Bleu Magazine Issue #68 Duckwrth by Bleu Magazine

DAVO

DAW U D W E ST SHONE ROMULUS

RZA

X AV I E R B A N K S

B R E O N N A TAY LO R

68 T

HION

ISSU

H S

V O L U M E 4

E FA

toyota.com/highlander

Celebrate your history together in the all-new Toyota Highlander. Commemorate the 100-year anniversary of Negro Leagues baseball in style, in the all-new 2020 Toyota Highlander. With a fully redesigned exterior, premium three-row seating, and an available best-in-class 12.3" touchscreen display,* you won’t just be ready to go — you’ll be ready to Go Highlander. Let’s Go Places. *2020 Highlander vs. 2020 competitors based on manufacturers’ data as of 9/19/19. Prototype shown with options. ©2020 Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

m i s e m i m

photography by Isha Shah

W W W . O D F C L O T H I N G . C O M

check out

BOMBSHELLBYBLEU.COM

Table of

Contents Photography by Nolwen Cifuentes Fashion by Apuje Kalu

50 DUCKWRTH TURNS

‘ U U G LY ’ M O V E M E N T I N T O ‘SUPERGOOD’ MUSIC

Is it possible to outsmart fate?

WE WERE CURIOUS ABOUT THAT TOO Because you are our greatest curiosity. And we know that while life can be exciting, it can also be unpredictable. So we created a highly advanced driving simulator to test real-life drivers’ reactions to unexpected situations. What we learn helps us continue to evolve innovative safety systems that help make the real world safer and help you more confidently handle life’s most thrilling turns. What amazing ideas will you inspire next? Discover the answer at lexus.com/curiosity.

LEXUS SAFETY SIMULATOR

Table of

Contents

14 Access By Bleu

64 Feature RZA

18 Man Cave

68 Feature Davo

22 Gadgets

26 Car Volvo XC60 Polestar

B:11.125"

S:9.875"

T:10.875"

28 Grooming Hair Care

30 Fuel Meal Kit Delivery

32 The Creatives Dawud West

38 Fashion

56 Fashion

58 Fashion

72 Travel Black Owned Resorts

76 Travel Pandemic Travel Guide

80 Fashion

88 The Humans

92 Op-Ed My Gap Year: Out of Fashion

94 Icon Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery

96 Spotlight Big Daveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cheesesteaks

Photography by Vincent Dolman

MASTHEAD

Publisher/Editorial Direction DĂŠVon Christopher Johnson

Head of Content EIC Bombshell by Bleu Ebony Allison

Creative Director Andrew Zaeh

Art Direction & Design

Vee Banionis, Agnes Mazeikate

Managing Editor Jamie Rollo

UK Fashion Editor Sean Azeez

Copy Editor

Trevoy Ross, William Flores

Graphic Arts Consultant Sophia Lavergne

Staff Writer

Tommy Rodriguez, Elysia Tanswell, Stacey Edwards

On the Cover DUCKWRTH Photography By NOLWEN CIFUENTES Stylist: APUJE KALU

Contributing Writers

Taylor Edwards, Chloe McCoy, Tanya Hayles, Ashlyn Chak, Keyaira Kelly, Miranda Reeves, Nino Reyes, Patrice Gillespie

Contributing Photographers

Nolwen Cifuentes, Khrystian McCalister, Vincent Dolman,Chris Henry, Maria Oswalt, Vince Fleming, Clay Banks, James Eades, Nathan Dumalo

Editorial Contributors

Apuje Kalu, Imani Suliman, Jovel Roystan, Lucy Alexandra Hamilton, Jolanda Coetzer, Lawrence Pitts

Interns

Mackenzie Murray, Justin Wallace, Zaire Turner

THE BLEU LIFE MEDIA GROUP Chairman, CEO & President DĂŠVon Christopher Johnson

AD Sales:

Todd Evans, Rivendell Media 908.232.2021

Web Design

Kelly Janes Olney

Partnerships & Branded Content LaTecia Johnson info@bleulife.com

Digital Content Strategist

Kaylin Young, Brandon Beachum

Brand Ambassadors

Rannon Harris (Chicago - Midwest), Leroy Williams (Northeast)

Newsstand Distribution TNG 1955 Lake Park Drive, Ste. 400 Smyrna, GA 30080

Submissions

Bleu Magazine 26 Broadway, 3rd floor New York, NY 10004 info@bleulife.com

Bleulife Media & Entertainment Inc. | 26 Broadway 3rd Floor New York, NY 10004 | E-Mail: info@bleulife. com | Online: bleulife.com Printed in Canada. Opinions expressed by advertisers, columnists, feature writers or other contributors are not necessarily the opinions of Bleu Magazine or its staff. All advertisements, photographs, text or illustrations are published with the understanding that the advertisers are fully authorized to have secured proper consent for the use thereof. Bleu Magazine shall not be held responsible for any errors, loss, expense or liabilities on advertisements accepted after the deadline. Publication of the name or photograph of any person or advertisement in Bleu Magazine is not to be constructed as an indication of sexual orientation of such persons, advertiser or organization. Partial or complete reproduction of an advertisement, news article, feature or photograph from Bleu Magazine is strictly prohibited as Bleu Magazine is a registered trademark. A $25 or 1.5% (whichever is greater) fee will be charged for all NSF checks. All rights reserved.

PUBLISHER’S LETTER

Feeling like a drop in the ocean But don’t nobody notice Maybe it’s all just in your head Feeling like you’re trapped in your own skin And now your body’s frozen Broken down, you’ve got nothing left When you’re high on emotion And you’re losing your focus And you feel too exhausted to pray Don’t get lost in the moment Or give up when you’re closest All you need is somebody to say It’s okay not to be okay It’s okay not to be okay When you’re down and you feel ashamed It’s okay not to be okay OK Not To Be OK DEMI LOVATO

The world is fucked up. Now what? These days it seems like everyone is walking around with PTSD. The only problem is the cause of the PTSD is still happening. We are living with and through a global pandemic. Our political leaders (in the US) are completely out of sync with what the population needs. And the economy drives a deeper wedge between the haves and have nots. I wish there was an even stronger word than the “f-word.” Because that too seems weak during these times. Yes, human history is riddled with global crises and near catastrophic occurrences. The dinosaurs couldn’t hack it. But, the mighty human race will get through this. Yet, unlike the dinosaurs, we saw this coming. Covid-19 did not show up to the party uninvited. She sent all her cousins and friends around the globe before. Bird Flu, SARS, Mad Cow and so many others gave us plenty of prep time and case studies. We didn’t care. We kept dancing and buying stocks. We crowded into venues that lacked even basic fire exits just to hear our favorite deejay. We opted for the middle seats on a full flight to Tulum for our bros weekend. We even normalized sitting less than six feet apart in restaurants from complete strangers to taste the cuisine of some top chef you heard about from a friend of a friend. We created Covid-19. We are not OK. We are flawed. We are selfish. We are human.

DéVon Christopher Johnson Founder & Group Publisher

C O N T R I B U TO R S

Nolwen

CIFUENTES

Apuje

KALU

Vincent

DOLMAN

Nneya

RICHARDS

Ashlyn

CHAK

Patrice

GILLESPIE

Nolwen is a self-taught portrait photographer based in Los Angeles. She was born and raised in the desert of California to multi-racial immigrant parents, an upbringing that has greatly inspired her work. Nolwen is best known for capturing a mix of raw and dreamy portraiture.

Apuje Kalu’s talents are indefinable. He is an instinctive freelance fashion stylist and creative director from Washington, DC known for his eye for detail. Apuje injects forethought, creativity, and boundless energy into every project and brings an aptitude for organization and structure thanks to his engineering background.

Vincent is a London based fashion and celebrity photographer. In 2004, Dolman’s work was featured in the Black British Style exhibition at the V&A. Since then he has had huge success shooting fashion and celebrity magazine editorials for high-profile international clients, including I-D, Notion Magazine, Wonderland, and Bleu Magazine. He has also worked for entertainment giants such as EMI, Universal Music, Island Records, and Atlantic Records. Celebrities he has worked with include Rihanna, Eminem, Pharrell Williams, Ed Sheeran, Juliette Lewis, and Dua Lipa to name a few.

A born and raised New Yorker, Nneya Richards is a fashion and travel maven. At just 15 years old, Nneya started as a founding contributing editor of TeenVOGUE magazine. She is a travel and fashion consultant, appearing in publications, speaker panels and television internationally. Through her platform and her blog, “N A Perfect World,” Nneya aims to empower people, especially young women of color, to travel, as she believes it is through exploring the world that we will bridge cultural gaps and misunderstandings.

Currently based in Hong Kong with a background in London and New York City, Ashlyn is a writer whose work has been published in magazines such as Time Out Hong Kong and ArtAsiaPacific. She is a third-wave feminist, cinephile, and drink enthusiast; her favourite film directors are Wong Kar-wai, Greta Gerwig, and David Fincher.

After developing a strong passion for writing in the 6th grade, Patrice went on to study English Literature with a minor in writing. After receiving her BA, she went to intern at The Naiive as a Fashion Editorial intern, creating content on the latest fashions; providing fashion tips for the modern chic woman. Through that internship she met Ebony Allison, the Head of Content for Bleu Life Media.There, Patrice had the opportunity to report on a plethora of topics from sports, beauty, politics, entertainment, fashion, and more. She currently serves as the Executive Assistant to the SVP of Events and Broadcast at Global Citizen.

UST OT J A

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GAZINE . @BLEUMAGAZINE

BLEUMAGAZINE.COM

AC T I V I S M BY B L E U

From Sea to Shining Sea This collection of photos document the Black Lives Matter protests happening across the country. From the east coast to the west, millions of BLM supporters have taken to the streets in the name of social justice and racial equality. From Philadelphia to Vista, California to Washington D.C, the United States is being woken up to the years of injustice faced by Black Americans.

Philadelphia, PA Photo by Chris Henry 14

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AC T I V I S M BY B L E U

Washington D.C Photo by Clay Banks Protest in Atlanta, GA Photo by Maria Oswalt

Protest in Washington D.C Photo by Clay Banks

Protest in Charlotte, NC Photo by Clay Banks

Washington D.C Photo by Clay Banks

Photo by James Eades

Vista, CA Photo by Vince Fleming Cincinnati, OH Photo by Julian Wan Photo by Nathan Dumlao

Issue 68

THE 4X5

IT’S 2020

AND WE’RE BUYING BLACK Black Owned Brands and Their Most Notable Pieces

TELFAR A brand must tell a story and Telfar goes the distance unlike most. Established in 2005, Telfar Clemens set out to create a unisex line that highlights inclusivity. (Photo Credit: Telfar) Logo Embossed Hat $110: The leather baseball cap adds an element of flare by playing on a typical canvas textile. Logo Belt $95: To match the hat, the logo belt comes in an array of colors that correspond to the aforementioned baseball cap. The Telfar Bag $257: This is probably the most known garment in the collection and has been coined the “Bushwick Birken.” The unisex tote comes in three sizes and an assortment of colors. The Logo Pendant $240: With accessories becoming the subtle statement every outfit needs, this pendant makes noise. The logo pendant comes in silver and gold. White Castle T-shirt $55: Telfar keeps us guessing by adding his branding and direction to this vintage novelty tee.

PYER MOSS A brand that encompasses activism and social commentary, Pyer Moss has made a big splash by partnering with Reebok. The partnership boasts how we can be a part of something, whilst maintaining our ownership. (Photo Credit: Pyer Moss) Cropped Killer Leather Jacket $1400: Leather jackets are a go-to for the fall and winter. The addition of the leather belt gives the classic piece a flare to distinguish it from other leather jackets. Sister Rosetta Tharpe Fold Down Turtleneck $275: This printed turtleneck is the statement piece you need for fall/winter. The fact that it features Black art gives us more of a reason to buy. Logo Rain Jacket $515: Just because spring is over doesn’t mean it can’t rain. This snap pocket rain jacket will turn heads in all forms of precipitation. Wave Sweatpant $225: If you haven’t found your go-to sweatpants, these may be the one for you. The collegiate-style sweatpants with contrast drawstrings can be a staple piece in any wardrobe. “Rock Me” Embroidered Track Pant $350: If athleisure is your lane, it’d be foolish not to grab a pair of track pants. The fact that these pants feature embroidery is a double sell.

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THE 4X5

MARTINE ROSE The London based brand has come out of the British underground scene and has now become a household name among luxury boutiques and department stores. Founded by Martine Rose in 2007, who now serves as a top consultant in fashion due to their success and hard work. Carlton Belt in Navy €105 ($123.58 USD): This subtle stylish piece can enhance an outfit immensely. The blue is distinct yet not overpowering and the gold hardware branding gives it a pop. (image from martine-rose.com) Photo Credit: Martine Rose Beanie Polo in Stripe €189 ($222.45 USD): This sporty collared shirt features cut-n-sew esque elements.The Beanie Polo in stripe is another standalone piece that deserves a spot in your wardrobe. (image from cettire.com) Apache T-shirt in Black €230 ($270.70 USD): Sometimes you can’t go wrong with a simple black tee. This one offers unique print branding to make it stand out. (image from cettire.com) Gritty Glasses in Green €161 ($189.49 USD): These glasses will be dark enough for you to wear with any outfit without it clashing. Cheers to a neutral with a bit of pizazz! (image from lyst.com) Bomber Jacket €690 ($812.11 USD): A flight jacket is essential in complementing one’s style. A timeless classic, it would be a wise choice to grab this reversible piece equipped with the Martine Rose logo on the back. (image from modesens.com)

FRÈRE Menswear designer Davidson Petit-Frère has become an authority in menswear, tailoring, and suiting. His label has gained popularity as his clothing can be seen on the TV show Power and worn by celebs like Jay-Z and Trevor Noah. (Photo Credit: FRÈRE) Sky Blue Double Breasted Two Piece Suit $2795.00: Double-breasted suits have made a comeback in recent seasons. This suit is a stand out among the collection. Navy Brocade Dinner Jacket $1995.00: Take a risk at your next dinner party and wear this navy instead of black. Trust me, you’ll be the foremost tastemaker of your group. Beige Suede Trucker Jacket $2195.00: Trucker jackets have been a wardrobe essential since denim has been a thing. Why not switch it up on color and texture with this essential autumn garment? Black Neoprene Brocade Trucker $1995.00: With an eye for bespoke fabrics, Davidson Frère hones in on the keen details with this mature piece. Navy NY MA1 Bomber $2895.00: This suede bomber uses the iconic New York branding with the Yankees’ font. A great piece to grab if you are a baseball fan or a New York native.

Issue 68

M A N C AV E

Words by: CHLOE MCCOY

The Pe r f e c t The me For Your Man Cave Your man cave is a space of your own, and it should reflect your passions and interests. We have tips and a few ideas for choosing the perfect theme.

Building A Man Cave? Choosing The Perfect Theme For thousands of years, human beings have recognized the value of me-time. Centuries ago this meant disappearing into the wilderness, but now we have the man cave.

Then there are the men who need a place to express themselves in ways their partners wouldn’t accept in the other rooms in the house. Football memorabilia or movie posters are not often welcome in the living room.

You know that spending time with your partner is a vital part of your relationship, but you can’t always be joined at the hip. Alone time or spending some time with your buddies is just as important for keeping your relationship alive. The same goes for your partner, but this article isn’t about what they do.

If you’re ready to revamp or build your man cave and need some inspiration, check out these awesome themes:

It’s about you doing you in a space you can call your own. And where better to do that than in a themed man cave? The theme you choose depends on your primary reason for building one. For some men, having a space to escape and destress can help them be more efficient at work or home. For others, it’s all about having a private retreat to kick back in.

SPORTS BAR IMAGE CREDIT: THEMURPHYDOOR.COM

MAGAZINE

Movie Magic Love Pulp Fiction, the Marvel Universe or Star Wars movies? Choosing movies as your theme can be as simple or elaborate as you prefer, and the scope for décor is huge. You can decorate the walls with movie posters from your favorite films and build a home cinema complete with a big screen and popcorn machine. Installing a few shelves for movie memorabilia is a good idea too, and you can add collectables or display props or any other film-related paraphernalia you can get your hands on.

GAMER’S PARADISE IMAGE CREDIT: OMAR PRETSWICH ON UNSPLASH

M A N C AV E

MUSICAL MAN CAVE IMAGE CREDIT: AKIN CARTER ON UNSPLASH

Gamers Paradise Gamers are famous for wanting their own space to really get into their Nintendo, Xbox or PlayStation. Fortunately, gaming makes a great theme for a man cave and there are plenty of elements that can be brought in to set the scene. Comfortable arm chairs or recliners facing a big screen TV are the perfect addition, and you can decorate the walls with the logo of your favorite game or characters from World of Warcraft, Fortnite, or any other popular title. A small refrigerator or a specialty indoor cooler to keep your drinks cold adds a finishing touch. An Old-Fashioned Study If you want a space where you get a bit of thinking or reading done, you might want to choose the old-fashioned study as a theme. Consider getting an oak desk, comfortable wingback armchairs, a classic cognac bar and hutch, and bookcases sufficient for storing and displaying books.

A luxurious thick carpet, world globe, and an oil painting or two would complete it. If you smoke cigars, a cigar humidor would not be out of place, and if you collect curiosities, your Wunderkammer can take center stage. The Football Fan If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re fanatical about football, a football theme is an obvious choice. A football themed man cave would be the perfect place to display your high school trophies, college jerseys, and all those years worth of Super Bowl memorabilia youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve amassed. You could take it further by displaying banners and flags showing your support for your favorite team, and by putting in a carpet or astroturf designed to look like a field. Complete it by installing a large screen TV, a few comfortable chairs and a fridge for drinks. Where better to watch the big game with your buddies? The Sports Bar Take the football theme a step further by turning your man cave into your very own sports bar. Build a bar counter and shelves for

Issue 68

M A N C AV E

OLD FASHIONED STUDY IMAGE CREDIT: REDDIT.COM

bottles of spirits, add racks for glasses, and pop coasters on the countertop. Then, install a large fridge stocked with beers, mixers and ice so it feels just like your local pub.

essential elements here. If you have a vinyl or CD collection, build shelving for it, as well as for any music memorabilia you have.

Put in a couple of TVs, a good sound system, and decorate the place with football, basketball, hockey, and soccer paraphernalia for an authentic feel.

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a musician, soundproof the place so you and your buddies can have jam sessions together. Turn a corner into a jam space with guitar stands, music stands, pedal boards, amps and all the other equipment you might need and install a jukebox for a nice vintage touch.

If you have the space for it, get a pool or foosball table as well. As far as seating goes, add a few stools at the bar, but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget the sofas and armchairs. You want a bit of comfort after all. The Music Man Cave If music sets your soul on fire, make your man cave a musical space. Comfortable seating and an excellent sound system are

MAGAZINE

The Man Spa If your man cave is all about relaxing and unwinding, why not make it your own private spa? Depending on your budget you could build a steam room, sauna or plunge pool, or you could install a hot tub.

M A N C AV E

FOOTBALL FAN IMAGE CREDIT: DIYNETWORK.COM

Add a few comfortable loungers, soft lighting, scented candles and a music system and you’re almost good to go. Don’t forget about stocking up on pampering treatments such as face masks, a foot spa and the ingredients for your favorite cocktails or fruit and vegetable juice. If you also enjoy exercising, install a small home gym in the same space so you can exercise and unwind all in one. It is possible that this particular man cave might become a cave for all in the home. Make It Your Space These are just a few tips and ideas for building the ultimate man cave. It’s your space and you really are limited by nothing more than your imagination. With a bit of thought and planning, you can turn even the smallest room into something incredible.

MOVIE MAGIC IMAGE CREDIT: SOULFURICSTUDIOS.COM

Issue 68

GADGETS

GADGETS FOR YOUR LIFE Use these gadgets to help improve your everyday, healthy lifestyle.

MAGAZINE

GADGETS

Oura Smart Ring Would you like to invest in making sure you get the best possible rest to ensure a healthy lifestyle? The Oura Smart Ring will help you in more ways than one. It records and sends a flurry of signals picked up while you sleep. It takes note of your heart rate, body temperature, and tracks how well you sleep. The Oura Smart Ring has connected with organizations like the NBA, instilling validity in helping improve sleep health which automatically almost improves your overall bodily health. Available in three colors: silver, black and stealth, the Oura Smart Ring is available for purchase on ouraring. com prices starting at $299.00 at ouraring.com

Issue 68

GADGETS

Fossil SmartWatch Gen 5 The Fossil SmartWatch Gen 5 has all of the ability of a smartwatch with longer-lasting battery life and up to 8GB of storage. This new design is also completely waterproof allowing you to shower, swim, and wash hands with the watch on your wrist. This watch also has many apps to choose from and has the ability to track your heart rate. $295 at fossil.com

Muse 2: Brain Sensing Headband If you tend to have high-stress levels, this gadget is just for you. The Muse 2 helps review and record data such as real-time, brainwave feedback and heart rate. The headband also gives you full access to over 300 guided meditations from some of the best teachers across the globe. The Muse 2 has a five-hour span of continuous use, wireless wifi and bluetooth connection, and the corresponding application is compatible with both Android and Apple. $219.99 at choosemuse.com

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GADGETS

Asako Brave Wifi Action Camera If underwater photography piques your interest, this gadget is for you. The Asako Brave Wifi Action Camera is completely water-resistant and can withstand water pressure up to 100 feet deep. This compact camera features a built-in gyroscope to ensure the utmost stable images. You can also capture underwater images by using the included remote. The camera is compatible with and can be connected to your smartphone. After capturing an image, it can be immediately downloaded and uploaded to the web. $79.99 at akasotech.com

Issue 68

CAR

Volvo XC60 Poles t ar is St y lis hl y Eco Safety has long been the word associated with the Volvo brand and for good reason

Words by: TANYA HAYLES

Photo Credit: Volvo

Volvo has long held the top safety standards and prides itself on being safe, solidly built, and reliable. In 2018, four vehicles received 5-Star Overall Safety Rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Top Safety Pick status from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). So when given the chance to test-drive the new XC60 T8 Polestar Electric Hybrid SUV, I knew at the very least it was going to be secure. What I was not expecting was for the car to be the triple threat we’ve come to expect from a vehicle in 2020: safety, speed, and technology with a side of ecofriendliness.

Luxury can also be fun!

Sport Utility Vehicles are my preferred vehicles to drive, so I was looking forward to picking it up. At first glance, it’s sleek and sexy, and slightly deceiving. The exterior design features a sporty character with integrated black chrome tailpipes, high-gloss black grille, wheel arch extensions, and Polestar Engineered emblems at the front and rear.

Using the keyless entry, it’s time to turn the car on. I start the car and it comes to life, but I wasn’t entirely sure. There was no sound. Other than the gentle bells, I would not have known that I had turned it on properly. This is probably one of the best cases for an electric car - the silence. Is there anything more luxurious than not having to hear your engine? Speaking of sound, once I connected my phone, the Hamilton soundtrack started playing. I wasn’t sure why it sounded as good as it did until I learned what the concert hall audio setting meant.

It is much more spacious on the inside. It seats five, and was big enough for my 7 year old’s bike, but maybe it’s the Panoramic Sunroof that makes it feel like one of the monster SUV’s on the

Throughout the car, large speakers branded with audio specialists Dirac and Harman Kardon create an acoustic sound that is unparalleled and unmatched. Volvo wanted to make

Is this car on?

road. Sitting in the driver’s seat, before I turned the car on, I took a look around. I didn’t know until after that Polestar’s signature color is gold, which they used throughout the vehicle including the seatbelts and on the brake calipers, visible through the wheels. The upholstery with a smooth, sporty look and feel inspired by wetsuits is 100 percent vegan material. The tablet-sized dashboard looks intimidating at first, but has the ability to search for any feature in the owner’s manual.

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CAR

sure that you feel your favorite music, instead of just hearing it. They succeeded in transporting me to an NYC Broadway theater for my drive home. While I like to think of myself as a simple person, this car taught me that I like my luxury with a side of fun. Little luxuries like the ability to customize the inside lighting for nighttime driving (I chose the royal purple), and larger luxuries like Volvos’ Pilot Assist. Even though I like to think of myself as a pro at parallel parking, it never hurts to let the car do the parking, especially in tight downtown situations. The absolute game-changer was the feature of having both my driving speed and the posted speed limit show up in the windshield. Even when driving through a school zone, the yellow sign would be a constant reminder to keep speed to a minimum. That type of technology perk benefits not only the driver, but everyone else.

Green does not mean performance compromise. Realistically, we like to talk about being environmentally friendly, but it’s not a priority. Oftentimes, we believe a green car means compromising performance. That is definitely not the case here. Polestar is the gold standard electric performance car brand and its marriage with Volvo is a match made in heaven. I had concerns

SPECS ENGINE: HORSEPOWER: TRANSMISSION: FUEL EFFICIENCY:

2.0L, Direct-Injected Supercharged, and Turbocharged 415 hp combined 8-Speed Geartronic Automatic Transmission Fuel Efficiency 9.5 City / 8.7 Highway / 9.1 Combined

CHASSIS:

Chassis

WHEELS:

21’’ 5-Y Spoke Black CNC Machined Alloy

and reservations about driving an electric car. My assumption going in was that electric cars would require a futuristic charging process or access to a public station. All it required was a regular plug found in any standard garage. In the list of why I should get an electric car, that checked off the biggest “why shouldn’t I?” worries. The Polestar 2 electric performance fastback comes with 408 hp and 487 lb.-ft., all-wheel drive, a 78 kWh battery pack, and a range of 470 km (WLTP) for the first year of production. That is a great benefit to the earth, but how will it benefit you? From tax credits up to $7,500, getting 275 miles on a single battery charge, and potentially saving almost $400 a year in gas - your wallet will thank you for making this choice. When it comes to cars, there are brands that are synonymous with luxury and decadence. Volvo has created a vehicle that can not only compete with the Rolls Royces and Bentleys, but has created an exclusive level of speed, technology and safety that is worth the look.

Issue 68

GROOMING

Hair Care

Pete & Pedro Peppermint Cream Conditioner, $16

A good lineup of hair products is imperative for looking your best. After all, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the crown you never take off.

This creamy conditioner is perfect for revitalizing dull, dry hair. The hydrating conditioner features ingredients that fight to restore moisture and leave your scalp with that lovely peppermint scent. With both the Clean Tea Tree Shampoo and Peppermint Cream Conditioner, a little truly goes a long way.

Beast Caffeine Conditioner, $19 Pair Beastâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tingle Shampoo with their very own Caffeine Conditioner. This conditioner is packed with vitamins and oils that hydrate and leave hair silky smooth, while also fulfilling all your scalp-tingling desires.

Beast Tingle Shampoo, $19 Kick-start your hair routine with a refreshing, tingly lather of Beast Tingle Shampoo. The shampoo features an incredible concoction of ingredients like ginseng, caffeine, and eucalyptus that is perfect for those fighting off dandruff.

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GROOMING

Pete & Pedro Clean Tea Tree Shampoo, $16 Pete & Pedro’s signature Clean Tea Tree Shampoo is a customer favorite for good reason. The deep-cleansing shampoo contains tea tree oil, a natural oil combatant and antibacterial agent, and is followed by a freshening load of peppermint oil.

Jack Black True Volume Thickening Shampoo, $28 The True Volume Thickening Shampoo is unmatched in its ability to thicken the hair, thanks to its Expansion Technology consisting of ingredients like creatine and wheat protein. The sulfate-free shampoo does a great job of removing all that gunk and gives equal importance to hydrating and soothing the hair and scalp.

Jack Black Double-Header Shampoo and Conditioner, $32 Skip a step with Jack Black’s shampoo and conditioner fusion. A great buildup remover and light, nourishing conditioner, this product is wonderful for those who don’t mind hair products on the drier side.

Issue 68

FUEL Words by: ASHLYN CHAK

Fill up your Kitchen WITHOUT LEAVING THE HOUSE Eight meal kit delivery services for eight different types of foodies

EveryPlate - Simple plates for simple chefs - $39/week Let’s start with something easy. EveryPlate presents affordable meals with simple steps and little effort required. Each weekly delivery includes three different kits designed to feed a household of two or four, and the prep time varies from 30 to 45 minutes. They do have some vegetarian options available, but most are regular, filling, home-cooked dishes. The good news is, you can skip or cancel your subscription anytime!

As the collective fear of COVID-19 looms over our nation, dining out has inevitably become an act reserved for the brave. Getting a cooked meal delivered to your door is satisfying and all, but utilizing your kitchen is a whole other sense of achievement, not to mention how much money you’ll be saving. Instead of risking your life to go to the grocery store, why not just shop online? Here are eight of our favorite online grocers that deliver fresh meal kits straight to your door. Rates show the weekly cost, plus shipping for three meals for two people unless otherwise stated.

Home Chef - Customizable and convenient $45/week two instead of three meals This one is for the really specific foodies: You can customize each recipe to your preference, dietary restrictions, and skill level. There are oven-ready meals, five-minute lunches, and even fruit add-ons for the busy people. Treat yourself to a nice filet mignon or cleanse your body with a Greek spinach and feta chicken. Note that menus are set five weeks ahead, but no worries — you can still pause your rotation anytime. 30

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Gobble - Quick and easy with quality - $72/week Not too dissimilar to EveryPlate, Gobble has a wider variety of options that also cater for the picky foodies. It is a bit more expensive, but only because all the ingredients have been handled and prepared, making your prep time a shocking 15 minutes. Weekly subscriptions work the same way as EveryPlate and include appetizing cuisines such as Korean bulgogi beef and Persian chicken. There are no hard commitments.

Blue Apron - Wine and dine sustainably - $60/week With a mission to farm sustainably and reduce food waste, Blue Apron showcases seasonal ingredients and clean options such as Beyond Meat and a range of food suiting numerous dietary preferences. The kits come pre-portioned with their calories stated. You can choose to have just two dishes for a household of two per week, but we’d probably go for more — they have an add-on wine delivery program that starts at just $10 for a quality bottle.

FUEL

HelloFresh - For the adventurous beginners - $60/week Aside from its vegetarian-friendly and family-friendly plans, HelloFresh also has a “fit” category of the most nutritionally dense meals. Most of the dishes are relatively easy to make, but what’s really special about HelloFresh is that you can go for the “taste tour” with new ingredients and techniques, designed to broaden a beginner chef ’s horizons with ease. Get ready to level up!

Purple Carrot - Ultra-clean to keep you lean - $72/week If Sun Basket isn’t health-conscious enough for you, try this. Purple Carrot isn’t just vegetarian… it’s vegan! But it is nothing like the bland, boring food that people usually associate vegan foods with. Purple Carrot’s menus keep your tastebuds happy with herbs and creative sauces, while also serving high-protein, high-calories options for athletes. The cherry on top here is that shipping is free!

Dinnerly - Much more bang for your buck - $39/week One of the most inexpensive options on the meal service market right now is Dinnerly. It boasts simplicity in their recipes by using fewer ingredients and less steps, making your life that much easier. There is a downside — they don’t offer a full menu that adheres to specific allergies or dietary restrictions. You can still check the recipe for ingredients and allergens, of course.

Sun Basket - Farm-to-table in your own home - $72/week Featuring organic produce, responsibly raised meats, and sustainability sourced, wild seafoods, Sun Basket offers some of the freshest ingredients for their nutritionist-approved recipes. Pick from its extensive list of diets — including paleo, pescatarian, and vegetarian — for dishes that will fit seamlessly with your healthy lifestyle. They also have oven-ready plates and pre-prepped meals that you can just whip right up for a healthy munch.

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Words by: KEYAIRA KELLY

Photography by ANDREW ZAEH

Hip Hop Graffiti Artist

DAWUD WEST IS THE VISIONARY BEHIND BROOKLYN’S MASSIVE ‘BLACK LIVES MATTER’ MURAL If artists capture the language of the times, Dawud West is fluent in visual conversation. West is the mastermind behind some of hip-hop’s most memorable album covers and the creative force that brought the BLACK LIVES MATTER (BLM) mural in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn to life.

“I got Google Street Maps, and I got the top down shot. I put Google Street Maps in illustrator. I got a font, which I ended up actually modifying the font, and I put it in there,” West said of his pre-production process as he plotted the project nestled between New York and Brooklyn Avenues in the borough.

After the tragic police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, large-scale Black Lives Matter artwork popped up in cities all over the country. The first, a strikingly loud yellow BLM sign, was painted along the road to the White House in early June. West was commissioned by the Billie Holiday Theater at Restoration Plaza and New York City Councilman Robert Cornegy Jr. as artistic director of Brooklyn’s interpretation of the message. As a Brooklyn born creative, West was enthused to conceptualize a 565-foot long installation in his city as an artistic affront to racism in the world.

When asked what kind of planning goes into creating a graffiti art piece of this magnitude, West responded simply saying, “Lots and lots of measuring.” “It needs to be accurate, but graffiti writers are known for changing things on the fly,” West said. Over two decades ago, West had to work on the fly to design the album cover for Jay-Z’s fifth studio album: The Dynasty. The Dynasty was a

Images courtesy of Dawud West 32

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highly-anticipated Roc Nation compilation album, featuring one of Jay’s biggest commercial hits, “Give It To Me.” West served as art director at Island Def Jam when the project suddenly slid across his desk. “Normally you get a lead—with Jay, not so much. It would be birds chirping in the morning and Jay would come down and say, ‘Hey, this album is happening today,’ and it was all hands on deck. Drop what you’re doing. Everybody’s on Jay.” He began working with the photos snapped by famed hip-hop photographer Jonathan Mannion to come up with different looks and designs for the rapper. “I figured the dynasty, the name the dynasty, let me go into other languages. How would you say dynasty in Polish? How would you say it in Russian?” The finished black and white cover features the word dynasty in various translations with Jay front and center, holding up the iconic Roc hand symbol. “At the time, that style - the more ragged edge, the not really defined, refined cover - that wasn’t the thing. I wouldn’t say I pioneered that, but I was the first to kind of use it commercially in action.” For decades, West stylized the look of urban sound through projects with Method Man, Beanie Sigel, Rick Ross, and numerous other rap

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notables and brands. With rap being born from the angst of inner city living, West was honored to return home to hip-hop’s capital to create art that captured the cry for justice in the streets. Flanking the massive BLM message are the names of 150 victims of police brutality including Ahmaud Arberry, Rayshard Brooks, Eric Garner, Philando Castille, and Tamir Rice. Billie Holiday Theater Director Dr. Indira Etwaroo explained the yellow bars in the design were to be conceived as an “open casket” to the world, in honor of Emmet Till, a 13-year-old who was lynched by white men in the 1950s. Some supporters on social media lauded Brooklyn’s BLM artwork as moving, while detractors hailed the entire display as a show to distract from real judicial progress. West, however, doesn’t allow himself to be swayed by the critics, saying, “I just did it so Brooklyn could have something to honor the lost lives and the victims.” Continuing, “Eric Garner’s sister rolled up while I was working on it, and that was a humbling moment. She rolled up, told me, ‘I appreciate you taking the time out to come out here and do this and do it in the manner in which you’re doing. This is massive,‘ That’s confirmation enough, you know?”

Issue 68

IMPORTANT FACTS FOR BIKTARVY®

This is only a brief summary of important information about BIKTARVY and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.

(bik-TAR-vee)

MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BIKTARVY

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF BIKTARVY

BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:

BIKTARVY may cause serious side effects, including:  Those in the “Most Important Information About BIKTARVY” section.  Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking BIKTARVY.  Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking BIKTARVY.  Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious but rare medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: weakness or being more tired than usual, unusual muscle pain, being short of breath or fast breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, cold or blue hands and feet, feel dizzy or lightheaded, or a fast or abnormal heartbeat.  Severe liver problems, which in rare cases can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get these symptoms: skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow, dark “tea-colored” urine, light-colored stools, loss of appetite for several days or longer, nausea, or stomach-area pain.  The most common side effects of BIKTARVY in clinical studies were diarrhea (6%), nausea (6%), and headache (5%).

 Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. If you

have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking BIKTARVY. Do not stop taking BIKTARVY without first talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months.

ABOUT BIKTARVY BIKTARVY is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in adults and children who weigh at least 55 pounds. It can either be used in people who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements. BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. HIV-1 is the virus that causes AIDS. Do NOT take BIKTARVY if you also take a medicine that contains:  dofetilide  rifampin  any other medicines to treat HIV-1

BEFORE TAKING BIKTARVY Tell your healthcare provider if you:

These are not all the possible side effects of BIKTARVY. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking BIKTARVY.

 Have or have had any kidney or liver problems,

including hepatitis infection.

 Have any other health problems.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

 Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not

known if BIKTARVY can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking BIKTARVY.  Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk.

Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with BIKTARVY.

HOW TO TAKE BIKTARVY Take BIKTARVY 1 time each day with or without food.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take:  Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-

counter medicines, antacids, laxatives, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist.

 BIKTARVY and other medicines may affect each other.

Ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist about medicines that interact with BIKTARVY, and ask if it is safe to take BIKTARVY with all your other medicines.

Get HIV support by downloading a free app at

MyDailyCharge.com

GET MORE INFORMATION  This is only a brief summary of important information

about BIKTARVY. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more.

 Go to BIKTARVY.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5  If you need help paying for your medicine,

visit BIKTARVY.com for program information.

BIKTARVY, the BIKTARVY Logo, DAILY CHARGE, the DAILY CHARGE Logo, KEEP ASPIRING, LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE, GILEAD, and the GILEAD Logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. Version date: February 2020 © 2020 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. BVYC0197 03/20

DIMITRI LIVING WITH HIV SINCE 2018 REAL BIKTARVY PATIENT

KEEP ASPIRING.

Because HIV doesn’t change who you are.

BIKTARVY® is a complete, 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in certain adults. BIKTARVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.

Ask your healthcare provider if BIKTARVY is right for you. See Dimitri’s story at BIKTARVY.com. Featured patient compensated by Gilead.

Please see Important Facts about BIKTARVY, including important warnings, on the previous page and visit BIKTARVY.com.

Photography by ANDREW ZAEH

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HAT: BDG

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C OV E R S TO R Y

TURNS ‘UUGLY’ MOVEMENT INTO ‘SUPERGOOD’ MUSIC A gap-to

othed go

A nappy

An original west coast crooner serving a funky good time, Duckwrth represents a style that can only be described by his name. As the industry begins to openly embrace the alternative side of hip hop with the likes of The Internet, and EarthGang, Duckwrth eases on down the road in a cool new wave with a bucket hat and gold jewelry, effortlessly. The ’88 born Jared Lee birthed the artist now known as Duckwrth on the Academy of Art University campus, first creating him in his childhood. A sheltered South Central schoolboy in Los Angeles, stern upbringings and house rules made Lee a wizard within four walls, adopting his own creative taste on a fine line between the homies and le Homme. While Richmond and Compton were in a craze with gangster rap, Lee was cooking up his moniker with a heavy influence from the likes of Common, Outkast, Lauryn Hill and N.E.R.D. His music is unique yet familiar, resembling the lovechild of Ro James and Pharrell Williams with a remix of rhythm

hair Neg us. A master musician . A natur al-born leader. and soul laced into electronic sounds. YES! That’s Duckwrth. “I didn’t believe it for a long time, but they gave us the confirmation and we ended up in Switzerland opening for N.E.R.D,” he states. What’s his secret weapon? With the exception of his DJ [Anthony Dragons], who is more like a relative, his answer is simple-women. “I love women! Now, it’s some more men on the team, but the person I talk to every day that calls me at eight in the morning or 11 at night…is a Black woman. That’s still very much my reality. It makes sense to me,” he laughed. From his big sister putting him onto neo-soul and southern rap music, and his women-dominated team, to past lovers that motivated him musically. Even down to his mother-mused stage name and his God-sister, Shara Hammonds, who [to his surprise] sings in Kanye West’s

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Sunday Service Choir. Women romantically, platonically and professionally, make his world go ‘round. AMEN. What is life when you forget you got clearance for “Jesus is a Love Song” from the queen composer herself, Twinkie Clark? – It’s Supergood! A quick turn from the widespread UUGLY series, the [Republic Records] label introduction album release brings hip-hop, funk forward, gospel-inspired swag embracing Duckwrth’s roots in all its glory. From his pastor who doubles as his grandfather to his mother’s love, Supergood is feel-good music made with love. “With I’M UUGLY and even in XTRA UUGLY, it was still funky and feel-good, but it was about using the face of something negative… And transmuting the feeling,” said Duckwrth. “In Supergood it’s just the moment I don’t have to wear a costume, a suit, or a mask, or a face or anything like that… Just blatantly be like, JOY! That’s it. It’s necessary now.” With promises to redeliver all the feels of the single “SOPRANO” continued, Supergood is where Sunday school meets Saturday night. Gifting samples from

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the legendary Clark Sisters, Duckwrth’s determination to make listeners pay tithes twice succeeds as the rookie ushers himself into a special class of artists. A collection plate of bops, Supergood flexes his creative muscles. Playing with singles “Quick” featuring Kian and productions from twin duo Two Fresh, Duck displays collaboration at best. Mixing raw intuition with R&B, rap, afro-beats, and funk, Duckwrth continues to smash genres, seemingly making his own. “Everything we make is from scratch.” Just like his character, he takes no prisoners and owns his individuality. There is no playing coy in his creative process as he shamelessly favors real-time production. With an exception to every rule, Earthgang’s Olu delivers with a feature in the single “Super Bounce.”

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C OV E R S TO R Y

“I like building from scra

tch. That beat, in partic

was the only one that sli was something about it.

immediately! I wrote th

ular, that

d in that was already pr

emade. It

It felt so good. I started w

at song within 30 minute

riting

flowed out of me. He [Olu

s. It just

] finished two weeks afte

r,”

“I like building from scratch. That beat, in particular, that was the only one that slid in that was already premade. It was something about it. It felt so good. I started writing immediately! I wrote that song within 30 minutes. It just flowed out of me. He [Olu] finished two weeks after,” said Duckwrth. Cloaked in his signature sound, the contemporary classic carries self-love and acceptance. A musical ode to his background, Supergood is the perfect blend of house music and sanctuary sounds with electric accents and an underlying message to be, love, and embrace your true individuality. You can leave your costumes and drop your alter egos – it’s a celebration of self. Sitting on the debut title since 2013, he waited for the right time to hatch his label release. Making constant efforts to find a “happy place,” he held the fire until his inner joy surfaced strong. Later spreading his seeds underground with success from EPs The Falling Man and UUGLY collection, the release of Supergood feels super right.

TOP + PANTS: ROA NY BOOTS: SUNNI SUNNI ACCESSORIES: TALENT’S OWN

Steadily evolving, this is not the same Duckwrth with dreads nor the clean cut. Rocking a free growing ‘fro he takes heed to his hair, unleashing a creative level previously unseen. Raising his artistic standards in music, he still hones in on his day one mission statement – to uplift Black economics, stay true to oneself, and ultimately feed his family.

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Shoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s View

from the Top:

Grease with Dris

Photography by VINCENT DOLMAN Fashion by LUCY ALEXANDRA HAMILTON Hair and Makeup by JOLANDA COETZER @LHA REP Assisted by CAZ DYER AND GEORGE FAY

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‘36 to 36Cinema

Chambers’

RZA’s Legacy Grows with ‘Cut Throat City’ Movie theaters across the nation have faced irreversible economic damage during the pandemic making their future all the more uncertain. In a socially distanced world, RZA provides a glimpse of hope for his favorite pastime by committing to a traditional, theatrical release for his newest thriller Cut Throat City.

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or Austin, Texas, it’s the Alamo Drafthouse. For Portland, Oregon, it’s the Hollywood Theater. For Staten Island and acclaimed director and producer Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, aka RZA, it’s the St. George Theater on Hyatt Street. “It’s an iconic place, it’s a historical place,” he says wistfully in huge, square black shades and a WuTang Clan cap. Cinema has always played a major role in this movie magnate’s life, even inspiring WuTang Clan’s namesake and their iconic debut album 36 Chambers before beginning his film career. In an effort to alleviate the economic burn felt by theaters nationwide, RZA has been holding out for a theatrical release of his highly anticipated heist thriller Cut Throat City. “The [release] date has been evolving and moving based on the pandemic and based on the uncertainty,” he explains. “This film will be one of the first films to enter the theaters when it reopens. And for me, it’s not an economic thing but definitely a form of support for our industry. As an academy member, filmmaking is one of the greatest pastimes I think for myself and for so many other people.” Set in New Orleans post-Katrina, Cut Throat City follows the story of a group of friends who find themselves on a heist amid the desperation of missing FEMA relief. “Watching these young men in their impoverished situation with all their aspirations, and seeing those aspirations turn into desperations - that was the part that resonated with me,” says Diggs. “When I read the screenplay, I could see that happening in my own neighborhood. I could see it happen in any community that was going through that type of lack of opportunity, of being left out.” While countless other directors decided to take their releases to video on demand (VOD) services like Netflix, Hulu or Amazon, Diggs is driven to ensure this film has a theatrical release. RZA partly owns 36 Cinema, an online streaming service that sets times for special screenings with directorial commentary, so he understands the theater industry’s distress firsthand. “I think there’s about 60 owners that are part of my coalition, and they’re suffering,” Diggs said solemnly. “We appreciate all of our Netflix and Amazons and all that, but it’s like I said, there’s nothing like that communal experience. So, Cut Throat City for me is trying to help preserve that, as far as a filmmaker putting it into theaters.”

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As a passionate movie lover, going to the theaters has always been one of Diggs’ favorite pastimes. “We all have nice systems in today’s world, right? You could just have Sonos in your TV and you’re doing great,” he says. “But it’s nothing like the communal experience of a movie theater, it’s nothing like the smell of that popcorn and I miss it. I know a lot of people miss it.”

Ghostdog. “He gave me a chance in a world that I didn’t know how to enter,” says Diggs. “Once my toe got in the water and we had some critical success with it, other people reached out to me to add on.” This success led to a pivotal encounter with Quinten Tarantino, who invited RZA to score his blockbuster hit Kill Bill.

With normalcy being nowhere in sight, it’s unlikely wary citizens will want to pack into movie theaters with strangers. At best, movie theaters will only be able to fill up to 30 percent capacity in the near future, which means they will be missing out on a lot of money, on top of the lost ticket sales from recent months. AMC, which had plans to reopen in July, has already lost billions of dollars according to reports by the San Diego Tribune. USA Today reports that total box office revenue for the weekend of March 13, the start of stay-at-home orders, was just over $54 million, the lowest since September, 2000.

“I saw the beauty of what Quinten was doing,” says Diggs. “I humbly asked him if he’d teach me and he accepted me as a student.” After studying and learning from Tarantino for about six years, he was ready to take on the world of directing. In 2012, Diggs directed The Man with the Iron Fists, a widely loved martial arts action film starring himself and Lucy Liu. He went on to create a flourishing film career for himself, which includes his highly acclaimed Hulu Original Series, Wu-Tang: An American Saga. Approaching its second season, the series follows the historically fictionalized story of how the Wu-Tang Clan came to be.

“For those cities that are open, and people who got their masks and their hand sanitizers, I hope that they do take the adventure of going inside a theater and join one of our favorite pastimes,” says Diggs. “I hope my film will be one of the films that help them.”

“An artist should be able to separate himself from his art in a way of, I guess the best way to put it is like astral projection. It’s like you gotta kind of take a step away and let the art exist on its own,” Diggs says, explaining the experience of retelling his own story. “It’s so funny, when we’d be in the writers’ room and we’re talking about ‘Bobby’ - I talk about Bobby just like the rest of the writers, you know what I mean? I’ll be like ‘well Bobby wouldn’t have done that,’ and they’re like ‘wait, what are you talking about?’” he laughed.

Throughout the interview, RZA referred to himself as a “creative energy,” which perfectly encompasses who he is as a person. While he started off in the music space as an original member of Wu-Tang Clan, his true passion lies in the filmmaking process. “Directing a movie is the only thing that satisfies every nerve of my creative energy,” says Diggs. “Everything else is cool, but I didn’t get my vegetables - when I’m directing, every aspect is satisfied, it’s a full body experience.” His first behind-the-scenes experience began when Jim Jarmusch invited him to score his 1999 film

Much like Cut Throat City, Diggs enjoys that the Hulu series is emotionally hitting home with its fanbase. For him, storytelling goes far beyond personal fulfillment. “It’s not just the glory of satisfying an ego of telling a story about me and my Wu-Tang brothers and what we’ve been through, but that this story is resonating with people around the world,” Diggs said. “That’s the glory.”

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Words by: JUSTIN WALLACE Photography by: RICHARD BENCOSME

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With music being his way of life since birth, Uno Umbrella recording artist Davo is here to showcase his patented psychedelic R&B sound

n hopes of continuing the family legacy, Davo is stepping out to conquer the world of music. The son of Junior Marvin, a member of the legendary reggae group Bob Marley & The Wailers, born in Kingston, Jamaica, music was the way of life in Davo’s household. With his father setting the tone, Davo began taking routine trips to the local record store where he discovered Snoop Dogg’s “Doggystyle,” a song that started his love for music. Getting hooked onto rap, he began to perfect his lyrics and melodies. It wasn’t too long after moving to Toronto that Davo met his close friend and mentor, Tory Lanez. While establishing a strong friendship, Lanez became a regular in the Marvin household. “We often freestyle with each other; it was a competition between us… Us together was something special.” In the early stages of Tory’s career, he would often go to Davo’s house, and the two would record music and sketch out musical ideas in Davo’s home studio. With Tory rising to fame he started his label Uno Umbrella, a record label offspring of the Uno Umbrella clothing line. Davo became the first signer under the Uno Umbrella team. After signing, Davo got his first big break in 2013 when he produced tracks for Lanez’s prevalent mixtape Conflicts Of My Soul. He cowrote “Super Freak,” a track featuring

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Miami Carol City’s own Rick Ross, which was featured on Lanez’s 2017 mixtape The New Toronto 2. In 2018, Davo was featured alongside Fabolous on “Connection,” a track off of Lanez’s sophomore album Memories Don’t Die. “The experience was dope, Fabolous is one of my biggest inspirations when it comes to a rapping standpoint, his metaphors and punchline stand out to me. The Rick Ross feature came as a surprise, ‘Super Freak’ was supposed to be only me and Tory, but when I heard Rick Ross was going to be on it, I helped create the hook and more.” In Miami now, Davo has continued to assert himself as a household name. After years of cultivating his work, co-writing and producing, Davo’s potential of being the next prominent artist isn’t farfetched. His first release “Pull Up,” featuring Tory Lanez, amassed 1.2 million YouTube views. The single showed how good Tory and Davo are in the studio together.

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With an album coming out soon, we expect to hear features from Tory Lanez, Rich the Kid, and more. “When it comes to the album, we don’t have a released date yet for it, but we have a roll-out plan.” A full-project from Davo will show the world his talented lyricist, singing, and multi-instrumentalist. Only a few people in the music industry can write, produce and play multiple instruments. Davo has an exceptional talent that many don’t have. The first roll-out came with a visual entitled “Say Something,” a newly released music video directed by Tory Lanez. “Say Something” is the leading single for Davo’s upcoming album. The single is a tribute in subject and tone to the pessimistic affection tune of the 90s Goddess Sade. “I find it crazy how people were able to analyze that, in no way, I was trying to make 90s Goddess Sage.” Over a quilted bed of acoustic guitars, “Say Something” is hypnotizing mid-rhythm head gesture cut. The song gives a long-drive vibe with a significant other. With such a unique sound, Davo is here to stay. Believe me when I tell you, he will change the tone of R&B as a whole. His forthcoming debut album LXD is soon to be released.

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Words by: NINO REYES

Supporting

BlackTourism The Rise of Black-owned resorts

The Black Lives Matter Movement has changed everything and this includes how we shop, eat, and travel. As a community - thanks to our digital devices and technology - we have been able to organize globally by educating our loved ones and peers about the importance of spending the Black dollar within Black businesses, only. This revolutionary act has upheld the importance to support all Black-owned businesses, including the tourism industry. Book your next stay with one of these Black-owned resorts in the Caribbean.

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BLUE HORIZONS GARDEN RESORT Saint Georgeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Grenada

Purchased in the late 1970s by the Hopkin family, the 40-year-old resort continues to sit on 6.25 acres of landscaped gardens that also serves as a sanctuary to 27 species of tropical birds. Blue Horizons Garden Resort is an eco-friendly resort that is located on the hillside of Grand Anse Beach, which offers 32 self-catering rooms with kitchenettes. Blue Horizons Garden Resort offers a freshwater swimming pool, a library, garden tours, water sports, an Aqua Pool Bar and Grill, and a tasty authentic Caribbean cuisine restaurant, known as La Belle Creole Restaurant and Bar. The menu of signature dishes at the resort are influenced by Audrey Hopkin, the ownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mother who was a pioneer of Caribbean cuisine in the 1960s. At Blue Horizons Garden Resort, you can find authentic Grenadian food and beautiful scenery of their garden and the ocean all while finding yourself in a clean, safe and eco-friendly environment. The average cost per night is $155 USD.

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TRAVELLERS BEACH RESORT Negril, Jamaica

The 60 room resort was founded in 1992 by Winston Wellington. The property was once a wild Jamaican bush that was cleared by Wellington himself. Travellers is a five minute walk from the Negril town center, where guests can visit authentic Jamaican shops and businesses; soaking in the rich culture and heritage of Negril itself. Mr. Wellington, a proud native Jamaican, created the Negril Education Environment Trust (N.E.E.T.), a non-profit organization based at the Travellers Beach Resort that supports Jamaican childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s education with funding and resources. At Travellers you can find a lot of support for the local community. Now for the food - you can find authentic local food at their Seaside Bar & Restaurant with warm and welcoming service while getting a beautiful view of Negrilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Seven Mile Beach. The average cost per night is $85 USD.

NEGRIL TREEHOUSE RESORT Negril, Jamaica

Located on the Seven Mile Beach, this resort has given the ultimate guest experience for the past 30 years. This resort is owned by Mrs. Gail Jackson, who is a former GE Sales Engineer and a graduate from the University of Pittsburgh. Jackson has loved serving her guests by providing them with exceptional care and hospitality. Negril Treehouse Resort has 70 guestrooms, an outdoor pool, 12 outdoor tennis courts, spa services, and amazing food. This resort gives you the true authentic feel of a Caribbean resort. Negril Treehouse Resort has a laid back, casual and relaxing feel to it - it is perfect for those who seek to enjoy the coolness of the Caribbean Sea. Enjoy the lavish cuisine, exotic fruits, and their amazing Jamaican spices. This is a great resort to enjoy water sports, beach volleyball, a walk on the beach, or even a nap on their hammock. The average cost per night is $180 USD.

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BAY GARDENS BEACH RESORT & SPA Gros Islet, Saint Lucia

Bay Gardens Beach Resort & Spa was established in the early 1990s by two former school teachers, Joyce and Desmond Destang, who saved their earnings from a fabric store and through several real estate investments to eventually buy the property on Rodney Bay. This resort is a retreat to paradise with all the comforts you know and love. You can find captivating balcony views of the pool, resort grounds, or of Reduit Beach. Enjoy on-site dining at Hi-Tide Restaurant or SeaGrapes Beach Bar & Restaurant or you can stay active in their two fitness centers. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find a stunning lagoon-style swimming pool and jacuzzi, including visits to the largest outdoor water entertainment complex in St. Lucia at Splash Island Water Park. Here you can find the luxurious La Mer Spa and Salon where you can schedule appointments seven days a week for massages, body scrubs, facials, or nail services. The average cost per night is $225 USD.

COYABA BEACH RESORT

The Lime, Grenada

Enjoy tropical breezes, the warmth of the sun and the white sand at the world-famous Grand Anse Beach. At this ocean-front resort, you can enjoy an intimate setting with full amenities, including five and a half acres of beautiful gardens, two restaurants, two bars, a swimming pool, lawn tennis, fitness gym and water sports. The Cherman family has owned this resort for over 30 years, which began at 30 rooms in 1987. Today, the resort has 80 rooms, 40 king-size beds and 40 with two double beds in each room. This resort is influenced heavily by Amerindian architecture and they are very big on sustainability and on creating an eco-friendly environment. The average cost per night is $172 USD.

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Pandemic Travel Tips

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Words by: NNEYA RICHARDS

The global pandemic has catapulted some sectors of the world into modus operandi out of a futuristic dystopian film. Airports began to feel like ghost towns as phrases like “travel ban” became commonplace both domestically and internationally. The American passport, in the past amongst the strongest in the world, became a scarlet letter. However, after months of being cooped up under lockdown, American’s are taking it in stride and the travel industry is finding new ways to adjust. “People are wanting to travel that have never wanted to travel before,” says travel expert Lindsay Meyers. Meyers cites RV camper rentals being up 300 percent in sales. “People are piling in their whole families. It’s a safe way to hit up national parks and camp somewhere different.” National Parks offer the perfect opportunity for a socially distanced vacation and even mental relief to a population fatigued by lockdown. COVID-19 has caused even veteran travelers like Meyers to rethink their travel prep. She recommends extensive research into your destinations. What does the CDC say about the locale? Reach out to tourism boards and ask: “Is it a place that requires masks in public? What are the infection rates?” And it isn’t all about big city locales anymore as travelers are trying to escape crowds. While big cities are opening pedestrian only streets in social distancing efforts, Meyers recommended smaller off-the-beaten-path cities in an effort to be a more conscious traveler. “You get the opportunity to give back to smaller local communities and feel good about your trip this summer!” Dr. Kiona of the site and Instagram account How Not to Travel Like a Basic Bitch is a much acclaimed resource for the conscious traveler. After having a responsible socially distanced trip to North Carolina with a group of friends, Dr. Kiona launched We Out Here x HNTTLABB: Recreate Responsibly with trip hosts/curators Linea Johnson and Ron Griswell. With mental health in the POC community a priority for all three, they

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recognized the power of travel and how experiences can be used to combat the mental toll COVID-19 has taken on us all. This Black-owned social distancing traveling experience includes contact tracing, private accommodations, all meals and drinks and six awesome zero contact activities. Linea Johnson received certification from Johns Hopkins in COVID-19 education. They require guests to form a quarantine bubble prior, the activities are performed at a safe distance from vendors/operators with masks and they allow no more than groups of six. Not only is Recreate Responsibly giving back to local business and tourism in North Carolina, but as of writing this, via donations, the company has gifted a mental health experience to a local POC family devastated by the pandemic. Will this be the new norm of travel? More intimate, curated local experiences? Understandably, even domestic travel must be done with care. Companies like Airbnb and VRBO are requiring their hosts to have more standardized cleaning measures. Hotels are offering contactless check-in and only allowing guests on on-site restaurants. Even some territories, like the U.S. Virgin Islands require visitors from states with a COVID-19 positive rate of 10 percent or higher to present a negative COVID-19 PCR nasal test result or a positive COVID-19 antibodies test taken within five days upon arrival in the territory. States like New York are requiring travelers from highly infected areas to quarantine for fourteen days. If you do find yourself on an airplane — I did recently on a long haul flight back to my home in Italy — there are some precautions that you can take so that you’re not riddled with anxiety for the duration of your flight. Be proactive in checking up on airlines. Many including JetBlue and Delta have released statements detailing the safety precautions they will take, the most universally popular being that of blocking the middle seat. On my Alitalia flight, only families were sitting together with every “single” traveler being booked in the window seat with the one next to them free. Studies have shown that the window seat is the safest to fly in due to lack of interaction with aisle passerbys. On the other hand, American Airlines released a statement stating effective July 1, 2020, they would resume booking flights to full capacity. Other safety precautions taken by airlines include contactless check-in — and you’ll see protection barriers up at check-in desks protecting the staff — and intense cleaning measures like Delta’s electrostatic spraying. Due to air-filtration systems air on a plane is filtered and refreshed every 2-5 minutes filtering out 99.99 percent of particles, according to Dr. Michael Saag, Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Be sure to turn on your overhead vents upon boarding pushing the filtered air down and out. During lockdown in the Spring, many companies in the travel and hospitality industry attempted to offset loss of revenue by offering vouchers to use in the future at a much lower rate. Maybe this is the time to get a great deal on the hotel that you’ve always wanted to stay at. But for now, remember, the United States of America is similar in size to Europe with varied topography, cities, and wonders. There is much to explore.

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Photography by ANDREW ZAEH Fashion by JOVEL ROYSTAN

BLAZER: ZARA SLEEVELESS BLAZER: ASOS TURTLENECK: ASOS CHAIN: VITALY

Rolls Roystan through the Eras 80

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BLAZER EXPRESS PRINTED SHIRT ZARA MOCKNECK TURTLENECK ZARA TROUSERS ASOS SHOES STEVE MADDEN BERET ASOS SCARF & BELT VINTAGE

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BLAZER TOPMAN SWEATER VEST BELIER BUTTON-DOWN UNIQLO BAKER BOY HAT ASOS TROUSERS ASOS SHOES SUIT SUPPLY

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CARDIGAN BOYFRIEND STUDIO BY BLOGGERS BOYFRIEND CROPPED BUTTON-DOWN ASOS TANK CALVIN KLEIN CHAIN VITALY JEANS UNIQLO BEANIE ASOS

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BLAZER ZARA SHIRT ASOS DESIGN TROUSERS H&M SHOES DR. MARTENS WATCH FOSSIL

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BLAZER ZARA SLEEVELESS BLAZER ASOS TURTLENECK ASOS CHAIN VITALY JEANS JADED MAN BOOTS ASOS WATCH FOSSIL

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SWEATER VEST BELIER BUTTON-DOWN UNIQLO BAKER BOY HAT ASOS TROUSERS ASOS

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BLAZER EXPRESS PRINTED SHIR: ZARA MOCKNECK TURTLENECK ZARA TROUSER: ASOS SHOES STEVE MADDEN BERET ASOS SCARF & BELT VINTAGE

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HUMANS

Angeline Hayling Designer/Co-Founder of Island Tribe Angeline Hayling found Island Tribe to be a cross section of everything she loves: fashion, sustainability, and a holistic lifestyle. The successful online boutique sells beautiful pieces handmade by women from Coachella Valley, California, Bali and India. Her clothing has been featured in Vogue, Women’s Wear Daily, Huffington Post, and Poosh. Bleu: When did you find your clothing brand Island Tribe and what motivated you to start it? Angeline Hayling: “Island Tribe started with the concept to inspire and empower women from all ‘walks of life’ to live consciously through fashion. Since 2016 it has always been about love, respect for nature, and embracing a free-spirited lifestyle.” Sustainability is a huge part of your brand — what are some key production principles you follow to keep with your mission? Responsible Fashion - our mission is to better our environment with sustainable designs for generations to come. We use natural materials where possible, make collections in small batches to reduce overstock and waste through slow fashion. Fair Trade - we’re committed to fair trade and ethical practices ensuring that each artisan is receiving a sustainable wage to aid in her economic independence and achieve her dreams. Planting Trees - we’ve joined hands with the Climate Crisis Movement Ecology by contributing portions of each sale to planting trees and recovering endangered forests around the world. Where did your journey begin and how did you reach the level of success you’re at today? I love to start with one of my favorite quotes — ‘Not All Who Wander are Lost.’ Before Island Tribe, I never really felt fulfilled or knew my true life purpose. So I 88

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used this period of my life to be adventurous through global travels with the hope that the dots will eventually connect, and everything will align at its right time. During this period, I realized that designing and philanthropy were some of my core values and passions. So together, with my partner, OD Odero, we created a brand to express our art, global experience, culture, and lifestyle. What inspires you creatively when designing your pieces? Through my global travels and Afro-Caribbean roots. I’m inspired to design for the free-spirited woman who loves travel and nature and to empower her to live mindfully. Follow the brand to learn more and be Inspired. What are some of the challenges of running your own brand? As emerging designers, we’re passionate about fashion, but the reality is, a lack of both capital and a resourceful network can be challenging. What are the rewards? Social Good - have you ever thought about the women who made your clothing? Our clothing is handcrafted by women artisans in California’s Coachella Valley, Bali and India. We’re committed to empowering her! She’s a Mother, a Wife, a Sister, and a Daughter. We’re committed to fair trade and ethical practices ensuring that she is receiving a living wage to aid in her economic independence and achieving her dreams. You also run retreats, both virtual and physical, through Island Tribe - when and why did you decide to branch out into that space? It is a difficult time for the global community. People are angry, sad, and frightened about the division and injustices they are experiencing. With the current global turmoils, environmental pressures, and

uncertainties, there is a significant need for transformational healing and reconnecting for the sake of humanity. Over the years, Island Tribe has fostered a dynamic community. A ‘Tribe’ that is conscious of the environment and Holistic Living. We believe that the secret to a balanced life is a healthy relationship between the Mind, Body, and Soul. Our wellness and retreat platforms, which we started about two years ago, provides an environment that will unveil a deeper connection to your higher self. A sacred space to come as you are, drop into your heart, and align with the power and presence of source energy.” Do you have any retreats, events, or exciting news coming up in 2020 for Island Tribe? Island Tribe Retreats are about authentic connection and for those seeking to elevate and raise the vibration of the planet. Due to COVID-19 and social distancing, we’ve introduced virtual retreats; we hope to resume our travel retreats when it’s safe to gather. We invite you to sign up for our newsletter for events and more exciting upcoming news. In the meantime, we stay socially distanced but spiritually connected. Love and Light. Bless up.

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ed to work hands on with fabric, beads and styling myself, which I found so much freedom and joy in. Luckily I had parents who supported my dreams from the beginning who wanted to enroll me in extracurricular art and design classes, namely at the Montclair Art Museum and the pre-college program at Parsons the New School. Honing my craft came from learning foundational skills at these institutions.

Ariane Duhaney founder of Ari500 A recent graduate from Parsons the New School, Ariane Duhaney founded her brand Ari500 to share and display her unique authentic leather designs. From a young age, she always had a passion for hands-on design, originally working materials given to her by her grandmother. Now, she has the goal to bring back quality and craftsmanship to the fashion industry, which has been lacking as of recent. Bleu: When did you realize that you wanted to become a designer and what were the next steps taken? Ariane Duhaney: My mom says that ever since I was little I was always drawn to the creative arts. I remember being in elementary school and teaming up with my best friends at the time to sell bracelets and assorted jewelry that we customized, which is where I think my design abilities began to emerge. By the end of middle school, I realized I wanted to be a designer. My grandmother, who was a seamstress for over two decades, saw my artist streak as well and fed my curiosity with her leftover supplies that she had stored in her apartment. She gave me just enough to experiment with, so I just start-

Being a recent design graduate, how has the COVID pandemic affected you and your brand? Have you ever had moments of doubt? The COVID pandemic definitely threw me for a loop. I had gotten my first job out of college this past November, and was still acclimating to corporate life, so I was taking things slower with ARI500. Then, out of what felt like nowhere, COVID blew up and I got let go from my job which forced me to focus on my brand 24/7. I had wanted to move forward with handbag production in April but with quarantine, my production factory closed and I had to pump the brakes, ultimately leading me to resort to sorting out logistics. There have been a lot of dark days; I’ve had mornings where I question the trajectory of ARI500, and just my life in general. I’ve had nights where all I can do is cry out of frustration. But, despite these moments of self doubt, I remember how many people in my support network are here to help me succeed, which makes me forget why I even get worried in the first place. I give myself time to experience the lows, but the highs are built from our bounce back. Can you explain the significance behind the name Ari500? When I was first thinking about what my brand name was going to be, I knew I wanted it to align with my personal beliefs and spirituality. At the time I had just started learning about numerology and I felt very drawn to research the number 500, as I’m a life path five. Five as a number represents change, creativity, and personal freedoms, and when you add “00” to the end, you’re basically amplifying the pow-

er of 5. Zero is considered the beginning point in numerology, making the number 500 about having the courage to acknowledge our personal freedoms in order to live and serve our soul mission in this lifetime. Since the ethos of the brand was rooted in my personal beliefs, I thought to relate 500 back to my name, Ari, which is short for Ariane. Where do you pull most of your inspiration from when creating? A lot of my inspo starts with things I notice in my environment, mainly architecture and shape. I really love to play with negative space, so I’ll take photos for primary research and then merge that with art or architecture I find on Pinterest. The products themselves are always inspired by nature and planet Earth, which is why I chose to use materials that will biodegrade. Your first drop is “The Ora” - can you talk about the design process for this specific bag? Out of all the bags in the collection, this one was my favorite to design. I had wanted to create an everyday bag that wasn’t too big, nor too small, so the overall shape came first. I had been researching the Ames Window illusion and knew immediately I wanted to incorporate that into the face of the bag, which is where the laser cutting elements came in. At first I insisted the laser cut elements look like a window, which my teachers (who helped me design my first collection) did not think was aesthetically pleasing. Weeks of debating later, I finally agreed to change the face of the bag to what it is now, which I totally don’t regret. The grid theme on the face of the bag ended up being the key element that the rest of the collection needed. What are your overarching goals in your career? Overall, I want ARI500 to be able to stand among the Black owned fashion labels that helped redefine fashion and society as a whole. The fashion industry has lost a lot of its lustre due to cheap manufacturing and careless design; ARI500 is the antithesis of that. My goal is to bring high quality, luxury products into the market while educating consumers on exactly what they’re buying. It’s time to end the age of fast fashion and re-introduce the power of craftsmanship and quality. Issue 68

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Milo Dee

Co-founder of DAEM Watches

Watches are accessories known for their uniqueness. Many underestimate how much a watch can maximize your everyday life. DAEM Watches have handcrafted various timepieces, finding inspiration from all over the world. Milo Dee, the co-founder of DAEM Watches, had a chance to talk to the BleuLife Family about his upbringing and advice for future watch creators. Bleu: Growing up in Brooklyn, how was life, and was fashion always a part of you? Milo: Yeah, I grew up in the Fort Greene area of Brooklyn. My father is Dutch, and my mom is Jamaican. Growing up, my mom loved fashion, from a very young age, I would read Vogue magazines. That’s where my fashion inspiration came from. Having a diverse background and living in New York, I experienced different cultures and styles. Seeing all the various forms of beauty around me helps craft an idea for creating a watch. When did you start DAEM? DAEM started officially in 2015, that’s when I was in graduate school. I met Micheal LoFoso, my business partner, that’s when we tossed up the idea of creating a watch brand. My professor Pauline Brown, who was the former chairman of Louis Vuitton, knows there is a real sort of emphasis on how we make something that is attainable but still luxurious. And luxury in every sense of the word, always high quality, something you’re proud to wear and pass on to the next generation. DAEM is an anagram of the word made if you move the letters around; that’s how you get to DAEM. That whole idea came off of just reimagining things. DAEM watches are manufactured in Switzerland. From a brand perspective, why did you choose Switzerland? Great question! Switzerland has this prestige level, but again, we weren’t trying to 90

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go for prestige. We just wanted to make the highest quality possible. As a brand, we didn’t want anything to backfire, such as comments of lousy quality and more. We looked at Asia; we said, ‘Hey, there’s been a huge improvement in watchmaking in Asia.’ The watch industry in the U.S. left in the 1950s and 1960s. Unfortunately, the talent isn’t there in the U.S. to make high-quality pieces anymore. Then we looked at Switzerland, watchmakers there are very well known for the high-quality timepieces and their creativity in creating something different. Back in 2019, you partnered with the Basquait estate for a limited edition timepiece. How was the process, and how did everything come into fruition? We’re so proud of the partnership. It’s the first of its kind. Basquait has partnered with Louis Vuttion, Off-White, Uniqlo, some of the mass market companies too. But no one has done it with watches. And look, we approached them and said we want to partner with you, ‘a’ because we’re going to create a beautiful product, and ‘b’ as a brand, what we’re trying to accomplish embodies that

himself. He was an incredible artist way ahead of his time. Before releasing, we had to get approval from his estate held by the sister of Basquiat, and they loved the timepiece we created. What’s next from DAEM? As a brand, we want to expand in different categories, but our mission is to be a great watch company. We have some exciting collabs coming up next. Our next collaboration is with Charity Water, a non-profit organization focusing on clean water around the world. We created a beautiful design with a water motif and a custom designed pineapple leaf band. We think it’s something unique and very different again. What advice would you give the younger generation when starting a watch company? Think about what you’re trying to create; what the messages you’re trying to bring; what the purpose of what you’re trying to build. Figure that out and make those three questions your primary focus. For us, we wanted to change the dynamic when it came to luxury watches.

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Matthew “Mateo” Harris Owner of Mateo New York Founded in 2009, MATEO New York was originally a passion project of founder Matthew “Mateo” Harris who set on a mission to create amazing men’s jewelry in a market that was lacking. Later on, he realized his calling was in women’s fine jewelry and began making pieces that are luxurious, beautiful, and affordable. Mateo’s pieces have been worn by Michelle Obama, Rihanna, Kerry Washington, Anne Hathway, and many more. We chatted with Mateo about his beginnings, the brand, and how the Coronavirus pandemic affected his passion. Bleu: Can you talk a bit about your journey as a designer and how you started Mateo New York? Mateo: The brand started in 2009. It really was just a selfish need to make great, timeless jewelry for myself. Back then, when they had men’s jewelry, it was very gothic-oriented and I’m very anti-skull or anything in that genre. So, I wanted to make jewelry that I really truly liked and would wear. So I kind of made a collection inspired by a men’s toolbox and Rihanna wore one of the necklaces… That’s really how the brand kind of started in its simplest form. But I’ve always been somewhat of a creative, my mom was a seamstress and designer in Jamaica so it was almost innate or somewhat natural. I went to the jewelry district and started teaching myself jewelry. I never went to school for this, it’s all self-taught. Eleven years later and I’m still making jewelry. What first intrigued you about jewelry design and why did you switch from a focus on men’s jewelry to women’s? I like to tackle the challenge or a challenge first and I think men’s jewelry is very difficult and is still difficult - that’s why you don’t see a lot of great men’s jewelry. It was a challenge for me and I think I took on the challenge and conquered it in my mind and I reached a pinnacle of where I think men’s jewelry could be. With women’s, there was just way more room for growth. When I entered the women’s fine jewelry space, there was just so much bad costume jewelry, and if it was fine costume jewelry, it was so extremely expensive. I joined the market to make great, affordable personal fine jewelry. That was very much missing when I start-

You use a lot of gemstones in your pieces, do you have a favorite? We mostly use pearls - one, it’s my birthstone and second of all, pearls as well was a challenge for me because when I launched the women’s fine jewelry, no one was really wearing pearls. When you thought of pearls, you thought of some old women who probably smelled like moth balls, you know? I wanted to make pearls fresh and modern again… That’s how pearls became something synonymous with the brand.

ed making women’s fine jewelry. That’s what really drew me to making women’s fine jewelry. What inspires your designs? A lot of it is inspired by my personal aesthetic, which is just simplicity and minimalism infused with contemporary art… so you see a lot of that in my work. But the main goal is to just make really great personal jewelry at affordable luxury prices. It’s like a cheesy, cliche ad, but it’s the truth. Is everything made to order on your site and if so, what are the benefits of that production model? We do keep some small stock and we have a little section now called ‘Ready to Ship.’ Jewelry is a magical artform, you know? From sketch to something really precious at the end. I think that some of my customers enjoy that. On the business side, there’s a lot of advantages to being made to order because then you’re not sitting on the stock for months. And some customers just feel like this product is being made for me. There’s a story behind it and they feel special, you know? Because this is fine jewelry, this is not plastic or something disposable, it is again, something super precious.

You’ve been in business for a little over 10 years, to what would you attribute your brand’s success thus far? One is definitely offering something that’s not on the market. I think that goes a long way because if you can find something elsewhere, why would you come to me? I think the work speaks for itself, you know, my talent - in the humblest way - has really propelled me quickly in this business. Again, the women’s business is only five years old, the men’s I had before in 2009. So we’ve seen quite a rapid rise in the women’s fine jewelry business because we’re doing something new and refreshing. And again, we’re filling up a blank space.” Has your business been affected by the coronavirus pandemic at all? I hate to say this, but the pandemic was a blessing for us… I was able to sit down and sit back and analyze the business and see where we were falling short, so that was one advantage. Second advantage was that two years ago, we kind of stopped selling to brick-and-mortar stores. We’re not sold in any brick-and-mortar stores anymore. I saw the trend, I saw that people were having financial problems - I foresaw a lot of the things that came to the news this year. So I’m very fortunate to have somewhat been thinking ahead of the curve. So, we only sell to online companies [and] they saw growth in their jewelry business, so we weren’t affected on the wholesale side. We actually saw 200 percent growth in our business. During the quarantine all we did was make beautiful content and focus on e-commerce. I’m a solutions guy, so the second something pops up, I’m like, what is the solution? That’s how I approached the pandemic. Issue 68

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Words by DAMIEN NUNES Photography by STEPHANIE MAYBECK / PICTURE-MINDED

Conde Nast’s famed golden age as the publisher began adapting to a burgeoning digital-first world. In 2011, after nine years in editorial, I accepted a role identifying trends and creating design concepts for Gap. This unique and creative job allowed me to travel to places like London, Paris, Tokyo, and Stockholm looking for inspiration. Last fall I was asked to oversee partnerships and collaborations for the brand as well as accessories design, a multifaceted job that seemed like an exciting step forward for all involved. Then COVID-19 changed everything.

My Gap Year:

Out of Fashion I left the Zoom meeting and closed my laptop, exhaling as I looked out the window. Spring had arrived in New York, a bizarre contrast to the tension still gripping a city coping with the plateauing Coronavirus. Inside, the mood had become downright somber. Sitting at my dining table and makeshift office of the past two months, I was now grasping what just happened: I had been laid off by my employer of nine years, Gap, where I worked as a design director. Having survived several company reorganizations, or re-orgs as they are nicknamed, I’d had opportunity to imagine how this moment might feel and when it arrived the emotions were mixed. There was, of course, the shock, shame and embarrassment of a forced separation like this, akin to being brought out of an induced coma to be told you’ve been the unconscious one in a one-sided conscious uncoupling. This was immediately followed by the realization that I, now rounding out my 30s, would soon be living in a rented Greenwich Village apartment with insufficient savings and no salary, livelihood, or health insurance during a global pandemic. As they added up, these facts became stressful, to say the least. There was another feeling, though, that I hadn’t anticipated: Freedom. Like so many others in this country, I was now out of the game, a free agent. As days passed, I began to wonder if this was an opportunity, in the solitude of lockdown, for reflection and reevaluation before attempting the next step. I hadn’t faced a moment like this since beginning my fashion industry career almost two decades earlier, falling in hard and never looking back. While at Parsons, I’d started at Conde Nast’s Vanity Fair magazine first interning then freelance assisting in the fashion closet, remaining for two years before moving on to be a Fashion Editor at Details and later GQ. These years would be the last of

MAGAZINE

Now jobless in a frozen economy, while worried for the future I felt fortunate to be healthy and have a brief moment to refocus. I would try not to waste it. So I begin meditating and doing yoga, virtually volunteering, writing, reading, and taking some online courses. I’d also ruminate on a question that had been burning in my mind for some time when it came to continuing a career in fashion: In an over-polluted and superficial world, one now confronting a catastrophic health crisis, did I really want to spend time and energy focusing on clothes? A few weeks later George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis by police officer Derek Chauvin, a murder broadcast in its 8 minute and 46 second entirety to a world still enraged by the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and so many people of color before them. Suddenly, the conversation shifted away from the virus as citizens around the globe rose up, again and most powerfully, in the name of Black lives. Society, it seemed, was going through its own paradigm-shifting inflection moment, perhaps finally awakening for good to the systemic inequities caused by racism for time immemorial. Outside our doors, despite the dangers presented by the virus, protest marches happened from day to night when helicopters overhead captured scenes of rioting, further bringing into question the value of stuff compared to Human Lives. I found myself joining the fight on social media and —with some virus-related trepidation— attending protests downtown. As weeks went by and the protests continued, there seemed to be a reckoning happening within the fashion and publishing industries as well. It’s no secret that fashion has navigated its own issues of racism, appropriation and inequality. In recent years the industry has undertaken efforts to tackle some of these problems to varying degrees of success. Buzzwords like “inclusivity” and “belonging” have gained popularity as companies try to increase and sustain diversity through hiring and by creating more woke work environments. Brands tout product offerings to fit a wider range of body types and skin tones as advertising and editorial shoots strive to feature a more representational mix of talent. Limitededition collaborations with notable people of color are sought out by executives to create buzz and capture certain segments of the market in an “authentic” way. At Gap, I had a hand in a collaboration with the designer Telfar, until the project was postponed and ultimately canceled around the time of my departure from the company. In tough times, when purse strings are tightened, it’s often the most forward-thinking projects that are deemed too “niche” and deprioritized or altogether scrapped.

O P- E D

Now, BLM’s powerful resurgence was forcing fashion companies to answer to inequities within their offices, from the top down. Employees finally felt empowered to speak out about workplace disparities in treatment, pay and mobility. Many industry leaders issued statements acknowledging past short-comings, promising to do better. Others resigned, unable to recover from their current or past offenses which were now exposed to the purchasing public. As a mixed-race Latinx American looking back on my own experience, I’ve encountered few instances of the blatant workplace racism many people of color face on a regular basis. On the contrary, in an industry that can deem the indeterminate to be “exotic,” I undoubtedly at times benefited from my racial and ethnic ambiguity. Even so, I now wonder whether there has been the presence of another insidious form of racism, one difficult to outmaneuver because it’s woven into the fabric of our capitalist society and masked by the perception of fashion as frivolous by some and fabulous by others. Given my humble beginnings, I’ve always felt lucky to have had the shiny experiences a career in fashion granted — a notion often reinforced by others, including bosses. This idea that a person like me should be grateful to be able to do the work (and yes it’s work) has at times been at the expense of healthy self-confidence, self-care and selfpromotion. Also, while things are slowly changing, many of those holding power in the industry remain white, straight, and cis with a certain level of pedigree and education. Together, these factors have contributed to a sense that no matter how hard I’ve worked on my journey up the corporate ladder, the ceiling was always coming closer. As a mid-level creative, I’d been allowed be myself and play in the sandbox with other creatives but when it came to attaining that seat at the table where new ideas are sanctioned into real change, I sometimes wondered if there would be a chair for someone like me, given who I’d always seen in the room. Today I hope I’ve done my part to support the BIPOC community, both in the workplace and products I’ve helped to produce, a priority going forward wherever I may land. If the fashion industry is to be worthy of any of our time and energy in this changed world, it must do more than be fabulous and make clothes. It needs to harness its power to influence and lead change from the inside out and from top to bottom. The industry

and those in it need to demand that it represent, respect and inspire all of us, always. It needs talented people of every background, color, ethnicity, shape, size, gender, and sexual orientation, not only to be given space in ads or hype collaborations, but to shape the industry and therefore the world as equally compensated CEO’s, editors-in-chief, creative directors, designers, innovators, photographers, storytellers, muses, and assistants. This planet, after all, has enough stuff.

Issue 68

HOME Words by EBONY ALLISON

Illustrations by LAWRENCE PITTS

They let us paint Black Lives Matter on the road leading to the White House in DC,but every cop that killed a Black life walked free.

OF THE

And they call this a democracy?

For the people, by the people. With liberty and justice for all- except those who have skin the color of earth tones. Black bones. The foundation of this country and the sacrifice.

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ICON

Breonna Taylor.

I’m sorry that you pledged your allegiance to a nation that failed to protect and serve you.

A Black Queen. Is there a nation that exalts the Black woman as she should be? Because the closest thing you got to justice was a hashtag. So, yes I’m big mad. Angry and Black and a Woman. 3 Strikes. But it was 32 Bullets that took your life. And they gave 12 million dollars to your family in exchange for a lifetime of pain. Reparations of the white man’s game. Ashes to Ashes Dust to Dust Black Mothers tears water the graveyards that their Black babies return back to. Too soon. It is always too soon.

George Floyd. We heard you cry out for your mother in your last breath. And every womb around the world felt that You couldn’t breathe. And we still can’t breathe because the trauma flowing through our blood has been passed down from our hundreds of ancestors and they couldn’t breathe.

Issue 68

ICON

Ahmaud Arbery But I thought Martin marched so Ahmaud Arbery could run. When do Black people get to experience this thing they call freedom? And when you ran into God, I know he welcomed you home with a sign that said, ‘You are now free to run through heaven’s streets of gold’ But it hurts. That your skin color didn’t grant you the chance to run free on this earth. Because Black bones been the foundation of this country and are still the sacrifice.

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ICON

SAY THEIR NAMES GEORGE FLOYD, 46

JAMEE JOHNSON, 22

RAMARLEY LOGGINS JR., 31

AHMAUD ARBERY, 25

ANTWON ROSE, 13

WENDELL ALLEN, 20

SANDRA BLAND, 28

YASSIN MOHAMED, 47

KENDREC MCDADE, 19

TRAYVON MARTIN, 17

FINAN H. BERHE, 30

TAMIR RICE, 12

SEAN REED, 21

ERIC GARNER, 43

STEVEN DEMARCO REED, 33

MICHAEL BROWN, 18

ARIANE MCCREE, 28

PHILANDO CASTILE, 32

TERENCE FRANKLIN, 22

BOTHAM SHEM JEAN, 26 STEPHON CLARK, 22 WALTER SCOTT, 50 FREDDIE GRAY, 25 ALTON STERLING, 37 ATATIANA JEFFERERSON, 28 MICHEAL DEAN, 28 CAMERON LAMB, 26 DEMETRIUS WILLIAMS, 31 TERENCE CRUTCHER, 40 SAMUEL DUBOSE, 43 AKAI GURLEY, 28 LAQUAN MCDONALD, 17

DARIUS TARVER, 23 WILLIAM GREEN, 43 KWAME JONES, 17

LARRY JACKSON JR., 32 JONATHAN FERRELL, 24 JORDAN BAKER, 26 VICTOR WHITE III, 22 DONTRE HAMILTON, 31 JOHN CRAWFORD III, 22 EZELL FORD, 25 DANTE PARKER, 36 KAJIEME POWELL, 25

DE’VON BAILEY, 19

RUMAIN BRISBON, 34

CHRISTOPHER WHITFIELD, 31

JERAME REID, 36

ANTHONY HILL, 26

CHARLY KEUNAG, 43

ERIC LOGAN, 54

TONY ROBINSON, 19

JAMARION ROBINSON, 26

BRENDON GLENN 29

GREGORY HILL JR, 30

MARIO WOODS, 26

JAQUAVION SLATON, 20 RYAN TWYMAN, 24 BRANDON WEBBER, 20

QUINTONIO LEGREIR, 19 GREGORY GUNN, 58 AKEIL DENKINS, 24 TERENCE STARLING, 31

PAUL O’NEAL,18

JIMMY ATCHINSON, 21

CHRISTIAN TAYLOR, 19

WILLIE MCCOY, 20

JAMAR CLARK, 24

EMANTIC “EJ” FITZGERALD BRAD-

JEREMY MCDOLE, 28

FORD JR, 21

WILLIAM CHAPMAN III, 18

D’ETTRICK GRIFFIN, 18

ERIC HARRIS, 44

JEMEL ROBERSON, 26

PATRICK HARMON, 50

MILES HALL, 23

DEANDRE BALLARD, 23

JONATHAN HART, 21

OSCAR GRANT, 22

ROBERT LAWRENCE WHITE, 41

MAURICE GRANTON, 24

SAMUEL DAVID MALLARD, 19

ANTHONY LAMAR SMITH, 24

JULIUS JOHNSON, 23

KEITH LAMONT SCOTT, 43 ALFRED OLANGO, 38 JORDAN EDWARDS, 15 DANNY RAY THOMAS, 34 DEJUAN GUILLORY, 27

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