The Inspirati

Pietro Franceschini: Bridging Parallel Realms May 30, 2023

Growing up in his family’s hilltop country home 15 minutes from downtown Florence, Pietro Franceschini's idyllic childhood instilled in him an appreciation and respect for the objects with which we surround ourselves. His aesthetic point of view continued to take shape through architecture studies first in Italy, then Portugal, Egypt, France, and finally the US. In researching these differing schools of thought in diverse cultural contexts, Pietro was actively seeking to inform his eye from as many angles as possible.

Months before the pandemic began, Pietro decided to pause his burgeoning career in architecture, and shift his focus to the creation of artful furnishings and objects. He returned to his ancestral home in the countryside to birth new visions that sat at the intersection of classical, timeless aesthetics and youthful, irreverent exuberance. When the time came to explore production, the global shutdown prevented him from meeting manufacturers, and so he turned to digital artists to help bring his pieces to life in surreal contexts, which he shared with a growing following on social media. What began as a digital solution to assist him with creation in the real world has now become an important part of the Pietro Franceschini brand. Pietro sees these virtual vistas as a new way to communicate, one which allows design to soften its grip on functionality and move closer to art.

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Christian Larson: Directing an Intimate Rhythm Mar 28, 2023

It comes as no surprise that Christian Larson, the creative half of the founding duo behind the imaginative Swedish undergarment brand CDLP, cut his creative teeth with early careers in visual world building: first editing, then directing.

Growing up outside Stockholm, Christian studied drumming from an early age, and his sense of rhythm is perhaps the strongest visible through line in a career that has spanned multiple industries. You can see it in his award winning editing on projects like the Grammy and Emmy-nominated concert film 'ON THE RUN' featuring Beyoncé & Jay-Z, and projects for Lady Gaga, Daft Punk, Abba, Taylor Swift, Britney Spears and Dior. That same sense of rhythm won him the director chair on ad campaigns for Cartier, Jimmy Choo, Pepsi, Mercedes-Benz, and Nowness, as well as music videos for Sigur Rós, Kylie Minogue, Icona Pop, and Swedish House Mafia.

When Christian’s directorial career was keeping him frequently on the road, his best friend Andreas began traveling with him. One day they found themselves in a hotel room in Rio, chastising each other for their mutually terrible choices in underwear, and an idea was born. The quest began to develop a superior product to what was on the market, a product crafted from better materials and made in Europe, where they could have control over their manufacturing process. Once an unconsidered, boring, ’non-decision' purchase relegated to the sock drawer, CDLP won early support from men of all ages, who finally felt sexy in their improved undergarments.

Over the last six years the brand has grown to include swim and loungewear, and a women’s line launched a few months ago. True to his rhythm, Christian’s video campaigns are masterfully shot and tightly edited… Not to mention the CDLP mixtape series, which is fantastic.

We caught up with Christian to chat about curiosity as a driving imperative, why hotels make the most cinematic backdrops, and how an unexpected moment, like seeing 35 millimeter film for the first time, can alter your perspective and cement your commitment to a creative destiny.

Slide on your best underwear, and enjoy this conversation with the brilliant Christian Larson.

Presented by NUVO Magazine.

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Rosh Mahtani: Waxing Poetically Sep 27, 2022

For jewelry designer Rosh Mahtani, the quest to create modern heirlooms originated in her love of one of humanity’s greatest stories: Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy. Growing up in Zambia before moving to London, her desire to express herself through a creative process brushed up against the outsider experience of the immigrant, and it took time to manifest as the destiny she was entitled to and could find a medium for. It was in a literature class at Oxford University that she discovered a sense of belonging in the Divine Comedy’s opening lines: which paint the picture of a young creative, lost in a dark wood, trying to find his way in the world.

This exploration of loneliness and personal identity led her to create her jewelry brand, Alighieri, from a desire to make others feel less alone, and more in touch with the unifying nature of our collective human experience across the ages. While Alighieri has gone on to become revered and sought out internationally, Rosh’s works are entirely manufactured in the UK. In 2020, Princess Anne presented the self-taught designer with the Queen Elizabeth the second Award for British Design, the first time this prestigious honor has been bestowed upon a designer of jewelry.

We discussed why the vulnerability of imperfection creates closeness, how artists can influence each other across time and media, and the romance of an individual’s relationship to objects, from a family’s “cave of treasures” to astronauts carrying talismans to space for luck and strength.

Presented by NUVO Magazine.

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Sebastian Errazuriz: Speaking Art as a First Language Aug 02, 2022

If you hold the belief that the artist, by definition, lacks structure, discipline, or business sense, you really need to know Sebastian Errazuriz. Raised by a stoic kindergarten teacher mother as one of four boys, the high testosterone level in his home was contrasted by a massive appreciation for creativity. His art professor father, a man who would be moved to tears when conducting imaginary orchestras, created the arts program that children in Santiago, Chile learn from age 5 to 18. As his guinea pig, Sebastian’s childhood was marked by the kind of rigorous training in the arts that is usually reserved for star athletes or aspiring concert pianists.

Before he was 30, Sebastian became the second living South American artist to have his work auctioned within a Sotheby's sale of Important Twentieth Century Design. He is recognized for public art installations around the world, from Chile’s national stadium to New York’s Times Square, works that aim to arouse new perspectives and conversations about society’s relationship with technology, immigrant labor, or religious extremism.

During our conversation, Sebastian reflected on speaking art as a first language, why the art world compels its superstars to lie, how his creative process sometimes reminds him of other climaxes, and why you should never ask, and always offer.

Presented by NUVO Magazine.

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JJ Martin: Fashioning a Spiritual Life Jul 05, 2022

Stitching together a new kind of vision where pattern meets purpose, JJ Martin and her brand La DoubleJ are combining aesthetics and spirituality to bring expansive joy to the worlds of fashion and home decor. Originally launched in 2015, La DoubleJ has now grown to encompass ready-to-wear, accessories, home, bedding, and tableware, and has collaborated with partners from goop and Laduree to Cucchi, the Milanese pasticceria where JJ, for many years, sat writing her articles... The only person in Italy, in public, on a laptop.

JJ gives eloquent advice, not only on how to match patterns in our outfits and on our dinner tables, but also on how to identify and address our behavior patterns in life. In recent years her devotion to spiritual development has crossed over into her designs, notably in her first boutique, which opened in Milan in the Spring of last year, and features paper lotus leaves hanging from the ceiling, mannequins in mudra pose, and a sacred grotta with a pantheon of goddesses. Her perception of the divine feminine serves as an empowered rallying cry for a more balanced world, and her tough love approach to spiritual investigation reminds us that it’s all there for us, but we have to manifest it for ourselves.

We discussed degrees of maximalism, spiritual quickenings, elegance under pressure, and what it means to surrender, even if you’re kicking and screaming through the process.

Presented by NUVO Magazine.

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Tom Dixon: Lighting the Way Jun 07, 2022

While Tom Dixon is a household name in British design, and even a living, breathing symbol of the country’s aesthetic today, there is no denying that he has forever been a true original.

Born in Tunisia, and raised in Morocco and Egypt before moving to England, Dixon’s exotic early influences ignited a quest for a new way of seeing and, in due course, of making. This drive has taken him around the world in search of inspiration, channeling creative awakenings into luxurious light fixtures and free spirited furniture.

Tom filled us in on the highs and lows of the convergence of Covid and Brexit, which led not only to supply chain disruptions, but also to an intense period of creation in a green house owned by the oldest orchid business in the world, which revived the kind of play intrinsic to his early career. We discussed the beauty to be found in the first of something, being motivated by surprises, and why you should go to as many parties as possible.

Please enjoy this conversation with the unparalleled Tom Dixon, presented by NUVO Magazine.

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Light Watkins: Invoking Inspiration May 25, 2021

As one of the world’s leading experts on meditation, Light Watkins has delivered over 500 wellness-centric talks, lead countless workshops and retreats, and taught thousands of people to meditate. He hosts a weekly podcast called At the End of the Tunnel, and has published three books: The Inner Gym, Bliss More, and Knowing Where to Look: 108 daily doses of inspiration, which comes out today.

We spoke with him about the unexpected messengers that guide us on our individual journeys, how the real practice is in the field of life, not the meditation class, and how the muse shows up when you do.

Light Watkins // https://www.instagram.com/lightwatkins/?hl=en

Knowing Where to Look // https://www.amazon.ca/Knowing-Where-Look-Daily-Inspiration/dp/168364770X/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=light+watkins&qid=1619731036&sr=8-3

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Amor Towles: Crafting Great Literature With Empathy May 11, 2021

Amor Towles is a master novelist. His second book A Gentleman in Moscow spent 104 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Rules of Civility, his breakout debut, is also a Times bestseller, and together the two books have been translated into more than 30 languages, selling more than 3 million copies to date. This comes as no surprise. Amor’s writing is elegant and soul stirring, leaving you feeling more engaged, more aware of life’s expansiveness.

This conversation was a reminder that returning to the creative boundlessness of our youth can happen whenever we choose, that following our curiosity can lead to greatness, and that exceptional literature can be written with the audience in mind.

Amor’s third novel The Lincoln Highway comes out October 5th. You can preorder it here: https://www.amazon.com/Lincoln-Highway-Novel-Amor-Towles/dp/0735222355

Amor Towles // https://www.instagram.com/amortowles/?hl=en

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Joe Holder: Championing the Preservation of Self Apr 27, 2021

Joe Holder is a true unclassifiable. If you’ve only known him as a master trainer on Nike’s app, or a wellness columnist for GQ, or the guy getting Naomi Campbell through lockdown workouts on her Instagram, it’s likely you haven’t experienced the full breadth of Joe.

In the short leap from college athlete to one of the most influential coaches in fitness and sports, he picked up a client roster of creative powerhouses like Virgil Abloh, Heron Preston, Bella Hadid, and Ricardo Tisci, but getting fashion’s a-listers into their best physical shape has turned out to be only a ripple on the surface of Joe’s impact.

His overarching philosophy, The Ocho System, is based on eight core components for wellness: physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, occupational, financial, social, and environmental. After years of fitness crazes that seem to cause as many injuries and lifestyle imbalances as six packs, this holistic approach is a breath of fresh air. This is not a man who has time to take shirtless videos at the gym. He’s too busy reading James Baldwin and trying to galvanize America’s underserved communities to commit the radical act of self preservation and build the foundation for a lifetime of good health.

We talked about what it was like to teach the first Masterclass on wellness, how the more blessed you are, the more obligated you become to lift others up, and why it is so important to stop and listen to the music.

Joe Holder // https://www.instagram.com/ochosystem/

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Ted Gushue: Stepping on the Gas Apr 13, 2021

If you have even the slightest interest in cars or the culture that surrounds them, chances are you already follow Ted Gushue on Instagram. The fact that he was brought home from the hospital in a red Porsche 911 was a beautiful piece of foreshadowing, as he now serves as the editor in chief of Type 7, a platform he created with the brand to expand the Porsche world as it relates to art, architecture, design and overall culture.

Ted lives by the credo, “If you don’t do it today, you’ll just be a year older when you do,” a philosophy which has manifested itself in an inspiring life driven by asking questions, telling stories, and feeding his boundless curiosity. We discussed his years navigating the New York social scene as a DJ and nightlife reporter, how a phone call from Graydon Carter supercharged his career as an editor, and how going 65 miles an hour head first down a hand made skeleton luge ice track in Eastern Switzerland can really satiate your need for speed, even if your mom, understandably, does not approve.

Ted Gushue // https://www.instagram.com/tedgushue/?hl=en

Type 7 // https://www.instagram.com/type7/?hl=en

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Andy Dixon: Adding Color to the Big Conversation Mar 30, 2021

Before he had even reached his teens, Canadian-born painter Andy Dixon had already cut his creative teeth shredding in a metal band, touring during summer break, and getting flack from other students for negging their school on TV. These days, he is still every bit the colorful punk, asking, or perhaps answering the question: “What does a Renaissance painting look like under a pop culture lens?” His work frequently references classical art but, in doing so, opens up a conversation about luxury, and pokes fun at the notion that while art is soul stirring and life affirming, it also needs to carry a price tag.

We caught up with Andy as he was preparing to open his latest exhibit “Masterpieces”, which is on view until April 18th at Over the Influence in Los Angeles. He talked about the terrible physical effects of not quitting your day job, his whirlwind journey to collaborating with Versace, and the perks of letting go of branding yourself an outcast to join the great conversation.

Andy Dixon // https://www.instagram.com/andy.dxn/?hl=en

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Richard Christiansen: Burning Down the Barn to See the Moon Mar 09, 2021

A true legend amongst creative directors, Richard Christiansen has built a life out of building worlds. His creative agency Chandelier has crafted stories, reimagined identities, and conceived campaigns for companies like Givenchy, Virgin, Calvin Klein, Cartier, Bergdorf Goodman, Club Monaco, Nordstrom, and Roc Nation. The originality in Chandelier’s work speaks to its founder’s unbridled imagination, but when one week you’re spontaneously setting up an office in Hong Kong and the next you’re creating kaleidoscopic visuals for Kylie Minogue’s stadium tour, what do you construct as your magnum opus? The answer, it turned out, was simple. Build a home.

And so, after decades of bringing beauty into the world for others, Richard embarked on his most personal project to date, the restoration and reimagining of seven acres in the hills of Los Angeles, a property which became Flamingo Estate: his home, a sanctuary for his creative community, and a garden of earthly delights.

In this episode, Richard talks about the importance of fantasy, why pleasure is a human right, and how, sometimes, you need to burn down the barn to see the moon.

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Zoe Buckman: Celebrating Survival Mar 02, 2021

With a pair of boxing gloves slung over one shoulder, and a head filled with East London street smarts, Zoe Buckman has arrived over the past few years as a bold face of the feminist arts movement. Her multi-disciplinary work frequently speaks to universal female experiences, be it the inclusion of embroidered words on the subject of domestic violence, titling a recent show “Heavy Rag”, or her 43-foot sculpture “Champ”, a glowing neon outline of a uterus outfitted with boxing gloves, which was installed above the iconic and recently shuttered Standard Hotel, on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood.

In this episode, Zoe chatted about the diversity in the shades of meaning to be found in both a John Keats poem and a Tupac lyric, why you can’t talk about feminism without acknowledging girl on girl crime, and how it feels to break free from using trauma as a muse.

Zoe Buckman // https://www.instagram.com/zoebuckman/?hl=en

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Kristian Schmidt: Advocating for Wildness Feb 23, 2021

The first time you see the work of photographer Kristian Schmidt, your first question might be, "Is that photoshopped?"

His pictures, which frequently blend the sophistication of fashion with the rawness of wildlife, often depict scenarios that have yet to be attempted by other photographers. One critically acclaimed project captured a model swimming alongside whale sharks, the biggest known fish in the ocean. The media was captivated, and the photographs were featured in nearly 400 magazines and newspapers globally, raising awareness for this at-risk species.

Kristian has worked with countless celebrities, including Lupita Nyong’o, Djimon Hounsou, Prince William, David Beckham, and Richard Branson, to promote wildlife conservation and increase education about the growing illegal trade of animal and sea-life poaching. This remarkable work contributed to the banning of the ivory trade in China in 2017, but Kristian’s work is far from over.

As he says in this episode, "Once you're there and you see the problems, you can only help. You don't want to do anything else."

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Tremaine Emory: Contextualizing the Human Experience Feb 16, 2021

Tremaine Emory is a boundlessly talented jack-of-all-creative-trades. Following a lengthy tenure at Marc Jacobs, he co-founded creative collective No Vacancy Inn, throwing legendary parties at Tom Sachs’ exhibition spaces, and designing exclusive t-shirts for Dover Street Market. At a dinner in London, an inside joke about a beat up pair of jeans became Denim Tears, a moniker for Tremaine and a lifestyle brand in its own right. Collaborations with Converse and Levi’s soon followed, but these projects weren’t just about selling Chuck Taylors or 501s. Like everything he does, Tremaine’s work with bigger brands has aimed to open up a dialogue about the black experience.

Tremaine, at heart, is a storyteller and a change maker. He has served as a nurturer of talent across the industries of fashion, music, culture, and art, working with the likes of Frank Ocean, Stüssy, ASAP Rocky, Virgil’s label Off-White, and Kanye West, who entrusted Tremaine with the roll of creative consultant and brand director of Yeezy from 2016 to 2018, calling him a “creative gardener”.

His perspective serves as a reminder that we should never doubt the potential impact of an individual, that where we’re from is just as important as where we’re going, and that sometimes, the best things really do happen after 10pm.

Tremaine Emory // https://www.instagram.com/denimtears/?hl=en

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Matt McCormick: Mending an American Fantasy Feb 09, 2021

Los Angeles based painter Matt McCormick's first creative career as a tattoo artist saw him inking rappers like Mac Miller and Tyler, the Creator. After living on the road touring with the latter, he transitioned into fine art, exploring themes tied to the American West, Hollywood glamor, and other moments of nostalgia, depicting a desire for less cluttered horizons and more risk takers to look up to.

In this episode, the prolific artist talks about breaking rules in both tattooing and fine art, the evolution of masculine stereotypes, and what the soundtrack to his day sounds like.

Matt McCormick // https://www.instagram.com/mattrmccormick/?hl=en

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Alexandra O'Neill: Preserving Craft and Dressing The First Lady Feb 02, 2021

In a short three years since launching luxury womenswear line Markarian, Alexandra O'Neill has dressed many a starlet for many a red carpet, from Millie Bobby Brown to Emily Ratajkowski, Laura Dern to Lizzo, Priyanka Chopra to Thandie Newton, Lily Collins to Lily James. While she'd gained a following amongst those in the know, January 20th, 2021 was the day she became a household name. Dr. Jill Biden, America's new First Lady, chose to wear Markarian to the Inauguration, placing the brand firmly within the annals of fashion history.

In this episode, our host sits down with one of her best friends to discuss her meteoric rise, her dedication to sustainability, and the inspiration behind that galactic fantastic name.

Episode cover image photographed by Matteo Prandoni.

Markarian // https://www.instagram.com/markarian_nyc/

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Jim Hart: Reconnecting to the Supernatural Jan 26, 2021

Jim Hart, known to the Haida Nation as Chief Idansuu, is one of the Northwest Coast’s most prodigious artists. He was awarded the Order of British Columbia in 2003 and received a Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013, and has exhibited internationally from the Louvre in Paris to a solo show in Singapore.

It was a true honor to have Jim on to talk about where creativity sits within Haida society, his perspective on relating to the supernatural for inspiration, and the role of art in the healing of generational trauma.

Episode cover image courtesy of Simon Fraser University.

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Luke Edward Hall: Modernizing Mythology Dec 22, 2020

In the five years since launching his studio, British artist, illustrator, and “Young Prince of Interior Design” Luke Edward Hall has become the darling of the design world, in London and beyond. His collaborations across fashion, hospitality, interiors, and artistic institutions have contributed to a spectacular rise, and this year, a beautiful establishment named Hotel Les Deux Gares opened in Paris, Luke’s first large scale interiors project. His aesthetic, which has electrified a global audience, is a maximalist symphony of color, romance, and whimsy, and it enchants the eye with a joyful optimism that couldn't feel more refreshing.

Join us as Luke shares his journey to embracing a multifaceted creative career, and the influences and fascinations that have shaped his voice, from the glamor of the interwar period to classical mythology.

Luke Edward Hall // https://www.instagram.com/lukeedwardhall/

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Marie-Louise Scio: Designing La Dolce Vita // with Guest Co-Host Shay Mitchell Dec 15, 2020

Alex is joined by a special guest co-host, actress and entrepreneur Shay Mitchell, to chat with their mutual girl crush Marie-Louise Scio, the ultra-creative hotelier behind three picturesque properties along the Italian coast. Shay and Alex discuss their trip to Mezzatorre Hotel last summer, on the island of Ischia, which came with a pregnancy announcement and the consumption of roughly one hundred and eighty three tomatoes.

Marie-Louise explains the history behind each of the legendary hotels, a combined legacy featuring the discovery of a lost Roman ruin, the richest man in the world, a fortuitous bout of seasickness, and a cameo by Charlie Chaplin. She also shares her creative process and her overall design philosophy, which has lended itself to so many projects that this summer she launched Issimo, a digital destination for Italy lovers.

Issimo // https://issimoissimo.com

Marie-Louise Scio // https://www.instagram.com/marielouisescio/?hl=en

Shay Mitchell // https://www.instagram.com/shaymitchell/?hl=en

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Nick Haramis: Stepping Into The Crystal Ball of Pop with Interview Magazine's Editor-in-Chief Dec 08, 2020

Nick Haramis spent his boyhood in a small town in Canada best known for its paper mill, accessing a world of glamor and international culture through magazines. An early talent for writing and a fateful trip to New York jumpstarted an illustrious career in print, landing him at the top of the masthead at Interview, the magazine founded by artist Andy Warhol fifty years ago.

In this episode, we discuss Interview’s instrumental roll in shaping culture over the past five decades, why shocking your parents means you’ve done something right, and how the importance of curation and critique has evolved in the digital age.

Special thanks to King Princess and the team at Zelig Music for the use of "Hit The Back", which plays in the introduction.

Nick Haramis // https://www.instagram.com/nickkharamis/

Interview Magazine // https://www.instagram.com/interviewmag/

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Mimi and Oddur Thorisson: Creating a World Around the Kitchen Table Dec 01, 2020

If you follow Mimi and Oddur Thorisson's adventures in countryside living, you might not guess that they met in a nightclub in Paris at 5am. This chance encounter turned into a love story that ignited both of their creative explorations, and moved them out of a fast paced city life into a simpler, dreamier bucolic existence. The food writer and her photographer husband now live between the Médoc and Torino, and have collaborated on a stunning series of cookbooks and dozens of workshops on food and photography.

Their life, centered around family and good food, and beautifully documented by Oddur, serves as a reminder to slow down, elevate the essentials, and find the beauty in every daily act.

Make sure to check out their latest cookbook Old World Italian: Recipes and Secrets from Our Travels in Italy.

Mimi Thorisson // https://www.instagram.com/mimithor/

Oddur Thorisson // https://www.instagram.com/oddthor/

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