Raine 19 - The Hollywood Issue

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MAGAZINE

RAINE INSPIRE CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS [I.C.E]

H O L L Y W O O D

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VOL 19

QUARTERLY

PRIYANKA CHOPRA’S TAKING OVER! THE SERIOUS PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS SIMPLIFYING BUSINESS FINANCING HI-CAN’S $57,000 HI-TECH BED HOLLYWOOD HEALTHY

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Two E Bar/Lounge

Blending classic elegance with modern mixology

Two E Bar/Lounge at The Pierre, A Taj Hotel, New York 2 East 61st Street at Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10065 www.twoeny.com


MA GA ZIN E

RAINE INSPIRE CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS [I.C.E.]

FASHIO N TO L IVE FOR Gla morous L ife From D us k to Dar k S er ious Side of Glamour Can’t Stop Won’t Stop New Yor k Fa s hion We e k Fall Pre vi e w

ENTR EPR EN EUR S TO WATCH K atie Findl ay Anj ul a Acha r ia - Bath Elto n Bra nd Ann ie Es er Cha nel Tur ner Dav ina R eichma n Chr is top her Bates M at thew Va nde Ve gte

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F R ESH FACES K e l l i B e rg l u n d Au s ti n N o r th Sh a n n a M o a k l e r Je s u s R o do l fo Anth o ny R u f f i n Jr. D a k o ta Fe l ow

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B EAU T Y + F I T N ESS Ho l l y wo o d Ab s 55 Vi da Sp a 54 Ho l l y wo o d He a l thy 58 Zoya N a i l Po l i s h 61 Vi ta l B e a u t y 6 2

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BUSIN ESS + TEC HNOLOGY The Cus tomiz at ion We b Tre n d s 31 Sma l l Bus ines s Le n d i n g 32 Why Ha p p ines s M atte rs 33 Fashinves t.com 34 A $ 5 7 ,0 0 0 H i- tec h be d 35 Tech Toys 36 Wea ra b l e Technology 39

Ar t Sh ay Am e r i c a’s R i v i e ra Fi n e Ar ti s t Ta f a Fi a dz i g b e Fo o di e D e s i re s N o b l e Si gn s M a l i k a Om a r

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T R AV EL | EAT. STAY. CHI LL Th e S e ta i : M i a m i B e a c h

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Photographer. Cesar Balcazar www.cesarbalcazar.co Model. Daniela Botero @ RE:DIRECT Model Management Make up and Hair. Blumind inc by Javier Martinez using Chanel beauty make up.

THE GLAMOROUS LIFE OF THE ENTREPRENEUR

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RAINE INSPIRE CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS [I.C.E.]

VOL 19

ED ITORIA L TEA M Nova Lorraine - Founder, Creative Director & Editor in Chief Marilyn Wilson - Senior Editor Derron Forrest - Business Development Janet Igah - Style Editor Kristopher Johnson-Hoyle - Sr. Associate Editor

A S S O C I AT E E D I T O R Lisa Archibald R E S E A R C H E D I TO R Bryson Littlejohn CONTRIBUTING WRITERS David J. Freschman Javin Forrest Michelle Brown Maik Wiedenbach Liz Belivoskaya A RT D I R E C T I O N Martina Micko

SPECIAL THANKS Carlotta Harrington Frederique Porter Javier Hernandez Natasha Gabriel Tina Littlejohn COVER CREDITS Photographed by Vital Agibalow INQUIRIES General: talktous@rainemagazine.com Advertise: advertise@rainemagazine.com Submissions: submissions@rainemagazine.com

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KATIE FINDLAY – A DIVIDED LIFE by Marilyn R. Wilson

dress, necklace & bangles - French Connection

Photographer - Fred Fraser | fredfraser.com; Art director/hair/make-up using MAC - Liz Dungate | lizdungate.com; Fashion Stylist - Joanna Kulpa | joannakulpa.com

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top, trousers & bracelet - French Connection Actress Katie Findlay – Maggie Sanders in The Carrie Diaries – lives a divided life. Six hectic, crazy months are spent in New York totally immersed in filming, followed by six quieter months in her hometown of Vancouver. Recently signed by Wilhelmina Vancouver, the world of fashion has opened its doors to the stunning 5’9” beauty. With her global look, youthful features, a positive spirit and easy going personality, she is perfectly poised to not only step into this world, but to become the face of a campaign. Growing up, there was no doubt in Findlay’s mind that the stage was calling her. While she also explored dance, by age 12 it was clear that acting would be her future. Theater was a serious focus in high school, and in grade 12 she landed the lead role of Anna in The King and I. A stress-filled moment ensued when she had to ad-lib for the first time. The king forgot a prop and had to retrieve it leaving her alone on stage to fill the void. Another life-changing moment from this same year came when a friend asked her to accompany her to an acting class at Tarlington Training. After the final student show, she was offered a contract by a local agency, one she still works with today. Findlay quickly landed a pilot called Easton Meets West. “I felt like the biggest rock star of all time for about a month. Then reality set in. The show wasn’t picked up, and I didn’t work for the next year and a half.” At that age, “It was hard to understand that you just had to keep plugging away.” At one audition she was even rejected for being too “visually distracting.” In the end she learned it was not personal. “Everything to do with this job connects to something you want for your life – the apartment, staying in the city you want to live in, travel, etc. You have so little control over when that happens.” Then came the role she is best known for – Rosie Larsen in the television

crime drama The Killing. Findlay’s character was a part of the show from 2011-2012. Her next booking was a film, The Philosophers (After The Dark in North America). Shot in three distinct locations around Indonesia, the beauty of the country was breathtaking. Her favourite location ended up being the isolated island of Belitung. During breaks between regular roles, she booked guest appearances on TV shows including Fringe, Tangled, Psych, Endgame and SGU Stargate Universe. Expression of the arts is important to this rising star, particularly acting, her first love. “It was always something I loved incredibly. I am going to keep exploring what kind of artist I want to be and what it means to be an artist.” Findlay compares each role to a roller coaster ride. She works with the script to capture the right emotional tone and/or attitude, peaking at the moment in filming where it is needed. Then hopefully, she leaves it behind as a part of another person’s life. There are times, though, after a long day of emotional filming where it takes time to set those feelings aside. Wilhelmina Vancouver first noticed Findlay a few years ago. Findlay’s foster brother works for the agency, and agent Tricia Romani was instantly intrigued when she saw them together in a photo. Romani shared, “When I think of young women flipping through magazines, I want them to see themselves. What I loved about Katie from the first time I saw her was that I think a lot of consumers can identify with her.” Although there was a lot of industry interest back then, her acting schedule proved too challenging to maintain both careers. The timing is now perfect, and demand is already high. What will the next five years hold? Opportunities can come and go in the blink of an eye. For Katie Findlay, the goal is to just keep growing and gaining experience as she aims to be the best she can be while doing what she loves.

top, trousers & bracelet - French Connection RAINE MAGAZINE - VOLUME 19

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dress & ring - French Connection


top, trousers & necklace - French Connection; stilettos - Aldo


E N T R E P R E N E U R S TO WATC H FA S HI O N . T E C H N O L O G Y. E NT E R TA I N M E N T. C ULT UR E . T R AV E L by Nova Lorraine


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From Bollywood to Hollywood, Anjula Acharia-Bath has devoted her career to changing the landscape of pop culture through music and entertainment. Listed as one of Billboard Magazine’s International Power Players in 2014 and Top 40 Women in Music in 2012, Anjula Acharia-Bath’s work with the likes of Priyanka Chopra, Lady Gaga, and Britney Spears has helped create a cultural shift in emerging entertainment markets around the world. Acharia-Bath co-founded Desi Hits in 2007. Desi Hits is a multiplatform media company – comprised of a record label, a pop-culture content distributor. Anjula also oversees a talent management company that bridges “Bollywood and Hollywood” and vice versa. Acharia-Bath is passionate about fusing pop culture with technology and is an active investor in startups that leverage her two worlds. She advises entrepreneurs and entertainment executives alike on how to navigate these two arenas. Vanity Fair has recognized Acharia-Bath on The Next Establishment List as “One to Watch.” She has invested in companies such as The Hunt alongside Ashton Kutcher and Tyra Banks and actively advises them on all things “pop culture”. Acharia-Bath has enjoyed global press, and radio and television recognition for her achievements. She’s been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, New York Times, VOGUE, BusinessWeek, Rolling Stone, Billboard, Variety, WWD, on BBC and NPR, and Fox. She speaks regularly at media conferences and was a guest speaker at NYU’s Clive Davis School of Music, Columbia University, Chicago Booth MBA School, and she also keynoted the Digital Music Forum in NYC. Read along as we learn more about this multi-talented entrepreneur that is changing the landscape of music and entertainment.

RAINE: What was the A-ha! moment for creating Desi Hits? ACHARIA-BATH: You know; it’s a bit of a funny story. My husband was working at Intel in marketing tech for many years - and then he was transferred to Silicon Valley - and everyone we knew was a Founder of a company and doing something interesting - and they were all Engineers - neither of us are Engineers. My husband is also a huge fan of music and liked to mix hip-hop and Bhangra. He was a DJ at his university before going into a more serious career and business and then one day he put his music up on Itunes as a podcast and then it went really viral: 1/4 million downloads! I was working in the Venture Capital community and then mentioned it to a colleague. He expressed interest in investing in us although we didn’t have a business or business model. We thought we would never get an opportunity like this again so; we both quit our jobs and went on to “Startup Founder” salaries. RAINE: Name one thing that has contributed to your success with Desi Hits? ACHARIA-BATH: Having no knowledge of the music industry helped in the beginning because going in blind, there are no fears. Because I am like that, people find me refreshing. I don’t have limits in my mind or fears. As a result, one of my first contacts was Charlie Walk (the force behind Shakira and J. Lo) and the second person was Jimmy Iovine (the force behind beats by Dre, Lady Gaga, Eminem, Black Eyed Peas, etc).

Photo courtesy of LZ Media Group

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RAINE: What was your most challenging experience in growing Desi Hits? ACHARIA-BATH: It has been a real struggle and it’s been real hard – Running your own company tests your soul. When the market crashed and we tried to raise a third round- it was really tough and we made a lot personal sacrifices. Being an entrepreneur tests you on so many different levels - it’s so true…only the fittest survive. There were many times when we were struggling and I got many offers to go back to the corporate world but had the persistence to carry on. I have such deep admiration for entrepreneurs that are going through those struggles.

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RAINE: Tell us your plans of bringing Bollywood to Hollywood? ACHARIA-BATH: I think my plans are wrapped in actress and singer Priyanka Chopra right now but it will be done in a very subtle way - not how people expect. By bringing her here, and bringing small elements of flavor of what she does in that part of the world, is my way of bringing Bollywood here. It’s all about making it palatable to a mass audience and immersing yourself in what’s popular. How do I get mass market and share numbers? For example, I took Lady Gaga to Bollywood and paired her with the largest Bollywood actor and placed her on a TV broadcast with a 40 Million-viewer audience. RAINE: What was your first childhood entrepreneurial experience? ACHARIA-BATH: I think making perfumes and trying to sell them. When I was seven or eight years old, my friend and I used to mash up various petals and water and find these old perfume bottles and fill them. However, no one wanted our eco-friendly, handmade perfume at the time. (LAUGHING) RAINE: What has been your proudest moment as an entrepreneur? ACHARIA-BATH: I think the proudest moment was when I saw Lady Gaga perform in India. I was just blown away – after working on this for 1 1/2 years. I was told that she wouldn’t work because she was too outspoken, risqué, etc. -- and she is so intelligent, thoughtful, insightful and well read. When you talk to her, she just gets it. When I first met her, her manager introduced us and Gaga said to me, “I want to sing born this way in Hindi.” Bollywood is called the Hindi Film Industry. She was like a walking economist; I love having great conversations about business and the world - that was my proudest moment when she came off the stage and asked me “How did I do?” I said, “You blew them away!” We educated India about who she was. She was on the front page of every newspaper in India and led all the press - and no backlash. She beat out Metallica, who also was in town, in terms of the press that weekend. Being able to work with such an iconic name and such a global brand was my proudest moment. RAINE: What words of wisdom would you like to share with other creative entrepreneurs? ACHARIA-BATH: Get over the fear. Don’t let fear stop you. Everything you ever dreamed of and wanted to achieve is on the other side of that word. Keep an open mind; minds are like parachutes - they only function when they’re open! - and if you do fail, so what? Try again! Even if this is not my billiondollar exit, I met a lot of people, opened a lot of doors that can lead me to do many other things. Look at the experience and say, how can I use this to help me with the next company? The first company helps you figure out what’s right and what’s wrong.

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E LTON B RA ND: 2 X NBA A ll-S tar & En trep reneur How skills on the court propelled a successful movie production company

RAINE: What were some of your initial mistakes in founding your first production company, Gibraltar Films? BRAND: I made so many mistakes. One, we didn’t recruit for years. If I had more experienced business people around me, it would have helped minimize some of them. For example, I heard about a guy that was doing plays, and one of his script treatments passed my desk. I passed on it -- turned out that guy is Tyler Perry. Another lesson: Just knowing how the waterfall would work in terms of understanding the deal structure and getting our investment back. Structuring and budgeting was the biggest learning experience of all.

RAINE: In the beginning stages of being an entrepreneur, what was one of your greatest moments? BRAND: Seeing our first film go from a script to the big screen was the proudest moment. RAINE: Where do you see yourself in 5 years? BRAND: From a producer’s standpoint, I am always looking at projects - I am focused on getting the right scripts - so I don’t have to invest in the films, and ensure others are investing in the films. I want to

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continue to learn the craft and understand more about directing and the industry. RAINE: Who is on your wish list of collaborators in terms of inspirational filmmakers and actors? BRAND: Every time I see Spike Lee, we are always talking movies. I would love to do something that has a cultural effect like what he did in the 90’s. Martin Scorsese - anything he does, I just really love. On the acting side: Gotta go big...Brad Pitt! RAINE: What genres excite you most? BRAND: I like a herodriven piece. Braveheart is one of my all time favorite hero-driven time period pieces. I also like comedies and period pieces or movies like the Patriot. RAINE: Did you accomplish anything that you thought was impossible on this journey as an entrepreneur? BRAND: When you have corporations coming to you and saying they want to back you because you have produced successful projects - I didn’t think that would happen. Milk and Media Productions - our own company now - operating for the last 4 - 5 years -- started as a hobby, and now we’re at the point where I am having lunch with the head of companies and they’re telling me, here is the demographic we are trying to hit and asking what projects I am working on. RAINE: What words of advice would you give to young entrepreneurs? BRAND: Know your craft. Surround yourself with people that are knowledgeable about the industry and learn from those people. You can’t enter blindly. Watch it and study it, and learn from the process.

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Photo provided by Atlanta Hawks 2nd Photo: Evan Agostini/Getty Images Entertainment)

In 2006, three producers were responsible for the critically acclaimed, epic film, Rescue Dawn starring Christian Bale: Elton Brand, Steve Marlton and Harry Knapp. It was world renowned writer and director, Werner Herzog who convinced Elton to try his hand in a new industry: filmmaking. In 2009, Elton co-founded the innovative and creative movie studio, Milk & Media Productions with Harry Knapp. Milk & Media Productions engages in film investment, acquisition, production, and distribution of motion pictures while incorporating the web into their business model. Other movie credits under Elton’s belt include: No One Lives (2012) – co-produced with WWE; Just Wright (2010); Across the Hall (2009); Something’s Wrong in Kansas (2008) and The Cookout (2004). However, prior to Hollywood, there had been basketball. Since being selected as the first overall pick by the Chicago Bulls in the 1999, NBA Draft, Elton Brand has gone on to receive virtually every honor the league has to offer. His distinguished career includes two All-Star appearances, All-NBA Second Team selection, NBA All-Rookie First Team and USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year. Elton is known as a top power forward and skillful shot blocker in the NBA and currently plays for the Atlanta Hawks. Elton sits down with Raine to discuss the ups and downs of being an entrepreneur. RAINE: How has being a professional athlete helped prepare you for becoming an entrepreneur? BRAND: Being a professional athlete requires the attention to detail and the hard work you have to put in to making it to the highest level. Entrepreneurship takes that same type of focus and attention...you really have to know it. Still it’s tough to cross into another profession; as you don’t know that new industry as much as your life’s craft.


E NT R EP R E N E U R S TO WAT C H As the CEO of OOBERLUXE, CEO of District Fete, CMO of Linkformer, and the Managing Principal of k. young consulting, serial entrepreneur Annie Eser brings a unique and well-rounded perspective that comes with 12 years of startup experience. Her career is a patchwork quilt of industries including law, food service, fashion, music production, lifestyles, technology, and clean energy. She has been called a branding maven, a strategy superstar, and an operations sensei with the strategic know-how to execute and deliver results.

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RAINE: How did you get your start? ESER: While working at a law firm, a colleague encouraged me to hone in and cultivate my talent for creating solutions and efficiencies, as well as innovation. This led me to start my first company specializing in specific trial support services for litigators. I became addicted to the notion of building things from scratch.

Courtesy of OOBERLUXE

RAINE: What inspires you as an entrepreneur? ESER: A few things: The abundance of opportunities to create. Technology. We no longer need to wait for technology to catch up to what we dream and imagine. RAINE: What are some of the rewards you get from being an entrepreneur? ESER: The endless supply of resources for talented colleagues. The ability to have a quality work-life balance. My office is anywhere I am. RAINE: What are some of the obstacles that you have faced as an entrepreneur? ESER: I’ve faced too many obstacles to count. I view being an entrepreneur similarly to playing a video game. At the start of each level, you attempt one possible way of navigating your way through the challenges until you find yourself free falling off a platform and back at the beginning. The next time you play the level, you use the strategies that worked and you try new strategies for the ones that failed. Every challenge allows for creative innovation or adaptation to occur. RAINE: Did you become an entrepreneur out of need for innovation or out of necessity for a job? ESER: Definitely to indulge my deep desire for innovation. RAINE: How would you sum up the brand in one sentence? ESER: OOBERLUXE is a super intuitive travel + virtual assistant. RAINE: What can others learn from your success? ESER: Humility and ambition come hand in hand. Success comes with the constant appreciation that everything takes time, and that failure is inevitable. RAINE: What advice would you give an aspiring entrepreneur? ESER: Find as many mentors as possible from both failed and successful startups and listen. Embrace setbacks and failures as a natural part of your growth and success. Share your ideas with as many people as possible, because feedback can only make it better. Be fearless and take big risks.

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Burgeoning vodka entrepreneur, Chanel Turner, has reached unparalleled heights within the male-dominated Spirit industry. In 2009, at the age of 25, Turner founded FOU-DRÉ LLC, her own direct investment, and an endeavor that would soon lead to many firsts for the up and coming vodka proprietor. Not only is Chanel Turner the first woman to own her own spirit, she is the first African American woman, as well as the youngest individual to own and operate a Vodka brand. Turner has led the company from infancy to a successful launch in New York City in September 2012. Chanel Turner has been instrumental in designing, building, and propelling the FOU-DRÉ brand across the U.S. and into markets overseas. FOU-DRÉ can currently be found in over 30 liquor stores in Maryland/DC, as well as locations in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, New Jersey and Singapore. RAINE: How would you describe FOU-DRÉ’s taste? TURNER: We would like to call ourselves Vodka with flavor - we are made up of 5 ingredients: lychee, pomegranate, Lime, ginger and kiwi - all those fruits are infused at the point of distillation. RAINE: How did you come up with the name? TURNER: I wanted to have something very powerful; I started looking up different words that meant powerful, lightning. Without the hyphen and accent over the “e” for phonetics - it’s lightning in French. RAINE: What have been the biggest milestones since launching? TURNER: The biggest milestone was finalizing the bottle; that was the hardest thing of all. The product was finalized in mid 2010, but we didn’t launch until 2013. The challenge was finding a supplier that would design the bottle that I have; it’s a very difficult bottle to mass-produce. I finally found a glass company in France. It turned out to be the number one glass company in the world, and they took on the project, especially since they hadn’t done anything like this before. We were very happy when the design was finalized and financed and it should be in Australia and in Canada this spring. RAINE: What were some of your biggest challenges in getting FOU-DRÉ produced? TURNER: The biggest challenge was

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meeting the cost demands for something of this magnitude. I was nowhere near where we needed to be financially. Without financial backing it slowed down the product reaching the market. My mother, with a strong management background, is our COO. She has been my biggest supporter and backbone throughout this whole thing and has been the most instrumental in my brand’s success. At times, I felt that this was the one thing that was going to beat me, and I have overcome a lot in life. She has kept me from throwing in the towel...and having faith and telling me that things were going to work out. I have a strong spiritual relationship with our Maker and at times I needed someone to talk to about whatever challenges I was having, and she was the one I could tell anything to. RAINE: Why should a consumer or retailer select your product over competitors? TURNER: Our Vodka is hand crafted in small batches and is the only Vodka that you can have an over ice experience with. Our distillers make house-made spirits for restaurants and bars and are now expanding to making spirits for people who want to start their own brands. The distillery process is patented, and this process is very revolutionary. Our distillery is a micro distillery - what they are doing is phenomenal. The best thing - there is no hangover effect; our patented distillation process removes the impurities that are usually left behind by larger distilleries. RAINE: What words of wisdom would you share with other young entrepreneurs? TURNER: Don’t be afraid to go against the status quo. To the women: I had to break many glass ceilings to get to where I am today. Break as many glass ceilings to go as far as you would like to go. Live up to your fullest potential, and turn every negative distinction into a positive. Too often we settle out of fear and rejection. Everything about FOU-DRÉ goes against the grain. We don’t try to fit in, and we celebrate the essence of freedom. Anybody can do the unthinkable; you just have to be the one to work hard for it.

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Courtesy of FOU-DRÉ.

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Photo by Zohn Yancy

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Davina Reichman Schuck seeks to inspire and revolutionize the fashion industry, flipping the fashion game on its head. The designers she works with are “more McQueen than Macy’s, more Gaga than Gucci”, says Ms. Schuck, entrepreneur and founder of NYC Fashion Runway. “The terms ‘avantgarde’ and ‘cutting-edge’ were invented to describe their appeal and style. They’ve got huge ideas and just need their big break.” NYC Fashion Runway was established in January 2012, after Ms. Schuck founded two other successful fashion enterprises. NYC Fashion Runway has been supporting and advancing innovative designers by attaining press, retailers and industry influencers, and producing fashion shows at venues including The Empire State Building, Copacabana and The Dream Hotel. Unlike Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, NYC Fashion Runway accommodates independent designers by making the shows economical. Designers who have participated in NYC Fashion Runway have gone on to do Mercedes Benz and Couture Fashion Week, thanks to their newfound notoriety and fame. They recently featured a designer from Nolcha Fashion Week, who said the press and buyers that NYC Fashion Runway gave her were unparalleled and fantastic. Raine Magazine sits down with Ms. Schuck and interviews her on how she got started and what makes her fashion entrepreneurial mind tick.

firm. I was unable to express my creativity in that role, so I left to pursue my three loves: fashion, art and technology and just dive in. We forayed into wearable technology with iClothing in 2000, the world’s first iPad compatible clothes; a kangaroo pouch for storing your iPad on the move. We were flattered to receive personal praise from Steve Jobs himself. We combined fashion with art in Being Born Again Couture in 2010. This was a novel concept - famous artists collaborating with famous fashion designers to create couture garments. We had our first show in Australia and worked with the likes of Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Michael Kors, and artists from MoMA and PS1. We found numerous independent designers who were having difficulty putting a show together, since they didn’t have the budgets of established brand names. Maybe it’s the consultant in me, but I am always looking for an innovative way to solve problems. So, I accepted the challenge and created NYC Fashion Runway in 2012, to help independent and classic designers gain more publicity, put them in the spotlight, and get them buyers and media attention.

RAINE: How did you get your start? REICHMAN: I was a consultant at a large corporate

RAINE: What are some of the rewards you get from being an entrepreneur?

RAINE: What inspires you as an entrepreneur? REICHMAN: The talented individuals on this earth. They never cease to surprise me.

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REICHMAN: Being in control of your destiny. I am passionate about seeing designers succeed. RAINE: What are some of the obstacles that you have faced as an entrepreneur? REICHMAN: When everything is invested in your own business - time, money, passion and creativity it can border on obsession. As for the “rat race”, it’s faster than ever because you are competing against yourself. RAINE: Did you become an entrepreneur out of need for innovation or out of necessity for a job? REICHMAN: The need for innovation: it’s the chance to create and do something ground-breaking and exciting. RAINE: How would you sum up the brand in one sentence? REICHMAN: NYC Fashion Runway provides opportunities for independent designers to showcase their collections economically with publicity, promotion, buyers and trendsetters. RAINE: What can others learn from your success? REICHMAN: Place your own stamp of originality on your efforts. Focus completely on the tasks at hand, and build your business one step at a time. RAINE: What advice would you give an aspiring entrepreneur? REICHMAN: Dare to dream and just start. Stop waiting for the perfect time and jump right in.

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BESPOKE MEN


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Photographer: Jason T. Jaskot; Stylist: Carl Ayers for the Talent Unlimited Group; Make-up: Tamara N. Wade; Hair: Magda Bon; Model: Brady Ervin, Major Models Jacket and Shirt by G-Star Raw, Tie by Zara Man, Pants by Gap, Watch by Iken RAINE MAGAZINE - VOLUME 19

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Jacket by Underwood NY, Shirt by Claiborne, Bow tie by Giorgio Armani


Trench Coat by Malan Breton, Shirt by Yves St. Laurnent, Tie by David Taylor


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CHRISTOPHER BATES

Courtesy of Christopher Bates

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The journey to establishing yourself as a designer is a roller coaster ride, but menswear designer Christopher Bates never entertained any doubts; he has forged ahead with single-minded determination. That intense focus paid off when his collection launched this spring in Canada’s foremost luxury store chain – Holt Renfrew. Next on the horizon is expansion. When it comes to high-end menswear – this is the line, the moment, the designer to watch. Growing up, Bates always enjoyed sketching – creating new ideas for hip hop and skateboarding clothing, unique logos, etc. A trip to Europe at age 17 opened his eyes to a widely different fashion style. A second trip to Scandinavia, that placed him right at the cutting edge of the street scene, added fuel to the fire. But he was still not sure of pursuing fashion as a career. After earning degrees in both Economic Geography and Marketing, he spent the next five years working a “regular” job. One day the questions long put aside began to bubble up. “I asked myself if this was what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. The answer was no. The next question was, ‘What did I want to do?’ and the answer came like a lightning bolt. There was fashion design and a million other things I could do, but fashion design is the only one I HAD to do.” Apartment sold, job quit – it was off to Milan. Milan is the quintessential capitol for fashion, especially menswear. Bates applied to and was accepted into Instituto Margoni’s intensive program. Despite the fact his drawing and sewing skills were not up to par, his immense drive and a total dedication to working hard propelled him to success. He never missed a class. “It was overwhelming at first, but I was prepared for anything. There wasn’t any room for error, so from the start I would just go, go, go. I was determined.” Although there were several internship offers on the table upon graduation, his visa was expiring, so it was back to Canada. Once there, he made the decision to focus on the launch of his own collection for Spring 2009. Vancouver offered the comfort of local support, but it quickly became clear that to develop into an international label it was important to be in a fashion centre. A move was in order, and Toronto fit the bill. “It was the perfect incubator for honing my brand and figuring out what worked and what didn’t.” First came the opportunity to show at L’Oreal Fashion Week in Gotsyle’s showcase of Canadian menswear designers. Then Bates was chosen to be a part of the Mercedes-Benz StartUp Program where Barbara Atkin – Vice President of Fashion Direction for Holt Renfrew – became one of his mentors. “She helped me meet the right buyers and get my foot in the door. It was the biggest breakthrough of my career so far and I’m eternally grateful for her support.” Bates describes his menswear style as

T O

W A T C H

by Marilyn R. Wilson

“contemporary tailored.” The collection is designed for affluent, youthful men who understand quality and exclusivity. It all starts with exquisite European fabrics. Add great concepts, elegant proportions, luxury tailoring and good taste. Then there is that undefinable personal touch he brings as an artist. In the end, the overall aesthetic is best described as less is more. Bates offers this quote from Antoine de Saint-Expuery as insight, “Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” For Spring/Summer 2014, inspiration was gleaned from the elegant, nautical style of the Riviera. Whether the men who wear this collection own a yacht or not, they dress like they do. The palette includes white, ivory, sand dune, taupe, pale pink, lavender and azure in luxurious fabrics such as perforated Lamb Suede, Italian Merino Wool, Italian Cotton Shirting, Ticking Striped Denim and English Wool Suiting. Looks are a bit more casual than in the fall, but still offer understated elegance. Customers will find a mix of long and short sleeve classic shirts, pants, shorts and suit jackets for any occasion. The next year is sure to prove a time of continued growth for this high-end label. Bates has a clear vision of where he is headed and what he wants to bring to menswear. For this über-talented designer, “Fashion is about a positive emotional connection with exciting and uniquely designed quality clothing.” It’s important and more than anything – it’s personal. For more information or to contact the designer visit www. christopherbates.com

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FAS H I O N TO L IV E F O R

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VA N D E - V E G T E WORDS AND PHOTOS BY PHOTOGRAPHER JASON JASKOT

Meet former college rower and Major Model, Matthew Vande Vegte.

RAINE: Do you enjoy the shows more than you enjoy other aspects

competition in San Diego, Matthew was quickly cast in a campaign for

MATTHEW: I dreamed about doing New York Fashion Week since I

Discovered by photographer Bruce Weber’s scouts at a rowing Abercrombie & Fitch and hasn’t stopped working since. He’s appeared in Vanity Fair, VMAN, German Vogue, 20/20, and FAVE Men Magazine,

and countless internet campaigns. Following his success in California,

of the business, like doing photo shoots and campaigns?

started modeling. So to be able to say that I’ve done that is pretty exciting. But if I had to choose, I’d say I enjoy photo shoots more.

he moved to New York City and signed with Major Models bringing

RAINE: A lot of people outside the industry think Fashion Week is

Week. Recently we caught up with the busy model to talk about what

MATTHEW: Fashion week is jam packed with castings, fittings, and

him to the next milestone in his career, Mercedez Benz Fashion it’s like being a male model at one of the world’s top fashion events. RAINE: This is your first full season working New York Fashion week, correct?

MATTHEW: Last year, before I moved to New York, I did the Ralph Lauren presentation, but this year was my first time going through

one big party. What would you say it’s really like?

running all over the city trying to make it to shows on time. Non-stop

for about 2-3 weeks to make all the magic of NYFW happen. Granted

there are some great parties mixed in, but you have to make sure that you get your ‘beauty rest’ for your early morning castings the next day. Overall, it’s a ton of work, but very rewarding

all of the castings and doing actual runway. I’m also headed to Milan and Paris this year for fashion week out there. I’m very exited for this wonderful opportunity!

RAINE: This season you booked several runway shows and

presentations (where the models stand in a line up for a set

amount of time while they are photographed and the audience files by at their leisure). Do you have a preference, runway versus presentation?

MATTHEW: I definitely prefer the runway versus presentation. I like to move around and do stuff if I have a choice.

RAINE: Any crazy backstage stories from the shows? MATTHEW: Backstage at shows is always hectic. At one of the shows,

the outfit list got switched up, and all the guys had the wrong outfits

on. Nothing fit perfectly so we all had to strip down and change as fast

as possible. At another show my friend, Kaitlyn’s arm got stuck in an outfit so they had to cut the sleeve off with a pair of scissors to get her next outfit on. And the first time I did runway, it was definitely a little

awkward with all the guys and girls changing together, but you get used to it pretty quickly.

RAINE: You’ve worked with several designers this season. Anyone stand out as your favorite? And who would be your “dream designer” to work for?

MATTHEW: My favorite show was probably Malan Breton, simply because it was actually a runway show and not a presentation. But

as far as collections go, I really liked the Pyer Moss line this season. Sergio Davila’s line was very interesting. It looked very professional and

was very comfortable as well. You don’t always get that. My dream designer/show would probably be Calvin Klein or Nautica.

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Matthew Vande Vegte with designer Malan Breton

Designer Sergio Davila

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B U S I N E S S & T E C H N O LO GY


BU SIN ES S | T RE N D S

T he C ustomi z ation W eb T r e n d : DR E SS

L I K E

A

R U N WAY

M OD E L!

Since founding FashInvest (www.fashinvest.com) in 2009, I have seen

to reach out to others who can comment, rate, advise and influence

a rapidly growing trend in the customization of apparel and accessories

their “personal” styling cues in real time. Users of this technology

once available to the most wealthy and trendy consumer only. To

can invite friends and global consumers alike to shape their “custom”

look cutting edge nowadays, you no longer have to visit your favorite

looks. From dressing rooms to their own closets, shoppers can now

designer or tailor in your convertible Jaguar and sip champagne at your

get feedback in real time. I recently met with Stylinity (www.stylinity.

special appointment. In some cases, technologies allow you to enjoy

com), a website whose Style Stage allows consumers to become

this experience from the comfort of your own home! We have all heard

“runway” models and receive immediate feedback on their facebook

that advancements in e-commerce platforms and technologies have

and social media pages before even leaving a store.

flipped the designer-consumer relationship from designers “telling” the

· IMPROVED MANUFACTURING SOFTWARE: Today, designers

consumers what is hot and what to buy, to the consumers demanding

and apparel companies can customize on the fly because of improved

what they want from designers and apparel companies. But how did

software availability.

this customization come about?

your unique personal touches and choices into their production cycle.

Bow and Drape (www.bowanddrape.com) has created a fashion

I attribute this growth to technological advancements and cultural

company that allows women to individualize garments by incorporating

trends that all seemed to collide starting in 2009:

accessory choices and accoutrements.

· NEW BUSINESS MODELS: One used to have to go to custom

· SOCIAL MEDIA: The rapid acceptance of social media and the

tailors for perfect fit and finish.

rise of technologies like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and others

companies to incorporate live, “personal style consultants” and virtual

have created highways of direct communication between consumers,

sizing and styling into their sales process. These advancements have

the designers, and apparel companies. Consumers can now directly

made purchasing easy and painless by offering precise measurement

influence designer offerings for what they desire, rather than what they

and appropriate styling for the individual. For those who have met me,

are told to wear. Today, designers can modify design trends in real time

I am not an easy fit, so I decided to give the emerging customization

to suit the public’s desires; they can even offer unique designs to their

web-based companies a try. I recently met with style consultant, Tina

customers. Social media has allowed individuals to create and project

DeVita, from J. Hilburn (www.jhilburn.com) who not only fitted me,

their distinctive styles, wants, desires and personalities to the masses

but assembled a distinct style. It works, and the pricing is affordable,

at the push of a button.

considering the high quality. Keep an eye on this new class of companies,

· SIZING TECHNOLOGY: The most difficult hurdle to overcome

including Combatant Gentleman (www.combatgent.com), Indochino

in custom designs is sizing and the standardizing of sizes among

(www.indochino.com) and the aforementioned J. Hilburn on the men’s

designers. A size 6 in one designer can be a 4 or 8 in others. Technology

side, among others, and Numari (www.numari.com), SeamBliss (www.

offerings by emerging companies are attempting to precisely measure

seambliss.com), Madison Plus Select (www.madisonplus.com) and

consumers’ sizes through a variety of means. FashInvest has seen

soon-to be-launched Tinker Tailor (www.tinkertailor.com) for women to

a number of these innovative companies at its annual Capital

name a few, of the recent entrants into this marketplace.

Conferences. Me-ality (www.me-ality.com) offers sizing stations that

take detailed measurements of consumers and match them with brand

So what does this all add up to? Customization is growing and is here

sizing. Fits.me (www.fits.me) and LovethatFit (lovethatfit.com) have

to stay. And prices will continue to decline to reasonable levels never

each created virtual fit technologies for mobile and web applications.

thought possible. Take advantage of this new wave of companies.

· MOBILE TECHNOLOGY: While it may not be effective for

These advancements help individuals to express their uniqueness

customization of garments mobile technology has allowed consumers

while allowing them to always put their best foot forward.

Emerging fashion companies can interweave

Newer business models allow

David Freschman is the Founder and CEO of FashInvest, www.fashinvest.com, the leading

global platform for the most innovative fashion and fashion-technology entrepreneurs and

angel, venture capital and private equity investors. David is also the Managing Principal of Innovation Ventures, CEO and Founder of Early Stage East and Founding Memer of ARC Angel Fund (NYC).

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BU SIN E S S | T RE N D S

S m al l B u s i n e s s L e nd i n g

By SmartBiz

The hardest thing about being an entrepreneur

“Fast access to inexpensive capital

is that you have decided to take your future

is one of the biggest challenges facing small-

into your own hands. You have joined an elite

business owners,” said Evan Singer, General

Finance to offer SmartBiz to small businesses

few who have forgone the safety of corporate

Manager

business

who want a quick and easy, low-priced bank

America to pursue their dreams. With that said,

owners shy away from SBA loans because

loan,” said Roy Malone, president, Golden

your future has been decided; you know you

the conventional bank loan process can take

Pacific Bank. “Small businesses are the

want to start your own business. But how to

weeks or months to close. SmartBiz changes

backbone of our economy, and Golden

begin? The biggest challenge can be funding—

this by using technology to revolutionize the

Pacific Bank has been committed to providing

it can seem near impossible. Perhaps you

process.”

working capital to help them succeed through

have already started a small business. Do you

The SmartBiz secure application

our designation as an SBA Preferred Lending

need that financial boost to take your small

platform makes it simple to apply online for

Provider (PLP) which allows for a quicker SBA

company to the next level? Taking the next

an SBA working capital term loan. Compared

approval process. Now with SmartBiz, we can

step has just become effortless.

to a traditional bank-loan application process,

provide affordable loan options to a wider

at

SmartBiz.

“Small

interest rate SBA loan.” “We are excited to partner with Better

With SmartBiz loans you can receive

SmartBiz’s real-time functionality eliminates a

range of business owners.”

$5,000 to $150,000 in 5 to 7 business days

huge amount of cost, time and paperwork. Its

after you complete your application.

proprietary technology reduces the typical 60

SBA loans to franchises, accountants, tax

SmartBiz (www.smartbizloans.com)

to 90 day bank loan process to an estimated

preparation services, gas stations and other

by financial services technology company

20-minute borrower friendly application, with

small businesses like Wild Birds Unlimited in

Better Finance, Inc. and SBA preferred lender

instant pre-approval, and funding within 5 to 7

Fort Collins, Colo.

Golden Pacific Bank, is the first fully-online,

days of completing the application.

automated SBA loan program offering low

“Because bank funding typically

a loan for capital improvements in my store

interest rates, an easy application process,

takes so long or is unavailable for loans under

and for cash flow assistance,” said Wild Birds

and a speedy decision for loans ranging

$150,000, most small-business owners turn to

owner Lauren DeRosa. “The process was fast

between $5,000 to $ 150,000 to qualifying

alternative, more expensive lending sources

and easy to understand—all I did was fill out

businesses in all fifty states. With longer

like merchant cash advances or credit cards

the information on their website, and if I did

repayment terms, low monthly payments, and

to fill the gap,” said San Francisco District

have any problems downloading information

no penalty for early payoff, SmartBiz lets small

Director US Small Business Administration

or answering questions throughout the loan

business owners keep more of their profit in-

Mark Quinn. “SmartBiz offers affordable

application process, I called their helpline and

house to invest in growing a solid, sustainable

monthly payments and fills a significant void

received excellent customer service.”

business. SmartBiz has been available on a

in the marketplace, offering an enormous

limited basis since late 2013 and has already

opportunity to better serve small-business

or to apply for an SBA loan now, visit www.

received over $25 million in applications.

owners with easy online access to a low

smartbizloans.com.

SmartBiz

has

already

provided

“SmartBiz helped my business obtain

For more information about SmartBiz,

About Better Finance, Inc.

About Golden Pacific Bank

Better Finance, Inc. (www.betterfinance.me) is a financial

Golden Pacific Bank (www.yourbankingsolution.com) is a

technology company providing innovative credit solutions

nationally chartered community bank, wholly owned by Golden

to consumers and small businesses online, in-store and via

Pacific Bancorp, a bank holding company headquartered in

mobile. Better Finance, Inc. is based in San Francisco and was

Sacramento, CA. The Bank has a 25-year history of serving the

founded in 2009 by a team of experienced financial services

needs of small businesses.

entrepreneurs with backing from leading venture capital firms. 32

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BU SIN E S S | MU S T R E A D S

WHY HAPPINESS MATTERS By Henry S. Miller

Although some would have you think otherwise, the uniquely human pursuit of happiness is not merely some frivolous idle-time activity for the fortunate few. Far from it. Instead, it is a serious pursuit—a duty and responsibility for each of us. As the progress—or lack thereof—of human evolution has demonstrated, being in a positive, optimistic, and happy frame of mind seems to be what allows some humans to be more successful than others in obtaining life’s essentials: food, shelter, social support, even a mate. So it has always been and so it continues today. And if you still doubt the seriousness of pursuing a happier life, consider your loved ones. Fulfilling the duty of being happy benefits not just yourself but also those closest to you.

Photo credit Henry Miller Group

The Benefits Most of the benefits of living a happier life are familiar, yet they are powerful and seemingly endless—and they far outweigh the costs and work needed to achieve this state. Nonetheless, many in our societies often try to diminish the idea of simple, lasting happiness, instead extolling the thrill of peak pleasures and magnificent accomplishments. As a rejoinder to them and a reminder to us all, here is a consensus of what researchers around the world (including those cited in the Suggested Readings list in the Appendix) have proven to result from simply being happy, especially when compared to unhappy, sad or depressed people: • Success. Overall, happy people are more successful across multiple major domains of life including work, social relationships, income, and health. In addition, the relationship between happiness and success seems to be reciprocal: not only can individual success—whether in love or at work—contribute to feelings of happiness, but happiness also results in more success. In this way, happiness becomes an even more worthwhile pursuit, both as a desirable end in and of itself and as a means to achieve other significant life goals. • Personally. Happy people more frequently exhibit characteristics such as being strikingly energetic, decisive, and flexible. They are more creative, more helpful to those in need, more selfconfident, more forgiving, more charitable, more sociable, and more loving. Compared to unhappy people, happier people are more trusting, more loving, and more responsive. They have greater self-control, can tolerate frustration better, are less likely to be abusive, are more lenient, and demonstrate enhanced coping skills. • Socially. Happy people have more friends, richer social interactions, correspondingly stronger social support, and experience longer and more satisfying marriages. • Work. In addition to bringing all their positive personal attributes to work, happy people have been proven to be more likely to perform better, achieve greater productivity and deliver a higher quality work product. They tend to receive a higher income as a result. • Physical health. Happy people experience less pain, are often in better health,

are more active with more energy and even, not surprisingly, live longer. They have lower stress levels and stronger immune systems that fight disease more effectively. By comparison, stressed and depressed people are more vulnerable to various illnesses. • Mental health. Happy individuals construe daily situations and major life events in relatively more positive and more adaptive ways that seem to reinforce their happiness. They are also less likely to exaggerate any criticism, however slight, that they may receive, as opposed to unhappy individuals who react to life experiences in negative ways that only reinforce their unhappiness. What’s at Stake Take your pursuit of a happier and more fulfilling life seriously—it is a worthy goal especially in times of uncertainty and strife. Your success in striving to thrive is a precious gift that benefits not only yourself but also all those around you as well as the world at large—benefits that can’t be overestimated. Trust and believe that you are worthy enough to prioritize and focus your time and energy on living a happier life. First and foremost, you owe it to yourself to try to be as happy as you can. You also owe it to those around you: your spouse, your parents, your children, your friends and acquaintances and coworkers and colleagues. If you question or doubt the seriousness of this pursuit or tend to trivialize the value of being happier, just ask any spouse or significant other what it’s like to live with an unhappy and unfulfilled partner. Ask a parent about the pain suffered by all if a child is unhappy. Or ask a child what it’s like to be raised by an unhappy, unfulfilled, angry, and bitter parent. Ask a supervisor what it’s like to try to work with unhappy, frustrated, and unmotivated employees. Then ask a worker about working for an unhappy manager. Or ask an unhappy and probably friendless acquaintance about the worthiness of happiness as a goal. Think carefully about the impact of choosing to live a happier life. Realize that because happiness has been demonstrated to be contagious, your individual happiness can affect not only you and those closest to you but also those living nearby. Individual happiness matters much more—and can have a much more extensive impact—than ever realized before. Finally, recall your childhood: groups of young children playing together, exploring, curious about everything, giggling in wide-eyed wonderment. Compare that picture to a group of typical adults commuting in cars or trains or buses or subways: dull faces gazing unseeingly straight ahead, emotionless. What have they lost? When did they lose it? And can they get it back? Remember that one day, you will be sitting on that proverbial rocking chair on some front porch or veranda, maybe overlooking the ocean, and a stranger will sit down beside you and politely ask: “So, what did you do in your life?” What will you say? The stakes are high. The price of unhappiness is steep. And life is short. [Excerpted from the book The Serious Pursuit of Happiness: Everything You Need to Know to Flourish and Thrive] About Henry S. Miller… Henry S. Miller is the author of The Serious Pursuit of Happiness: Everything You Need to Know to Flourish and Thrive and Inspiration for the Pursuit of Happiness: Wisdom to Guide your Journey to a Better Life. He is also the creator of the online membership program Get SERIOUS About Your Happiness: 20 Transformational Tools for Turbulent Times. As President of The Henry Miller Group (www.millergroup.com), he is a speaker, trainer, and consultant helping organizations improve engagement, performance, and productivity specifically by increasing employee well being. In prior careers, Henry was a Senior Consultant for the Tom Peters Company training and coaching senior management teams worldwide in leadership and his initial career in corporate America was with IBM.

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BU SIN E S S | T RE N D S BIB + TUCK / www.bibandtuck.com For over 25 years Sari Azout and Sari Bibliowicz have been borrowing each other’s clothes, reveling in an endlessly revolving closet door and relishing their ability to never spend too much money on clothes. When they finally exhausted each other’s closets, they decided the natural solution was to bring their closets to the world (and of course, the world’s closets to them). Azout and Biliowicz took their love of fashion swapping to the masses; in return the world, became their master closet, a place from which to pick and choose other people’s clothes. So what is Bib + Tuck? It’s a curated online community of highly engaged members who trade high-end and vintage clothing. Members sell their items for Bib + Tuck credit (Bucks) and use that credit to buy other items on the site. Bib + Tuck literally allows you to shop without ever having to spend real money.

O U R E D I T O R ’ S P I C K S FROM FASH I NVEST.COM Curated companies from the leading site for fashion tech investors and entrepreneurs.

SOURCE 4 STYLE / www.source4style.com Inspired by her global travels to source materials and products for leading fashion and accessories brands, Benita Singh launched Source4Style, the first online global textiles marketplace. Source4Style is changing the industry by connecting leading designers directly with a curated network of suppliers from around the world. With an emphasis on fashion & interior textiles, Source4Style is the first sourcing platform that gives designers direct access to leading mills in over 38 countries. In just a few clicks, buyers can search through mills’ latest collections, order sample swatches, and source materials directly from the supplier - all at direct-fromsupplier prices. By using the latest technologies, the industry’s best suppliers and a global community of leading creatives, they make direct sourcing possible - anytime and anywhere.

MALLZEE / www.mallzee.com Mallzee Founder and CEO, Cally Russell and her team of ambitious fashion and tech lovers, are filling a gap in the marketplace for personalized and social shopping online. Launched in 2013, the Mallzee app aims to change the way people shop by allowing buyers access to a community of members who are ready to give you their opinion about your online fashion finds. Their instant voting system ensures there’s always a buddy on board to impart their fashion wisdom and solve your wardrobe dilemma. Be warned, though. Share an item they don’t like, and you’ll have to sway them into submission before Mallzee allows you to buy it. Users of the Mallzee app are able to search over 2 million products from 200 big name fashion retailers. To make your search easier, Mallzee goes further by suggesting clothes that are suited to your taste and preferences. Mallzee makes sharing your fashion finds with friends so much easier.

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Photo courtesy Bib + Tuck

MODALYST / www.modalyst.co Co-Founders of Modalyst, Jill Sherman and Alain Miguel, are refashioning wholesale as we know it. Modalyst is an online, wholesale marketplace that connects designers and retail buyers. Their stateof-the-art platform aggregates the orders of retailers, enabling them to collectively meet the minimum orders that designers need to go into production, and simultaneously provide them with bulk order discounts as a group. Modalyst provides all the work-flow tools that designers need to scale their wholesale business, while opening a selling channel to a global network of boutiques. They are leveling the playing field for independent designers by providing boutiques with the same purchasing power as larger department stores, while helping to build and scale brands.


T EC H N O L O G Y | T R E N D S

Courtesy of Hi-Interiorst

HI-CAN’S $57,000 HI-TECH BED

Meet the Hi-Can Bed, the brainchild of Edoardo Carlino from Think Future Design. The Hi-Can Bed is a design masterpiece that seamlessly combines the best in comfort and state-ofthe art technology - to reinvent your bedroom experience. Welcome to the innovative concept in comfort. Hi-Can stands for High fidelity Canopy, suggesting a new and contemporary interpretation of the canopy bed that recreates our most intimate and protective space inside the bedroom. Crossing the traditional boundaries of furniture, the Hi-Can features a built in computer, console game, video, home-theatre system as well as a built in home automation system that allows the bed to interact with smart appliances in the room. Owners will find themselves immersed in sound, surrounded by scenic images and a pleasing atmosphere that sweep them away into technological bliss. Welcome to the future and boy is it looking peaceful! For more information or to order the Hi-Can bed, please visit www.hi-can.com.

RAINE MAGAZINE - VOLUME 19

photos courtesy of Hi-Interiors SRL

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T EC H N O L O G Y | T R E N D S

Tech Toys By Javin Forrest

COIN Never worry about losing or storing your credit cards again!. Carry the one card that covers everything. Meet “Coin,” the electronic device that combines all your credit card information into one storage unit. Coin uses Bluetooth technology to encrypt all your card data into a single application. Use that app to select the cards you want Coin to store. Press one button to choose which card you want to use and then swipe it as you would a regular credit card; it is also the size of your standard credit card. You won’t have to cancel all your credit cards if you lose it either; all the data on the coin card is encrypted. What’s more, its Bluetooth system will send a warning to your smart device, letting you know that you have left it behind. https://onlycoin.com/ Price: $50 (preorder plus $5 for shipping)

DASH The newest discreet wireless smart headphone will bring you a novel way to hear the world, track your heart rate, monitor oxygen saturation, your fitness workout and even lets you watch sports - all through one unit. The Dash, an in-ear wireless smart headphone fits right into your ear and allows you to dance, exercise and even swim without any worry of wires or the usual restrictions of the conventional headphones. This device includes 4GB’s of storage so that you can play your favorite MP3 during your workout, or you can also stream music from your mobile devices. By the way, it takes phones calls too! Its in-ear design can passively cancel noise while allowing you to still take calls.

NEXTEP BRACELET by Sony With all the innovative wearable technology these days, Sony’s Nextep Bracelet won’t surprise you. This wrist-worn computer features an exceptionally flexible OLED screen along with a holographic projector screen. You can access all of your favorite social networks on the go. This device also includes a foldout feature with a slide-out keyboard panel so that you can use it as a tablet. The Nextep Bracelet is projected to appear in 2020. Since the technology revolution is moving so quickly, you may see this device this sooner rather than later.

The Dash connects via Bluetooth, so it is compatible with both Apple and Android devices. After a 1-hour charge, The Dash allows for approximately 4 hours of playtime and a standby time of 250 hours. http:// www.bragi.com

Price: $TBD.

Retail price: TBD

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XENON LIGHT BIKE

ONE WHEEL

Even if you are not a two-wheeled enthusiast, you can’t help but love the innovation and beauty of the Xenon Light Bike. Watch the movie, Tron & Tron Legacy, and you will find yourself craving a Tron bike. Borrowing its inspiration from this sci-fi flick, the Xenon fulfills all your biking fantasies. The Xenon Light Bike runs completely on electricity and can travel up to 100 miles before needing a recharge on its custom lithium ion battery system. The recharge process takes about a half an hour. Top speed is said to reach 100mph.

Missing the exhilaration of the ski slopes? Longing for that feeling of carving the power while you’re roaming the streets? Here’s Onewheel - a new electric one- wheeled, motor-driven board. A concept derived from the imaginative hover board in the movie “Back to the Future,” it is geared to make you feel as if you’re flying or at least, still gliding on the powdery ski slopes. This new revelation in transportation couples the same accelerometer, motion-sensing technology in an iPhone along with the motor-battery technology of a Tesla. It’s a selfbalancing platform; to control it, just lean forward. If you want to stop or reverse it, simply lean back.

Initially, only five bikes were created in red, blue, yellow, green and orange. Now, you can own these dream machines for $55,000 apiece from Parker Brothers Choppers.

One Wheel currently weighs a meager 25lbs, boasts a range of 4-6 miles, and takes roughly 20 minutes to recharge. Its current top speed is a hair-whipping 12 MPH. Order one now from their website.

http://www.evolvemotorcycles.com Price: $55,000

http://rideonewheel.com/ Price: $1499

AVEGANT GLYPH Many of us wonder what the future will offer. Well, here’s a taste of it! The Avegant Glyph has you literally seeing the world from a whole new perspective. Its futuristic technology is a mobile theater that immerses you into a new reality without using any LED screens of any sort. Instead, it employs a Virtual Retina Display, via an array of micro mirrors, to produce an image directly onto the retina of your eye. The result: a clear picture that won’t create the eyestrain or nausea that you may experience using other virtual headsets. Weighing only 1.5 pounds, the Avegant Glyph incorporates many multimedia platforms; movies or video games from your iPhone, laptop, MacBook, and many more, by plugging it into its HDMI input. Originally a Kickstarter project, its designers have already raised $1.5 million, vastly exceeding their initial goal of $250,000. It’s set to debut in the first quarter of 2015, but you can preorder it now from their website. http://www.avegant.com/ Price: $499 (preorder)

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WEARABLE T E C H N O LO GYÂ W H E N FA S H I O N C O L L I D E S W I TH T E C H N O L O G Y


Photo courtesy of SENSOREE

GER MOOD SWEATER:

The GER Mood Sweater by Sensoree is a phenomenal piece of technology that further advances wearable technology: It communicates to the world how you are feeling. Using futuristic fabrics made from sustainable materials and fused with sensitive monitoring technologies, GER Mood blurs the boundaries between man and machine. The wearable sweater is able to interpret your emotions and instantly displays your level of excitement on an illuminated collar. Each color corresponds with a different emotion and reveals your true feelings. The colors include: blue meaning calm or tranquil, pink meaning excited, yellow meaning ecstatic and red meaning nervous or in love. The sweater is able to track this information with sensors located on the hands and relays the information back to the collar and translates the data into a palette of affective colors. Sensoree is currently taking preorders for the GER Mood Sweater and is planning a limited-edition run of 100 sweaters. You can preorder via the website. www.sensoree.com

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Courtesy of RHLVision

FIN RING:

Meet the Fin, a wearable smart-ring that turns your palm into a gesture interface to control multiple devices. The stylish thumb ring is fitted with sensors that detect finger taps, swipes and identifies various parts of the palm by calculating their distance from the thumb. It uses that information to wirelessly connect to your smart devices and interact with them. Fin uses your hand commands to communicate with Bluetooth devices, like your smartphone, music player, gaming consoles, digital interfaces inside your car, SMART TV or a home automation device. “It is a technology with endless possibilities. We ourselves have come up with hundreds of ideas for applications to integrate with Fin, but we know that we haven’t even scratched the surface of what is possible, “said Rohildev N, the Founder and CEO of RHL Vision, the company that creates Fin. The Fin is currently in the final stages of development and RHL plans to launch it to consumers in September 2014. Stay tuned for the Fin, it promises to change the lives of consumers and revolutionize how people interact with technology. http://www.wearfin.com/


Courtesy of Cuff

Wearable technology is quickly becoming a part of our everyday life and aims to make us more digitally connected to our worlds than ever. Cuff is leading a fashion revolution in wearable technology with their one-of-a-kind fashion accessories that feature smart technology to keep you safe. The line consists of chic bracelets, necklaces, and key chains in a variety of finishes and textures; they function as an always-on personal protection and alert system thanks to Cuff’s innovative platform called the CuffLinc™. Touching your cuff device will alert everyone in your trusted network when you need them. It connects wirelessly to your phone to send alerts and receive notifications. “The new Cuff collection wearables are more chic than geek, wrapping smart technology into elegant, fashionable pieces that we all WANT to wear, “said Deepa Sood, founder of Cuff. “We don’t believe that we should be forced to choose between smarts and beauty when it comes to wearable accessories. http://www.cuff.io

Courtesy of Pebble

THE CUFF:

PEBBLE STEEL:

Considered by wearable technology devotees as the standard in smartwatches, the Pebble Steel for iOS and Anroid devices available in either black matte or brushed stainless packs a stylish punch. This gorgeous tech-watch seamlessly integrates everything customers love about Pebble—clear ePaper display, week-long battery life, and waterproof design—into a slimmer, classic form. “With Pebble, we created an iconic, colorful, and sporty smartwatch,” says Product Evangelist Myriam Joire, “but we wanted to build something even more refined. Pebble Steel cranks the style dial to 11.” The Pebble watch keeps you connected with your digital life; it receives texts and important notifications directly on your wrist. Need apps? There are plenty of them to meet the demands of technophiles who need to stay up to date with the best in sports, music, games and more. The Pebble Steel is what wearable technology is all about and remains a premium edition in the Pebble family of smart watches https://getpebble.com/


F R E S H FAC E S By Kristopher Johnson


F RE SH FAC E S | F ILM

K E L L I

B E R G L U N D Lab Rats, and for some time, I was losing confidence in myself. I wanted to prove to my coworkers and also to myself that I was the best choice for this role, and it only inspired me to work harder. Looking back, I can see that I've improved so much, and comedy actually comes pretty naturally to me now. RAINE: If you could do it all over again, what is the one thing that you would change in your career? BERGLUND: I wouldn't change much, but if I had to change one thing, I would believe in myself a little more. I'd have more self-confidence with all of the hundreds of auditions I went on over the years. I've learned that trusting your heart and not being scared of the world around you will open so many doors.

Meet break out star of the #1 hit series on the Disney Channel “Lab Rats,” Kelli Berglund. Dubbed one to watch for 2014 she has quickly become known for her style, beauty and acting talent. She is currently filming a Disney Channel Original Movie, “How to Build a Better Boy,” to be released in 2014. The story follows high school students Mae Hartley (Berglund) and Gabby Harrison, (China Ann McClain) two tech-savvy best friends who devise a plan to create the perfect boyfriend with only their imaginations, a computer, and an internet connection. Aside from a flourishing acting career, Kelli is a budding singer and is working on an album to be announced. Fans will be able to hear select songs from her forthcoming album in the move “How to Build a Better Boy.” Kelli is also an accomplished dancer and received honors for her lyrical, contemporary, hip-hop, jazz and tap technique. Follow along and discover why Kelli is “One to Watch” and on your radar as a member of Tomorrow’s Hollywood Elite.

acting... Especially on the big screen. I see myself very involved with philanthropy (specifically, with my current organization, the Audrey Hepburn CARES Team), and maybe even getting more involved with the process that goes on behindthe-scenes; such as producing and writing.

Questions: RAINE: What do you love most about acting? BERGLUND: Adapting to a new personality to fit a role can be challenging but so exciting! I love challenging myself, and every job that I book presents itself with new obstacles, but also, opportunities to grow and improve my skills.

RAINE: Tell us three things on your bucket list: BERGLUND: Live in Hawaii for at least 1 year. Book a feature film role as the leading lady. Meet Harry Styles.

RAINE: What is a funny story that you can tell us regarding your career? BERGLUND: Here's a funny and unbelievable story.. About 3 years ago, I decided that I wanted to take a break from acting so that I could be on my high school dance team. When I told my manager that it was time for a break, she told me that there was a really great project I should audition for, and before I go on my break, I should try out for this one last thing. Well, this happened to be my audition for "Lab Rats." I put in a ton of hard work and did everything I could to impress the producers, and it definitely paid off! Funny how I could've skipped the audition and taken that break right away. I'm so happy that I never actually ended up taking that break... Everything happens for a reason! RAINE: What has been the biggest challenge that you have had to overcome? BERGLUND: When I actually booked Lab Rats, it was my first glimpse into the world of comedic television. Comedy was never my strength; I always had a niche for dramatic roles. I felt a lot of pressure going into

RAINE: What has been the most helpful advice that someone has given you that has contributed to your success? BERGLUND: Someone once told me that there's no reason NOT to be nice to people. No matter how "famous" you can be or how accomplished you are, you should keep a good head on your shoulders. Having an ego will turn people away. People will always want to work with someone who's professional, prepared, and kind to others. Treat everyone equally! It's not that hard to be a nice person! RAINE: What words of wisdom can you share with other budding creative entrepreneurs? BERGLUND: My advice is to always give 110% effort into whatever you do. Over the years, I've learned that hard work will definitely get you places. This can apply to any occupation you want to pursue! Never stop the effort.

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Photos by Jared Thomas Kocka photography

RAINE: Where do you see yourself in five years? BERGLUND: In 5 years, I definitely see myself still


A U S T I N N O R T H Budding American heartthrob, Austin North, is the star of the Disney series, “I Didn’t Do It.” The story follows Logan Watson played by North, an ultra-cool high school freshman whose plans of being awesome and making his mark sometimes collide with the intentions of fraternal twin sister “Lindy,” played by starlet Olivia Holt. NORTH was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, and at the age of twelve, he relocated with his family to Atlanta, GA where he was discovered at a talent showcase. He has appeared in several commercials and landed guest star roles on hit series, including “Kickin’ It,” “A.N.T Farm,” “See Dad Run,” and General Hospital. When he isn’t acting, North enjoys several sports including basketball, surfing, and snowboarding. He believes in living a healthy lifestyle,:- fitness and nutrition:- and hopes to encourage other youth to develop and maintain habits that will aid them well into healthy adulthood. One of his goals is to become a positive role model and encourage his fans to work hard and follow their dreams. Learn more about Austin as we follow his path to success. RAINE: Why do you love acting? NORTH: I love acting because I get to play multiple types of characters & put myself into another person’s shoes & situations. I also love making people laugh. RAINE: What is a funny story that you can tell us regarding your career? NORTH: There have been a lot of embarrassing moments. In acting classes when I first started out acting & didn’t know what I was doing, I tended to yell the lines because I thought it would make it funny… but it didn’t. RAINE: What has been the biggest challenge that you have had to overcome? NORTH: Having to move from Atlanta to Los Angeles & leaving behind some great friends was one of the hardest aspects of launching my career.

RAINE: Where do you see yourself in five years? NORTH: Hopefully shooting another sitcom or doing feature films. RAINE: Tell us three things on your bucket list? NORTH: Drive exotic cars. Travel the world. Live on the beach. RAINE: What has been the most helpful advice that someone has given you that has contributed to your success? NORTH: Choose good people to surround yourself with. RAINE: What words of wisdom can you share with other budding creative entrepreneurs? NORTH: Trust God & believe in yourself. Don’t let the world or society or people influence you to not follow your dreams. 44

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Photo Credit Jared Thomas Kocka photography

RAINE: If you could do it all over again what would be the one thing that you would change in your career? NORTH: I honestly have no regrets. Well, maybe not spend so much on going to certain acting workshops or camps. Some are great and some aren’t!


F RE S H FAC E S | F ILM

S H A N N A

M O A K L E R

RAINE: Why do you love acting? MOAKLER: When I am in front of the camera I feel like I am doing exactly what I was meant to do, I love being creative and I love doing projects that make people feel emotions, whether that’s anger or happiness, laughter or tears, I love how you can move people, I also love working with a team and bringing different projects to life in all genres. RAINE: What is a funny story that you can tell us regarding your career? MOAKLER: The first role I had Adam Sandler gave me and I played a flight attendant in The Wedding Singer, I had one line and I was the last one up for the night, I was so nervous and I knew everyone wanted to go home, I must have said the line 1000 times during the day but when it was time to shoot it took me about 25 takes, I literally went home and cried and thought my career was over. The next day I showed up for work and Adam had made a jingle that he sang called “16 take Shanna” he made me laugh and made light of it... I figured from that moment on nothing on set can be worse than that performance and I was right...I don’t really get nervous anymore. RAINE: What has been the biggest challenge that you have had to overcome? MOAKLER: I think the hardest thing I had to overcome and still do at times is being stereotyped, at first I was a pageant girl so I could never model, then when I successfully modeled I couldn›t be a actress, when I became a actress, It turned to what type of acting I could or couldn’t do, “you did TV and reality and so now you can’t do film”... that and trying to prove i can play more than just “sexy” or “pretty” roles. RAINE: If you could do it all over again what would be the one thing that you would change in your career? MOAKLER: I would surround myself with people who were actually making movies instead of people pretending to be in them... I would have educated myself more on the type of project I was doing and build a team that would then help me parlay from TV to Film to Realty so I wouldn’t get stuck in one form of entertainment.

Photo by JSquared Photography

RAINE: Where do you see yourself in five years? MOAKLER: I hope to see myself in scripted projects as well as owning a successful production company with a major in reality shows, I hope to be married again and maybe even have one more child! Regardless healthy and happy! Actress, Entrepreneur, and Philanthropist Shanna Moakler has made a name for herself over the years for her work in film, television, print, and more. Her stunning beauty combined with street smarts, determination, and raw talent has made her a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment business. Born in Providence, Rhode Island Shanna had dreams of being in the entertainment industry, but opportunities were hard to come by in Rhode Island. Being a go-getter, she got her foot in the door by modeling and entering pageants. Today Shanna is making regular appearances on TV including: “Meet the Barkers,” “Dancing with the Stars,” working with E! Entertainment, VH1, and working as a correspondent on the red carpet for The Academy Awards. Shanna proves that if you set your mind to it that anything is possible. Find out how she followed her dreams to success.

RAINE: Tell us three things on your bucket list? MAKLER: I want to see the Sequoias, Swim with Sea Turtles and hold a koala! RAINE: What has been the most helpful advice that someone has given you that has contributed to your success? MOAKLER: The most helpful advice is people telling me I can’t do something... nothing has driven me more than proving people wrong and believing in myself.

RAINE: What words of wisdom can you share with other creative entrepreneurs? MOAKLER: Don›t let failure or rejection deter you from your goals, if you want something, go after it.

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F RE S H FAC E S | MU S IC

Jesus Rodolfo is a star whose light transcends the

stage. His performance of Bartok’s Viola Concerto in March at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, was nothing short of genius. This daring and bold young Violist kept the audience on the

edge of their seats through a musical journey from heart to soul, with passion. He has an auspicious ability to invoke the

emotions of joy and laughter once known as a child, coupled with the sorrow and pain of adulthood.

“I’m more into real stuff”, Rodolfo confessed in

a backstage interview at Auditorio Principe Felipe in his natal Oviedo last December, where he was performing the

monumental “Harold in Italy” by Hector Berlioz with Oviedo Filarmonia Orchestra under Marzio Conti. “I really want the

audience to listen the story I am telling, but… without telling it with words, but music. I love to take them from the first note

to the very last, to places that they would never imagine could ever be, remember or reencounter again”

Thirteen years after his debut at Auditorio Principe

Felipe in Oviedo, Spain. Spanish Violist Jesus Rodolfo is still

creating a buzz. At a young twenty-six years old, Rodolfo is creating quite the stir in the music world.

Rodolfo has played with some of the most world renown

orchestras such the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester,Bratislawa

Chamber Orchestra, León Symphony Orchestra “Odón Alonso”, Youth Asturias Symphony Orchestra, Gijón Simphony Orchestra,

Yale Philharmonia, Mannes Orchestra under conductors such as Claudio Abbado, Dorel Murgu, Jean Stanienda, Shink Han,

Óliver Díez, David Hayes and David Afkham; he has appeared

in major concert halls throughout Europe and the United States.

His success is undoubtedly due to the combination of

fearless imagination and spontaneity accredited to his youth,

J esu s ROd o l f o

V i o l i s t

with his artisanal mastery of his craft wildly beyond his years. He earns awe for his command of the most complex technical

pieces, in addition to his insight. “I believe that the Viola has truly no limits as an instrument. It has the most beautiful, warm, bleak and dreary tone…” There is no limit to the range of colors in his playing. His viola sounds as glittery and shiny as the

violin, as dark and melancholic as the cello, and with the “Bel canto” quality of a Mezzo-Soprano.

Since his debut, the young performer has played

stages all over Europe with the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester

(GMJO) where he was named the youngest Principal Violist ever; being just 17 years old. After his 2008 naming as the

Principal Violist he was named the Principal Violist and Soloist

in 2010. He has been privelaged to be led by such conductors as Claudio Abbado, Antonio Pappano, Herberto Blomstedt,

and Ingo Metzmacher to name a few. “I learnt so much during

my time in the Mahler Orchestra. It was really amazing to be part of it” he said.

Aside from his performances Rodolfo has been the

recipient of numerous awards and accolades including the 2013 Mannes College of Music Concerto Competition, the 2012 Mannes Merit Scholarship, the 2010 “Angel Muñiz Toca”

prize and the Mannes College of Music of New York Presidents Award Scholarship. Rodolfo was also the winner of the “Young Soloist Competition” in León in 2007.

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F RE SH FAC E S | FA S H ION

Anthony Ruffin Jr. Height: 6’3’’ Suit 40 L/slim Waist 32 Agency: RED NYC

Fun Facts 1. I have a Rat Terrier that is the love of my life. Her name is Trixie. 2. When I was In Ohio I’d shovel the snow outside for a workout instead of lifting weights. 3. Sometimes when I go to new places I talk to people In a British accent 4. My little sister is about 6 feet tall, taller than most guys I know. 5. I like to listen to Frank Sinatra while cleaning my house; it’s relaxing.

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Photo by Jason Jaskot.

I started modeling for Abercrombie & Fitch during the holidays at the local mall in Ohio. People kept asking me if I was from New York or if I worked there as a model. Of course I looked into it and a year later here I am today in New York working as a model.


F RE S H FAC E S | FA S H IO N

Dakota Felow Hometown : Victoria, BC Agency : Family Management Height : 5’10.5” How did she get started : stayed out too late one night and her punishment was for her to walk in a fashion show.

Photographer: Andrea Gurniak; Hair: Candice Yue; Makeup: Tina Lee; Clothing c/o: Velvet Hanger Vintage; Stylist: Sammee Anderson; Jewelry Designer: Sarah Mulder Art; Model: Dakota Felow (Family Management)

Fun Facts: 1. Wants to be a psychiatrist later in life. 2. Currently has an unhealthy obsession with Dr. Who 3. When she was 2 years old, she told her mom she would dress herself because she thought her mom didn’t know how to. She used to coordinate all her clothes to match, even her underwear. 4. Her goal and dream is to model in London.


FAS H I O N TO L IV E F O R

The Serious Side of Glamour 50

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Photographer: Holly Burnham Mua: Caitlyn Meyer Hairstylist: Holly Burnham Model: Yulia Aranovska





B E AU T Y & H E A LT H


B EA UT Y | F I T N E S S 10 1

Summer is on its way! Winter clothes are going on

sale, summer vacation packages are starting to appear on the television, and it’s no longer dark when you wake up in

the morning. But for those of us who spend the majority of our days in the gym, there is one clear sign that summer is almost here: abs. It is by far the most frequently asked

questions by my clients: How do I get abs in time for bikini season? What exercises are the best for toned abs? How many crunches should I do a day?

What I’m about to tell you may shock you, so do sit

down if you must. Let’s get the obvious one out of the way (and perhaps the most shocking): crunches will not help you

acquire visible abs (in fact, they are one of the least effective work outs for this specific goal). Here is an analogy I like to use with my clients: Let’s say you live in the Midwest where during the winter months, you wake up daily to a snow covered drive way. In order to get to work, you need to clear

the snow. You have two options: a snowplow or a shovel. Which do you use?

A snowplow, you say? I would agree with you. A

snowplow will not only save you time, it will save you the Photo by Gaul Porat

energy and let’s be honest, your toes from getting frostbitten. The same logic applies to acquiring abs. The important thing that we have to understand about abs is that for most

people, getting abs is not the issue; getting visible abs is what we have to work on. In other words, sumo wrestlers

have incredible abs, but the abs are not visible because of

the fat that’s covering it. So when we talk about getting

H OLL YWOOD A BS

abs, we are talking about removing the body fat from your

By Maik Wiedenbach

our previously mentioned analogy, we need to find the best

midsection so that the already existing abs can be seen.

So, back to the snowplow. Following the logic from

and most effective workout in the gym for acquiring visible

abs. Unfortunately; using this logic, crunches will be one of the first workouts to throw out the window. It burns way too few calories compared to other workouts in the gym that

also involve your core. Unless you have endless hours to

do crunches continuously, it will be in your best interest to step away from them. The best workout for abs? Drum

roll please… it would be the squats. Squats burn the most calories per session compared to any other workout, and

they also use your core as one of the main muscle groups

when executing the movement. Deadlifts and overhead press will also deliver the same results, giving you the most bang for your buck.

Bottom line: your abs will not be visible unless your

body fat percentage is not under 10%. So instead of trying

to target just the midsection of your body, use exercises like squats or deadlifts, target your entire body, and burn the

most calories per exercise so that you can most effectively

burn the fat in your midsection. There is just simply no way to attain abs doing core exercises for 6 minutes a day (cough, cough)… you have to put in the work to get the results that you want!

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B EA UT Y | F I T N E S S 10 1

H O L LY W O O D H E A LT H Y

Photo Courtesy of Gmama Fitness

by Marissa Herring

Entrepreneur Marissa Herring, Owner of Garage Mama Fitness & Trinity Sports Performance, is an IFPA Certified Personal Trainer, Women’s Fitness Specialist and a title holder in The Women’s Tri-Fitness World Challenge in the women’s Fitness routine. She is a mom of 3 children, who all have busy athletic schedules. She knows that hectic schedules can cause us to neglect our own nutrition, and cause us to feel too tired to take care of ourselves. She has developed healthy nutritious recipes and meal plans to help her clients and their children succeed on their health and fitness journey. This includes the G-mama fitness bar, G-muffins and cooking classes to help families stay on track during the week. She is developing her web series of cooking and fitness training videos to help guide everyone to feel fabulous and look great. Families need to fuel themselves properly and support each other to stay on track. Mood swings, behavior issues and depression, can be associated with what you are or aren’t putting into your body. “If we take a little time each week to prepare, plan and pack it up, we will develop great eating habits and we can feel energized all day”, says Marissa. Nutrition is the foundation of health and wellness, and it the most important aspect of feeling energized, focused and motivated. So, be a bit selfish and take care of yourself, and you will be able to empower others around you, develop great habits, and conquer not only your fitness goals but also your business goals”. So you want to look like a Hollywood Star? You may be surprised on how you can take some easy steps to see results fast. Let’s eat people! Let’s choose to eat some higher quality foods. Food, that you actually know where it came from and can pronounce what is on the back of the box or the bag. Some small adjustments in your choices can save you some inches in the waist; choosing an apple over fake apple chips, choosing homemade hummus over store bought, and choosing real veggies over veggie chips. Always choose hormone free, grass-fed and organic, when it’s possible. Get some good vitamins and minerals into your system. Unfortunately, we overcook & over steam some of the nutrients out of our food. Research, healthy and safe vitamins to help your body feel better and supply you with the nutrients you may be lacking. This is the one of the main culprits in many illnesses and diseases we face. Educate yourself and consult a healthcare practitioner, you must nourish your body to defend itself. Healthier cells, in conjunction with healthier food choices will reflect a stronger and more energized body. I always tell my clients to have balanced meals that are portioned appropriately. Treat your food as fuel; never deplete your body from having its fuel. Starving your body will cause it to store fat and slow down your metabolism. Plan, portion and prepare your food when possible. This will set you up for success in all your health and fitness goals. You’ll be looking lean, feeling fabulous and ready for your red carpet debut! Live it. Learn it. Love it!

Power Muffins Ingredients: 1 Cup Almond Flour 1 cup Pamela’s Gluten free baking mix 3 eggs ¼ cup honey ¼ tsp baking soda ½ tsp apple cider vinegar 1 tsp vanilla ¼ cup water ¼ cup Greek yogurt 1 scoop Vanilla whey protein powder Sweetened coconut flakes for topping Your choice of fruit & nut combo: 1/3 cup chopped pecans & ½ cup craisins or Walnuts & Apples, bananas & nuts. Pick 2 add into the batter. Directions: Pre heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl combine all ingredients. Scoop batter into paper lined muffin pan. Lightly coated with baking spray. Bake 15-18 minutes. Arroz con Gandules Ingredients: 2 tsp of Coconut Oil 1 celery stalk 2 small garlic cloves 1/4 small onion 1/2 tsp cumin 1/2 tsp oregano 1/4 tsp garlic powder 1tsp dried onion 1/2 tsp sea salt 1/2tsp fresh pepper 1 cup brown rice 2 cups veggie broth and 1/2 cup water 1 cup frozen gandules(pigeon peas) Directions: Start by making your sofrito mixture by blending the celery stalk, garlic cloves and onion in a food processor and set it aside. Heat the coconut oil in a medium pan and sautee the sofrito mixture. Add cumin, oregano, garlic powder, dried onion, sea salt and fresh pepper. Cook for 1-2 minutes, then combine the brown rice with the sofrito and continue to cook for 1-2 minutes. Add frozen gandules (pigeon peas), veggie broth and water. Heat until it boils. Let it boil 1 minute. Stir and reduce to a low simmer; cover pan. DO NOT OPEN. Cook for 45 minutes until water completely evaporates. Give it a quick stir and remove from heat. Cover and let it sit for 10 minutes. Fluff rice with fork and serve.

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BE AU T Y | T R EN D S


FEEL LIKE A STAR AT VIDA SPA Situated midst the hustle and bustle of one of Washington, DC’s most vibrant neighborhoods, VIDA’S Penthouse Pool and lounge is an urban escape from the weariness of everyday life. The Penthouse Pool and Lounge is a membership-only urban resort, designed to feel like an oasis of relaxation and nourishment. Located atop VIDA Fitness U Street, The Penthouse includes a 60-foot heated pool and a variety of poolside lounge options. Their professional staff delivers amenities and services that provide balance

to the stressful working lives which entrepreneurs and professionals sometimes lead. What are some of these services? The Penthouse features: a rooftop full-service bar, an outdoor lounge with sectional sofas surrounding three separate fire pits for cooler spring and fall evenings, complimentary towel service, as well as food and beverage services available at your lounge chair. Beautiful panoramic views of the city top off this delightful escape.

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Photos courtesy of VIDA Fitness


BE AU T Y | T R EN D S

ZOYA NAIL POLISH: BEAUTY IN EVERY COLOR

Established in the international beauty industry as the leader in color development, Zoya Nail Polish by Art of Beauty is unmatched in the development of their seasonal collections. Zoya combines innovative custom color creation, fashion trend adaptation, and the finest quality pigments and finishes as distinctive as the women who wear Zoya.

Founded in 1986 by Zoya and Michael Reyzis,

Art of Beauty had humble beginnings as a small nail salon; it later grew into a spa, focusing on nails, skin care, and European herbal treatments. Today, Art of Beauty is recognized as one of the most innovative beauty brands in the industry.

Products in the Art of Beauty lineup are found

in the world’s best salons, spas, and resorts. The line is lauded by top fashion magazines and has been voted #1 consistently by its clients. Take a moment to acquaint yourself with a Raine “must have,” Zoya Nail Polish.

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BE AU T Y | T R EN D S

1. Fluidline in sassy moss 2. Zoom waterlast lush mascara 3. Divine night mineralized blush in talk of the town 4. Lip erase in dim 62

PHOTOGRAPHED by VITAL AGIBALOW for HENSEL Makeup by Kate Romanoff for MAC cosmetics Manicure by Kate Romanoff for BROADWAY nails

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H&M Floppy Hat -$19.95 Intysin Co. Big Sleeve jumpsuit -$175.00 Uxcell Belt -$7.95 ShoeDazzle Boots -$59.95 RAINE MAGAZINE - VOLUME 19

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Gabriela 01 Intysin Co. Bustier Top -$120.00 Intysin Co. Skirt w/ pockets -$120.00 Steven Madden Booties -$149.95


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Photographed by VITAL AGIBALOW for HENSEL MakeUp by Kate Romanoff for TEMPTU Hairstyles by YASU NAKAMURA for ORIBE Fashion Editor - Renessta Olds Fashion Assistant - William ShiSeer James Dress - Jose Duran Shoes - Authentic by John Ashford RAINE MAGAZINE - VOLUME 19

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Earrings - Delphine Charlotte Parmentier; Caftan - SoignĂŠ K


PRIYANKA CHOPRA

capturing hearts around the world

By Nova Lorraine

Driven and focused are two words that come to mind when describing Priyanka Chopra. With 52 films under her belt and the recipient of countless acting awards, she is one of the world’s most accomplished actresses. She speaks confidently about the beginnings of her acting career when she began her streaks of remarkable performances, causing peers and fans alike to stand up and take notice. She once played the role of a disabled girl when everyone told her not to, and she won critical acclaim for doing so. In terms of her music, she faced naysayers who told her it couldn’t be done – a successful music career and acting career. Her recent single with Pitbull hit 32 million views on You Tube alone and went Platinum in India. She has reached a level of success that most don’t achieve in a lifetime. It began with Chopra winning Miss World at age 17. She beams when discussing her receiving the best actress award by the President of her country, just 3 short years into her acting career. With great pride, Chopra acknowledges her excitement of furthering diversity as the first Indian to don the iconic Guess by Marciano ad campaign. Extremely grounded and smart, she recites a quote she remembers reading very early on in her career: “Failure in not an option.” “I am very hardworking and very competitive not to mention, an extremely sore loser”. With that in mind, Chopra strives for nothing less than excellence in everything she does. Join our very intimate discussion with one of the world’s rising stars. RAINE: You appear in the upcoming biopic of Olympian Mary Kom. What would you say has been the most rewarding aspect of preparing for this unique role? CHOPRA: At the moment, it’s painful; I’m training 6 hours a day. I’m exhausted. The reward will be once people watch the movie. This story is about every girl out there that is going to say, “I’m not going to be limited”. Mary is a daughter of a rice farmer; she went on to be a 5-time world champion. She is a mother of 3, and an Olympian, and has won national awards from the President. The amazing thing is, she is just 33 years old! She went against all odds. It’s a story not just based on her life but it’s for me - for you and for every girl out there. I want everyone to feel the feeling of “not giving up”. RAINE: What are you most excited about regarding your latest project with Director, Zoya Ahktar? CHOPRA: I’m most excited about spending 2 1/2 months on an exotic cruise. It’s going to be completely opposite of what I’ve done - it’s very versatile. I am always looking for films that inspire me and that only happens when I am being challenged. RAINE: Beyond Bollywood…What aspirations do you have for Hollywood? CHOPRA: I am an entertainer; I just like being excellent and being really good at what I do. I just want to do the best at what I do; if that means Hollywood, music and working with the best with the business, then I will do it. I treat my work like art. I treat it as a very spiritual experience.

RAINE: Regarding your bucket list -- What director and actor would you like to most work with in Hollywood? CHOPRA: James Cameron. I LOVE big movies, which are artistic and have drama. They are almost like a painting; I love filmmakers that create art. It’s art that everyone in the world wants to sit up and watch. RAINE: Does being a celebrity prevent you from being or doing something you really like? CHOPRA: No, I do everything I want; I just hide it really well. I’ve been in the public eye since I was 17, so I’ve learned how to keep what’s personal to me, personal. RAINE: What are some things that you can’t leave the house without? CHOPRA: Number one: my cell; number two: my bag – it’s my life and weighs about 20 pounds. It has my makeup, camera, and since I’m a geek and LOVE technology, it also has my iPad, bandaids, everything else. Number three: my confidence. I never leave home without it! RAINE: What is your most embarrassing moment on set for a film or video? CHOPRA: I’m really great at covering those up. I’m an inherently a shy person and I was performing once on stage and wearing leather pants and they split right in the middle.

RAINE: Rapid Fire Questions - you have 10 seconds to answer each: RAINE: Coke or Pepsi? CHOPRA: Pepsi RAINE: Ralph Lauren or Gucci? CHOPRA: Gucci RAINE: Red or Purple? CHOPRA: Red RAINE: St Tropez or Montego Bay? CHOPRA: St Tropez RAINE: Comedy or Mystery? CHOPRA: Mystery RAINE: NFL or NBA? CHOPRA: NFL RAINE: IPhone or Samsung? CHOPRA: IPhone RAINE: Painting or Photography? CHOPRA: Photography RAINE: Pizza or Sushi? CHOPRA: Pizza - 100 times over!

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Jacket - Ports 1961; Bodysuit - Triumph; Skirt- Ports 1961; Earrings - Laruicci; Cuff- Laruicci


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C U LTU R E | P E O P LE

A R T SHAY

By Kristopher Johnson

Meet Art Shay, iconic photojournalist with a body of work that spans over 70 years, starting from the time he was a boy experimenting with his father’s folding Kodak. His work is a summation of seven decades of historical and cultural shifts that define the American experience. Shay himself says: “A great picture is the autobiography of a moment.” Shay has photographed iconic images of John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., The Rat Pack, Elizabeth Taylor, Muhammad Ali, and Marlon Brando, to name a few of his famous subjects. He is most loved for thoughtfully capturing the spirit of these figures with a grace and dignity that simultaneously documents the American story with passion few photographers have mastered. His work is currently on exhibition at the Morrison Hotel Gallery (www.morrisonhotelgallery.com) in New York City and features a broad section of his work for display and purchase. This is Art’s only East Coast showing announced for 2014 and will highlight over 65 photographs spanning athletes, musicians, presidents, actors, and landmark events in the modern history Follow Shay with Raine Magazine: Get acquainted with one of the world’s most celebrated photojournalists, and learn exactly what makes a GREAT photographer. RAINE - When did you realize you wanted to be a photographer? SHAY - When I was 14 RAINE - How did you get your start? SHAY:Using my father’s folding Kodak from 1927, I began taking pictures of kid’s plays in my old grade school. I began developing them in the darkroom I made out of a small coal bin in the basement. I sold them to the actors’ parents for 25 cents each and some weeks made as much as $2. RAINE: What are some of the rewards that you get from being a photographer? SHAY: I meet so many people who aspire to photography, painting, athletics or other forms of self-expression. I think this is humanity at its highest degree of cultural awareness. I am proud at the number of photographers who say that my pictures of activity on the streets of the world have inspired them. RAINE: What inspires you? SHAY: I believe photography is a pleasant invasion of your own privacy, a visual notebook, a guidebook to felicitous living. RAINE: When looking through the lens of a camera, how do you see the world? SHAY: I see it as a completely improvable atmosphere and my pictures prove it. I’ve always felt that the camera is, among many other things, a social instrument, that has forced me to become a spectator and critic of my own life and as such has helped me become the kind of human being who is compassionate with other human beings not so lucky as I to navigate the world’s disadvantages professionally. To use my instant ,sometimes glib, biographies of otherwise lost moments, as guiding beacons to help me-and others - to also enjoy, collect and understand that same world’s many advantages and esthetic pleasures.” RAINE: Who has been your favorite subject to work with and why? SHAY: Marlon Brando. He grew up in nearby Libertyville, Illinois and despite his burgeoning fame when I met him in 1950, he was as confused about sex, life, parents as were real life teenagers I met or “Catcher in the Rye” characters. For example, we were both twenty seven at the time but he asked me for advice because I was a Life Magazine photographer, which seemed romantic and a greater source of learning about sex, for example, than show business.

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RAINE: Is there anyone that you have not worked with that you would like to capture on film? SHAY: Yes. Rachel Maddow and Jon Stewart because of their iconoclastic approach to the news. RAINE: If you could only choose one of your photographs as your favorite, which would it be and why? SHAY: My picture entitled “Welcome Democrats.” It was shot under a Hotel Hilton sign during the 1968 democrat convention and it featured a swarm of bayonet-carrying soldiers and some confused political delegates trying to get through their lines to their convention. This illustration of various points of view suddenly becoming a picture shows one of the prime purposes of high level photography- showing the human comedy at its worst. Writer-movie director David Mamet, a friend and a collector of my photographs, has written that this picture, over his desk, greets him every morning and cheers him up. He was a first time journalist covering the same event I was. RAINE: Can you talk about your exhibit “My Florence” and how it has influenced your work as a photographer? SHAY: The project, reflecting my sixty seven year marriage to Florence, a beautiful, intelligent rare book dealer known throughout the world gave me a chance to gather together the snapshots I had made through our life together into a viable story, really a book in pictures, that would help other married people examine the joys in their own lives. I pointedly chose to avoid much of the anguish and pain of Florence’s final 90th year. I was in this regard, reacting to “memento mori” books by Annie Lebovitz and Richard Avedon (she on her lover Susan Sontag, he on his father.) I feel that the declining architectural views of these master photographers missed the point of beautiful lives, well lived, as I felt Florence’s had been. It has made me appreciate the privilege of invading my own privacy to document the lives of myself and others. Anyone can shoot what we on Life used to call a “thereness” picture. The photographer appears, say right after the accident, event or speech and puts on film exactly what is “there.” Many great “thereness” pictures have been published but this kind of photography has

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little interest for me and the knack I’ve developed for showing things while they happen.

Photos courtesy of Art Shay.

RAINE: What do you feel your legacy has been to the world of photojournalism? SHAY: My work is an example - many examples - of sticking to the business of pointing a camera at all sorts of places and people. Each photograph is a biography of a moment and these moments add up to my career. RAINE: What can others learn from your success? SHAY: The way that many actors and actresses use their good looks to get ahead is how I teach would-be photographers to use their time behind the camera and of course it helps if they’re lucky as I have been. My luck began in WWII as a flier- my first published pictures were six Leica shots of a collision between two bombers in a squadron that I was trying to photograph after I had come back from a mission. In 1947, a transport plane I was navigating crashed in a snowstorm over Newfoundland. The survival pictures I made launched me as a staff reporter on Life. It’s easy to tell young photographers stuff like “be lucky” and “survive plane crashes if you can,” but like any big leaguer in any activity that is competitive, the one thing you can learn to do is watch for the good pitches that come your way and be prepared to swing at them as hard as you can. One would-be photographer I knew showed me one great picture he had made on his

way to shooting an essay on Chinatown in Chicago. It was a picture of a guy on the subway yawning. A great yawn captured at its peak. He asked me if I could help him get it published in Life. I said “Yes, but you would have to make 10 more pictures of people yawning, each as good as this one.” He was outraged. He said, “do you know how long that would take?” I said “of course I do.” He never picked up on this but instead, months later, showed me his essay of two hundred pictures of Chinatown. Not one of these pictures had a single Chinese person in it. He had pictures of dolls, Buddhas, toys, windows, signs. But no sign of life. RAINE: What words of wisdom can you give to aspiring photographers? SHAY: I would advise them to read the paragraph above this one very carefully. You will meet editors and entire magazines devoted to pictures bereft of people, of the activities of people. Of blurry vegetation, or people pictures without the activities associated with living or active people. Most “thereness” pictures, even some with nice people in them and allowing for changes in fashion, could have been taken fifty years ago or fifty years from now. The legacy I want to leave and I think good photographers should want to leave is: Here are some artful snapshots of my time.

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TRAV E L | E AT. S TAY. C H IL L


THE SETAI MIAMI BEACH RAINE MAGAZINE - VOLUME 19

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Ranked as “The Best Hotel in Miami” by Condé Nast Traveler magazine’s 2013 “Readers’ Choice Awards,” The Setai, Miami Beach is an integral part of Miami’s social, cultural and architectural Art Deco heritage. The 120-room Asian-inspired hotel re-emerged in November 2013, from multi-million dollar revitalization to its iconic pools, pool deck and other select areas of its complex. Embracing the serene Far East cultural style, The Setai features a refreshing balance between the sizzling South Beach scene and a tranquil tropical hideout. Offering the finest personal service for its discerning guests, three newly renovated sparkling pools, new dining experiences, and a dedicated concierge team, The Setai leaves no request unfulfilled, hence its popularity among the international jet-setting and A-lister crowds. The property recently launched a new brand experience, The Ocean Suites, which integrate its luxurious multi-bedroom suite accommodations with enhanced services and exclusive amenities. The Ocean Suites guests enjoy exclusive services and amenities, making the experience exceptional and singular.

Features of The Ocean Suites include: •

• • • • • • • • • Photos by The Setai, Miami Beach

Private roundtrip airport transfer between Miami metroplex airports and The Ocean Suites Flexible check-in and check-out times based on availability Daily breakfast en-suite or in The Restaurant at The Setai Spa treatment en-suite or in The Spa at The Setai En-suite non-alcoholic beverages, replenished throughout guest’s stay Arrival bar and dry goods assortment, inclusive of select spirits and snacks On-request personal assistance for unpacking and packing luggage Limitless en-suite movie selections Dedicated Ocean Suites arrival, concierge and valet staff Access to The Ocean Suites’ luxury courtesy car for nearby transfers


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C U LTU R E

Costa Hollywood Condominium Resort Hollywood Beach 90

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A M E R I C A’ S R I V I E R A ENTREPRENEUR SPOTLIGHT

The name Michael Capponi is synonymous with luxury construction and design, quality entertainment and humanitarian causes. Over the last two decades, he has worked tirelessly as the mastermind behind the Capponi Group. He is widely known as one of the pioneers who spawned the revitalization of Miami Beach, transforming it into a sprawling jewel in the heart of America’s Riviera. His reputation as a solid businessman has earned him the status of being one of Miami’s most respected and well-known entrepreneurs. The Capponi Group of companies work hand in hand to establish their innovative model for development, entertainment and philanthropy. The Capponi Group strives to create a principled, socioeconomic business engine that gives back to the world community and helps improve the lives of those less fortunate. The Capponi Group is able to fulfill its mission of responsible business practices through four distinct companies that collaborate, namely: CAPPONI PROPERTIES Capponi Properties, LLC develops one-of-a-kind luxury residential and hospitality properties in South Florida. Properties in Capponi Properties portfolio are known to be some of the most exclusive homes in Miami and the surrounding areas. CAPPONI SHEAR CONSTRUCTION Capponi Shear Construction is a firm focused on crafting custom-designed luxury residences in South Florida’s premier communities. Over the past 10 years, Michael Capponi has built and renovated some of the highest profile residences in South Florida. He has been acknowledged with several distinguished awards including: Renovation Firm of the Year Award from the Developers and Builders Alliance (2008) and, most recently, a Historic Preservation Award as well as the Most Spectacular Restoration Award in Miami Beach.

4949 Pinetree Drive Miami Beach, FL 33140 (Terra Veritatis)

CAPPONI EVENTS Michael Capponi’s original business venture, Miami’s most renowned promoter of A-List nightlife events since the early 1990s, had a hand in creating virtually every one of South Beach’s hottest clubs, including Prive, Mansion, B.E.D., LIV at the landmark Fontainebleau, and The Wall at The W. Michael’s legendary status as a top notch promoter led the Miami Herald to crown him “The SoBe Prince” of nightlife. Capponi Group Events are consistently covered by major publications, including People Magazine and Us Weekly. HAITI EMPOWERMENT MISSION Haiti Empowerment Mission is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The mission was founded by Michael Capponi in 2011. Since then, Capponi has made over 60 support trips to Haiti since the tragic earthquake of January 12, 2010. The near-term goal of the organization is to empower the people of Haiti by providing quality education, diverse vocational training and job creation. Its ultimate objective is to create opportunities for the people of Haiti, empowering them to have a self-sufficient and sustainable economy and eliminating their dependency on foreign aid. Purposeful in his efforts as a responsible entrepreneur, it is very apparent that Michael Capponi is outstanding in all that he does. Highly conscientious and deeply committed to all of his endeavors, you begin to realize why Michael is One To Watch and Raine’s Must Know Entrepreneur to follow.

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2901 Flamingo Drive Miami Beach, FL 33140

Courtesy of the Capponi Group

3541 Falmingo Drive Miami Beach, FL 33140

6335 Pinetree Drive Miami Beach, FL 33140


Fine Artist Tafa Fiadzigbe

Photos Courtesy of TAFA Gallery

C U LTU R E | P E O P LE

Award winning artist and gifted painter Tafa Fiadzigbe, has had his work exhibited in Europe, Japan, Canada, South America, Africa and the US. His abstract oil paintings are depicted by strong social, political, and religious statements in audacious colors which showcase a dynamically charged energy that is central to his themes. “I am like the divine drummer,” says Tafa, “Trying to materialize the transient and the spiritual, to search the

soul of our hopes, fears and visions.” His work can be found in many permanent collections including the Superior Court, Barclays Bank, Ghana’s National Museum and former New York City Mayor, David N. Dinkins', among many others. Tafa obtained a BFA degree from the College of Art, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana. He lives in Harlem, NY.

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C U LTU R E | P E O P LE

ANSWERING ONE’S

FOODIE DESIRES

The busy entrepreneur longs to savor a well-deserved meal at the end of a hectic day. We have rushed from one meeting to the next, answered more calls than a few and sometimes settled for subpar dining at unenviable places. Our lives are on the go! Every once in a while we scour the city for the perfect spot for a business breakfast, lunch or dinner. Mostly, we just long for the reliable gems, establishments that will serve the right treat when we want to celebrate a “job well done.” And then, we happen upon the gold that answers all of our foodie desires. We discover Sel et Poivre, a gustatory journey to Europe, serving up a slice of Paris on Lexington Avenue. Offering up a taste of France in New York City’s Upper East Side, Sel et Poivre has delighted patrons with authentic French cuisine for nearly 25 years. Sel et Poivre is a neighborhood delight that manages to strike a delicate balance between upscale elegance and warm hospitality; it invites customers back time and time again. Chef Christian Schienle offers a solid menu that is a satisfying mix of French classics you’d expect to find at a traditional French bistro, presented with originality and refinement that tantalizes your

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senses . The escargot in garlic butter is a standout among appetizers. The dish is satisfying in flavor and the garlic butter sauce is the perfect dipping sauce for hot crusty bread. The main course options do not disappoint, but one has to sing the praises of Chef Schienle’s frog legs in a pernod sauce with wild mushrooms and basmati rice. The frog legs were cooked to perfection; delicate and tender, the meat came off the bone with ease. They were served with a generous amount of pernod that paired deliciously with the frog legs. Also of note were the wild mushrooms and basmati rice cooked al dente, perfect companions to this sumptuous meal. Sel et Poivre lives up to its name, serving a tasteful mix of classics that delivers high quality food while staying true to authentic French cuisine. For more information please visit Sel et Poivre on the web at (www.seletpoivrenyc.com).

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Sel et Poivre 853 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10021 | (212) 517-5780

Courtesy of Sel et Poivre

By Kristopher Johnson


C U LTU R E | P E O P LE

Courtesy of Noble Signs

NOBLE SIGNS Noble Signs is a Brooklyn-based handmade signage and design company. Founded by David Barnett and Mac Pohanka in 2013 out of an appreciation for the disappearing landscape of classic New York City signage, Noble represents a new approach to a traditional craft. Fusing art, contemporary design, and technology with timehonored techniques-- including brush-lettering, gilding, and neon bending-- they are bridging the heritage of the art form into the present day. With Mac and David, the way a sign is made is as important as the way it looks. Technology has in many ways eliminated skilled technique from society, and nowhere is this more emblematic than signage. What was once a form of highly skilled artistic labor, based in the training of the hand and the use of the brush, passed down through families over generations, has been swiftly replaced by the cold, disposable techniques of the present day: laser-cut vinyl stickers applied with almost as little care as they are made. However, the aesthetic merit of this practice compared with the classical method is miniscule. The vintage aesthetic retains relevance because it arose from the work of artisans who had been perfecting one trade for generations and therefore displays a refinement that modern methods simply cannot touch. Certain aesthetics come and go, but skilled craftsmanship is timeless. Mac and David formed Noble Signs in the hope of reviving the artisan in the field of commercial art in New York City, and approaching a time-honored craft through the lens of art, design, and hard work. Mac and David met at college and their creative partnership, born out of their mutual love for forgotten crafts, hard work, and vintage aesthetics was soon established. They first collaborated on a series of handmade books published in 2005, for which they were awarded a grant by their school. Returning to the Northeast after graduation (Barnett was raised in New York and New Jersey; Pohanka hails from Western Massachusetts), they set up shop in Brooklyn in 2008. When efforts in publishing and screen printing turned sour, their attentions turned to the more viable fields of art, design, and film. David became creative director for Damon Dash’s DD172 collective, designing and illustrating several notable projects including the cover of classic hip-hop album “Pilot Talk.” He was also named creative director of Jim Jones’ nationally distributed clothing line. For his efforts in apparel, Barnett was featured in the Tuesday Styles section of the New York Times and T Magazine. Mac followed his instinct to build and found work as an art director for film and television, having worked with Ford, Cartoon Network, and Funny or Die. His props and fabrication work have been featured in music videos for Bjork, Devendra Banhart, Nada Surf and Au Revoir Simone and in ads for Heineken, NFL and United Airlines. Their venture in signage began unceremoniously with a hanging sign for a local bar, but through word of mouth alone, their art has gained traction in the New York area, now gracing the storefronts of numerous local businesses. RAINE MAGAZINE - VOLUME 19

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Katya Lenovich www.katyaleonovich.com

Edwing D’angelo www.edwingdangelo.com

Betsey Johnson www.betseyjohnson.com

I NT ER N AT I O N AL | FA S H IO N TO L IVE FOR

NEW YORK FASHION WEEK FALL PREVIEW


Lee Jean Youn

Marissa Webb www.marissa-webb.com

Photos by Jason Jaskot

Nautica www.nautica.com

Rebecca Minkoff ww.rebeccaminkoff.com


C U LTU R E | P E O P LE

A SOUTH AFRICAN PIANIST WITH GUSTO M E E T M A L I K A O M A R

RAINE: What actions did you take to help start your career? OMAR: I was very young when I was discovered, so I decided not to sign onto a label so I could grow as a businesswoman and artist at my own pace. I had the mentorship of the National Division and Production Director of Universal Music in South Africa and my first album ‘Monsoon Dew’ was produced by a man who did Grammy-Awardwinning work, so I was very lucky to have had very good guidance. I funded all production myself, by teaching piano and performing on weekends. After releasing the first album I then did the same for my album ‘Sand Star’ here in Dubai, recording it with US producer Joshua F. Williams and Dutch producer Reiner Erlings and released my work in Virgin Megastores. It has not been an easy journey, but it has definitely been a rewarding one. RAINE: You have had a lot of success in the Middle East as a fusion pianist. That being said, why did you choose to grow your career there? Do you have plans to expand further into the US market? OMAR: My idea of fusion (i.e. mixing a melody from one genre with one from another genre) came before I arrived in Dubai and after moving here for personal reasons, I am happy that my music has been received so warmly. The great response resulted in numerous career highlights here in the region including performing for the queen of fashion herself, Carolina Herrera, amongst performances for royalty, sports personalities and Hollywood, Arab and Bollywood celebrities. My career has extended to Asia, where my ‘Piano Dreams’ is available via India’s largest media group the Times Group of Companies throughout the Indian subcontinent. I have been in international press as well, including on the cover of French/English magazine ‘Madame; in Paris and Maldives and in ‘Hello! Pakistan’. Thanks to digital download stores, my music is available throughout the world via iTunes, Amazon mp3 etc. I have therefore garnered some appreciation for my work internationally, even though I am based in the Middle East. I have received some wonderful messages and support from fans in the US and am definitely planning to expand more in your fair country! RAINE: Your music is featured in film and television. Can you tell us a little more about that? Are there other upcoming film or TV performances where your music will be featured? OMAR: I appeared in a documentary film that screened all over the world at festivals, including in Hawaii and Miami. It was an honor seeing myself up on a big screen, performing my own original music. One of my own compositions is also the theme for ZEE TV (India’s largest TV network) cooking show ‘Served’. I also provided much of the piano music for the first season and will be composing more original music for the second season, which will be exploring Asian cuisines. RAINE: What has been the biggest challenge that you have had to overcome? OMAR: I would have to say that my shyness was my biggest challenge. I’m still quite shy (though many people don’t believe it!), but I do remember that when I make an appearance or about to perform, that people are there to hear my music or see me and I have a responsibility to be as much of myself as possible and give them a good show! I do still get nervous before a performance nowadays, but I just enjoy the moment and simply have fun.

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RAINE: If you could do it all over again, what would be the one thing that you would do over in your career? OMAR: Honestly, I wouldn’t change a thing. Every high or low has been an experience for me and made me who I am today. I’m incredibly grateful for everything and don’t take anything for granted. RAINE: Is there another artist that you would like to perform with and why? OMAR: I have such a girl crush on Cheryl Cole and have been a fan of her pop music for years. I love easy, light music that I can bounce along to. I’d love to work on something with her. I have quite an edgy side off stage/camera that not many people know about so I’d love to work with Tiesto, Paul Oekenfold to explore that aspect of my personality and musicality. RAINE: The music industry can be difficult to navigate at times. What is the one piece of business advice that you would like to share with budding performing artist? OMAR: It is easy to get caught up in both the positive and negative feedback from people. Rather, accept advice from people who are experienced in showbiz, but apply it to yourself; your own values and goals. What I also strongly urge budding artists to do, is make sure that he or she is surrounded by good, honest influences that will bring you down to Earth when your head gets a little too big, or encourages you when things don’t go so well. I personally don’t have any ‘yes’-men in my life. And I may be coined a ‘diva’ but this ‘diva’ still has to do the dishes; in her diamonds, Jimmy Choos and evening gowns sometimes! Being grounded is extremely important and having a sense of humour about yourself is even more imperative. RAINE: What words of wisdom can you share with aspiring pianist? OMAR: My piano teacher used to tell me: ‘Without ambition, you will simply end up packing people’s groceries at the supermarket.’ She was so right. You need to drive towards your goal with gusto and appreciate everything along the way. Also, practicing is key (pardon the pun!) Technically, I suggest doing exams as I did, via prestigious music schools such as the Associated Board of the Royals Schools of Music. Certification from a renowned institution helps you as a musician and also helps when you’re applying for work as a pianist. The rest is all about having passion! If you love something, the universe will guide you on your path to success.

RAINE MAGAZINE - VOLUME 19

Photo Credit to Sarah Clemence

Malika Omar is a South-African-born performing and recording artist based in Dubai and enjoying a flourishing career in the Middle East as a classical-fusion pianist. She began playing the piano at age 9 after having visualized herself (age3) on stage at a grand piano. Thanks to her father’s love for the contemporary style of piano playing by Richard Clayderman, she was inspired to create her own style, fusing melodies from different parts of the world or genres and composing her own to create her signature fusion style. She has had the pleasure of playing for royalty, Hollywood and Bollywood celebrities. Read along and find out what makes this piano virtuoso tick.


SERENGETI TEAS AND SPICES You only need to experience it once to know w w w. s e re nge t i t e a s a nds p i c e s . c om



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