.thenextcartel.com/observatory/return-on-investment-darrell-cole/ Wed, 11 Aug 2021 22:00:00 +0000 https://tnc.ramdesign.bg/return-on-investment-darrell-cole/  

Today – 12th August – marks the release of Darrell Cole’s new project ‘RETURN ON INVESTMENT PT. 1’, a body of work that encapsulates the journey he’s been on and the man he is today, dedicated to his late father. The title and artwork pay homage to his Sierra Leone heritage, which Cole acknowledges as hugely inspirational throughout his journey as an artist and beyond. Reflected in the artwork is the Cotton Tree, also known as a Kapok Tree, a historic symbol of Freetown, the capital city of Sierra Leone.

 

Accompanying the release is the collaborative single ‘Free The Mind’ featuring Kojey Radical and JVCK JAMES. The stand out track sees the three artists share centre stage and create magic over a Hip-Hop summertime instrumental. The 11-track project also boasts a feature for Belgian rapper Krisy, who put his unique flare on soulful club track, ‘Bah Oui’. Throughout the project Cole's showcases not only his lyricism but his ability to explore musical styles and genres, refusing to be labeled solely as a Hip-Hop artist. Following the hype created by both ‘Celebration’,‘Bruddah’ and ‘Knights’ which dropped over summer, Cole has created a buzz and set the tone for this new chapter in his life. On the project, Darrell worked exclusively with his friend and producer Samuel Kareem who is also part of the collective ‘ALLE$ LIFESTYLE’. 

During his life Cole has experienced a rich culture of music living in different cities including; New York, London and Amsterdam, a perfect reference point for the unique sound he has created. ‘RETURN ON INVESTMENT PT. 1’ is about gratitude and giving thanks to all those who have supported him thus far. Digging deeper, Cole touches on the generational trauma and sacrifices his ancestors made for future generations which he is paying homage to through his music. With every intention to inspire and pay it forward, he uses his hard-working, hustler mentality to motivate others to follow in his footsteps.

 

 

Return on Investment PT.1 is now available to stream via all main music services.
 

]]> “Glow Up” is GRAMN’s Love Song to The Black Community https://stage.thenextcartel.com/observatory/glow-up-is-gramn-love-song-to-the-black-community/ Wed, 28 Jul 2021 22:00:00 +0000 https://tnc.ramdesign.bg/glow-up-is-gramn-love-song-to-the-black-community/  

Photos courtesy of GRAMN

 

Following a slew of critically-acclaimed releases in 2020 culminating in their 1st and 2nd EPs MinimumN and MEDIUMN., Hackney-based collective GRAMN. are back with the exuberant and affirming R&B cut “Glow Up”.
 

Described by GRAMN. frontwoman Aux as “a love song to the black community”, “Glow Up” opens with intimate, soulful Spanish-language vocal lines sung by Aux herself. Polyrhythms then pop off to a Dancehall pulse, as gorgeous layered vocal hooks fuse with sparse synth lines and thunderous sub bass. As the visuals spring from rich, soulful closeups to group vogueing and vibeing out in Hackney Downs, it’s a visual ode to self-affirmation and family love. 
 

Lyrically, the song is an unflinching celebration of community, an avowal of strength in the face of Black trauma.

 

“This song and visual is supposed to bring hope. It is so people witness Black joy, black excellence, black creativity, black influence, black solidarity and most importantly, black love. The love we have for our communities, our children, our friends, partners and families. We are more than our pain, we are light.”

 
 
 

On choosing to open the song in Spanish, she adds: “I chose Spanish for the first verse because that is where myself, my siblings, cousins and close family friends spent a lot of our childhoods and it was always a time of happiness and joy, and so it’s kind of a little nod to all my family for being the amazing human beings that they are, and to the place where we found so much joy.”
 

GRAMN. have been making serious critical waves on both sides of the Atlantic over the last two years with their unique, magnetic fusion of R&B, Soul, Hip-Hop and Trap.  With tastemakers including WONDERLAND, GAL-DEM and THE BLUES PROJECT already tipping the group as disruptive innovators who are difficult to ignore, “Glow Up” looks set to consolidate GRAMN. as amongst the freshest and naturally gifted talents on the scene. 

 
 
 
 
]]> How Digital-Only Clothes and NFTs Are Changing The Fashion Business https://stage.thenextcartel.com/observatory/digital-clothing-nft-fashion-business/ Sat, 17 Apr 2021 20:08:18 +0000 https://tnc.ramdesign.bg/?p=20150

Source: The Fabricant
 
There was a time when dressing up with virtual outfits was only possible in games such as “The Sims”, and let’s face it, wasn’t even that fashionable. Then, along came Gucci.
 
Advanced technology is changing everything and what is happening now is that digital clothes sometimes get more attention than video games themselves. It seems like virtual fashion is surpassing the world it was created for. “Fortnite” and “GTA” are just a couple examples of totally-not-related-to-fashion games, that have caught the eyes of fashionistas and designers; and now both games have exclusive “skins” for their characters.
 
The idea of digital fashion has been taken to a whole new level, where you can get Gucci, Prada, or even exclusively digital brands for yourself. Just recently, Balenciaga unveiled its “skins” for the characters of “Honor of Kings”, available in China only.
 
Lightbulb moment: is digital fashion the future of clothing?
 

Source: Tribute Brand

 

So.. Is digital fashion the future of clothing?

By allowing our Chinese customers to explore our products virtually through online games we can connect our communities in a way that really fits with them.
Josie Zhang, president of Burberry China for Harpers Bazaar.

In a pandemic world where we are basically living through social media, the idea of having new outfits just for the virtual version of yourself sounds fun, doesn’t it?
 
The Fabricant certainly believes so. They actually jumped into the digital fashion business way before the pandemic. Digital clothes and virtual fashion have been their niche for quite some time.
 

Source: The Fabricant
 
Back in 2019, The Fabricant and Cartlings partnered to create the first digital-only blockchain dress, which was sold for $ 9,500.
 
Not bad, huh?
 
Well, if you compare with the amount of a single sneaker or the “In Bloom Jordan 1” hat, sold at 3.3 ETH, or $5,592.37, that doesn’t sound like much, right? But, come on, we are talking about a pioneering auction! We also mentioned The Fabricant when talking about 3D samples and their partnership with Scandinavian sportswear brand Peak Performance and they are a great example of how a virtual fashion brand aims to work.
 


 

Source: The Fabricant
 

NFT clothing, the new big thing

Are NFTs contributing to the new digital fashion landscape? Sure! But, not all virtual clothes are tokenized: they only exist in the digital world, but it is up to the creator the decision to ensure the product within a blockchain.
 

We’re developing new things that are impossible in the real world, like new materials – that just couldn’t work in the real world due to the laws of physics
Gala Marija Vrbanic, founder of Tribute Brand, for Vogue US.

 

Source: Tribute Brand

 

Source: The Fabricant
 


 
Another example is Trashy Muse, a platform that in 2019 organized the very first fashion show of virtual avatars and is all about digital clothing.
 
Being a virtual fashion brand also has social and environmental effects. The whole industry is moving towards more inclusive and sustainable fashion, making a concrete action against pollution.
 
No fabric, no waste, right? This is one of the most positive aspects of NFT clothing.
 

Source: Tribute Brand

 
Well, that’s what companies like The Fabricant are proposing.
 

The Fabricant is the world’s first digital fashion house, making innovative and compelling 3D garments and fashion narratives that are entirely non-physical. Among our founding principles is the belief that fashion should waste nothing but data and exploit nothing but the imagination.

 

Source: Tribute Brand

 

We are committed to the creation of a new fashion perspective that revolutionises industry systems and makes self-expression through digital clothing a sustainable way to explore personal identity.

 

Tribute Brand aims to be accessible. Their prices aren’t that crazy: you can get a piece of digital clothing for less than $100 … of course, many of them are already sold out!

 


 

We strongly believe that digital fashion is the future we should embrace. With no need for physical deliveries and production, it is available without restrictions for any gender, sex or size.

With the recent events and the crisis occurring throughout the world, the needed process of changing the system became inevitable and we are excited to be the pioneers for this new phase.

 

Source: Tribute Brand

 

NFT clothes are more than just collectibles

So But virtual fashion is not just a digital gem to collect; what 3D technology has brought is a revolution within the supply chain and workflow: designers are able to test and visualize every piece, before sending the samples to manufacturers.
 
For Leanne Elliott Young and Catty Taylor there is another aspect to digital fashion and NFT clothing: being inclusive.
 
Together, they founded the Institute of Digital Fashion, an initiative to help the integration of new talents in 3D design, and promote NFT fashion brands. The creation of an institution such as this, proves that NFT digital clothing has a promising future.
 


 

Developing future-focused, dynamic creative strategies, products and activations which harness the power of the digital landscape through and beyond their versatile and diverse global network.

The Institute of Digital Fashion bridges the gap between on and offline, forging solutions and activations in the worlds of AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality) to real-time and digital.

 


 

Catty Taylor is also the creative director and founder of community Digi-Gxl, a platform that promotes women, trans, intersex and non-binary designers, in an industry still dominated by cis men.

 

You can check the services they offer here.

 


 
There is a lot to be discovered by the fashion industry when it comes to making it digital: the world is reinventing itself! NFT clothing is here to stay, and digital fashion is evolving as a world of its own.
 
Considering the success of the pioneers with the experiments made with digital fashion and the rise of NFT clothing it’s worth sticking around.

]]>