Photo Credits:
02.
y o u r u pc o m i n g youths
...
03.
THE SPRI
04.
06.
Editors Letter
08.
Introducing Maya Taras-Nelson
Photo Credits:
CONT
NG ISSUE 01
TENT 09.
Interview with Maya Taras-Nelson
14.
Billie Eilish - Profile Page
05.
Overground
FROM THE EDITOR OLIVIA BASSO
I
believe two important things happen when you live through an era of rapid change, one which we live in today. Firstly, the predictable flow of artistic creativity and secondly, the rebels who flourish for themselves. As a generation, we witness the growth of the rebellious youths; those who tend to avoid social norms, those who explore themselves not for anything or anyone else but in a way where they can welcome uncertainty and rationalism without fear of what others may think. This first issue is for those people; the inquisitive radicals
who believe social norms don’t always have to be followed.
This first issue is one that is particularly close to home; I always found growing up, social norms and following strict rules were not my favourite. I have always felt outspoken and have never been too afraid to explore the paths I want. I do however, believe that the choices I made in terms of my education were always made for me by social norms. I wanted to therefore create a platform where the youths of today could have a voice; a place which is relatable and a place where their views can be heard.
Inventing a magazine that portrays its meaning has been exciting for me. I have kept an open mind when researching today’s youth. Including an interview from a successful business owner who didn’t attended university but has done so incredibly well for herself. Maya gives an insight into how her path and choices influenced her work ethic, her desire to achieve the goals she put forward for herself and overall how it shaped her as a person.
06.
Photo Credits:
into today’s youth culture, bringing a fresh and forward-thinking approach. This issue is based on the key to success in
Fashion and Creativity
07.
Overground
MAYA TARAS-NELSON
M
eet 21 year old, Maya Taras-Nelson, co-founder of Cocoon Club; a designer handbag rental service which works on a subscription based model. From moving to London at the age of 19, Maya has not only had to adjust to life in London but also the responsibilities of becoming a co-founder of a start up.
To understand whether or not university is essential for young people when starting up their own business or even in order to become what they would say as ‘successful’, editor Olivia Basso spoke to Maya; to gather insight and personal opinions on the topic. Maya first hand did not attend university but would still describe
08.
Photo Credits:
herself as being successful.
Fashion and Creativity
WHO IS MAYA?
this day there is something about me where I hate being told what to do. I knew learning in a classroom was not
“Hi, I’m Maya, a 21-year-old girl from Manchester now beneficial for me, I was that kid that loved dissecting things living in West London. I co-founded a sustainable fashion in Biology because I knew i’d learn by physically doing start-up just over a year ago, which is now my full-time job.” something rather than reading about it. I knew I wanted
WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO MOVE TO LONDON OVER MANCHESTER?
to go into something creative and a lot of the time the creative industry isn’t about your degree and qualification its more about the person you are and the experiences you
“The main reason was my mum and I towards the last two have in that department.” years of my education were getting fed up of Manchester. There are so many amazing things I could say about Manchester, but within my creative mindset I began to notice there weren’t many young people dominating at the top of their game in their industry. Not trying to discredit
DO YOU THINK NOT GOING TO UNIVERSITY IS A DISADVANTAGE WHEN WANTING TO START WORKING? “That’s hard, I would love to say no it doesn’t and my
their success but a lot of the time they would talk about path in some ways has proven that. I do think that the themselves and their business as the greatest of all time education system is making positive changes; the concept when really there are hundreds of kids doing and wanting of apprenticeships is a very good alternative. I think in to do the same thing as them. You have to step up and stay the creative industry the most valuable thing you can have humble. I feel there was no variation in Manchester or a is a portfolio that proves you are good, so therefore no. place for me to stand out. Therefore, after school my mum Personally, whenever I’ve hired someone I have never and I moved to London, where I got a little waitressing asked about uni. That is talking about the creative industry, job, and my mum and I shared a little flat and split rent; it the corporate is very different.” was great.”
WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE NOT TO GO TO UNIVERSITY?
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE COCOON CLUB? “Cocoon club is a designer handbag rental service which
“I knew from the age of 15 I didn’t want to go to uni, focuses on trying to transform the way people chose to I feel on paper yes, I am academic and I love learning shop; shopping smarter, ethically and sustainably by but the way our education system ran just didn’t work for renting and not buying.” me. I attended a formal and one-path driven school and to
09.
Overground
WHERE DID THE IDEA FOR COCOON CLUB COME FROM? DID YOU FEEL THERE WAS A GAP IN THE MARKET?
changed the model to a membership model as working for SoHo I had really understood what being part of a club does to a person’s mindset and the psychology behind that. This is where I saw a gap in the market, there are
“This is an interesting story. I was working at SoHo house so many ad-hop rental services all around the UK and the as the members relation manager. My job was to make sure world but none of them were doing it on a subscription our elite members were satisfied and most importantly that tip and it made the offering kind of messy and confusing. no rules were broken. One of the rules is children could not swim in the pool unless they have an own child’s membership. I was sitting in reception one day and I heard
WHAT WOULD YOU DESCRIBE ‘SUCCESSFUL’ AS BEING?
this guy being told that his child wouldn’t be able to swim
“Well, to me I would say majority of the ways people in the pool because she wasn’t a member. I then noticed the are making money is changing whether you’re part of a child was in the pool. At first I was thinking I can’t look big corporate company or whether you are from a small this child in the eye and tell her she can’t swim because she business; you tend to make money at someone else’s was too cute. However, I knew I had to so I told the father expense. To me I think it’s all about authenticity and that his child had to get out. Anyways, a few days later the working for or building a company whose operations and dad approached me on my shift and told me he hadn’t stop logistics are ones you can say you are proud of and the thinking about me for 3 days. He said if I ever want a job way you handle things are ethical and sustainable. Maybe in one of his businesses then to just call, he handed me his not perfectly but you are trying and doing what you can in business card and that was that. your budget to be ethical to break even; to me that is being successful.” I went home thinking surely that hasn’t just happened, this can’t be legit. I did some research and learned that he was the founder of many successful businesses such as Just Giving. At this point I had no idea what the job was or what he had in mind. I thought there is no harm in wanting to
DID YOU HAVE ANY GOALS AND WHAT ARE YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENTS SO FAR? “This is a funny one because I had no idea what cocoon
find out more, so I gave him a call and asked if he wanted club was going to be. My biggest goal at the time was to go for lunch. He told me the idea of Cocoon, at that
achieved. There has been some unbelievable press, we was an ad-hop rental service but when I came on board I
10.
Photo Credits:
to have my own office, which I’m proud to say I have point it was just a name with a logo; the original offering
Fashion and Creativity
11.
12.
Photo Credits:
Overground
Fashion and Creativity
have been featured in Vogue Business and Forbes. However, aside from the flashy stuff, which of course
WHAT ARE YOU TOP TIPS FOR PEOPLE STARTING A BUSINESS OR POST-
is exciting, I think going into a board room confidently
GRADUATES FINDING JOBS?
filled with big billionaires and famous investors at the age of 19 and pitching my ideas to them with no
“If you have an idea and you’re confident in what
experience and not a clue what I was talking about in
you want to do, work on it for a couple of months and
terms of business but then coming out and doing so well
then put something out there because if you don’t you
is definitely my biggest achievement. I’m very proud of
probably never will. Even if you’re a really confident
myself.”
person sometimes we get this weird sense of insecurity. I think because you’ve worked so hard on something,
HAVE YOU RENTED TO PEOPLE YOU NEVER THOUGHT YOU WOULD?
to then put it out to the world is daunting. You get this weird complex and suddenly think people will judge you,
“In the initial launch period there was crazy press influx
but no-one is going to, you just have to be confident in
and we had coverage from all the major publication
yourself and what you have worked on. Your idea may
and as a result we had loads of stylists reaching out and
never look perfect, but you don’t realise how incredible
asking for loans. We have rented to Maya Jama and Jorja
that could be for the consumer. Also, everyone, and I
Smith which I still can’t believe.”
have, when starting a business day fantasies about being in a place with 100,000 customers and famous people
DO YOU THINK THIS INDUSTRY HAS
buying your products. However, the early stages of your
ENOUGH OPPORTUNITIES FOR CREATIVE
business is the most important and crucial time, it’s the
PEOPLE POST-GRADUATION?
only time in the life span of your brand where mistakes
“I think unfortunately with the creative industry,
can be made and you can get away with it. You will make
especially fashion, it is very biased towards people from
the most valuable mistakes but learn the most valuable
a wealthy background. I think if you want to work for a
lessons from them Don’t rush into wanting so many
major fashion house and have a name for yourself you do
followers at the start because for your brand it’s amazing;
have to either have worked unpaid or worked for a really
just embrace that time because you will never get it
shitty job at a really shitty pay for a good few months in
back.”
order to gain some experience and then work your way up once you have those experiences.
13.
BILLIE EILISH The youngest global chart topping teenage popstar explained.
14.
Photo Credits:
From recording her music in her bedroom to sold old tours, Billie Eilish has become a generation icon.
15.
Photo Credits:
16.
17
Overground
From the age of 14 Billie Eilish has been making music with
Eilish isn’t just known for her creative and authentic
her brother in their two-bedroom house where they grew
voice but also for her unique and striking aesthetic. Her
up. Billie Eilish, now 18, has become the first artist born
distinctive style is full of baggy clothes, bright colours and
in the 21st century to top the Billboard 200, the youngest
busy patterns; she embraces the weird and people love it.
female to take all four big prizes at the Grammys and the
Although Eilish reveals the real reason behind her outfit
second highest-first-week album sales of 2019. In 2014,
choices, she states in a Calvin Klein campaign that she
she uploaded her first song ‘Ocean Eyes’ to SoundCloud;
doesn’t want to be sexualised over her body. “Nobody
with her intending for one person to listen to it; her dance
can have an opinion because they haven’t seen what’s
teacher. She woke up the next day with the song going
underneath”.
viral. From then on, her homemade songs, written with her
Many well-known fashion houses have dressed Billie on
older brother have now been streamed more than a billion
many different occasions. One of her most iconic looks
times on digital platforms, she has played at increasingly
was her 2020 Grammy outfit; a lime green and black
large sold-out concerts (including well-known festival
Gucci suit accessorised with earring and fingerless gloves
Coachella, at the age of 17), she has appeared with Ellen
that allowed her trademark long, matching nails to shine
DeGeneres and Jimmy Fallon and has collected herself
through.
18.
Photo Credits:
more than 60 million followers on Instagram.
Fashion and Creativity
we h o pe to s ee y o u s o o n ...
19.