The LGBTQ+ Not an Issue Summer '23

REMI BRIXTON

The New Face of Bold Clean Beauty Giving a Freck

South African Fashion Designer RICH MNISI and how his Designs are Empowering Communities

Simply the Exception to the Rule

With His Phluid Project ROB SMITH Creates a More Inclusive Future for All Strolling in the Phluid City

Lucid Motors Luxury mobility company reimagining what a car can be.

Lucid Motors Luxury mobility company reimagining what a car can be.

The Art Of Wearing

SWASHBUCKLER

Show off your summer style with the Swashbuckler lapel pin. This goose feather, peach-hued adornment features just the right amount of dapper details to make you stand out.

Each Plum Thicket Pin measures approximately 1" wide and 2.875" tall.

To fasten to your desired garment, a brass eye pin and stopper lies behind each plum thicket thorn. Each feather used in production is all-natural and sustainably sourced.

Feathers for each Plum Thicket Pin are hand-selected, giving each pin a unique coloring.

Each thorn is foraged in the upstate of South Carolina by our co-founder himself and each Plum Thicket Pin is hand-crafted in Charleston, South Carolina.

CRAFTED TO REFLECT THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF EACH FEATHER

brackish.com

Venus Petite Statement Earring

CRAFTED TO REFLECT THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF EACH FEATHER

brackish.com

LUDISIA WIDE CUFF

This Ludisia makes an eye-catching fashion statement with perfectly placed, delicate goose feather petals in muted tones of pink and purple atop a dusty purple backdrop.

No dyes are used, giving each cuff a unique coloring. Wide cuffs are 1.5” wide and 7" in circumference. Cuffs are completely adjustable to fit any wrist size. Each cuff is crafted with 24k gold plated, nickel free hardware.

Instagram: @mabelchongjewelry

Facebook: mabelchongjewelry

Twitter: @mabelSF

Pinterest: @mabelchongsf mabelchong.com

Passion for travel and exquisite apparels.

« People come, live and go ».

And we are here to celebrate the diversity of the world.

alledjo.com

Our inaugural rosé features an alcohol content of 11.4%, a total acidity of 0.71 grams per liter, a pH of 3.21 grams per liter, and almost no residual sugar, truly making it 'bone dry'

lopezfamilyvineyards.com

HOORAY FOR ROSÉ

Founder

TRYSTANNE CUNNINGHAM

CREATIVE ART DEPARTMENT

Creative Director TRYSTANNE CUNNINGHAM

EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT

Editor In Chief TRYSTANNE CUNNINGHAM

Copy Editor AMANDA ORAHA

Editorial Design Director SHERDELLAH ANUNCIADO

Creative Art Director ANDRES MALDONADO

Proofreading CRISTINA DEPTULA

Proofreading MRUDAVI PUNEKAR

ART DEPARTMENT

Graphic Design Director SAMMY CAMPANER

ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT

Global Brand Outreach KATIE LISTER

European Brand Outreach MANSOUR NDIAYE

HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT

TROORA HR TEAM

OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT

Operations Director TRYSTANNE CUNNINGHAM

ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENT

Executive Administrative Assistant RONA MAGLINES

Virtual Administrative Assistant INNAH MARIE ALMARENIA

MARKETING DEPARTMENT

Marketing Director KWESI DONTOH

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING DEPARTMENT

Social Media Director JUSTICE ANN CUENCA

Social Media Assistant ADA MARCELINO

FINANCE DEPARTMENT

Finance Director RONA MAGLINES

WEB & SYSTEMS DEPARTMENT

Web Design & Development MATT SCHULER

Web Maintenance MRUDAVI PUNEKAR

Systems & Operations Director ALESSIO MONINO

PRESS DEPARTMENT

Press & Public Relations BARBARA WICHMAN

LEGAL DEPARTMENT

Legal CHINWE OHANELE

WRITING DEPARTMENT

Contributing Writer NEHA SURADKAR

Contributing Writer NIZIE LOKMAN

Contributing Writer JESSE ADUMA

Culinary Contributing Writer CARY WONG

Contributing Writer CRISTINA DEPTULA

Travel Contributing Writer FILIPA ARAÚJO

Fashion & Beauty Contributing Writer STELLA POLIZOIDOU

Contributing Writer MRUDAVI PUNEKAR

Contributing Writer GEORGE DIKE

Contributing Writer KEVIN JAMES JEFFREY

Contributing Writer ROBYN ALEXANDER

Contributing Writer VICKI SLEET

Contributing Writer ADEPEJU FARUQ

Contributing Writer GREG COX

Contributing Writer MANDY ALLEN

Contributing Writer TUDOR CARADOC-DAVIES

Contributing Writer ELSA YOUNG

Contributing Writer GRAHAM WOOD

Contributing Writer TARA SLOGGETT

STYLING DEPARTMENT

Styling Contributor SHELLEY STREET

Styling Contributor MICHELLE RIVET

Styling Contributor EMILY PAYNE

Styling Contributor INGA TARELAITE

PHOTOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT

Contributing Photographer MICHAEL DAKS

Contributing Photographer GAELLE BELLER

Contributing Photographer WARREN HEATH

Contributing Photographer KWAME ACHEAMPONG

Contributing Photographer COURAGE MUEGBEYOGHO

Contributing Photographer GILBERT ASANTE

Contributing Photographer CHARLES SCHOENBERGER

Contributing Photographer MOHAU MODISAKENG

NEW LUXE LEATHER TOTE BAGS

VEGETABLE-TANNED

VACHETTA LEATHER

DURABLE FOR PERFORMANCE COMFORTABLE FOR EVERYDAY WEAR

A SPECIALTY LINE OF UNDERWEAR AND HOSIERY MADE IN 12 SHADES OF NUDE TO REFLECT THE FULL SPECTRUM OF SKIN TONES. NUDEBARRE.COM

EDITOR’S NOTE

This issue dives into the stories of the under-represented efforts of LGBTQ+-owned emerging brands, creatives, and entrepreneurs. For the team here at TrooRa, it is essential to highlight all business owners, especially those of the LGBTQ+ community, and provide their founders with this platform to share their passions, struggles, and stories. We want to ensure their representation within our community and continue to highlight and celebrate the extensive and fabulous contributions that their work has brought into the many industries we cover. By doing this, we also demonstrate LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs’ success and their ability to thrive in the business world while remaining true to their identity.

Choosing the three covers for this issue was surprisingly effortless and straightforward. The three founders’ brands we favored to grace the three covers of our Summer 2023 issue share a very simple but powerful intention and objective that we here at TrooRa champion: being allies, not as a performative act limited to a specific time frame but rather a consistent effort to support and uplift marginalized communities. This colorful issue was a joy to complete through our research, interviews, designs, and layout placement.

In our newly added section, “Troo Spotlight,” we bring the stories of three of my personal friends in the beauty industry, makeup artists and entrepreneurs Freddy Lopez and Mercedes Gramajo, and hair stylist Robert Douglas. In Home Design, Nigerian-born Stephanie Fintan, founder and creative director of Studio Fintan, based in Ontario, Canada, shares her focus on elevating living spaces through accessible e-design. Get ready to drool in Culinary as we bring you six features taking us through the experiences and stories of some established and up-and-coming entrepreneurs. Be inspired by SF-based chocolatier Carol Gancia. Jake Bullock and Luke Anderson are co-owners of Cann Social Tonics, the best-selling THC Beverage in the U.S., and the no-nonsense Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza talks about all things food and more. In travel, contributing writer Filipa Araújo transports us with her mesmerizing imagery and writing in “Free to Travel Queer.” I am obsessed with Rich Mnisi and the Phluid project's initiatives, designs, and bold, colorful energy in fashion. This issue will dazzle and take you on a fun and colorful journey of learning about the revolutionary brands and entrepreneurs in the LGBTQ+ space. Be Inspired, enjoy et A+!

Trystanne Cunningham Executive Editor Creative Director Founder Dontae Blinks

TrooRa’s Sustainability Efforts

TrooRa is committed to building a sustainable business model promoting and protecting the environment. Our digital platform on troora.com offers a conscious approach, creating an immersive space.

With your help in building robust online support, TrooRa will print fewer magazines to ensure we remain a leader in the industry. However, when TrooRa produces print issues, we will uphold the highest quality in sustainable standards.

The magazine you are reading is:

printed on fully recycled paper

printed with vegetable-based ink and biodegradable laminates

printed in close proximity to our markets in an effort to reduce distribution emissions

READ MORE

TrooRa’s Reforestation Commitment

TrooRa's reforestation commitment in partnership with a leading environmental organization, Click A Tree, advances towards a greener future through our global communities collective impact.

For every print subscription or print copy sold, a portion of the proceeds is donated to advance our efforts to actively fight climate change.

Join us in this noble cause and let's make the world a better place, one tree at a time. Order your copy of our magazine today and help us plant more trees!

In Ghana, we plant over 20 different tree species, through our reforestation system called “syntropic farming”, which creates both a forest and fruit trees, enabling the local community to eat and sell the fruit, as we create a forest. We also support an educational program teaching Ghanaians entrepreunership.

In Thailand, we plant over 40 different tree species, creating a habitat for elephants and other endangered animals, as well as a food source for the local community and the animals.

In the Philippines, we plant 13 different tree species and for each tree planted, we remove 1 kg of plastic from the ocean in the Philippines.

READ MORE

desserto.com.mx

The world’s first highly sustainable and environmentally friendly organic material made of Nopal cactus, also known as the prickly pear.

future family heirlooms

LUI: Traditon, Heritage luijewelry.co

Sustainable Luxury

Designed In London

Crafted In The UK

laurapitharas.com

Krysalis Eltheria

They’re not hookahs, they’re better. Krysalis are Hookahs Evolved. Kaloud’s Krysalis Eltheria offers the best smoking experience. It combines high quality materials, jaw-dropping aesthetics and state-of-the-art technology to create tastier, smoother, cleaner clouds from each shisha puff.

benjaminbabadi.com

Founder Benjamin Babadi

ALBERTO VASARI

ANDRE NATTA

ANDRE TAN

ANDREW WERNER

ANNA LANGOVA

ANNIE SPRATT

ANNA SHVETS

ANTIGNG

ARI DINAR - UNSPLASH

ATOMIC GOLD

BENJAMIN CODY

BENJAMIN SUTER

BERKE HALMAN - UNSPLASH

BRANDON BLACKWOOD

CAIN BEAUDOIN

CANN VIA MEDMEN

CAROL M. HIGHSMITH

CHALO GARCIA

CHARLES GAUDREAULT

CHEF LISA FERNANDES

CHEF SILVANA SALCIDO

ESPARZA

CHEF LAZARUS

DAN FREEMAN - UNSPLASH

DANIEL FRESE - PEXELS

EDGAR CHAPARRO

A-B I-K C-E L-M

EDUARDO SÁNCHEZ - UNSPLASH

@ELLE.IVY.PHOTOGRAPHY

EMJAY

ENGIN- AKYURT

ENRICO PERINI - PEXELS

ERICA CERVANTEZ

ETHAN JOHNSON - UNSPLASH

FRECK BEAUTY

FRUGAL FLYER UNSPLASH

GAIL HAMPSHIRE

GARY BUTTERFIELD

F-H N-R

GRAILIFY

HASSAN OUAJBIR

HIDDEN PEARL

IAN TAYLOR

ILLUMINE

JARED RICE

JILL OSUR

JONATHAN GALLEGOS UNSPLASH

JOSHUA SORTINO - UNSPLASH

JULIA REKAMIE

JULIAN DIK - UNSPLASH

KAI STACHOWIAK

KOKAK CHOCOLATES @ KRISTINBENDIGOPHOTOGRAPHY

@LAURENWEILER.PHOTO

LEADBLOCKS

LIAM GANT - PEXELS

LOGAN WEAVER

MARCUS JAMES

MARGAUX BELLOTT

@MARIADENOMMEPHOTOS

MARTIJN VONK - UNSPLASH

MATT HARDY

MEDIUM

MIKE VON

MOHAMED MAHMOUD HASSAN

NIKLAS EICHLER - PEXELS

NORBU GYACHUN

OLAIDE KAYODE TIMILEYIN

PAUL GREEN

PIOTR MUSIOŁ - UNSPLASH

PIXABAY - PEXELS

POLINA TANKILEVITCHPEXELS

RAFAEL GUIMARÃESPEXELS

RAMEKON O’ARWISTERS

REAL_ JANSEN - UNSPLASH

RICARDO SIMAL

RICH MNSI

ROBERT LUKEMANUNSPLASH

SARA RAMPAZZO - UNSPLASH

SISTAH SCIFI

SOUK BOHEMIAN

STEFAN WIDUA - UNSPLASH

STUDIO BANAA

STUDIO FINTAN

SUBTLE CINEMATICS

SVETLANA GUMEROVAUNSPLASH

THEODOR VASILE - UNSPLASH

TILLY JENSEN

THOMAS SMITH

UNSPLASH

YARITZA

ZHONG LIN

李昂軒 - PEXELS

42 NORTH - PEXELS

Breathing New Life Into Antique Fabrics

A Sustainable Take On Luxury

contributing team

CARY WONG Culinary Contributing Writer

FILIPA ARAÚJO Travel and Art Contributing Writer

STELLA POLYZOIDOU Fashion and Beauty Contributing Writer

GEORGE DIKE Contributing Writer JESSE ADUMA Health and Fitness Contributing Writer

KEVIN JAMES JEFFERY Contributing Writer

NIZIE LOKMAN Wellness and Travel Contributing Writer

MRUDAVI PUNEKAR Contributing Writer

TRYSTANNE CUNNINGHAM Executive Editor

ANDRES MALDONADO Creative Art Director

SHERDELLAH ANUNCIADO Editorial

AMANDA ORAHA Copy Editor

CRISTINA DEPTULA Contributing Writer Writing Consultant

SAMMY CAMPANER Graphic Designer

ALAA AL-SAEED Photo Editor

ZAIN AL-TAWEEL Photo Editor

celebrating us, the strong, resilient, and radiant women in our communities who inspire the world with our diversity and beauty

cocoacentric.com

The LGBTQ+ Not An Issue Summer ’23

PHOTOGRAPHS BY: RICARDO SIMAL, ANDREW WERNER/ ALBERTO VASARI, FRECK BEAUTY WRITTEN BY: TRYSTANNE CUNNIGHAM

Choosing the 3 covers for this issue was surprisingly effortless and straightforward. The three founder's brands we favored to grace the 3 covers of our summer 2023 issue share a very simple but powerful intention and objective that we here at TrooRa champion; being allies, not as a performative act limited to a specific time frame but rather a consistent effort to support and uplift marginalized communities. For covers 1 and 2, of course, the imagery from their collections not only resonates with the theme of this issue's symbolism, but their smashing, spectacular, and striking photographs transcend their teams' bold artistry and creative genius. As for cover 3, knowing the struggles founder Remi Brixton faced to achieve the unconventional beauty brand Freck Beauy, it was an absolute cakewalk to choose that stunning image of her as our third cover. Cakewalk or TrooRa could be the perfect name for upcoming Freck Beauty products. We hope you enjoy the covers as we add them to our stellar collection.

Rich Mnisi Designs

Phluid project

RICH MNISI DESIGNS

Rich Mnisi is a South African fashion designer whose eponymous gender-fluid label has taken the fashion world by storm. Mnisi is a multi-talented artist who has made waves with his bold, genderless designs and his dedication to representing the LGBTQ+ community in his work. He has also become known for his unique approach to fashion and furniture design, drawing inspiration from his upbringing and the spaces that have shaped him.

View their feature and discover the full story from page 228, written by Stella Polizoidou

PHLUID PROJECT ROB SMITH

A former marketing executive, Rob Smith was inspired to create The Phluid Project after decades of the public's view of gender expectations. The Phluid Project is not just a store; it's a gender-free fashion brand grounded in community, activism, and education. A social space where people can come together, connect, and feel seen and heard. In a world that can often feel hostile and unwelcoming to those who don't fit into traditional gender roles, The Phluid Project is a beacon of hope.

View their feature and discover the full story from page 246, written by Stella Polizoidou

FRECK BEAUTY REMI BRIXTON

In a world where using makeup to cover up "irregularities" like freckles on the face is the norm, Remi Brixton, inspired by her love for freckles and daring attitude, takes an eccentric pivot to make them even more pronounced.

Debuting her beauty mark on an industry traditionally inclined to cover them up, Remi fought—and still fights—to go against the seemingly natural flow of things in the beauty industry. Her rebellious nature resulted in creating a cosmetic line that changed the game with its bold line of beauty products while redefining the meaning of beauty.

Born from a single offbeat idea for a freckle cosmetic, Freck Beauty is a cosmetic manufacturer with a wide assortment of makeup products designed to help you stand out and embrace your true self.

View their feature and discover the full story from page 280, written by Jesse Aduma.

Freck Beauty

Founder Remi Brixton

Phluid project

Rich Mnisi Designs

ANNUAL PRINT SUBSCRIPTION

Launching Spring 2024

For less than $3 a day receive quarterly digital & print TrooRa Magazine and TrooRa Living issues + one additional special issue yearly - Unlimited access to troora.com & complete digital & online archive.

Discover emerging brands, products, and stories, championing innovative leaders and entrepreneurs, gain access to resources for diverse equity campaigns educating and enriching BIPOC communities.

SUBSCRIBE

SHARE WINE + GIVE HOPE

Crafting unforgettable wine that makes an impact

onehopewine.com

A carefully chosen selection of items for people that enjoy “the finer things in life.”

WE PRODUCE ALL OF THE BEERS USED TO MAKE OUR WHISKEYS & ARTISAN SPIRITS

sevenstills.com

A MAN WITH MANY CAREERS

BY: KEVIN JAMES JEFFERY

MAKING DIFFICULT LOOK EASY

BY: KEVIN JAMES JEFFERY

ROBERT'S RULES

BY: KEVIN JAMES JEFFERY

A MAN WITH MANY

CAREERS T

Freddy Lopez: Makeup Artist, Sales & Education Leader, Winery Co-Founder, and Candlemaker

WRITTEN BY KEVIN JAMES JEFFERY PHOTOS COURTESY OF FREDDY LOPEZ, LOPEZ FAMILY VINEYARDS

hey say the average person changes careers three to seven times in their lifetime. As people get older, priorities change, new interests are taken up, and great opportunities present themselves. But for Freddy Lopez, leaving one career and starting another was never an option. Lopez grew up in Geyserville, California, a small community in the beautiful Alexander Valley, a couple of hours’ drive north of San Francisco. The town owes its name to the geothermal springs that were discovered in the mid-1800s, but it's most recognizable industry these days is wine. Having been raised on a vineyard with his family in the world-famous Sonoma County, Lopez wanted more out of life. He desired to see the world outside of his rural community. “Growing up, I didn’t want to work on a farm, and so I pursued my own vision and dream,” he says.

That first glimpse of the outside world presented itself when he studied Fashion Design and Marketing at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. While studying and looking for a job, Lopez began practicing makeup on friends. “I was always intrigued by the different ways makeup could influence a look,” he says. “That led me to apply to MAC Cosmetics, where I went from sales artist to managing several locations.”

Freddy Lopez

After almost 10 years at Mac Cosmetics, Lopez joined Tarte Cosmetics, a company located in New York City. As Tarte’s Global Education Ambassador, Lopez traveled the globe representing the brand through social media and interviews and supporting their sales team.

Lopez’s corporate career eventually came to a halt when a new opportunity presented itself. But during his time in the cosmetics industry, he learned many lessons. He would say the biggest competition starting out is yourself and your creativity. “Take the time to nourish your creativity by finding the things you love to do, seek inspiration from others, and visit spaces that inspire you,” he advises. “Don’t seek validation, as it will come as your work gets better.”

Lopez's career took a hard turn when the pandemic arrived. As with many of us, he gained perspective, which led to him creating a business out of his family's vineyard. So he took all the lessons he learned from being a sales and education leader for more than 15 years in the beauty industry and used that experience to create visibility and drive business for Lopez Family Vineyards.

But as anyone in the farming industry knows, profit margins are generally low, which led Lopez to start a candle business to support the family’s efforts in creating a wine label. Pretty soon, they were selling their candles at a local market, where they were received well by the public. “I was taken aback as it made this dream feel like it could happen,” says Lopez. “We were able to save for wine bottle purchases, labels, licensing, and supplies for our vineyard.”

Lopez Family Vineyards makes Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot in the Anderson Valley. Their first-ever vintage was released in the spring of this year, which means Freddy Lopez has his work cut out for him. But that won’t stop him from doing what he loves. “No, I’m not leaving the beauty industry,” he says. “I still enjoy every moment of it, and it is ok to have multiple passions in your careers.”

Q&A With Freddy Lopez

Lopez was generous enough to give his time to answer questions pertaining to our issue’s theme, LGBTQ+.

Q: In which ways do you support the LGBTQ+ community?

A: I’ve supported many LGBTQ+ organizations through volunteering at Project Open Hand, AIDS Walk San Francisco. We’re excited to further support more community programs in the future.

Q: What does Pride Month mean to you?

A: Pride month to me means being yourself and celebrating love for each other. It brings me joy knowing that we are making great strides to becoming accepted as whole human beings.

Q: How do you celebrate Pride Month?

A: I celebrate pride by acknowledging my love for my partner. He’s been my rock and inspiration in many things.

Q: Who are some of the queer people who inspire you?

A: I admire several queer people. Especially those that are on the frontlines fighting for equal rights. I admire their strength and perseverance for equality.

Q: Do you think there’s still much to be done for LGBTQ+ rights?

A: Absolutely. I think there is still room for acceptance, and reducing or eliminating harsh laws that put LGBTQ+ people at risk of harm/violence. My hope is one day, we can all be accepting of our differences and realize we are simply human beings with the same goal of wanting to be happy and accepted.

Trystanne Cunnigham

Iguehi James

Natalie Slavonia

Iguehi James

Bella Ocasio

Iguehi James

A lash-lengthening and conditioning serum-infused mascara that’s highly pigmented, perfect for all lash types, and suitable for all-day, comfortable wear.

MAKING DIFFICULT LOOK EASY

Mercedes Gramajo has Found Success in Beauty, but It’s Not Always Smooth Sailing

WRITTEN BY KEVIN JAMES JEFFERY PHOTOS COURTESY OF MERCEDES GRAMAJO

Now a pro makeup artist, educator, and creative that works in California and throughout the world, Mercedes Gramajo’s passion for her craft started at a young age. As a musical theater kid, she always gravitated toward the hair and makeup aspect of the show. “My favorite part of a big show would be the ‘getting ready’ part right before a performance,” she told TrooRa. “It always felt so good, relaxing, even therapeutic.”

When it came to the people Gramajo looked to for inspiration and influence, she credits the women that raised her, specifically her grandmother. “She never had an off day. Her lipstick was always ON, and I loved watching her get ready in the mornings,” she says. “It’s safe to say the women who raised me were the most confident after a little blush and lipstick.” Even though Gramajo’s love for all things beauty came at a young age, her family didn’t always support her chosen field, which made navigating and learning how to run her business much more difficult. But over time, she taught herself how to create relationships and networks that would help expand her social and professional audience. Even more, she learned how to wear many hats as her own boss.

Getting started was never easy for Gramajo, but from day one, she began getting as much training and exposure to makeup

Mercedes Gramajo

Shalini Srivastava

as possible through retail cosmetics and trainers. “At the beginning of my career, my entire life was establishing myself and giving it my all at all times,” she says. “All that being said, there were extremely difficult times, and I wouldn’t change a thing. My heart and soul have been in this since the beginning, and when you create from what’s within, the universe provides.”

Over the years, Gramajo has serviced her clients with experience in runway, bridal, special effects, editorial, and makeup education. But even with all her success, she admits her job isn’t always effortless. “I’m proud of what I’ve established for myself thus far, and I can still say it’s difficult to continue doing so—especially moving from one city to another,” she says. “Some days, it still feels like I’m back at square one. It’s always difficult establishing yourself as an artist of any form, and I have my ups and downs, good and bad days.”

Some of the difficulties with navigating the beauty industry, like many other industries, is keeping up with the latest trends and technologies. For Gramajo, social media has been a big game changer because it gives everything anyone could ever want. “With makeup specifically, there’s so much you can learn by simply watching a few videos.”

In addition to the videos people can watch on social media platforms, networking has also changed as technology has advanced. Gramajo points out, “Business has shifted from networking in person and events to networking on different social platforms and showing your individuality.” She’s credited social media as a way of showing people who she really is in order to gain their support.

“My social media presence has made such an impact on the people I’ve met, the opportunities I’ve been given, and the

places I’ve been,” says Gramajo. “I’ve learned that you have to be open to adapting to technology. You do yourself a disservice by not keeping up with how people communicate and receive new information.”

More importantly, Gramajo says there are three things she wished she had known earlier that she would tell people who are just starting: “Learn about boundaries, create them, and stick to them. Know your worth and add tax. Always be professional— even when you really want to lose your shit.”

Q&A with Mercedes Gramajo

Since this is the LGBTQ+ Not An Issue (Issue), we asked Gramajo if she would answer our questions pertaining to the issue’s theme. She was so kind to give us her time, so we wanted to share her answers with you:

Q: In which ways do you support the LGBTQ+ community?

A: At this particular time in history when the government wants us erased, it’s extremely important to speak up for what’s right and what’s equal for ALL people. Being queer, there’s so much fear in simply being yourself. Speaking up when I hear antiLGBTQ comments is the biggest thing I contribute to building awareness within my social networks. Being able to speak up and say I don’t tolerate any kind of hateful speech does go a long way—sometimes, it opens a conversation, and at all times, it shows solidarity.

Q: What does Pride Month mean to you?

A: Pride month is a celebration of love. Having pride in yourself, your community, and the uniqueness/magic that you add to this world is what makes pride month so powerful. There are 7 billion people in the world, and 7 billion ways people choose to live and express their love. We celebrate them all.

Q: How do you celebrate Pride Month?

A: I volunteer my time and services to different LGBTQ groups that need hair and makeup for performances, parades, etc. Pride month is one of my favorite times to work out of the entire year. It always feels like a celebration!

Q: Who are some of the queer people who inspire you?

A: Sylvia Rivera. She fought to bridge the gap between the hate within our own community. There’s a Sylvia that lives inside me, for sure.

Q: Do you think there’s still much to be done for LGBTQ+ rights?

A: Travel advisories issued for both immigrants and LGBTQ+ people in the state of FL. Harmful policies are being passed by lawmakers in multiple states to restrict access to reproductive healthcare, gender-affirming healthcare, banning LGBTQ+ books in schools… the list goes on and on… in 2023. We are nowhere near done.

ROBERT'S R U L E S

A Hairstylist From An Early Age, Robert Douglas Has Figured Out What It Takes To Succeed In A Competitive Industry

WRITTEN BY KEVIN JAMES JEFFERY

Robert Douglas

It was early in his childhood, around the age of 5, that Robert Douglas started to show interest in his mother’s career as a hairstylist. Douglas would often go to the salon with her to watch and admire the passion she had for her work. Around this time, Douglas started playing with hair and satisfying his curiosity for the craft.

Once Douglas reached the moment in life where career choices should be taken seriously, there was no doubt what that path would be. That drive to succeed made Douglas’ career path less challenging than most people would encounter. All Douglas had to do was listen and learn from those with the experience and knowledge that made them thrive in hairstyling.

“It wasn’t very difficult because I had such great mentors in school and participated in a great externship program that was provided by many great salons, and they had contracts with the school that I attended,” Douglas told TrooRa. “I got to experience exactly what I’d be getting into in the real world of the industry and what was expected as far as further extensive training to build a successful, long-lasting career after receiving my Cosmetology license.”

Fast forward to today, and Douglas still has the passion and drive to push boundaries and perform his craft at the highest level. As a skilled stylist, Douglas understands hair types and face shapes and how to create looks that complement his clients’ natural

features. Not to mention being honest about what looks great and recommending what matches his clients’ fashion senses. But a lot has changed in the industry over the years, and Douglas has learned to change with the times. “The business has changed in the fact that social media has allowed a lot more exposure to what goes on behind the chair as far as displaying the art of stylists and a lot of great access to education,” says Douglas. “Social media provides a platform that allows so many more resources, products, techniques, establishments to be displayed and accessed.”

When asked how sustainable success was achieved in an industry that is worth nearly $50 billion in 2023, the answer was obvious. “The biggest thing I learned early on is that you have to absolutely LOVE this industry in order to have longevity because there are so many factors that go into being successful,” says Douglas.

For those looking to crack the industry, Douglas has some words of wisdom: “Continued education and training is a must, and never limit yourself to one type of hair. Learn as many different hair textures, colors, and patterns that are available to you. The sky’s the limit with your creativity, so be bold and try as many fun techniques that draw your interest. It will take a few years to become comfortable, so keep exploring and have fun.”

Even though June is Pride Month in the United States, Douglas says it’s just a month to highlight awareness and educate people about the historical events and people that belong to the everevolving LGBTIQA+ community. “Over the years, I have become proud of who I am as a person and don’t narrow my experience to one month of the year. I live proudly every day of every month and year,” says Douglas. “Pride isn’t limited to one particular community; many people from walks of life celebrate as well.”

@ITSMEROBD

Trystanne Cunnigham

Iguehi James Xue Xue Zhang

Healthy beauty that works.

The Dara Kennedy Sea Serum is an innovative hydrating, multidimensional, and adaptive serum for more vibrant, resilient skin. It starts by addressing what your skin craves the most, and its benefits build on one another in an intelligent, cumulative way.

Designed and hand-produced stoneware ceramic table lamps from the Catskill Mountains of New York

HISTORICAL INSPIRATION FOR AN INNOVATIVE HOME

BY: CRISTINA DEPTULA

STUDIO FINTAN

BY: GEORGE DIKE

Historical Inspiration for an Innovative Home

Corey Damen Jenkins: Classic Interiors With No Expiration Date

PHOTOGRAPHED

BY:

COREY DAMEN JENKINS

WRITTEN BY: CRISTINA DEPTULA

Innovative Home N

YC-based designer Corey Damen Jenkins, winner of HGTV’s Showhouse Showdown, loves to mix vivid colors with layered patterns for an inventive and unique look. His inspirations come from both old and new: classic design elements such as dark brown wooden furniture and the haute couture runway.

“My goal is to ensure that my clients’ projects are always classic, livable, and without an expiration date,” Corey states.

His new book, Design Remix: A New Spin on Traditional Rooms, showcases what he calls his “colorful, youthful traditionalism.” In the book, he illustrates how to reimagine vintage interior decor for modern tastes. This includes techniques such as pairing light and dark colors, accessorizing with couture-inspired decor, highlighting a traditional interior with minimalist accessories, and creating a salon-style wall to showcase artwork.

Corey Damen Jenkins

PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION

Corey is an inducted member of Elle Decor’s A-List and Architectural Design’s AD100 List. He’s served as a guest expert on the Rachael Ray show and Open House TV and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Vanity Fair, House and Garden, the New York Times, and the Detroit News. Traditional Home magazine also awarded him the New Trad Rising Star of Design. Invited to teach a MasterClass, he produced a program teaching viewers how to craft their visions with lighting, color, patterns, and furniture.

“Corey’s magic is in making any space feel polished, inventive, and timeless while still making design accessible to everyone,” said David Rogier, founder and CEO of MasterClass.

Corey was invited to design the formal “Lady's Library” in 2019 and Dining Room in 2021 for the renowned Kips Bay Decorator Show House. His goal in 2021 was to showcase the “point where antiquity and modernity meet in a post-pandemic world.”

Starting with the tented room style made famous by Napoleon, Corey surrounded two modern tables with Louis XVI chairs, brass lamps, and a Versailles parquet floor. He considered that the tables could be used for modern purposes that took off during the pandemic, including supervising children as they study or running a home office. Also, in keeping with his repurposed vintage sensibility, he was chosen to design the speakeasy for Flower magazine’s first-ever showhouse.

“My goal is to ensure that my clients’ projects are always classic, livable, and without an expiration date,” Corey states.

It celebrates the merging of Art Deco, Neoclassicism, and modernity, with a palette of blush, creme, black, robin’s egg, merlot, sage green, and gold. This was unveiled in Atlanta in September, and according to Corey, was a statement that one can design underground rooms that are fresh and light, not stereotypically dark and moody like a “man cave.”

In his regular work, Corey loves to incorporate and repurpose historical elements, including Regency mirrors, wood-carved flourishes from centuries ago, and entire homes built in the 18th century. He incorporates bright colors, including yellows, and modern furniture comfortable for lounging, making the places livable and elegant.

OTHER ARTISTIC EXPRESSIONS

Corey also creates lead and ink portraits, and his most recent series, “Mouths Wide Open,” showcases people of various race and gender vocalizing. These include an Asian opera singer, a Jewish rabbi, and a breast cancer survivor expressing her determination.

In addition, in a partnership with Aria Stone Gallery, Corey carves pieces that highlight and accentuate the natural beauty of the marble and quartzite raw materials he uses, formed over thousands of years. Also, he designs art nouveau fabric through Kravet Couture and furniture through Hancock and Moore.

He is a major supporter of the Boys & Girls Club of America and founded a mentorship and scholarship program with the New York School of Interior Design. Through giving back to up-and-coming designers, he hopes to carry the long tradition of beautiful living spaces into the future.

NOMA COLLECTIVE PARTNERS WITH TALENTED ARTISANS ACROSS THE GLOBE TO BRING YOU CONSCIOUSLY DESIGNED, ETHICALLY CURATED, HOMEWARE, TEXTILE, AND ACCESSORY COLLECTIONS.

STUDIO FINTAN

Interior Designs That Defy Stereotypical Decor

PHOTOS COURTESY OF STUDIO FINTAN

WRITTEN BY GEORGE DIKE

Interior decorating entails refining a space to achieve an aesthetically pleasing environment. Although it is closely related to Interior design, which focuses on understanding the client's behavior, personality, and style to plan spaces, the foundation of interior decoration is the furnishing and adornment of spaces to create a particular aesthetic.

In the past, interior decorating involved face-to-face meetings between clients and designers. Clients would provide input on their desired style, color palette, furniture, and other elements they wanted to incorporate into their space. The designer would then create a design concept on a mood board, present it to the client, and make necessary revisions until satisfied.

As more people began to embrace online shopping and digital communication, they became more comfortable working with designers remotely. E-design, or virtual interior design, has revolutionized how designers work with clients. Many decorators have adapted this e-design concept for their brands to make the process faster, easier, and more accessible.

While the industry is filled with established players and new entrants vying for business, smaller interior decorating companies often need help to stand out in the seemingly crowded marketplace.

And so, we meet Nigerian-born Stephanie Fintan, Founder and Creative Director of Studio Fintan, based in Ontario, Canada. Studio Fintan is focused on elevating living spaces through accessible e-design.

Stephanie shares the inspiration behind the brand's name, "My Irish surname Fintan has a beautiful meaning to it: 'little one; white fire.' I find the tale behind it fascinating. I chose Studio because it evokes a sense of creativity and inspiration. It's a space for artists, musicians, designers, and other creatives to let their imaginations run wild."

Studio Fintan was launched online as a small business on the 5th of August, 2021, and has since been gaining traction. Stephanie

noted that she launched the business at a time when she felt she was ready and bold enough to showcase her work.

As the world continues to adapt post-pandemic, more people are looking for ways to improve their living spaces, whether through simple redecoration or a complete renovation. However, the process can be overwhelming, especially for those unfamiliar with design concepts and aesthetics.

Founder Stephanie Fintan

It is on this premise that Studio Fintan seeks to proffer a solution. Studio Fintan aims to be an online platform that connects designers and decorators with people who want to transform their space to exude comfort and beauty.

Studio Fintan uses e-design to create 3D renderings and visualization of the design concepts, allowing clients to accurately view what the designs would look like in real life and approve them before implementation.

The founder believes that e-design allows us to explore varied perspectives of beauty and is fascinated by how people define and experience it. Her passion for design is fueled by her desire to transform people's spaces and quality of life. The importance of e-design lies in its ability to make interior design more accessible, affordable, and convenient for both designers and clients.

The interior design and decorating industry is highly competitive. For small businesses in the industry, limited resources are always a challenge, making it difficult to compete with larger companies. It can affect their ability to attract clients and complete projects efficiently.

As a small business in a super competitive industry, Stephanie acknowledges that one of the significant challenges she faces is allocating most of her investments toward branding and marketing efforts to attract her ideal clients.

When asked how she gets her inspiration, Stephanie said she finds beauty in the little details that are often ignored, like the clarity and precision of someone's handwriting. She also stated that she gets inspired by the work of other designers, whether in the public space or on social media.

Citing movies as an example, Stephanie described her love for storytelling and how it can be a powerful way to capture people's

attention. She attributes keeping an open mind and exploring different sources of inspiration to what has helped her bring fresh ideas and perspectives to her work.

As for her plans for Studio Fintan, Stephanie believes she can build a business that resonates with her customers and stands the test of time by constantly evolving and embracing new challenges. Her goal is simple: to keep growing, stay adaptable, and, most importantly, have fun doing it.

"By infusing joy and enthusiasm into our work, we can cultivate a positive company culture that inspires creativity and collaboration."

- Stephanie Fintan.

While Studio Fintan gears toward success, Stephanie remarks that the ultimate goal is to build a relatable, fulfilling, enjoyable brand for all involved. When asked to advise the young budding entrepreneurs, she noted the importance of putting God first and prioritizing Him.

She also emphasized the need for entrepreneurs to clearly understand why they started their businesses and regularly revisit these reasons to keep them focused and motivated when things get tough or discouraging. She added that as an entrepreneur, one needs to be their own biggest supporter.

Despite the highly competitive interior design and decorating industry, small businesses can still succeed by implementing effective strategies and approaches. Stephanie's resourcefulness and creativity are admirable as she continually works to overcome these challenges and establish a successful brand.

Plant-based designs bringing the outside in & celebrating the natural world

fableandbase.co.uk

Founder Francesca Baur

A VESSEL COMPANY

TIMELESS AND UNIQUE VESSELS. MODERN MINIMALISTIC CERAMICS AND PAPER MACHÉ VESSELS HANDMADE TO FILL YOUR HOME.

112

ONE TOUGH CHINGONA BY: CARY WONG

122

NATURALLY DIVERSE BY:

CARY WONG

134

LYNCH ' S COLORFUL SOUL BY:

CARY WONG

146

SOCIAL THC

BY: KEVIN JAMES JEFFERY

156

INDULGE IN LOVE BY:

MRUDAVI PUNEKAR

168

WOMEN, WINE, AND WINGS

BY:

CRISTINA DEPTULA

An article, Women Love Whiskey! (page 114), in The Women’s Issue Spring ’23 about a women-owned whiskey business misspelled the name of one of the owners. It is Natasha McCrea, not Natalie McCrea. We apologize to our readers and especially to Natasha McCrea for the error.

ONE TOUGH Chingona

A No-Nonsense Profile of Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza

WRITTEN BY CARY WONG

“A fucking badass” is the literal definition of the selfappointed “Chingona” chef.

It is obvious at first glance that Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza cuts her own figure. Born and raised in California, she lived in Florida for eight years before returning to CA and eventually settling in Arizona. She blazes her own path. She spent a good amount of Saturday mornings in her youth at the congregation where her father was an overseeing and founding elder. They would knock on residents’ doors, preaching the word of God. “I was not keen on disturbing folks, but I did enjoy entering folks’ homes,” she says. “Especially those migrant work camps—where I was able to see, firsthand, the poverty that I did not experience at home.”

Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza

Thanks to these special experiences, she became keenly aware of her privileged life and the wide socioeconomic differences that existed among people. In addition, it was where she first tried her hand at the culinary industry and entrepreneurialism. Chef Esparza and her father would return to these camps on Wednesdays, where they would sell bread from the bakery to the migrants out of her father’s van. And just like the migrant children who worked the fields with their parents under the hot California summer sun, she started working at the bakery at six years old. At the same time, her mother and grandmother taught her how to cook. One of the first things she made was Chile Rellenos. Making the proper egg batter was challenging, but eventually, she got the hang of it. By fifteen, she was mastering the art of making carnitas to sell at the same bakery, diving headfirst into her first business.

After leaving for a short stint in the banking industry, she returned to her true love—the kitchen. She started working at a catering company but eventually realized that she did not know enough about cooking. So, she moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1996 to attend Scottsdale Culinary Institute. She applied for and was granted an International Association of Culinary Professionals Scholarship to travel and study food after graduating from culinary

school. She chose to backpack through Mexico to really understand what her native land had to offer in terms of food and drink.

Though her family came from the northern part of the country, the profound and immense southern Mexican cuisine during that trip “pulled on my heartstrings and became the foundation of my career,” she says. “Cooking with traditional cooks is where I found my culinary soul.”

When she returned to Phoenix in 2002, she opened her first restaurant, Barrio Café in Calle 16, a less-desirable neighborhood. To make the location more appealing, she worked with artists to paint murals highlighting Mexican heritage and creative interests beyond food.

During the early days, it was a challenge to make people understand her food. Clients left because she did not serve chips and salsa. Nowadays, the proliferation of authentic Mexican chefs and cuisines has changed things dramatically. The continuous influx of Mexican immigrants has brought exceptional Mexican food to the United States. One can find great Mole Poblano from Puebla in New York City. Oaxacan immigrants are now putting up great restaurants in Los Angeles. Everywhere in the country, one can find great Mexican food.

“Cooking with traditional cooks is where I found my culinary soul.”

Even the ingredients are better. Yellow processed cheese is being replaced with the deliciously creamy Quesillo from Oaxaca. Instead of the Americanized crispy tacos, soft corn tortillas are all the rage. Food trucks and street vendors are also booming. Many street vendors are serving better and more authentic Mexican food than what was served in the so-called Mexican restaurants back in the day. “I would like to call this a correction in erroneous perceptions about our food—and while we are at it—our culture,” she says.

Speaking about discrimination as a proud, openly queer person, she has seen her share of issues firsthand. Though ironically, in her experience, the men in the kitchen have shown her, a lesbian, more equality than they do to other heterosexual females. In fact, she has faced more discrimination for being Mexican than for her sexuality.

The only incident related to being a female was when two male Mexican cooks she hired did not want to be told what to do by a woman. She promptly fired them and did their jobs until she could replace them.

“All of this makes me extremely happy. I have fought hard in my career to help change those erroneous perceptions of Mexican food. Good news is that now, there are a lot more of us trying to do the same thing.”

This “Chingona” attitude gets her respect or gets people running toward the door. She found that the way to eliminate the male-dominant discrimination rampant in the industry is simply by asserting, “I’m the boss!”

Chef Esparza is active not only in the kitchen but also in the community at large.

One of her first faithful customers told her: with great success comes great responsibility. It has rung true ever since, and it is something she does from the bottom of her heart. To her, it is important to be a part of the community you serve. During Covid, she converted the kitchen into a volunteer community kitchen and fed thousands for months. She closes the restaurant for Day Without Immigrants. She also spoke out against the much-criticized Arizona laws SB1070 and SB1064, as she collaborated with local artists to launch the Calle 16 Mural Project in 2010 as a protest against the former.

“Most chefs and restaurant owners stay in the closet about their personal views. I don’t,” she says. “Closets are for clothes.”

Speaking about things she likes in addition to Mexican cuisine, she is also a big fan of Italian food and culture.

And a rather well-known secret is that she is a big fan of vintage cars. She owns her dream cars, including a 1965 Chevrolet Impala convertible, a 1959 ragtop Volkswagen, a 1941 Chevy Panel, and a custom 1950 Chevy Sedan Show lowrider, among others. She embraced the Chicano culture of California that she grew up with. And she made sure she was the one driving the car, not sitting next to a man driving it.

She is now in the midst of finishing a book called La Hija de la Chingada, an autobiographical cookbook. It should be out by the end of 2023. She is also working with Wonder in NYC, a start-up and pioneer in the food delivery business.

With her strong will, ability, and attitude, there is no doubt this badass chef will keep riding on her magnificent journey!

@CHEFSILVANA @THEBARRIOCAFE @DIGITALWONG

“Most chefs and restaurant owners stay in the closet about their personal views. I don't,” she says. “Closets are for clothes.”

Chef

Silvana Salcido Esparza

teneralcellars.com

Food and Drinks with Chef Lisa Fernandes

Di v er se Naturally Diverse

WRITTEN BY CARY WONG

Born and raised in Toronto—the largest city in Canada—Chef Lisa Fernandes stayed there until age eleven. It seems like she was destined to be an open-minded individual due to her surroundings. She ate every cuisine imaginable; had friends from the Philippines, India, and beyond; and saw interesting things from various cultures.

Chef Lisa Fernandes

And her love of food came early as well. The family went to Mongolian Grill for her fifth birthday. Chinese dim-sum was a staple on the weekends. They also frequented a particular Italian restaurant in town. “As soon as we got there, I would… go straight to the kitchen and be like ‘Hi, Chef,’” she recalls of her six-year-old self. “And I would just hang out in the

kitchen. You know, picking out my own tartufo for dessert. I just loved it.”

More importantly, she inherited her cooking talents from her parents. Her mother preferred Asian cuisine and stocked her kitchen with fish sauce, black bean paste, and eight or nine different types of soy sauce. Though her father made great nachos, he was a fan of Asian cooking as well.

That love was passed on to her as she was very comfortable with those ingredients and flavors.

To get a deeper understanding, she would eventually force herself to go to a Chinese supermarket every weekend and pick up five things to cook. Two that she had worked with before and three that were completely foreign. These

The Hidden Pearl by Arnold Cheung and Wanpaku Ramen Shop in Brooklyn, New York

experiments helped her tremendously. The first thing Chef Fernandes made herself, however, was decidedly more traditional. It was scrambled eggs.

“I don’t know why, but I have the perfect third-person view of me getting up on the kitchen counter stool,” she says. “And my mother showing me how to stir it.” It was the

most incredible thing she had ever eaten in her life, despite being made from only eggs and salt. It was really rewarding because it was something she had made.

That feeling carried her first to Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island for a degree in food service management, then onward to work in Miami, and eventually to settle in New York City.

While working in South Florida, she gained a valuable understanding of Latin food and culture. While working at a Caribbean restaurant, she learned about the food: Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Dominican, among others. She also developed a good tolerance for Scotch Bonnet chilies and other spicy items. Though she enjoyed her six years cooking at various top Miami

restaurants, the city’s heat and urban sprawl eventually drove her to look for new opportunities in New York City.

After she moved, the first thing that struck her was the similarities between Toronto and New York, with different neighborhoods concentrated in different parts of town. Korea Town, Chinatown, the Italian areas, small Thai communities, and more—they all shared the same city. If someone takes the subway to Queens, they will travel through many different counties and regions. Whichever stop one decides to venture to, there are always possibilities waiting. People can savor the best tacos from a particular street stand. And just a few blocks away, mouthwatering Indian dosas and sweets await.

As another example, “There’s this thing called Queens Night Market, which is an incredible concept,” she says. “It’s a huge space out near the

main stadium of the US Open Tennis Championship in Queens. And they have a cap that nothing is allowed to be more than $8 so everything has tiny portions—perfect for sharing. I think [I’ve had] 30 different cuisines all in one night. I love the night market.”

Even within New York, however, some things have changed. For example, there was a time when people would not go to Brooklyn. Even fifteen years ago, people thought it was a bridge too far for them to cross. “And now, you know, I wouldn’t go to Manhattan if I didn’t have to,” she says.

In November 2019, a few months before COVID-19 hit, Chef Fernandes opened a restaurant. She was heavily involved in crafting the cocktails and dealing with the kitchen. They reopened about seven weeks into the pandemic, and she had to create a new bar program from scratch. She took a new approach to expressing

flavors through cocktails and food. Many bartenders would take a classic like a Margarita and swap out the base liquor, the sweetener, the citrus and add bitters to create new flavors. Whereas she would try a dish and try to turn it into a cocktail. Or maybe tasting alcohol that tastes like rye bread would inspire her to make a drink that invoked the Reuben sandwich. She built the flavors and added ingredients based on what she was looking for. Instead of changing the ingredients, she created something brand new from the ground up.

“How do we turn Pad Thai into a cocktail?” or “what would a Tom Kha soup taste like as a drink?” These were the questions that emerged. She started having a lot of fun behind the bar, and the idea blew up from there. The same effort and care also went into the mocktails to make sure that every component was on point.

Mononoke Colada

She realized that she had a strong ability to combine flavors to create really delicious cocktails. When she hired a talented sous chef to run the kitchen, a move for her to manage the front of the house seemed like the right one. So, for the first time in her life, she would step out of the kitchen and step behind the bar. And now, she is the head bartender running the program at a Japanese speakeasy called The Hidden Pearl, creating thrilling new drinks.

Chef Fernandes was also famously a stand-out participant in season four of Top Chef, the popular reality TV show. She fondly remembers it was a fun but stressful experience unlike anything she had ever experienced. It was at a point in time when cooking shows were new concepts. There were no clear expectations of what was going to happen. So doing all the crazy challenges and meeting the incredible chefs was exciting yet, at times, overwhelming.

To this day, she still gets recognized by the public once in a while. “Maybe two weeks ago, we’re sitting in a bar, my sister and I. And she said, ‘this guy kept looking at you,’” she says. “And then finally, he was like, were you in ‘Top Chef’?”

However, as an openly queer person and a woman, one thing in particular touched her the most. After her Top Chef stint, many people approached her and said that seeing someone like them on TV helped them to have the courage to come out as well. They learned how to take the preconceived notion from others and flip it on its head. It felt insane, incredible, and humbling that she inspired others. She also wishes that everybody would gain that confidence from watching other queers on TV in any field.

From Chef Fernandes’ experience, kitchens nowadays are much gentler environments than they were in her past, when chefs were more aggressive. Rules did not exist. People could do whatever they wanted and say whatever they wanted. They would be disrespectful or unresponsive right from the start just because of someone’s sexual orientation or sexuality. As a woman, she had been in a leadership role in the kitchen since she was eighteen, and she noticed something: “You have two routes you can take.

You can either be assertive, be the boss. Know what you need and be direct. Or you can be kind of a pushover, be all nice, and [act the way] the men in the kitchen would prefer—which was bullshit. So you have to be stern, you have to work harder. You have to take a lot of shit from everybody else. Of course, that portrays you in a certain light that makes people uncomfortable—having a queer, or just a woman, as a boss.”

To be fair, she had not run into similar issues in many years. She also thinks that fortunately, the situation has

improved tremendously nowadays, and she is very happy about that.

“What we need to get better with is just [being] more accepting. And judging people based on their skills and abilities; rather than how they look, how they dress, how they talk, or what they believe in. None of that should matter,” she says. That seems like a worthy rule to follow—and a toast to drink to!

vintage-inspired yet refined and modern colored glass collection that starts a revival of colored glass that is reminiscent of a past time

AFFORDABLE LUXURY WINES WITH MINIMAL INTERVENTION

CONSCIOUSLY-MADE CANNED LUXURY WINES FROM AROUND THE WORLD THAT TELL A STORY

archerroose.com

LYNCH’S COLORFUL SOUL

Chef Lazarus Lynch’s World of Food, Fashion, Art, and Social Impact

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANISHA SISODIA & TOM MCCORKLE WRITTEN BY CARY WONG

Chef Lazarus Lynch

One cannot miss Chef Lazarus Lynch. No matter the setting, he always catches people’s attention. There is, of course, his often eye-catching look. However, his energy—positive and enthusiastic— is even more apparent when one encounters him. Even on a day when he is wearing a plain black sweater, that life comes through unmistakably. So, it should surprise no one that he was a very artistic kid. He was involved in music, painting, drawing, and other ways of expression, which continues to this day. The arts always formed a big part of his personality.

However, the self-proclaimed “Son of a Southern Chef” did not start paying attention to his love of food early on. Despite frequent church potlucks on Sundays being one of the ways he bonded with family, and although gathering with food was how the people close to him celebrated, he never realized his love for food until he was about 11 or 12.

He started to watch food shows on TV. He became obsessed with how things were made, as well as the science and chemistry of food. At the same time, his entrepreneurial father had just opened a Soul Food restaurant near his family in Jamaica, Queens in New York City. The idea of the restaurant was to take all those recipes from home and bring them to life in an area that needed them.

This happy coincidence allowed Chef Lynch to see the joy of folks coming into his father’s restaurant. He learned that great food can touch other people in a very meaningful way. So, that led him to enroll in a culinary arts high school called Food and Finance High School in Manhattan, New York.

“We had to do all of our core academic classes like math, reading, science. And then we had to do cooking and baking and pastry. And it wasn’t any Easy Bake curriculum… It was a very rigorous curriculum. And so, we did competitions, we traveled to universities to learn different techniques, we did catering,” he says.

The real turning point, however, was when Ingrid Hoffman, the Colombian-American television personality, chef, and restaurateur, showed up at his class. She was doing a cooking demonstration and needed a volunteer. His classmates nominated him to get up and cook with her.

It was the first time he started paying attention to this natural knack for telling stories via food. Long story short, things took off after. He started a successful YouTube channel called “Son of a Southern Chef,” which became the name of his cookbook many years later.

Even though he became more immersed in the culinary world, he was still unsure how to fit into different academic “boxes.” He had so many interests that it was difficult for him to concentrate on one particular thing. It was to the point that he switched majors three times during his time at college.

“And I always joke about it—I graduated with a BS (bachelor of science) in individualized studies. Which, you know, BS is BS… but it did come together in some form,” he says. He hung out in the media department. He took journalism courses and attended classes in communications, chemistry, and writing.

It was the first time he paid attention to this natural knack for telling stories via food.

Despite constantly changing his field of study, he graduated in four years. And when he looks back at his highereducation experience, all these things exposed him to other interests he now draws on throughout his career. For example, his first creative writing teacher in college told him that he had a great voice and that he should write. It planted a seed, which eventually blossomed into a book. Every small piece led him to his current path. He realizes that if people allow themselves to be curious, to open up to possibilities, and to make new connections, it can lead to great things in the future.

The theme of open-mindedness continued as he was tapped by the Met Gala in New York. His mentor and one of his dear friends, the famed Chef Marcus Samuelsson, reached out and said that he wanted Chef Lynch to be a part of this event and for them to have this opportunity together.

In addition to their long-established friendship going back to Chef Lynch’s high school days, Met Gala’s vision to celebrate, amplify, and showcase American voices was another intriguing aspect of this project. At a time when Americans were having serious conversations about race, equity, gender, and inclusivity, it was

a way to come together and say what that all meant through food. So, he looked at it as an opportunity to protest and to align with his beliefs. As the process played out, everything became more concrete when its chairwoman Anna Wintour reached out personally. She assured him that it was not merely a “send your recipe and be done” kind of job. The process involved exchanging ideas back and forth. In the end, the benefit committee chose the ones they felt would work best. For Chef Lynch, the experience was extremely validating. It showed the world that sticking to one’s principles and following one’s heart can lead to a successful path.

Obviously, during the event, he was able to rub shoulders with countless celebrities and stars. Miss Wintour, for example, introduced him to designer Tom Ford. He also met Serena and Venus Williams, the extraordinary tennis legends. One of his favorite memories was how he ended up sitting next to actress/singer Jennifer Hudson.

Specifically, at a time when Americans are having serious conversations about race, equity, gender, and inclusivity, it was a way to come together and say what that all means through food.

Chef Lazarus Lynch

He was on his way out after preparing dinner since he technically did not have a seat at the gala. Just as he was leaving, however, Miss Hudson asked where he was going—and he told her the truth. She then insisted that he take the seat next to her. And so, he did.

“There’s me. There’s Jennifer. There’s Alicia Keys. Pharrell [Williams] comes over. Ciara, Jennifer Lopez, there’s just all these people. And… as much as we know them to be very successful, [the night] was also very calm and very normal,” he says.

Though one may think that food and fashion occupy two completely different worlds, Chef Lynch thinks that they share an emotional link. Our relationships with cooking and clothes are both heavily influenced by feelings. Also, they both play with colors and textures. More importantly, it is about mood and what one wants at a particular moment and lets intuition be the guide.

With the advance of time, today’s chefs are thinking about more than just food. They are also involved with business, technology, and mixing everything with art, music, video games, fashion, and more. In Chef Lynch’s mind, technology offers access. There are no more informational barriers. There are no more gatekeepers for food, recipes, or stories.

Technology is a particularly relevant subject, as social media is playing an increasing role in everyone’s life. During his early days on Instagram and YouTube, he would work with different teams to build and promote things he made. As his popularity grew, he was able to open up doors for different ventures. However, today, he is less interested in managing social media and giving himself away pointlessly. He has to learn what is the right balance for him.

In terms of the LGBTQ+ experience in the professional kitchen, he felt he could not bring his full self to work in that environment. A simple example is the chef hierarchy, which is about who gets to control things, who gets to have the loudest voice, and who gets to make decisions. He was taught that one needed to respect that hierarchy. So, he had to present himself in a certain way in order to be accepted and work. However, the good news is that nowadays, there is zero tolerance for any kind of abuse. It is no longer okay to swear at someone or for people to throw a pot at someone else just because they did something wrong.

As a society, Chef Lynch thinks that we underestimate the power of being a witness at every level. “Living life and being present have power. It is powerful. It is transformation,” he says. To that end,

he also works as a counselor for young people. As part of his journey and path to a master's degree in social work, he sits with a client for an hour to talk about mental health.

He loves working with his clients as they teach him more than he teaches them. One of his clients recently told him they wanted to thank him because they never had someone to talk to about their issues.

So being aware of what is going on and being able to help however—no matter how small—is invaluable. Whether cooking a small meal for your family or talking to friends or cousins or whomever, these things do matter. Especially for those who suffer in silence despite putting on a brave face.

“Every day, really ask people, ‘How are you doing?’ ‘Are you okay?’ ‘Do you need support?’ ‘Is there anything that you want to share with me that you haven’t talked to anybody about?’ ‘How can I be there for you?’ ‘How can I be more present for you?’ If we all begin to do that, I think we will have a happier, happier world.”

Chef Lazarus Lynch

No... seriously, you’ll drink it and crave it, but don’t worry... we can send it to your home or office monthly, so you’re good!

tayst.com

DISCOVER A COFFEE YOU WILL CRAVE

Every chocolate has a story.™ We are experts in designing chocolate gifts of appreciation that capture your love story or showcase the sheer elegance of your event.

phillipashleychocolates.com

PHOTOGRAPHED BY CANN VIA MEDMEN, MEDIUM, EMJAY

WRITTEN BY KEVIN JAMES JEFFERY

Jake Bullock (left) Luke Anderson (right)

or many of us, there comes a time in our lives when social drinking becomes more burdensome than fun. Sure, the beers, glasses of wine, and cocktails make for a fun time out with friends on weekends. But that usually results in a bad night’s sleep, a hangover, tiredness, and decreased cognitive performance the next day.

But what if you could drink a mildly intoxicating, social beverage that didn’t result in a hangover? That was the idea that Jake Bullock and Luke Anderson had when they became friends working for a management consulting company in San Francisco in 2013. The big idea: THC-infused tonics for a light buzz without the hangover.

That brilliant idea blossomed into Cann Social Tonics, which recently became the best-selling THC beverage in the United States, surpassing 10 million cans sold by the end of 2022. Not only are beverages one of the hottest-selling forms of cannabis, but they’re also the fastest-growing segment by a long shot. With more states legalizing the use of marijuana each year, Cann is positioned to keep growing fast for the foreseeable future.

For Bullock and Anderson, who both identify as queer, social drinking was something they knew played an important role in the LGBTQ+ community. “It comes from our experiences in the early days when we were struggling with identity,” Bullock said in an interview with MedMen. “Then you fully come out and find that the community that you’ve come out

to is also alcohol-charged… it’s a really different world.”

It wasn’t until a couple of years after they met that Bullock and Anderson decided they had had enough of the social drinking aspect of their lives. Not only did they feel alcohol was holding back their potential, but it wasn’t making them feel their best selves mentally or physically. That’s when their focus turned to an alternative social lubricant to alcohol.

Being from Colorado, Bullock knew about legalized weed and its potential in the market. Anderson, on the other hand, came from Massachusetts, where a trip on an edible brownie in college was his sole experience with the substance. Both, however, knew that options for lighter, low-THC infused products were scarce, and that’s when a plan started to take shape: microdosing cannabis.

With the experience they had gained at the consultancy, they started to search for ingredients to create a THCinfused beverage that would appeal to all demographics, including non-marijuana users. Consisting of only four milligrams of CBD and two milligrams of THC, Bullock and Anderson eventually landed on their first three flavors: grapefruit rosemary, blood orange cardamom, and lemon lavender.

An excellent product combined with clever and appealing marketing quickly made Cann a household name in the rising cannabis beverage industry. Causing a stir and making headlines in major publications, Cann Social Tonics went mainstream when the New York Times did a feature on cannabis drinks. The only problem with the publicity was that cannabis drinks were put on the spot about their safety to the public.

Bullock and Anderson quickly defended their product by posting an article on Medium and answering questions on a news program.

“There are so many different types of cannabis beverages,” Anderson told Yahoo! Finance.

“Cann is the lowest dosage on the market with two milligrams of THC. It’s a product that has a similar intensity to light beer or a glass of wine.”

The problem, Anderson added, is that there are also 100-milligram THC beverages that would be too dangerous for an uninitiated consumer. But because the THC beverage category is so new, all the different drink levels get lumped into the same category. Some people even think CBD, which doesn’t have an intoxicating effect, belongs in the same category as THC.

To Bullock’s and Anderson’s point, it would be like putting 100-proof alcohol in the same category as a light beer. To the experienced THC user, the difference is clear. But to the person who’s never tried THC products or been to a dispensary, it’s not so obvious. The potential first-time user might be scared off by the possibility of getting “too high,” which is not a state that leaves you feeling sociable.

Despite the confusion surrounding THC levels in cannabis beverages, Cann is catching fire. The overall cannabis market grew last year by 30%, while cannabis beverages grew by 50%. But for Cann, they grew by 150% in that same 12-month period.

Why is Cann thriving compared to its competition? “I think it’s because we’re attacking the mainstream consumer,” Anderson told Yahoo! Finance. “80% of adults want to drink less alcohol. We’re the only product on the market that’s safe enough for someone trading alcohol for a cannabis beverage to consume without fear of being too intoxicated. So it’s a real category expander.”

The challenging part for Cann is that state laws make it exponentially more difficult to operate. The company has to build a manufacturing facility in each state where they sell. That means they can’t just move across state lines when Cann decides to expand from California to Nevada. Even the packaging has to look different because of local regulations. Despite that, no rules or regulations can dissuade people from investing in Cann. Bullock and Anderson now have over 35 celebrity endorsements that span different ages, genders, and sexualities. From Gwyneth Paltrow to Adam Devine, Rosario Dawson, Kate Hudson, Baron Davis, and Rebel Wilson, there’s no shortage of actors, musicians, athletes, and more that want to ride the THC and CBD-infused beverage train.

It’s pretty easy to see why there’s an army of believers and investors in this duo’s product— because Cann finally offers a way to be healthy while still wanting to have a little fun.

icelandicglacial.com

THIS IS WHAT FREEDOM TASTES LIKE

Artisanal, Vegan, Full-Fat Coconut Ice Cream

Carol Gancia, founder and head chocolatier of Kokak Chocolates, holding a tray of her chocolate truffles.

Indulge in LOVE

How a San Francisco LGBTQ+ Chocolatier Infuses Heart and Soul into Artisanal Chocolates

WRITTEN BY MRUDAVI PUNEKAR

Carol Gancia is the heart and soul of San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ chocolate enthusiasts, offering some of the most delicious artisanal chocolates. She is an immigrant, an LGBTQ+ member, an award-winning founder, and the head chocolatier at Kokak Chocolates. As the owner and master chocolatier of her shop in the city’s Castro district, she has built a reputation for creating confections that are as beautiful as they are delicious.

Her single-origin heirloom chocolates have been attracting chocolate lovers from all over the world, who can’t get enough of her unique and delicious creations.

But what sets Carol apart is her deep commitment to inclusivity, social responsibility, and spreading love through her chocolates.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF KOKAK CHOCOLATES, NORBU GYACHUNG, MARGAUX BELLOTT, THOMAS SMITH, STUDIO BANAA

CAROL AND THE CACAO BEANSTALK

As a trained chocolatier, you would think that Carol must’ve learned about the rare “Naciónal” cacao during her training. However, that’s far from the truth. After her training ended, she came across this highly coveted chocolate variety at a local booth at an event. The moment she tried it, she fell in love.

The single-origin heirloom “Naciónal” chocolate variety, sustainably farmed and sourced in Ecuador, is known for its complex balance, fruity and floral tones, and lack of bitterness. Protected by the Heirloom Cacao Preservation Fund, Gancia has been incorporating it into her creations ever since. This passion for premium chocolates, though, wasn’t newly found. It goes back to her Asian roots, where she grew up surrounded by a family of chocoholics. Thanks to her uncle’s international business travels, she was exposed to all things chocolate under the sun—be it unusually good flavor pairings or the quality of the sweet treat.

Given her history of working as a TV show producer on KQED’s French culinary show, where she worked after immigrating to San Francisco, she learned to appreciate the art of food presentation and quality.

Gancia trained with renowned chocolatier Melissa Coppel in Las Vegas and veteran pastry chef Stacy Radin at the Californian International Culinary Center to hone her skills. Being mentored by female leaders in a male-dominated industry empowered her as an entrepreneur.

Artist Palette Heirloom 70% Dark Chocolate Bar

Love is Love Chocolate truffle box

Pride-themed Chocolate truffle

THE BEGINNING OF KOKAK CHOCOLATES

Carol yearned to create something that reflected her identity and honored her heritage.

In June 2020, she started Kokak Chocolates, bringing together her Filipino culture, her LGBTQ+ identity, and her culinary training. With chocolates, she aimed to bring the tropical flavors of the Philippines to the Bay Area.

“Kokak” means “ribbit” in Filipino, reflecting her Asian roots. Carol wanted her shop’s name to be different, more of a conversation starter. The name comes from her memory of a pond with frogs and lilypads at her university back in the Philippines.

This mental image has also inspired a chocolate bar at Kokak with a frog and a lilypad.

INFUSING LOVE INTO HER CHOCOLATES

Gancia believes “every flavor has a story, and chocolates are memories.”

She shares that, with Kokak, it makes her happy

seeing the messages people write for their loved ones on their gifts.

Carol loves the process and creativity of making the chocolates.

“Chocolate makes me happy.”- Carol Gancia.

At Kokak, she works with her team to make the chocolate-eating experience memorable for them. She focuses on detailing each creation’s flavors, textures, and design.

She wants to connect with her customers by engaging all their senses. She wants to inspire people to experience freedom and explore creativity through her chocolates.

Sometimes running the business can be difficult, shares Carol. It was especially tough during the pandemic, but special moments at the shop always helped her get back to her purpose.

She shares one such incident during Pride month. A mother had written a message for her child on a chocolate gift box saying, “Son, I love you just the way you are. Love, Mom”

These moments keep her going, recognizing the love she spreads through the chocolates.

PEEKING IN THROUGH KOKAK’S WINDOW

One question that Carol gets asked the most about the Naciónal is: “How is it different from all other chocolates? She describes it as the “chocolatiest chocolate” and says that this rare chocolate variety is in its richest form.

Kokak features 50 unique chocolate flavors, including 30 seasonal flavors throughout the year. Some of their best ones are kalamansi (Philippine lime), guava, mango lemongrass, apple pie, and coconut pie.

As Carol takes inspiration from her Asian roots, some flavors have a personal story behind them. The Kalamansi reminds Carol of her country, of hot days in Manila when she drank the Philippine lime juice to cool down, while the mango lemongrass truffle is a tribute to the national fruit of her country.

Kokak’s Artist Palette Heirloom 70% Dark Chocolate Bar is a bestselling chocolate bar because of its unconventional design and the Naciónal chocolate flavor. It is like an artist’s palette for your flavor palette.

One of Carol’s most popular creations is the Pride Collection. Every year she creates a new series for Pride Month. This year, she is launching the Rainbow Love Collection for June Pride.

These series celebrate the unity in the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community. It features assorted flavors in Pride flag designs, each chocolate representing a different aspect of LGBTQ+ culture. From the vibrant energy of a Pride parade to the quiet moments of reflection that come with being part of a marginalized community, each piece is as delicious as it is visually stunning.

Kokak’s newest creations showcase the Spring Brunch Box—Chocolate Orange Cookies, and a Cacao Porridge called Champorado in the Philippines, a Christmas season essential.

Located in the heart of San Francisco’s Castro District, all of Carol’s truffles and bars are handcrafted in the Castro shop. One can even see the chocolatiers in action at the shop.

CAROL’S MESSAGE FOR PRIDE

As an immigrant, a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, and a true chocolate lover, Carol Gancia inspires people to be brave and wants to empower them to be who they are through her chocolates.

For her, authenticity has been the most important in this journey. It has helped her create a memorable brand, leading to making genuine connections with strangers.

She believes that you can’t sell to everyone anyway, so why not be your true self and truly connect?

You can find Kokak Chocolates at 3901 18th Street, San Francisco, California, or you can get her chocolates delivered across the USA through her website at KokakChocolates.com.

Rainbow color splattered chocolate bar

“Chocolate makes me happy.”

- CAROL GANCIA

FRESH CRAFT COCKTAILS

drnxmyth.com

farmhouselab.com

Healthy Eating Tasteful, Playful & Beautiful

Certified organic, 100% vegan Real Food Dressings

Carefully selected Blends of premium oils & Ingredients

From artisan producers committed to sustainability

Gluten-free, soy-free, nut-free, dairy-free, no garlic.

he word “teneral” describes a dragonfly just after metamorphosis, when it’s most vulnerable, with colorless wings still unable to fly. Within a few days, it gains full color in its wings, spreads them, and flies with grit and grace.

Teneral Wine Cellars founder Jill Osur chose the teneral dragonfly as their logo as it represents the potential power of all women and the transformation she wants to see in the world.

A lover of wine, Osur says she entered the wine industry because she loves how wine connects people. “The best conversations I’ve ever had have involved multiple bottles of wine on the table.”

WOMEN, WINE, AND WINGS T

Osur launched Teneral Wine Cellars on October 1, 2020 as a women-owned and women-led wine company on a mission to reshape the wine industry to reflect its largest customer, women. “We are harnessing the power of business for good and using wine as a conduit for change, so when we open a bottle, we open the necessary conversations,” Osur says.

They sustainably farm and produce award-winning wines and donate 10 percent of their profits to organizations that empower women and fight for gender and racial justice. All their vendors and suppliers, except Chase Bank, are women and minority-owned businesses.

JILL OSUR’S JOURNEY TO OPEN CONVERSATION ON GENDER, RACIAL, AND LGBTQ+ EQUALITY THROUGH TENERAL WINES

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JILL OSUR, GAIL HAMPSHIRE, ANTIGNG AND UNSPLASH WRITTEN BY CRISTINA DEPTULA CEO Jill Osur

SPREADING HER WINGS FOR JUSTICE

In early 2020, Osur was one of the owners of another wine company, sheltering in place in her home office. After the murders of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd, she asked herself what she could do to be a part of the solutions she wanted to see in the world.

She led the crafting of a Black Lives Matter post on her company’s social media, which made her proud that they were standing up for what was right. However, that led to their largest investor asking for her resignation.

“We had a board meeting and determined that while we would keep the post up, we would no longer use our voice moving forward. But I knew I was put on this earth to use my voice. I have been on the front lines of many social and racial justice fights. I was brought up in a Jewish family and taught Tikkun Olam, which is to repair the world, starting with your community and your family,” Osur says.

She began to research the wine industry, which she found was still very male-dominated and steeped in tradition.

“I found that only 10 percent of winemakers in the U.S. are female, and only 0.1 percent are black (men and women). Female sommeliers are, for the most part, still making 70 cents on the dollar to their male counterparts, and there are very few women in leadership positions in the industry and even fewer women of color,” says Osur.

She also cites the World Economic Forum study from their 2019 annual Global Gender Gap Report, which tracks gender-based economic differences in 149 countries. According to this study, while women around the world are more motivated than ever before to fight for equality, it will take 208 years for U.S. women to reach full economic parity.

So, Osur made a conscious decision to launch Teneral Cellars, a wine company specifically designed to be in full alignment and integrity with her principles.

“I was that vulnerable dragonfly stuck in a leadership position in a company where I had to leave the best part of myself at the door every day to make my male partners happy. But now, I no longer have to leave my heart or my gut behind. Every decision I make, whether it’s challenging or not, I check in with my head, heart, and gut to make sure I am fully aligned with my highest, most authentic self. And we all have that power within us; we just need to claim it, spread our wings, and fly,” she says.

“EVERY DECISION I MAKE, WHETHER IT’S CHALLENGING OR NOT, I CHECK IN WITH MY HEAD, HEART, AND GUT TO MAKE SURE I AM FULLY ALIGNED WITH MY HIGHEST, MOST AUTHENTIC SELF. AND WE ALL HAVE THAT POWER WITHIN US; WE JUST NEED TO CLAIM IT, SPREAD OUR WINGS, AND FLY”

ELEVATING AND CELEBRATING WOMEN

Teneral Cellars elevates women at all levels of their business, from the actual winemaking to marketing and sales. Through their Swarm Wine Club, they do quarterly releases themed around women’s empowerment and hire different female artists to create the labels and showcase their talent.

“I have an amazing advisory board of incredible women who support the growth and mission of Teneral Cellars and who advise me. We want to lead with intention, purpose, and passion, and surrounding myself with a successful diverse group of women from all backgrounds will only make us better. Having a diversity of thoughts and experiences represented on the advisory board will help us better represent all women,” Osur says.

Their most recent release is “In Her Shoes,” a collection of wines celebrating the unique life paths women have taken and honoring the women from the past who have blazed a trail of change. This collection includes the Lioness Cuvee, a Rise Pinot Gris, and a Joyful Warrior Zinfandel.

“Our gorgeous RISE Pinot Gris label was created by Filipina-American artist Dev Heyrana and features a woman in her power, sunkissed and adorned by dahlias and sampaguita flowers. This bottle celebrates the Filipina and Mexican women who played an important part in weaving the fabric of California’s farmlands. In addition, we honor Dolores Huerta, an American labor leader and Civil Rights Activist who worked alongside Cesar Chavez prior to and during the Delano Grape Strike. The strike and the banding together of farm workers eventually evolved into the formation of the United Farm Workers Union,” Osur explains in Teneral’s blog.

“THIS WINE COLLECTION REFLECTS THE SIMPLE HUMAN TRUTH THAT LOVING ANOTHER PERSON IS A WONDERFUL THING. LOVE IS TO BE ACCEPTED, APPRECIATED, CELEBRATED, AND PROTECTED”

LOVE AND PRIDE

Teneral Wine Cellars is also LGBTQowned and has a “Love is Love” release that benefits the Stonewall Inn Gives Back initiative, which works to create safe spaces for LGBTQ people around the country. The Stonewall Inn was home to the 1969 uprising that launched the U.S. Gay Rights Movement.

“This wine collection reflects the simple human truth that loving another person is a wonderful thing. Love is to be accepted, appreciated, celebrated, and protected,” she says.

Their wine-tasting notes come from Master Sommelier Emily Wines, and their Love is Love Collection includes an Uprising Chenin Blanc featuring the Stonewall Inn on the label and Marcia P. Johnson’s crown. It also includes an Overflowing with Pride Barbera, with poetry on the label from Playwright Drue Robinson, and a Loud and Proud Merlot. All three wines won top awards at the San Francisco Chronicle wine competition, the most competitive wine competition in the United States, with over 7,000 entrants.

MOVING FORWARD WITH BEAUTY

Personally, Osur enjoys a hearty Cabernet Sauvignon and a delicate, sensual Pinot Noir and is also a big fan of crisp, bright white wines and blends. Her favorite out of Teneral’s collection is the 1 in 10 White Blend (raising awareness of how 1 in 10 people with uteruses will suffer from endometriosis). This is a unique blend of Picpoul, Grenache Blanc, and Muscat. It’s light and bright with lots of crispy acid notes, making it a beautiful porch or pool pounder for the warmer months. In the near future, Teneral Cellars plans to continue and expand its quarterly themed wine collections, with more artwork from women artists on the label. They are also working on getting a physical location with a tasting room and event space so they can offer fabulous wine experiences and have a place to gather and spread their wings.

Photo by Nad Hemnani in Unsplash

Armenian brandy made from Armenian white grapes and spring water

en.araratbrandy.com

FREE TO TRAVEL QUEER BY: FILIPA ARAÚJO

WRITTEN BY FILIPA ARAÚJO

As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, it can be overwhelming to make travel plans that feel safe and inclusive. Although it is unrealistic to imagine a country free from prejudice and challenges, many cities across the world welcome LGBTQIA+ people with open arms. We’ve researched the globe and compiled a guide to some of the best cities to travel to. So sit back, open your travel wishlist, take notes, and get ready to discover 10 amazing places to check out this summer as we explore some of the best queer hotspots in 2023.

AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND

Amsterdam is a city that has long been a hub for queer people. In 2001, Holland was the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage, paving the way for many other countries to follow. Amsterdam is a city that prides itself on open-mindedness is filled with culture and entertainment that caters to all queers. If you’re looking for a place that combines art, history, and a good dose of fun, Amsterdam is the place for you. Their annual Pride is one of the biggest festivals in the country and an experience like no other. Have you ever heard of a floating Pride? In Amsterdam, the parades are held in the canals, street parties are held all around the city, and there’s a busy agenda filled with cultural events. The city also includes a “Pink Point,” an LGBTQIA+ information center, where you can get insider tips on all the best local spots.

Amsterdam, Holland

SAN FRANCISCO, USA

San Francisco is known as one of the US’s oldest and most celebrated epicenters of queer culture. It is home to a vibrant LGBTQIA+ scene with a history of acceptance and inclusivity. San Francisco is where the rainbow flag, an important symbol for the community, was created by Gil Baker in 1978. Nowadays, you can explore the queer-friendly neighborhoods, such as the Castro District and the Mission District, and find an abundance of queer-owned businesses, bars, and restaurants. San Francisco is also host to a number of annual LGBTQ+ events, including the San Francisco Pride Parade and Folsom Street Fair.

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

If you are looking for a mix of natural beauty, a laid-back mentality, queer affirmative spaces, and rich history and culture, then you need to check out the “Mother City” of South Africa, the beautiful Cape Town. A popular destination for LGBTQIA+ travelers for its welcoming and inclusive attitude, Cape Town has a long history of intense activism for the LGBTQIA+ community and other minorities, being the first African country to legalize same-sex marriage. Although awareness of your surroundings is still recommended, Cape Town is generally

safe, and people are open-minded. There’s a huge and diverse LGBTQIA+ community and lots of interesting queer events happening in the city throughout the year, like Cape Town Pride or the Queer Feminist Film Festival (QFFF). You can also experience delicious food from all corners of the world and numerous cultural attractions while learning about this

San Francisco, USA

Cape Town, South Africa

country’s history. Lastly, make sure you don’t miss the jaw-dropping natural beauty of Cape Town. Check out the penguin colonies at Boulders Beach, stand at the edge of Africa at the Cape of Good Hope, visit the multi-colored and historic Bo-Kaap area, or catch a cable car to the top of Table Mountain and marvel at the views from above.

BERLIN, GERMANY

Berlin has always been known for its alternative and non-conformist atmosphere, making it an ideal destination for queer people. This city boasts many LGBTQIA+ bars and clubs, where you’ll find a vibrant nightlife and lively underground party scene. Berlin also has a rich history of queer activism and a thriving, supportive community where diversity is celebrated, and the mentality of “refusing to fit in a box” has prevailed. So if you are visiting Berlin, make sure to explore the rainbow neighborhoods around the city, take a street art tour, or visit the Schwules Museum (Gay Museum in English) for an insightful look into the history and culture that is queer identity.

Cape Town, South Africa

Berlin, Germany

REYKJAVIK, ICELAND

Calling all adventure seekers, Iceland is the perfect destination for people who love the outdoors and enjoy nature in all its forms. Mesmerizing black sand beaches, stunning waterfalls, hot springs, mighty glaciers, and otherworldly scenery are what you can expect from this island in the North Atlantic Ocean. While many travelers are drawn to Reykjavik for its unparalleled natural beauty, it’s important to point out its strong and welcoming queer community. This small city is one of the most forward-thinking and liberal cities, as LGBTQIA+ rights in the country rank amongst the highest in the world. A buzzing music scene is growing, and for all music lovers, the Iceland Airwaves Festival is a must.

Reykjavik, Iceland

BARCELONA, SPAIN

Of course, we can’t mention iconic queer destinations without mentioning Barcelona.

If stunning architecture and cultural attractions are more your scene, paired with an indulgent amount of tapas and a glass of sangria by the beach, consider Barcelona your next destination! This is a city that truly has it all. Encounter a plethora of queer-friendly bars, restaurants, and beaches with a chill and inclusive atmosphere. Barcelona is colorful, upbeat, and holds queeraffirmative events all year around, like the Circuit Party Festival, the multisport tournament Panteresports, and of course, one of the biggest Pride Festivals in Europe, bringing hundreds of thousands of people to the queer metropolis. With a strong LGBTQIA+ community and diverse culture, you’ll find the people in Barcelona very open and friendly, making this city a top destination for everyone!

Barcelona, Spain

TAIPEI, TAIWAN

Taipei, the capital city of Taiwan, is probably not the first place that comes to mind when you think of queer travel destinations. Contrary to what some might imagine, Taipei has become a popular destination for queer travelers in recent years. Taiwan is generally welcoming and progressive, being one of Asia’s most LGBTQIA+ friendly countries and taking the lead as the first Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage in 2019. A growing and thriving nightlife scene makes the skyscraper city very appealing. With the bustling neighborhood of Ximending, home to many LGBTQIA+ friendly establishments, quickly becoming the new unofficial queer district, and an electric street food culture, Taipei is the perfect destination for a city getaway..

Taipei, Taiwan

Lisbon, Portugal

LISBON, PORTUGAL

The seven hill city of Lisbon, in Portugal, is Europe’s best-kept secret. Whether you’re looking for vibrant nightlife, cultural gems, beautiful beaches, or progressive communities, Lisbon has something for everyone. Wander around the city and prepare to be mind blown by all the ancient castles and palaces, take a walk along the riverside, or find a quirky café to enjoy a classic local snack: an espresso and a custard tart. At night the city comes alive as people gather in the streets to drink and dance the night away. Visit the queer streets and neighborhoods in the Bairro Alto district, the go-to area for Lisbon’s nightlife. Portugal’s LGBTQIA+ rights also rank as some of the most progressive in the world, and their Gender Identity bills make the country one of the safest for Trans and Intersex people.

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

Although many South American countries are predominantly Catholic and maintain conservative values, several South American destinations increasingly welcome LGBTQIA+ communities. Among them, Buenos Aires stands out as the most queer-friendly city in the region. Catch a Tango show paired with a scrumptious Argentinian steak at the queer-friendly restaurants and bars in the district of Palermo, celebrate queer

culture in their BADiversa festival, which includes concerts, events, and parties throughout the month of August, or have the chance to participate in their amazing spring harvesting festival, “Vendimia Para Todos”, a harvesting celebration for all.

Argentina will surprise you and surely fill your soul with good music, great food, and excellent people.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

If you’re looking to vacation in the South Pacific and searching for a more low-profile alternative to big and busy Australia, the neighboring country of New Zealand might just be the perfect fit! An inclusive travel destination, Auckland has a small but thriving LGBTQIA+ community. Kiwis are known for being genuine and friendly, so you’ll find Auckland very welcoming. Have a taste of the good life while you sit on a pristine white sand beach while sipping a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, and marvel at New Zealand’s natural wonders. And if you have a dare-devil spirit, you will be right at home too! There’s no shortage of high-adrenaline sports, so get out of your comfort zone and do base jumping from the SkyTower, zipline through the vines, or if you’re fearless, why not try the shark cage diving experience?

@FINDING_FILIPA

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF PEXELS, PIXABAY & UNSPLASH: ARI DINAR , LIAM GANT , PIOTR MUSIOŁ, JOSHUA SORTINO, NIKLAS EICHLER, BERKE HALMAN, STEFAN WIDUA, REAL_ JANSEN, BENJAMIN SUTER, ROBERT LUKEMAN, JONATHAN GALLEGOS, FRUGAL FLYER, ENRICO PERINI, MARTIJN VONK, THEODOR VASILE, SVETLANA GUMEROVA, JULIAN DIK, DANIEL FRESE, PEXELS, VERNON RAINEIL CENZON, UNSPLASH, RAFAEL GUIMARÃES, EDUARDO SÁNCHEZ, DAN FREEMAN, ETHAN JOHNSON, SARA RAMPAZZO, POLINA TANKILEVITCH

“Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”

— Warren Buffett

art, music & film

198 208 218

SISTAH SCIFI

BY: CRISTINA DEPTULA

CRAFTING HIS OWN PATTERN

BY: CRISTINA DEPTULA

PACIFIC NORTHWEST GOTHIC BY:

CRISTINA DEPTULA

Sistah Scifi Launches Book VendingMachines Throughout the Nation

Sistah Scifi is the first Black-owned bookstore focused on science fiction and fantasy in the United States, as validated by the American Booksellers Association.

“This store began as a book club and then emerged as an online bookstore,” says founder Isis Asare. “The journey just unfolded, and I chose to follow the path.”

WRITTEN BY CRISTINA DEPTULA

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SISTAH SCIFI, MOHAMED MAHMOUD HASSAN, KAI STACHOWIAK

Asare officially launched Sistah Scifi on February 2, 2019, with a celebration of Jewelle Gomez’s 25th Anniversary edition of The Gilda Stories . The venture describes itself as a cauldron of all things Afrofuturism; Black mysticism, science fiction noir, and traditional voodoo; casting spells to uplift literature written by Black women. They also focus on the works of Indigenous women authors, such as Rebecca Roanhorse, Grace Dillon, Eden Robinson, Darcie Little Badger, Cherie Dimaline, and Louise Erdrich. These women’s names feature on a tee shirt proudly sold by Sistah Scifi.

Sistah Scifi is also excited to sell a similar tee featuring Black women writers Octavia Butler, N.K. Jemisin, Nisi Shawl, Nnedi Okorafor, Tomi Adeyemi, and Nalo Hopkinson.

“With this shirt, we not only celebrate Indigenous female writers who create a future where all of us are included but also celebrate ourselves as readers would instantly recognize the names on the list and what they mean,” says Asare.

The bookstore has been featured in Oprah Magazine, Buzzfeed, and the New York Times. In 2023, Sistah Scifi will launch a national network of Sistah Scifi Book Vending Machines, the first three in February and at least 10 by June. All Book Vending Machines will be located in Black and Native American owned coffee shops.

The first three locations will be Oaklandia Café x Bakery, Mixed: Coffee and Community, and Black Coffee NW.

The goal for the Sistah Scifi Book Vending Machine is a national rollout because Sistah Scifi is connected to a national and international community due to the power of social media.

“As a bookstore in cyberspace, why would I limit myself to a particular geographic location within the United States?” says Asare.

AFROFUTURISM AND SELF-DEFINITION

“I had just finished reading Lilith’s Brood by Octavia Butler, loved it, and asked on Facebook if anyone was interested in discussing it with me,” Asare remembers.

“A good friend agreed to talk about it, and then we started talking about other authors in Afrofuturism. Authors I’d never heard of, which completely caught me off guard. All I could think was I’d taken African American literature in college yet still missed a memo. And so, I wanted to read ALL the books and connect with people to discuss the stories,” she says.

The Smithsonian explains Afrofuturism as “an evolving concept expressed through a Black cultural lens that reimagines, reinterprets, and reclaims the past and present for a more empowering and inclusive tomorrow.” Popular Afrofuturist authors include Nnedi Okorafor, N.K. Jemisin, Tomi Adeyemi, and Colson Whitehead.

Sistah Scifi gives shout-outs to a wide variety of new books from Afrofuturists and other BIPOC sci-fi and fantasy authors through its social media. These include Veronica G. Henry’s Depression-era carnival fantasy Bacchanal, Liselle Sambury’s complex horror tale Delicious Monsters, and Kosoko Jackson’s suspense novel Survive the Dome.

MARRYING WORK AND THE DREAM

With degrees in psychology and African American studies from Stanford University, Asare lived in her parents’ home country of Ghana for a while as part of the Peace Corps. Next, she earned a master’s in public policy from Harvard and an MBA in International Finance from Columbia Business School. A serial cultural entrepreneur, she worked in finance and business development at corporations including T-Mobile, Microsoft, Shutterfly, and Brightroll and launched a film entertainment site for queer women of color called Sistah Sinema. Still, through all of these ventures, she realized she had a deep desire to run a bookstore. “Could I marry the dream and the work experience? A chance encounter on social media answered my question,” Asare says.

“I know I focus on promoting Black and Indigenous science fiction and fantasy authors because, as a Black, queer woman, I found the themes of science fiction liberating in how I can define myself, especially while navigating a society focused on assimilating and adding value to mainstream—often white—culture,” says Asare.

STRENGTH THROUGH COMMUNITY

Asked if operating a bookstore is tough, Asare answers, “How do you define tough? Is there any industry where success is easy and guaranteed?”

She draws strength from the love and support of her polycule and from the many donors who have contributed to funding Sistah Scifi.

sculpture and site-specific installations elevating vernacular forms of knots inspiring awe and understanding

the journey of the line

windychien.com

Artist Dameon Priestly focuses on times and events of social and cultural change

PHOTOGRAPHED BY MICHAEL DAKS

Crafting His Own Pattern

Black and Queer Crocheter and Sculptor Ramekon O'Arwisters Celebrates Heritage and Community Through Healing Crafts Experiences

Southern-born crochet artist and sculptor Ramekon O’Arwisters describes his style as liberating, grounded, and authentic.

“I feel most grounded and affirmed when I focus on my creativity. I can absolutely trust my creativity; it only requires that I remain fearless and authentic in my creative vision,” he says.

HIDING WITHIN HIS EARLY ART

It hasn’t always been easy for O’Arwisters to accept and share all of who he is. Growing up in the 1960s and 1970s, he used drawing and painting to hide his queer feelings and thoughts.

“It was a way for me to keep my parents from knowing about me being queer since I knew they would not approve. To keep them from asking why I wasn’t interested in masculine activities such as sports or dating girls, I kept busy doing art and homework on the kitchen table,” he says.

He now reflects that his parents were likely glad he was safe at home and not out messing around with drugs or fighting or at risk of getting arrested. “In Black America at that time, parents of little Black boys feared for them, especially from the brutality of the police,” O’Arwisters says.

His artwork then was mostly geometric shapes and patterns. “My drawings had no content. They were void, empty, dull, but pretty.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RAMEKON O’ARWISTERS, CAROL M. HIGHSMITH, ANDRE NATTA AND UNSPLASH

WRITTEN BY CRISTINA DEPTULA

IMPROVISING WITH COLORFUL REMNANTS

Now, O’Arwisters sculpts with broken ceramics and strips of remnant fabric with a clear intention. “These are marginalized materials, objects that are thrown away, detritus. We treat them the same way that American culture treats marginalized people. They are ignored, abused, and disposable. I use these materials as stand-ins for the disposable experience of humans who are disenfranchised within the myth, or better, the lie of the American Dream.”

O’Arwisters has observed that the art-world system was designed to confirm and maintain the status quo rather than to support Black artists.

“For the majority of my art career, I have been relinquishing my agency over and over again whenever I go to figures of power in the white art world—curators, gallery directors, museum directors—to present to them my work and ask for their approval. Is my work good? Is it worthy of your gallery? Am I good enough?”

Realizing this process was no longer working for him, O’Arwisters stopped presenting his work to anyone for a while.

“I needed time to reflect, to sit back and re-evaluate, to stop doing the same things and expecting different results. My mother and especially my grandmother made quilts. Contrasting colors and improvisation made their creations like jazz, reflecting the necessity in Black life in the United States to use color to lift the spirits in a hostile environment and to use improvisation to solve problems and situations in a world where opportunities are limited, kept out of reach due to the evils of racism,” he says. This gave him the idea to turn his personal and cultural heritage of quilting and sewing into a public art-making practice.

“These are marginalized materials, objects that are thrown away, detritus. We treat them the same way that American culture treats marginalized people. They are ignored, abused, and disposable. I use these materials as stand-ins for the disposable experience of humans who are disenfranchised within the myth, or better, the lie of the American Dream.”

PASSING ON A CHILDHOOD GIFT

The popular community art event he hosts, the Crochet Jam, is rooted in cherished childhood memories steeped in the African-American tradition of weaving together in a calm, non-judgmental environment without rules or limitations.

“My mother and grandmother expressed their worldviews and emotions through textile and fabric,” he remembers. His mother was a piecemeal textile worker at Hanes Knit, then located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She worked long hours sewing sleeves onto t-shirts and taught O’Arwisters how to operate a sewing machine.

“At a young age, I learned from her how to thread the machine, how to sew on a button, how to do single-stitch sewing, and other techniques,” he says.

His grandmother was a quilt maker who crafted beautiful quilts for him and his siblings, including one they could take for their beds when they left for college.

“She lived next door to us, and one day I visited her, and she was sitting on the bed, quilting. As I came into the bedroom, she turned toward me and said, ‘Boy, come over here and help me with this quilt.’”

The last thing O’Arwisters wanted to do that day, he remembers, was some kind of craft project that would make him question his masculinity.

“I was already at an age where I was becoming aware of my same-sex attraction,” he says.

“Quilting and sewing had made me suspect, afraid, and withdrawn, and I contemplated all of this as I walked towards her. But expressing my displeasure with my grandmother’s request would have been a serious mistake.”

His grandmother calmly looked at him and said, “Pick any color or pattern you like, and I will show you how to add it to my quilt.” She’d already invested months of work into building an intricate pattern, which she was allowing him to break.

“My grandmother knew I was struggling with something—my sexual identity, homophobia, and White-body supremacy. She intuited that I needed to feel embraced, accepted, and heard. We did not talk much. She taught me how to quilt pretty much in silence. She never told my parents. It was just the two of us. It was the most loving act,” O’Arwisters remembers. This kindness made a deep impact on him during a very difficult time to be Black and queer. In the U.S., Jim Crow segregation was the law of the land, and he remembers watching movies on the balcony of his hometown’s theater because it was illegal for Black people to enter the lobby. Homophobia was just as rampant and socially acceptable. O’Arwisters remembers that at this time, Black people were redefining themselves as strong individuals worthy of respect and equality. He decided to help create an environment of nonjudgmental acceptance with his Crochet Jams to give others what his grandmother gave him.

“It is my family legacy in remembrance of her,” he says.

PUBLIC ART CREATION AS A SPACE FOR SOCIAL LIBERATION

What O’Arwisters remembers most from the many Crochet Jams he’s hosted is not so much what the people created but how people reacted to the experience.

“When individuals feel comfortable and not judged, they will discuss many personal issues they would never discuss in public—abortion, divorce, unhappiness,” he says.

He remembers one particular event in Asbury Park, NJ where a man stood and stared at the people gathered around large piles of colorful fabric. Finally, he walked over and asked what was happening.

“Welcome to Crochet Jam!” O’Arwisters said. “It’s a free public event in which we use the folk-art tradition of crocheting strips of fabric to foster social interaction, liberation, and creativity.”

The man joined, crocheted for a while, and then started helping others and showing them how to single-stitch crochet. Before he left, he said goodbye to his new friends. Then he walked over to O’Arwisters.

“My father died a few days ago, and I had nowhere to go. Thank you for being here,” he said, leaving O’Arwisters speechless.

O’Arwisters reflects on how humans carry a great deal of pain and fear and hope that community art events of this nature help ease that.

In this way, he can work toward community liberation, creating a world where all people can live and be respected as their true selves.

His current exhibitions include A Chorus of Twisted Threads at the Patricia Sweetow Gallery, Freeform and Razor Sharp at San Francisco’s Museum of the African Diaspora, and Fight and Flight at the Museum of Craft and Design. @CROCHETJAM

cacophonous, fractal, visual, symphonies

PACIFIC NORTHWEST GOTHIC

“Horror and gothic literature live in the space of grief. Grief is a powerful thing. The constant sense of loss and a refusal to give up the ghost—whether that ghost is metaphorical or literal. It is a bleakness and a pain that gives the darkness life and keeps the dead from moving on,” says author Marcus James.

WRITTEN

BELLINGHAM AUTHOR MARCUS JAMES EXPLORES QUEER IDENTITY, GRIEF, AND LOCAL HISTORY IN HIS LITERARY HORROR NOVELS

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARCUS JAMES, BENJAMIN CODY, AND UNSPLASH

BY CRISTINA DEPTULA

Marcus James TROORA

To James, in horror, even in the slasher sub-genre, there is the concept of “original sin,” some kind of loss or grief that sets everything else in motion. This original loss often stems from some type of past human brutality that continues to haunt us.

“Ghosts are everywhere in the horror genre. Whether they are actual vengeful spirits and beings or people haunted by the ghost of experience and memory. They exist in the places we refuse to see because those places are in the corner of every eye and within every shadow, and facing them means facing ourselves, and that historically has made people uncomfortable because they don’t want to be reminded of how dark the night really can be,” says James.

He feels that artistic films with serious themes, such as Get Out, Us, Midsommer, and the VVitch, are finally causing critics to see the cultural value and relevance of the horror genre. “Sadly, horror is considered as degrading and smutty as the worst porno by a lot of people, but now the same critics are looking at the genre with new eyes and finally starting to see what we’ve known all along,” he says.

As a queer author, James finds the themes of the horror genre personally relevant.

“For many queer people, growing up is a constant horror, and you spend your life terrified and hiding from everyone, and sometimes really awful horrific things happen to us—it did to me—and in horror, that’s what I get to tackle, that’s what I get to approach and shed light on and explore.”

“Drown your reader in the sensory and sensual experience of reading. That’s what the late, great Anne Rice taught me.”

WRITING AND CLAIMING A QUEER PLACE IN LITERATURE

Marcus James has made it his mission to write in-depth about the queer experience, to tell stories steeped in that without stepping out of the narrative to explain everything to an outside audience of straight people.

“I aim to tell stories that anyone can enjoy but to do so through the lens of queerness. Toni Morrison famously said that she writes outside the white man’s gaze, and when she’s writing, she’s writing to black people, free of having to explain anything to white readers about blackness.

“I write without the cis-hetero gaze hovering over me. I have a lot of straight-identified readers and characters, and yet I don’t worry if they understand the things I am referencing when it comes to the queer experience,” he says. James also intends to show through his work that queer people can be heroes too. He hopes that every young gay boy who reads his writing, no matter how butch or effeminate, can see that they can be the one who saves the world.

“We aren’t weak, and we don’t need to be rescued. Being outsiders is where our strength and resilience lies,” he says.

His lead protagonists are always feminine gay boys, as he is one of those himself, and he wants to claim a place for them in horror literature and in life.

“Fem gays are the ones who deeply lack role models or positive, strong representation. Usually, we are just the victim, the comedic relief, or the villain, and as of late, we are assumed/lumped into being non-binary. Our identity as men is constantly stripped from us. Our entire lives. Straight people take it from us, and some in the LGBT community take it from us. I have a mission and obligation to help do whatever I can to say we are here and we are men, no matter how fem we are, and you are not allowed to erase us,” says James. However, the characters he most enjoys writing are strong, complicated, beautiful, powerful women. “Like most gay men, I worship powerful women, and all the women in my life are fiercely strong and fabulous. Women who bring the wrath of the dark goddesses, the warrior goddesses.”

To James, literature is a path toward learning to understand each other and, ultimately, ourselves.

“Every person I write about teaches me something about survival,

gay or straight or bi, etc., and in their worlds—worlds filled with breathing shadows—I get closer to understanding my own journey as a queer person and as a person in general and the experiences that bind us all together. No matter how individual our own personal journeys are. That’s the beauty of writing. That’s the power of literature; all the lives we get to inhabit.”

ALL BECAUSE OF ANNE RICE

When asked how he decided to become a writer, Marcus had a simple answer.

“It was all because of Anne Rice,” he says.

He originally wanted to become a chef, as he has a deep passion for cooking. Before Food Network existed, he aspired to have a cooking show on PBS and a restaurant or two in Seattle, where he would live in a chic pre-war apartment above Pike Place Market and cook to smooth jazz while enjoying a glass of wine and the sunset.

Then, one day in the fourth grade, he bought a copy of Dracula at the Scholastic Book Fair. His teacher noticed his smile from ear to ear, and as she was a fan of Rice, she recommended that Marcus check out Interview with the Vampire.

“The title was all I needed. I was at the public library that same day after school, checking it out and taking it home,” he said.

He kept re-reading the novel throughout elementary school, and that got him to start writing. “Because what Anne could do, how she could make me hear the clicking of Claudia’s shoes on the cobblestone and the creaking of a floorboard on its hinge in a decaying New Orleans uptown home, or how she could make me smell the jasmine—I wanted to be able to affect others the same way.”

He developed a single-minded ambition to become a published author at that point. This has kept him on track and alive throughout various struggles. He was forced into conversion therapy as a teen, intended to turn him straight. He has also survived crippling heartbreak and an abusive marriage and has been homeless a few times throughout his teens and twenties. “Always, it has been the writing and my career that have kept me resilient. A refusal to be defeated. A refusal to be invisible. Sometimes in life, your dreams/goals/aspirations are all you have to feed you, nourish you, keep you warm, and get you from one day to the next.”

JAMES’ WRITING PROCESS

Marcus James begins writing by understanding what his book is about and where and when it will be set. Once he’s figured that out, he dives straight into research, with used books he buys cheaply and highlights the crap out of, and also Google Earth, Google Maps, and documentaries.

“I research down to the littlest detail. The last thing you want to do is say your character is wearing a pair of Hanes underwear in 1900, but Hanes didn’t appear until 1901 and underwear wasn’t their first product. Imbuing history and facts into your work helps to ground it in realism, helps to break down the barrier for the reader between imagination and reality,”

He also travels for literary research. For his upcoming novel The Beckoning One, he’s already journeyed to Boston, Salem, Manhattan, San Francisco, Savannah (GA), and then the cities near his home, Seattle and Bellingham.

He books historical tours, ghost tours, and house tours. Sometimes he’s even been known to tour an open house if it looks like a place he could use in a book. He meets with historians and pulls records, deeds, maps, prominent and historical families’ trees, and backstories.

“Sometimes, research can involve going to a specific place just to feel it. To smell it. Touch it. Take note of the journey there. Landscape. I take thousands of pictures. All of the homes, apartments, hotels, buildings, etc. They are all real. Either places I know personally or from real estate sites.”

He says intensive research ensures the reader sees, smells, feels, tastes, and hears everything.

“Drown your reader in the sensory and sensual experience of reading. That’s what the late, great Anne Rice taught me.”

PACIFIC NORTHWEST GOTHIC

Marcus James considers himself fortunate to live near where most of his books are set: the Pacific Northwest. He views the region as just as “Gothic” as the American South or the British moors but in different ways.

“There is what we call Pacific Northwest Gothic. Much like the Southern Gothic tradition, but wetter, darker, damper, colder, and wilder. It’s fog and dark forests and cold, rocky coasts and impossibly rocky shores. It is primal and almost devouring, like some strange cryptid in the forest.”

This sensibility has inspired Marcus’ writing throughout his career.

“How could I not write about this? If you live in a place like New Orleans Garden District, or Savannah around Forsythe Park, or Salem, or if you know of them and their strangeness, you’ll understand what I mean. Bellingham was crying out to be written about in this way.”

Most of his stories take place in Bellingham. All of the houses in his books are real, Victorian mansions built by the city’s founding fathers. And almost every house, building, and street corner has a ghost story or twenty in the local lore. Other ghosts in the book stem from Marcus’ family heritage.

“In my Blackmoore novels, the main character Trevor Blackmoore, his great-aunt Mabel, aka Queen Mab, as the family calls her, lives in my great-aunt Alice’s house. There is a lot of Alice in Queen Mab, and that house is full of ghosts. The things that go bump in the night have always been a part of my life--my identity. Horror is where I find my home.”

Marcus’ aunt’s home was filled with antiques from the 1800s-1940s, old tins, paintings, teddy bears, a portrait of Queen Victoria in black hanging above the fireplace mantel in the dining room. These made their way into his novels.

For Marcus, history in Bellingham is simply alive. “The ghosts walk with you, and you feel the past everywhere you go. There are ghosts standing behind maples and oaks, and you feel them staring at you.”

WHAT’S NEXT FOR MARCUS JAMES

Marcus is currently working on the third novel in his Blackmoore series, The Beckoning One. This has already taken him years of research, nearly a dozen trips, and mountains of notes.

“The research process is very thorough for me, and I probably do more research than I need to, but it’s important that I get everything right. Even if two books worth of research on something culminates in a couple of paragraphs in the actual novel, the reader will know that everything available to learn about it has ended up there.”

Meanwhile, his latest novel, Instructions in Flesh, is out now in hardcover and digital formats, and next year, special hardcover editions of his Blackmoore Legacy series thus far (Blackmoore, Symphony for the Devil, and the two prequel novellas: Rise of the Nephilim and Fall of the Nephilim) come out, leading up to the release of the third novel in the series: The Beckoning One.

Marcus is excited to hear all the responses readers will have to his upcoming books.

“And, of course, cooking. There is always the cooking, and eventually, that is going to work its way into my writing career, and that will be a whole other journey that I can’t wait to go down.”

Peruvian Wall Mirror - Crescent Moon

lunasundara.com

Introducing

Simply the Exception to the

How Rich Mnisi's Gender-Fluid Designs Are Empowering Communities

Simply the Exception to the Rule

Rich Mnisi is a South African fashion designer whose eponymous genderfluid label has taken the fashion world by storm. Mnisi is a multi-talented artist who has made waves with his bold, gender-less designs and his dedication to representing the LGBTQ+ community in his work. He has also become known for his unique approach to fashion and furniture design, drawing inspiration from his upbringing and the spaces that have shaped him.

Founded in 2015, the brand is committed to creating clothing that can be worn by people of all genders, reflecting Mnisi’s belief that fashion should be a space for self-expression and individuality. What differentiates him from others is his intricate patterns, bold and colorful designs with unexpected shapes and combinations of fabrics and textures.

However, Mnisi is not only focused on creating exceptional clothing but also on supporting the LGBTQ+ community. As an openly gay designer, he has been vocal about the importance of visibility and representation for queer people in the fashion industry. “The desire to create a space that embodied an authentic expression of gender fluidity through an African lens and the complexities of identity inspired me to start the RICH MNISI brand. For me, fluidity represents inclusivity, a tenet I hold very close to my heart,” he explains. The designer goes beyond creating the garments to craft a storyline that aligns with individuals who share his background, physical appearance, and experiences. While growing up as a Black African child, Mnisi found familiarity with queer expressions within an environment that did not necessarily understand that world. “This inspired me to create a bank of visual cues that represent blackness and queerness as one— exhibiting an individual as a multifaceted celestial being who can’t be pinned down,” he shares.

The aesthetic of his brand is rooted in his deep connection with the women in his family. Through his work, he narrates the story of his loved ones, stories of powerful women who have birthed the next generation of powerful women—a neverending exchange of information and passing down of traditions. “I love telling stories from lived experiences—this rewards the viewer with a cultural exchange at its most authentic and presents them with the importance of community,” he shares. His commitment to his roots and community also emerges from the fact that he chooses to shoot his lookbooks and campaigns in the spaces where he grew up to showcase the beauty of his country.

Apart from fashion design, Mnisi’s second biggest love is architecture. It’s rare for a designer to be equally talented with designing clothes and furniture, but Mnisi is simply the exception to the rule. Indeed, his furniture designs are bold and innovative, featuring unconventional forms and vibrant color palettes. “I create for the human body—beyond gender, race,

“I love telling stories from lived experiences”

Rich Mnisi

Tank Collection 23/24

Tank Collection 23/24

and geographical lines. Whether designing clothing or furniture, the process is always an intuitive one for me,” he highlights.

Mnisi’s approach to fashion and design derived from the same starting point, drawing inspiration from the same sources and using similar techniques. “An aesthetic and philosophical fluidity underpins my broad design vision, and it is reflected in my approach to all design. However, this doesn’t only mean in terms of movement and flow but also signifies the breaking down of boundaries,” he explains. Mnisi’s architectural designs are characterized by their clean lines, bold shapes, and use of natural materials. He often incorporates local materials such as stone and bronze into his designs, which give them a distinctive African aesthetic combined with contemporary pop culture.

When creating a cohesive and successful collection in both fashion and furniture design, Mnisi pays increased attention to the story. “The story helps you weave a cohesive body of work because it enables you to identify who you’re creating for and helps you build a character. In return, this results in a conversation between the piece of art and the person consuming it,” he declares.

JAMES Collection 22/23

JAMES Collection 22/23

JAMES Collection 22/23

JAMES Collection 22/23

Tank Collection 23/24

SWIM Collection 23

SWIM Collection 23

SWIM Collection 23

SWIM Collection 23

Tank Collection 23/24

Tank Collection 23/24

Tank Collection 23/24

Yet he manages to narrate a unique, different story with his audience every season while keeping the conversation alive. “Our unique story paired with the ability to trigger new conversations with new pieces is what makes the brand stay current and innovative in the everevolving fashion and furniture design industries,” he discloses.

His stunning campaigns are an invitation to explore his whimsical world, filled with signature gender-fluid designs, vibrant colors, and passion for South African culture. For those LGBTQ+ designers but also for any young and aspiring entrepreneur who wishes to make a positive impact in the fashion world, Mnisi suggests, “Acknowledging the times that we live in, with so much access to information and exploring the power of the internet is the key to survive.” In honor of Pride Month, the brand released its annual pride collection as part of the global Pride campaign, available on shop.richmnisi.com

Among the collaborations of RICH MNISI with iconic brands, such as Adidas and Coca-Cola, is also this one with Smiley. The capsule merges RICH MNISI’s sustainable clothing with Smiley’s iconic logo and upbeat aesthetic, resulting in a collection that exudes an infectious sense of joy and optimism. “It serves as a reminder of how powerful a smile can be; a smile you can find within, a smile gifted by a stranger—an endless network of happiness, opportunity, and change,” he adds.

In the last decade, there has been an emergence of fashion designers who aren’t just queer but have aligned their fashion vision with their identity, creating demystifying collections and radical concepts and ideologies to represent the inscape of non-conformity, fluidity, queerness, and androgyny—whilst maintaining a quick balance with their cultural roots. Mnisi’s work is a testament to the power of fashion to inspire and empower people and to the importance of creating a fashion industry that is inclusive, diverse, and sustainable. His dedication to the LGBTQ+ community, his commitment to shooting his lookbooks in the spaces where he grew up, and his unique approach to fashion and furniture design set him apart as a truly innovative and inspiring artist.

@RICH_MNISI RICHMNISI.COM

@STELLAPOLYZOIDOU

swim and lounge wear sustainable and inclusive designed for fit, comfort, and versatility

boldswim.com

Photographer: Elias Gurrola instagram.com/eliasgurrola twitter.com/Elias_Gurrola facebook.com/eliasgurroladesign pinterest.com/eliasgurrola/_created eliasgurrola.com

fashion accessories

STROLLING IN THE PHLUID CITY

BY: STELLA POLYZOIDOU

LOVING STONE

BY: STELLA POLYZOIDOU

SPRING FASHION WISHLIST

BY: GEORGE DIKE

Strolling in the Phluid City

With His Phluid Project, Rob Smith is Leading The Way in Breaking Down Barriers, Creating a More Inclusive Future For All

PHOTOGRAPHED BY ANDREW WERNER/ ALBERTO VASARI

WRITTEN BY STELLA POLYZOIDOU

In a world that can often feel hostile and unwelcoming to those who don’t fit into traditional gender roles, The Phluid Project is a beacon of hope. Today, when gender roles and expectations continue to hold a significant presence in our everyday lives, the idea of a gender-free space is a radical concept. Yet, that is precisely what The Phluid Project has achieved, offering a space that is both inclusive and educative to everyone, regardless of gender identity. Founded by Rob Smith

(he/they) in 2018, The Phluid Project has become an important landmark in the movement toward gender equality and acceptance.

A former marketing executive, Rob Smith, was inspired to create The Phluid Project after years of feeling boxed in by gender expectations. Growing up as a gay man in a conservative household, he struggled with the idea of being forced to conform to traditional gender roles. “It was like I was being told that I had to fit into this very rigid box of masculinity, and if I didn’t, then I wasn’t a real man,” he explained in our interview on Zoom.

After years of working in the fashion industry, Smith realized that there was a void in the market when it came to gender-neutral clothing. He saw an opportunity to create a space that would not only offer gender-free clothing but serve as a community hub for people of all gender identities. And so, The Phluid Project was born.

Living in corporate America for several years, Smith developed an ethic that had more purpose and meaning than simply selling clothes. His vision came to life after a trip to Black Rock City in northwestern Nevada, where he attended the Burning Man festival.

Rob Smith

“When you go there, there’s a code of conduct, how they ask people to behave. By day three, everyone gets to be this fantastical version of themselves. And then people come back to their Monday lives in corporate America, putting on a suit,” he recalls. Deeply concerned, he decided to quit his job and find the answer.

Smith embarked on a journey to Peru, where he spent a month working with plants and immersing himself in a plant-based lifestyle. During a ceremony, an idea struck him: to open a gender-free, nonbinary clothing store, and he committed to making this idea a reality by opening the world’s first gender-free store. The idea of a gender-free shopping experience didn’t really exist before. Still, the Phluid Project has proven that it’s not just a possibility but a necessity for those seeking a more inclusive and diverse shopping experience. He explains, “When it came to the stores, they tend to always be diverse in gender, race, age, sexual orientation.”

Launched in March 2018—in NYC and online—The Phluid Project is not just a store; it’s a gender-free fashion brand grounded in community, activism, and education; a social space where people can come together, connect, and feel seen and heard. Partnering exclusively with brands whose products celebrate the non-binary, the Phluid project is now in 5,000 stores across the US, including Target, Nordstrom, Macy’s, and other big retailers. “We want our clothing to be timeless so that you can wear it for years,” Smith said.

First, Smith opened the Phluid store in SoHo, offering gender-free garments, not colorless, shapeless clothes. The store regularly hosted events, workshops, and panels that focused on issues related to gender and sexuality. People felt a sense of community there, being able to participate in fashion shows, panel discussions, and events. For Smith, that was a way to understand better the needs of the LGBTQ+ community.

After starting as a student, Smith progressed to teacher, guiding corporations and speaking at conferences about deconstructing gender and defying traditional gender roles. Amidst the pandemic era in 2020, the store was closed, but it soon evolved into something greater, the Phluid Phoundation. Operating both as a platform for education as well as a retailer, the Phluid Project soon transformed from a wholesale business to a non-profit organization.

For Smith, it’s not about the praise; it’s about creating an inclusive and welcoming space. “I want The Phluid Project to be a place where people feel like they can be their authentic selves,” he clarifies.

For the LGBTQ+ community, fashion can be a way to express their identity and to feel seen and heard. The philosophy behind gender-free clothing and accessories is rooted in the belief that gender norms should not restrict clothing. By providing gender-free clothing and accessories, fashion brands can create a space for people to express themselves freely without the limitations of gender norms. This can be particularly important for people uncomfortable expressing themselves through traditionally gendered clothing. “We want things to be expressive both in silhouette and color. After all, it’s about feeling good in what you wear.”

With the Phluid Phoundation, Smith allowed retailers to connect with the LGBTQ+ more deeply. “I feel more retailers care about Gen Z and learn about it because, in that way, they can be more relevant. In a way, realizing that this is

“Kids are now teaching their parents about sexual orientation and gender. Kids are teaching up instead of parents teaching down.”

not a trend, it’s a very serious situation that has to change how we perceive the world,’’ he adds. For fashion and retail brands, it is essential to prioritize and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, particularly during Pride Month, but not necessarily. “What’s really important is to carry products from and highlight brands, employees, and other owned businesses, whether queer-owned or Black-owned or woman-owned, not just on that month, but also to support them throughout the year,” he claims. Being an ally should not be a performative act limited to a specific time frame but rather a consistent effort to support and uplift marginalized communities.

For his latest campaign of the Phluid Project, “Freedom For All,” Smith wanted to create a campaign that was inclusive of people on different continents, with different stories and messages. People have put their lives on the line fighting for freedom. With violence, hate speech, and anti-LGBTQ laws escalating, standing up for what’s right is more important than ever. The Phluid Project is leading the charge, using creativity and truth to help create a world where everyone can live to the fullest without fear of discrimination or violence.“I wanted to put a global spotlight on what freedom means—something that we have to fight for, earn, and continue to fight for,” he adds. Freedom is a human right; it is universal, and it is for everyone.

Launching in the spring, the campaign emphasizes the importance of the freedom to be yourself. The campaign promotes a universal message of freedom by featuring the experiences and highlighting the struggles of five oppressed artists. Through the lens of various artistic works, the Phluid Project is striving to raise awareness about the importance of inclusivity and

“Freedom is a human right; it is universal, and it is for everyone.”

equality. “We celebrate these heroes and every other human fighting against oppression and understanding the urgency to act now,” Smith said on a Zoom call.

Artists featured: Antonia Otoya (She/ He/They), Colombian Indigenous muralist Daniel Skripnik (he/him), Ukrainian LGBTQ+ artist/activist Afolabi Oluwafemi, Nigerian visual artist Ghazal Foroutan (She/Her), Iranian graphic designer and educator Katy Riley (she/her) Body Positive/Fat artist.

Statistically, about 60% of Gen Zers shop across gender lines. They only buy what they like and don’t care about the boys’ or girls’ section. And more and more parents are trying to raise children and not just put boys in blue and girls in pink. If only parents could free their children and themselves from what society says they’re supposed to be.

From an educational standpoint, Smith believes a parent’s responsibility is to give kids an opportunity, and exposure to as much as possible, to create empathy and understanding, but also

to allow them to find how they fit in this world and not make them micro versions of themselves.

“Kids are now teaching their parents about sexual orientation and gender. Kids are teaching up instead of parents teaching down.”

Expanding his philosophy into the Metaverse, Smith’s next big enterprise is to launch the Phluid City. The idea behind this is to replicate a store to promote gender-free clothing and create a safe community space for LGBTQ+ people along with their families and friends. “My goal is to lead with the community. Many retailers are not getting successful because they’re trying to sell a product when I, instead, like to build trust first and a meaningful relationship with the community.”

Fashion has the power to promote greater acceptance and understanding of LGBTQ+ identities and experiences and can create a more accepting and inclusive culture. With its commitment to social justice, the Phluid Project is not only revolutionizing the fashion industry but also inspiring individuals worldwide to take a stand for their future.

A great Blazer can only go so far...

To uplift, inspire, and empower women all over the world, playing any variety of roles, and at all ages through clothing and community that helps you feel like your best self and reach your highest potential.

L O VING ST O NES

How Pleasing is it to Find One-of-a-Kind Engagement Rings for Your Soulmate?

Finding the perfect custom-made jewelry can be a challenge. But if you’re in search of the ideal engagement ring, I’ve got you covered. This next brand is not only delivering custommade jewelry, but it’s also addressing the LGBTQ+ community, specifically non-traditional couples who appreciate unique and different pieces. Indeed, many traditional jewelers may not cater to their unique styles or preferences, leaving them feeling excluded and unheard.

VENVS is an innovative brand founded by the visionary Haley Biemiller, who lives in Toronto with her loving wife, Jenna, and their adorable cat. The brand offers a stunning selection of custom-made jewelry featuring one-of-a-kind stones and intricate designs. In her interview with Ben Ari from Medium, Biemiller revealed how her childhood experiences and family influences shaped her career path.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY @ELLE.IVY.PHOTOGRAPHY @LAURENWEILER.PHOTO @KRISTINBENDIGOPHOTOGRAPHY @MARIADENOMMEPHOTOS

WRITTEN BY STELLA POLYZOIDOU

Haley Biemiller

As early as her teenage years, she and her sister formed a clothing brand and repurposed vintage pieces, like old Levi’s from Goodwill. It was a labor of love fueled by their unwavering passion, creativity, and ambition. That initial experimentation with the fashion world was just the beginning. Her passion for design and entrepreneurship only grew stronger with time. Biemiller’s inspiration for creating the brand came from the need to provide a safe space in the jewelry industry for anyone who wants to express their unique style through jewelry. Thus, the choice behind creating each piece is intentional rather than random. With expertise in engagement rings, Biemiller highlights the beauty of unconventional gemstones and “imperfect” diamonds, like salt and pepper, that perfectly align with the aesthetic of unconventional couples. Each piece is designed to reflect the unique qualities and quirks of each couple, including different gemstones such as black diamonds, labradorite, and opal.

The creative New Yorker created her small, LGBTQ+, all-inclusive jewelry brand in July 2020 as a safe, welcoming space for underrepresented people. Her vision was born when she was hunting for the perfect engagement ring for her now-wife. The judgmental looks of the store owners, who didn’t know how to react to a queer woman buying a ring for another woman, were the pretext for building her company. The founder’s mission is to celebrate love in all forms while genuinely making her customers happy.

Love comes in all shapes, sizes, and forms. Yet, society often restricts what is considered “acceptable” for couples. In a world where social injustice and inequality persist, brands like VENVS promote fairness, diversity, and equality. One of the reasons the brand has become so popular is that it consists of a tight-knit group of individuals who are passionate about what they do. Their personalized approach allows them to create jewelry that tells a story, capturing the essence of each couple’s unique love journey. With a firm belief that every couple deserves a unique representation of their love, VENVS takes the time to understand their clients on a personal level, creating jewelry that speaks to their hearts and souls. And that’s what VENVS is all about—celebrating love beyond the boundaries of convention. Their jewelry is not just for the LGBTQ+ community but anyone who wants to express their love.

During Pride Month, but not exclusively, it’s essential to celebrate brands that embody the true spirit of inclusivity. Whether you’re a queer couple, an unconventional pair, or simply someone who wants a unique and meaningful engagement ring, VENVS is here to help you find the perfect symbol of your love. From exquisite engagement rings to dazzling wedding bands, the brand crafts masterpieces destined to become cherished heirlooms.

Shopping at VENVS is a seamless experience, with their readyto-ship and custom jewelry available at www.shopvenvs.com. For those seeking a more personalized touch, Venvs also offers oneon-one virtual consultations, where clients can discuss their vision and have a piece of jewelry crafted to their exact specifications.

“Love comes in all shapes, sizes, and forms.”

cobblerslane.com

Inspired by a love of vintage pieces, flowing feminine dresses, florals, and life by the sea.

Sustainable jewellery made out of recycled and eco-friendly materials

Fashion Wishlist

Trooly Rare Outfit Ideas For Those Who Dare

WRITTEN BY GEORGE DIKE

Spring fashion is fresh, clean, and flirty, like the season itself. After a cold, long winter, nothing feels quite as magical as those first spring days. The snow has melted, and the warm breeze starts to hit you.

Once the air outside doesn’t actively hurt your face, you can officially bring your beloved floral skirt, sweatshirt, and bombers out of hibernation and into that fresh spring light where they belong.

Nothing cures the winter blues like spring fashion and a shopping spree. So, it’s time to decide on your signature look for the spring season. It doesn’t matter if the flowers have yet to bloom; it’s never too early to start writing your spring-style story.

We have rounded up some fresh outfit ideas to cure your winter blues and possibly remind your family, friends, or colleagues that you haven’t completely abandoned your sense of style in the cold. Here are some of the most fantastic, inspiring spring outfit ideas:

Photo by Valerie Elash

BOMBER JACKET

This excellent style must-have tops our list because there are many ways to style a bomber jacket. Bombers come in different colors, prints, and fits. Keep it bright and fancy by choosing a jacquard, floral, or graphic print bomber. Here are some ways to style your favorite bomber jacket this spring:

BOMBER JACKET AND HOODIE

A dark-colored bomber is an ideal outerwear piece for layering over a light-colored hoodie with black leggings and runners. Blue bomber and grey hoodie ideally match ripped boyfriend jeans in a wash blue color. You can complete this combo by adding a pair of colorful sneakers.

BOMBER JACKET AND CROP TOP

How about we pair that lovely bomber with a friendly, brightcolored crop top? Pull off the look with ripped wash-blue boyfriend jeans and blue or black trainers. Complete this look by adding a pair of sunglasses.

BOMBER JACKET AND SWEATER

What do you think of this combo: a dark blue bomber teamed with a tie-dye sweater, skinny grey jeans, and black leather ankle boots? Awesome right? A great bomber will look fabulous with a bright sweater and some jeans. Complete this look by adding a pair of mirrored, round sunglasses.

BOMBER JACKET AND A DRESS

Do you want to stay chic while keeping the spring feeling alive? Then pair your bomber with a bright, floral print dress. This gives you a relaxed, casual, yet absolutely stylish ensemble. Add a mellow touch to your outfit by finishing it off with a pair of white plimsolls.

Photo by Yaritza

FLORAL SKIRTS

As spring rolls around, and you shed your winter layers and tuck your heavy coats away in the back of your closet, skirts adorned with flower prints are a fitting way to ease into the new season.

Floral skirts are a terrific wardrobe staple for both casual and professional outfits. Solid-colored tees, sweatshirts, and even graphic T-shirts can be used to put together a stunning look with your flowery skirt. One great thing about floral skirts is that a version can fit into anyone’s wardrobe. Whether you’re wearing yours to a weekend barbecue, a wedding, or even the office, we’ve rounded up some great ways to pair it up this season:

FLORAL SKIRT WITH A TANK TOP

For a quick and easy ensemble, choose a tank top that matches the colors of your floral skirt. Finish the look with a pair of fashionable tennis shoes or sandals, and tuck your tank top under your floral skirt for a more defined look.

You can also wear your floral skirt with a black tank top and sandals. Throw a light jacket or sweater over your tank top when it gets chilly in the evening. Voila! You are officially a style icon.

FLORAL SKIRT WITH A TEE SHIRT

Pick out a bright-colored top that matches the florals for a cute outfit. You may choose a tee in a neutral shade like black, white, or gray. The fitted T-shirt can be worn tucked or untucked, depending on your mood. Pair your top with a floral skirt that fits your body type. If the weather turns chillier, this outfit is easy to add layers to, like a jacket or sweater.

FLORAL SKIRT AND A SWEATER

Tuck a loose sweater into your skirt for a comfy spring outfit. You can rock a solid-colored sweater that matches one of the colors in your floral skirt. Tuck your sweater into your skirt to help define your look, or only tuck in the front so the loose sweater doesn’t look baggy.

Photo by Chalo Garcia

SWEATSHIRTS

A sweatshirt is no longer just a sportswear item; it can now be worn in a thousand different ways and with a thousand additional items. If you have a few beloved sweatshirts but aren’t sure how to style them other than with jeans, we have some suggestions for you this spring!

SWEATSHIRT AND A SKIRT

A sweatshirt can be paired with various skirts (denim, leather, tulle, and sequin) and in multiple styles (wrap, asymmetrical, pencil, and full skirts). Minis, midis, and maxis are all great options. Don’t forget to pair the outfit with white sneakers; it’s a bold move.

SWEATSHIRT AND PANTS

A sweater with a pair of comfortable cropped or cuffed pants and shoes or a slip-on is a creative and comfortable city chic look. Complete your look with the addition of a backpack or a comfortable bag.

SWEATSHIRT AND LEGGINGS

For maximum comfort, rock your sweatshirt with leggings and sneakers. Remember, being comfortable while staying fashionable is key to slaying this spring.

IT’S A WRAP!

Spring is the season of colors and flowers, and everyone loves it. Even science agrees it is the most delightful season. As the temperature rises and the days get longer, there’s much joy.

Express your colorful side this season with bright, comfy springworthy outfits. Do it with pride, for the community, for you!

Photo by Matt Hardy

lunelvintage.com

beauty 280

GIVING A FRECK BY: JESSE ADUMA

A

GIVING FRECK

REMI BRIXTON

WRITTEN BY JESSE ADUMA

In a world where using makeup to cover up “irregularities” like freckles on the face is the norm, Remi Brixton, inspired by her love for freckles and daring attitude, takes an eccentric pivot to make them even more pronounced.

Debuting her beauty mark on an industry traditionally inclined to cover them up, Remi fought—and still fights—to go against the seemingly natural flow of things in the beauty industry. Her defiant nature resulted in the creation of a cosmetic line that changed the game with its bold line of beauty products while also serving to redefine the meaning of beauty.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY FRECK BEAUTY

Remi Brixton

Born from a single offbeat idea for a freckle cosmetic, Freck Beauty is a cosmetic manufacturer with a wide assortment of makeup products designed to help you stand out and embrace your true self.

The brand deals in creating cosmetic products that imitate and reproduce the appearance of freckles while also functioning as healthier organic cosmetic options for your skin and serving to accentuate beauty. It is from its specialization in the creation of freckle cosmetics that the brand derives its seemingly cheeky name.

Born as the materialization of a lifelong obsession, Freck Beauty is more than just a brand or a cosmetic product line. As so stylishly articulated by the brand, Freck Beauty is an attitude; a bold and clean beauty brand for anyone that cares about ingredients, respects the process, and doesn’t care about the rules. Also, being an LGBTQ+ owned brand, the company spreads its message of diverse, bold, and unconventional beauty while also representing as a proud pillar of the community.

Freck Beauty’s founder, Remi, who identifies as bi-sexual, sees the need to draw attention to the company’s identity as a queer-owned brand, thereby emphasizing the contributions and impacts of the community on the beauty industry.

What’s more, all Freck Beauty products are vegan + cruelty-free and inspired by Remi’s unique vision and the vibrant, diverse East LA where she lives.

Although the brand’s success so far speaks to the adeptness of its founder, Remi’s life wasn’t always geared toward the beauty industry, nor was she always inclined toward a career making cosmetic products.

In fact, Remi actively pursued a career in interior design. However, even during those years, her passion for freckles continued to burn within her, and she began to toy with the idea of starting her own cosmetic line. But it wasn’t until Remi got a push from her mentor, Des Wilson (now COO of Freck Beauty), that her dream became realistic and her goals attainable.

“Initially, I pursued interior design as my career, but the thought of creating a cosmetic product for freckles lingered in my mind. It wasn’t until I found an outstanding mentor, Des Wilson (our COO), with extensive expertise in cosmetic production, that I had a realization that I could achieve this idea.” –Remi Brixton (CEO).

Coming onto the scene in 2017, Freck Beauty made its daring break into the beauty industry and has been changing the game ever since.

With the launching of its pioneer product, Freck OG, the first ever freckle cosmetic, Freck Beauty became the new face of unconventional beauty.

Building on that, with a variety of other fascinating products such as the Freck XL, Cheek Slime, Freck Noir, the new Ritch Bitch serum, and lip balm, LashRoket Mascara etc, Freck beauty has become a cult favorite among the press, celebrities, influencers, MUAs, retailers, millennials, and Gen Z.

However, some of the brand’s newer “converts” may not be aware that, like any other business venture, Freck Beauty did face some challenges in its earlier years.

Remi admitted that trying to create a cosmetic line that focused on accentuating, displaying, and imitating what the industry labeled “imperfections” and was traditionally inclined to cover up proved very challenging.

“At that point, the timing for introducing a faux freckle product was less than ideal. The beauty industry was leaning towards full coverage foundation and facial laser treatments to mask and erase freckles, so the concept of Freck OG was not particularly ‘on-trend’ by industry measures.” – Remi Brixton (CEO).

However, Remi didn’t let herself get swept up by the flow of the tide. She audaciously pressed onward against tradition in the venturous pursuit of her dream and passion. Unfortunately, her venturesome crusade would once again suffer an even bigger setback.

Before its inception in 2017, Freck Beauty had a very bumpy start. After missing the goal for a Kickstarter campaign in 2015, the brand, then called Freck Yourself, became the butt of a Jimmy Kimmel joke on live TV.

“Freck Beauty had a really bumpy start in the beginning! In 2015 I launched a Kickstarter campaign for what was then called Freck Yourself (and later evolved into Freck Beauty). We missed our goal and somehow became the butt of a Jimmy Kimmel Live joke, which went viral and led to some nasty bullying. It was a total kick in the gut!” – Remi Brixton (CEO).

Luckily, however, Remi’s temporary setback was just that, temporary. Picking herself up from the dirt and

Remi Brixton

brushing off the dust, and owing to her persevering nature, Remi was able to refine and reform her idea into a successful business venture, creating the brand fans have come to know and love.

“Looking back now, I wouldn’t change a thing. Failures force you to rethink what you’re doing and create something better—and that’s exactly what happened with Freck Beauty.”

– Remi Brixton (CEO).

Remi Brixton

Remi Brixton

As a queer owned brand, Freck Beauty’s successes in the beauty industry go far beyond business deals and making profit. Their triumph in weathering a sea as tumultuous as the beauty industry inspires hope in other members of the community who may dream of venturing onto the scene. Showing that it is indeed possible to make a name without losing their identity in the process.

Testament to the brand’s bold and defiant nature, most— maybe all—Freck Beauty products carry seemingly cheeky names. So if the brand name itself, which is obviously derived from Freckles, seems like an entendre to you, then you’re probably on to something.

Choosing a name for her brand proved almost as challenging as any other aspect of the venture. After toying with many options, the idea for the brand name gradually evolved toward perfection.

“We had a ton of revisions from the Kickstarter days to now: Go Freck Yourself (yikes, so agro) > Freck Yourself > Freck > Freck Beauty… I knew Freck was the right name when I thought about it on a billboard over Sunset Blvd. in Echo Park where I live.” – Remi Brixton (CEO)

Freck Beauty has come so far since its wild idea for a freckle cosmetic years ago, and the brand’s founder expresses her gratitude for a competent team, which has been indispensable in creating a dynamic brand.

The brand’s gratitude also extends to the “Freck Community,” who share their attitude and views in challenging what “beauty” can look like, and it hopes to continue to create killer products that the Freck Beauty community will enjoy.

@FRECK FRECKBEAUTY

ethically grown, certified-organic hemp and essential oils

organic certified CBD* made in the United States sustainable packaging made in Italy

WHEN HOPE REAPPEARS

BY: NIZIE LOKMAN

We are stronger together

When Hope Reappears

PHOTOGRAPHED BY @UNSPLASH

WRITTEN BY NIZIE LOKMAN, FCIM

UK’s Stonewall Housing, the Provider of Safe Shelter, Becomes a Waking Dream for the Queer Community

icture this scenario. A gay man in his 20s felt confused and was in denial about his gender identity. At the same time, he had a hard time dealing with the loss of his mother. He felt alone and was desperately looking for a safe place to escape the hurtful judgment of people around him. He found the courage to reach out on the Stonewall Housing website for help. When they responded, he felt a miracle had happened and that he finally belonged to a community that truly understood him as a gay man. The ability of Stonewall Housing’s brand, who attentively listened, understood, and provided a warm shelter away from the fear of being someone he was not, gave him a sense of empowerment to heal from what held his identity back. This is just one of the many inspiring stories by a former

service user that inspires Stonewall Housing to provide a warm shelter to the LGBTQ+ community who feel insecure about their truths in their homes. TrooRa Magazine speaks to Claire Linacre-Hilton, Director of Development, as she shares her views about her experience running Stonewall Housing with her amazing team.

SHIFTING THE QUEER STRUGGLES

When basic needs, like a safe place at home, are compromised, that unsettling feeling of nowhere to go can lead to disturbing mental health issues. Hence, since 1983, Stonewall Housing has become a waking dream for the homeless and helpless LGBTQ+ individuals and shines the light on the importance of a safer place for the queer community. To date, Stonewall Housing, the charity community based in London, has assisted over 40,000 marginalized and vulnerable LGBTQ+ people in reclaiming inclusion & diversity for the livelihood of the larger community in the UK.

“So many people don’t realize that LGBTQ+ people are disproportionately affected by homelessness; nearly one in five LGBTQ+ people experience homelessness at some point in their lives.” There is a need to dig deeper to understand issues facing LGBTQ+ communities, like why some parents might reject a gay child or how domestic violence can present differently in same-sex couples compared to heterosexual couples.

Capitalizing on the strengths and superpowers of compassion and understanding, Stonewall Housing builds connections with their service users regarding their mental health challenges so they can help address their housing and homelessness concerns. The leaders of this charity organization can see this through the perspective of a queer lens. This is because most of them are LGBTQ+ themselves and have experienced homelessness as a consequence of society's discrimination.

THE CALL FOR A CARING COMMUNITY

Realizing the voice of homelessness and the LGBTQ+ community that were massively underserved in the 1980s, a group of conscious souls joined forces through a shared mission to build a safe space for its community, and the legacy continues. It was a call to create a community to be more and do more to transform the lives of those experiencing domestic abuse and mental health issues for LGBTQ+ people of all ages living in the UK.

As we communicated with Claire, we learned that the name “Stonewall” was inspired by the protests of 1969, and the “Housing” part is because everything they do is aimed at supporting LGBTQ+ people with their housing. Today after more than 40 years, Stonewall Housing provides charity services and has become the UK’s first and only LGBTQ+ specialist housing provider.

Understanding the discrimination and the world of societal judgments, Stonewall Housing shows up every day to stand up for equality and lead a meaningful change for inclusion and diversity for the underrepresented LGBTQ+ community in the UK.

THE CHARITY SERVICES THAT TRANSFORM OTHERS

The queer charity community, which is based in London, works together, creating conversations and turning them into action as a team to ensure lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans people live in safer homes, free from fear, and where all can celebrate their identity as they are. Stonewall Housing realized that most of the people they serve face domestic abuse, disputes with landlords, the threat of being homeless, housing benefits, or the breakdown of a relationship with family members due to gender identity.

Stonewall Housing has been around for four decades and is still the only charity in the UK that provides safe housing that works with homeless LGBTQ+ people of all ages and provides accommodation, housing advice, mental health advocacy, and support for people fleeing or who have fled domestic abuse. It supports thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer people across the UK every year from England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. All of their services are free and confidential.

Over 40,000 marginalized and vulnerable LGBTQ+ people find safe and secure homes at Stonewall Housing.

SUPPORT STONEWALL HOUSING

In 2022 alone, Stonewall Housing has helped more than 2,000 service users, in which their caseworkers understand the need of many queer clients to be accepted and respected for who they are and serve them with pride.

Claire said, “We’re celebrating our 40th birthday this year, and we’re on a mission to reach more people who need us—research suggests that there are roughly 120,000 people in the UK in need of our specialist support.”

With the support of London’s Police and Crime Plan 2022-2025, Stonewall Housing’s newest service, Domestic Abuse Resettlement Service (DARS), is made possible. She mentioned that leaving an abusive partner can put a survivor at risk, referring to violence,

stalking, psychological torment, or even homicide. From her experiences, people who have managed to flee abuse and are now living in safe accommodations often need support with things like independent living skills or applying for injunctions. This is why this service is so necessary.

Stonewall Housing is able to offer housing assessments with a dedicated Advice and Advocacy worker, as well as face-to-face resettlement support by specialized resettlement workers. This new service supports survivors aged 16+ who live anywhere in London.

“Domestic abuse referrals at Stonewall Housing have skyrocketed these past few years—which is why this new service will be a crucial element of our service delivery,” said Claire.

Together with Stonewall Housing, TrooRa Magazine welcomes all of us to join in empathy and shine our support in humanity for the homeless and LGBTQ+ community. We welcome donations, fundraising, corporate giving, payroll giving, legacy giving, and volunteering. Stonewall Housing also presents the members of the public with a platform to support our voices as their ambassadors. As conscious community contributors, let’s show the LGBTQ+ community all the unconditional love the world has to offer.

“All of our services are delivered through the queer lens—that’s one of the ways we’re so different from mainstream organizations.”

— Stonewall Housing

The wounds are where the light enters your heart. Stonewall Housing is here together with you.

magnoliawellnessoc.com

A holistic healing collective founded on the principles of Chinese and Functional medicine.

A blend of modern health principles and ancient wisdom, to curate a personalized, multi-disciplinary healing experience.

BY: JESSE ADUMA

BY: JESSE ADUMA

Gear Up

First off, what exactly is activewear?

Activewear is clothing designed to be worn for sports and physical activity. They provide style and comfort during workouts and are usually made from sustainable materials. Besides being worn to help you find comfort while exercising or engaging in sporting

Benefits of Wearing the Right Outfits For Your Workouts

WRITTEN BY JESSE ADUMA

activities, some activewear brands are fashionable and can be worn casually.

The fashionable aspect of activewear can no longer be overlooked. Although they are primarily made with the purpose of providing adequate comfort during your workouts—hence the major use of breathable materials— today, activewear has encroached on other areas of our lives and become a major pillar of fashion.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY GRAILIFY, JULIA REKAMIE, CAIN BEAUDOIN, SUBTLE CINEMATICS, ANDRE TAN, MIKE VON, ENGIN-AKYURT

Activewear has quickly become an essential fit not just for athletes but also for everyday folk like you and me. This is because these clothes are made with materials that allow the skin to breathe much more easily during workouts, thereby playing a huge role in helping regulate body temperature.

Some features of activewear that have boosted their popularity include:

Durability: Activewear tends to be strong and durable since they are made to withstand regular and rapid movements. Materials used are capable of keeping up with the strain put on them during intense and rugged use.

Comfort: Despite being made from sturdy and durable materials, activewear is still made to provide maximum comfort. This is why sweatpants and sweatshirts have been dubbed by some people as “indoor attire” because this activewear is so comfortable that many people prefer to have them on when it’s time to lounge about the house. Pretty ironic, I know.

Stretchable: Every physical activity includes expanding muscles, and the expansion of muscles requires a fabric that can stretch without breaking or causing any restrictions. Spandex fabric is said to be the best fabric as it can expand 10 times more than its capacity.

Dressed to kick ass

Fancy black activewear

Cost Effective: Comfortable and stretchable activewear does not necessarily have to be expensive; the best activewear fabric should possess the qualities of a budget-friendly price. However, there are some pretty stylish wears out there, so if your priority is fashion, these may attract a much steeper price.

Easy care: Activewear is easy to take care of so that they remain in good condition and can be used for longer periods of time.

Absorbent: While performing physical activities such as exercising or just your regular walk on a hot day under that scorching summer sun, you may find a use for functional sportswear which absorbs moisture, thereby sparing you the inconvenience of having that one drop of sweat trickle from your spine all the way down to your ankle.

Wearing activewear for exercising and workout purposes does have a couple of advantages.

There are few things more unpleasant and painful than having the wrong tools for the job. Luckily, when the job is a physical activity requiring lots of movement, the right clothing can have numerous positive effects. With the comfort and freedom afforded by activewear, performing rigorous activity couldn’t be any more convenient. Furthermore, thanks to the usually breathable materials they are made from, activewear helps you stay cool as much as possible.

Working out in hot weather is usually quite difficult and rather dangerous because excess exposure to heat can lead to a number of health-related problems. So staying cool while working out or exercising is important. And while remembering to rehydrate can play a huge part in this, no harm ever came from having two safety nets.

Activewear helps with this problem by providing super ventilation and breathability. Being made from lightweight materials, activewear helps evaporate sweat quickly, leaving you feeling cool, even after a painstaking workout.

What’s more, activewear helps boost confidence points in individuals. As established earlier, activewear is rather fashionable, so wearing it while you exercise can help you look a ton more attractive, and this, in turn, helps boost confidence levels. This is often a very important factor in working out because self-confidence raises one’s morale, boosting a person’s performance.

The use of activewear also helps in reducing pain and discomfort. The discomfort from wearing wired bras has irritated women for years. Hence, a dependable sports bra is an important element of any woman’s wardrobe. Wearing sports bras during workouts, instead of the regular wired ones, will greatly reduce the pain and discomfort and give your chest more support.

Ash comfy sweatpants on maroon Converse®

Activewear fashion

A Few Examples of Athletic Wear Includes:

Athletic/Sports Bras: Sports bras are a dependable option to avoid the uncomfortable bounce and stress on the bust when performing strenuous activities. The material supports and resists the motion of the breasts even when performing a high-impact activity such as running. There are three types of sports bras: low, medium, and high impact. The choice of which of these to use will greatly depend on the activity you are engaging in.

Tank Tops: If you want to feel the breeze during your workout routines, tank tops are just the fit for you. They can be worn with virtually any bottoms, depending totally on your fashion sense. The fabric’s ability to breathe makes it ideal for hot/ sunny days.

Leggings: Movement restrictions during workouts can be very uncomfortable. Spending a little more money on highquality leggings may be an easy way to boost performance during workouts. The slim fit and stretchy fabric makes moving around a lot more comfortable, thus increasing efficiency, as opposed to wearing baggy or loose-fitting clothing.

Track Pants: These are a great substitute if you are not a fan of leggings. They are made of fabric that wicks away moisture and have a 4-way stretch that lets you move freely. Track pants come with pockets, so it is convenient if you wish to carry something on your person while working out.

Whether as a workout solution or a fashion option, activewear will meet all your needs. A fusion of work and comfort, the ultimate convenience.

Working out with friends

Clearing Up the Misconception That Getting Fit Means Building Muscle

Muscle ≠ Fitness

hether for a confidence boost, as a health precaution/remedy, or just plain old passion, a lot of people decide to one day embark on a fitness journey and head straight to the gym with a game-changer attitude. While exercising is, in fact, a very vital factor in achieving or maintaining fitness, not all workouts are aimed toward this. Since the paradigm of fitness depicted by the media and most athletic facilities is that of a man/woman with huge biceps and a perfect six-pack, this has aided the general misconception that Muscle = Fitness and that building muscle = getting fit. But in actuality, this is not always true.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHARLES GAUDREAULT, GARY BUTTERFIELD, PAUL GREEN, TILLY JENSEN, LOGAN WEAVER, EDGAR CHAPARRO WRITTEN BY JESSE ADUMA

Fitness, as defined by the English Web Dictionary, refers to the quality of being suitable. The condition of being fit, suitable, or appropriate.

Experts define Physical Fitness as “one’s ability to execute daily activities with optimal performance, endurance, and strength with the management of disease, fatigue, and stress and reduced sedentary behavior.”

This definition makes us understand that fitness has other aspects than simple muscle strength.

Going by the above definitions, lifting weights and performing all sorts of muscle-building workouts at the gym may not be enough to attain true physical fitness. While such strenuous workouts offer a variety of health advantages to the body—not to mention help your physique goals—when it comes to fitness, these sorts of workouts only address one part of the problem.

Some important aspects of physical fitness vital to your fitness journey include:

Muscular Strength: As expounded earlier, this refers to the most popular aspect of fitness, commonly mistaken to mean the whole. The structure of the muscles changes with exercise. Any form of activity performed till the muscles in use are tired/exhausted will result in those muscles getting strengthened over time.

Endurance (Muscular

Endurance) : Another aspect of fitness is

Endurance or Muscular

Endurance. This refers to the ability or capability of a muscle to keep exerting force or to continue to perform an activity without tiring. While in muscular strength, the aim is to build larger and

stronger muscles via strength training exercises, endurance training focuses more on the cardiovascular system.

One common form of endurance training is running. This is much different from strength training exercises as it doesn’t necessarily build larger muscles but instead greatly increases the endurance and general health of the body and its organs.

Besides having muscular strength and the ability to lift heavy objects, one must also be able to hold out during strenuous activities to be considered fit.

Cardiorespiratory Performance: This is a major aspect of fitness and arguably the most crucial. Cardiorespiratory fitness refers to the ability of the circulatory and respiratory systems to supply oxygen to skeletal muscles during sustained physical activity. A person’s cardiorespiratory performance is an indication of how well the body can supply fuel during physical activity via the body’s circulatory and respiratory systems.

Exercises/activities that help improve cardiorespiratory performance aren’t necessarily as intense as strength training or body-building exercises. However, a vital factor is that these exercises or activities cause an elevated heart rate for a sustained period.

As such, they offer a range of benefits to the internal organs, including and most especially, the heart. Amongst a host of other health benefits, these exercises help strengthen the heart, enabling it to pump more blood per heartbeat. Examples of such exercises include: swimming, cycling, etc.

Anatomical Makeup: Anatomical Makeup refers to the balance between the components that make up a person’s anatomy. On the subject of physical fitness, these components include: bone, muscle, fat, and water. An individual can change the ratio of these components without significant weight alteration.

Thus, pursuing physical fitness in this area refers to achieving the optimal quotient between the four above-mentioned components.

In this aspect of physical fitness, conventional fitness tracking methods, such as weight measurement, are rendered virtually inadequate. Since muscle weighs more than fat, a healthier person with more muscle tone may weigh more than or as much as someone carrying more fat, the obvious weight.

Flexibility (Muscle Flexibility): According to Wikipedia, Flexibility refers to the anatomical range of movement in a joint or series of joints and the length

of muscles that cross the joints to induce a bending movement or motion.

In terms of flexibility, fitness is a whole other world of its own. It refers to the ability to transition between movements smoothly and with ease. The smoothness of the transition from one movement to another depends on a host of variables around the joints, like the tightness of ligaments and tendons.

Judging fitness levels in the area of flexibility, many bodybuilders may not qualify as fit because of the lack of prowess in flexibility due to the tension of the muscles.

What’s more, flexibility is important because it reduces the risk of internal injuries such as sprains. One of the most efficient ways of increasing flexibility is by performing stretching exercises regularly. This will not only help reduce the risks of injury but also impact your everyday life by improving your ability to link movements together smoothly.

In conclusion, knowing your fitness goal before setting out on the journey is crucial to reaching your target. As the term Fitness itself encompasses a variety of facets, it is important to identify what area, in particular, to improve on before embarking on your fitness journey. This way, picking out effective exercises and workout plans becomes simpler, making it easier to achieve fitness in that area.

BY GEORGE DIKE

LeadBlocks

Helping Startups Grow Their Businesses in Record Time

WRITTEN BY GEORGE DIKE

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LEADBLOCKS

Laura Dechesne

Sales lead generation involves identifying and nurturing potential customers through various marketing and sales channels. It is a crucial process for businesses of all sizes, enabling them to identify and connect with customers interested in their products or services. There are many ways to generate sales leads, and businesses can use a combination of strategies to achieve their goals.

This industry is constantly evolving. Advances in technology, changes in consumer behavior, and shifts in the global economy have major impacts on the sales lead industry. And so, starting and running a leads generation business, especially during a pandemic, is no ordinary task. Yet, that didn’t stop Laura from starting LeadBlocks, a startup that aims to help sales organizations generate leads efficiently.

Laura Dechesne started LeadBlocks, a sales lead generation company, in October 2020, just four months before her maternity leave. When asked how she got the inspiration for the name, she explained that it was inspired by the idea that a sales organization is built up by blocks, such as CRM, data, leads, content, and more. Therefore, LeadBlocks is the building block for the leads of a sales organization. The name perfectly embodies what the company does and what it stands for. The sales lead generation industry has become an increasingly important part of the business world, especially with the growth of digital marketing and e-commerce.

However, this industry faces several challenges that can make it difficult to generate high-quality leads and maintain a competitive edge effectively. It is even worse for small and medium-

scale lead generation businesses that need help to compete with larger companies.

Laura acknowledges that a major challenge is dealing with customers reluctant to invest in what could potentially grow their businesses. She says, “Many clients want to do social selling, but many are afraid to invest in something they don’t know would work for them.”

Social selling is a new concept; only some people are familiar, so convincing clients to invest in it is challenging. Another challenge is finding new ways to connect with the target audience. People don’t want to receive the same kind of messages repeatedly, so companies have to be creative with their messaging.

Creative messaging is an effective way for businesses to generate and convert

sales leads. By crafting messaging that resonates with potential customers and stands out from the competition, businesses can capture attention, build interest, and persuade prospects to take action. It can build emotional connections and a sense of trust and rapport with the customers.

Following up with leads is crucial for converting them into paying customers. When a lead expresses interest in a product or service, businesses must continue engaging with them to build trust, answer any questions or concerns, and guide them through the sales funnel. Laura confirms that finding leads is only half the battle because the clients need to follow up with them.

Many leads may need more time to purchase. However, by staying in touch and providing valuable information and resources, businesses can build relationships and keep the conversation going until they are ready to buy.

Unfortunately, many clients put less effort into the warming-up phase of these leads. This can be challenging because the effectiveness of lead generation is only fully realized if the follow-up is adequate. This is where LeadBlocks stands out because great effort is put into lead generation and follow-up.

The vision and mission of LeadBlocks are simple yet powerful. They believe every sales organization should be built up by a lead generation phase and then a sales phase. The first step is warming up the leads and then putting human effort into the leads.

Many companies still need to understand this mechanism, and LeadBlocks aims to help them by simplifying the lead generation part. The mission is to help companies easily generate leads, and this is what drives them every day.

The founder is inspired by women entrepreneurs who combine family and business. It’s challenging to start a business and raise a family simultaneously, yet these women do it gracefully and easily. It’s inspiring to see women breaking barriers and achieving their goals while juggling these multiple responsibilities.

LeadBlocks is a relatively small organization with a lot of growth plans. Laura highlights focusing on stabilization this year, ensuring someone else can take over every colleague's tasks if necessary. They are also looking for more

long-term focused clients. The goal is to ensure they can deliver consistent results and significantly impact their clients’ businesses.

Finally, she has some advice for young budding entrepreneurs.

“Firstly, burn your bridges.” This implies that you should commit fully to your business idea. There’s no looking back; you must be fully invested in it. Secondly, “focus on the big picture.” It’s easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day tasks, but you should always keep the big picture in mind. This will help you stay motivated and focused on the end goal.

Lastly, “Always focus 100% on sales, even when you don’t need extra clients.” This is crucial because you never know when you might need those extra clients, and it’s always better to be proactive rather than reactive. The goal is to generate high-quality leads that can be converted into paying customers.

Overall, the sales industry is one of the most challenging, with many daily challenges. We celebrate Laura Dechesne for keeping the fort and setting a pace for others to follow.

The first device to hack your metabolism

The first device to hack your metabolism

Enhance fat burn, lose weight & boost energy naturally

Enhance fat burn, lose weight & boost energy naturally

special interest 328

SELF LOVE

BY GEORGE DIKE

SELF LO VE

What Does It Mean To Love Yourself?

Self-love has gradually grown to be a movement. As our society and culture become more enthralled with the concept of self-love, the idea of fully accepting and loving oneself has become increasingly important.

Self-love is self-awareness, being positive, accepting your flaws, harnessing your strength, knowing your worth, and doing away with negative energy. Psychological research has shown that self-love and compassion are essential for mental health and well-being, preventing depression and anxiety.

WRITTEN BY GEORGE DIKE

“How to love yourself is how you teach others to love you”

- RUPI KAUR

Before practicing self-love, we first need to understand what it entails.

• Self-love is a feeling of admiration for oneself that stems from behaviors that help us grow physically, psychologically, and spiritually.

• Self-love implies having great regard for one’s happiness and well-being.

• Self-love entails attending to your needs rather than putting others’ needs ahead of yours.

• Self-love means refusing to accept anything less than what you deserve.

• Self-love is controlled by the belief about yourself (self-based self-esteem) and thoughts about how other people regard you (other-based self-esteem).

You must strengthen your beliefs about yourself regardless of what others think of you. Only then can you truly love yourself!

Be mindful that self-love does not imply arrogance or an inflated ego. Instead, it means being authentic and compassionate to yourself. Here are some guidelines on how to improve self-esteem and love yourself:

Stop Self-Comparison

No two persons are the same. It is our individualistic nature that makes us unique. Imagine a world filled with the same faces, body types, skin colors, etc. How ordinary it will be. Our diversity is what adds spice to life. Instead of comparing yourself to others, start embracing your differences and uniqueness. You are the only version of yourself.

PHOTO BY HASSAN OUAJBIR

“Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we’ll ever do.”

- BRENÉ BROWN

To Make Mistakes is to be Human

Do you spite yourself, do you make yourself feel like less of a person when you do something wrong? That is the opposite of you loving yourself. Know that mistakes happen so we can learn valuable life lessons. Don’t bask in your error, don’t let anyone beat you up. No one is perfect.

Self-love Implies Self-care

It is a fact that self-love pushes you to make healthy life choices. When you have a reasonable opinion of yourself, you are more likely to choose things that will benefit your wellbeing and serve you well. These things could include eating well, exercising, or having healthy relationships. Pay attention to your body.

Take breaks from work to stretch and move. Put down the phone, interact with yourself or others, or do something creative. Eat healthy, yet occasionally indulge in your favorite meals. We frequently need to return to the basics to practice caring for ourselves.

Your Looks Do Not Define You

Accepting yourself as you are in this moment for everything that you are is also self-love. It entails embracing your feelings, ideas, experiences, and of course, your looks. You are a composition of all these. Therefore, one aspect does not define you. Learn to appreciate your wholesome self as you are. Prioritize your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Like every other type of love, you must practice self-love to develop it. Now we know how to practice self-love, we may also ask, why? It is because we deserve to be loved wholly. No one can love you more than you love yourself. As stated earlier, self-love shows people how to love you by loving yourself. Here is how it will play out for you when you love yourself.

• When you learn to believe in yourself, you teach others to trust and have faith in you.

• When you create healthy boundaries, you let others know and respect your limits and capabilities.

• When you define your values, you announce your morals and your expectations of others.

• When you become honest with yourself, you teach others to be honest with themselves.

• When you treat yourself fairly, you teach others to be fair and just.

• When you give yourself a breather from self-judgment, you show others that patience and positivity belong in your world.

• When you learn to forgive yourself, you show others you can be gracious to them.

• When you become self-aware, you let others know you are in control.

• When you make better-informed choices, you teach others that you are logical, rational, and trustworthy.

PHOTO BY DE'ANDRE BUSH

As the saying goes, you can only give what you have. If you have a lot of love, then you can give love. If you have a lot of hatred, then you will give hatred. If you have forgiveness, then you can provide others with forgiveness. What do you want to give to others? Inspire yourself and others around you with these Self-Love Quotes:

“Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we’ll ever do.” -

Brené Brown

“You deserve someone who makes you feel like the otherworldly creature you are. Yourself.” -

Amanda Lovelace

“I just wanted to remind you, in case you needed to hear it, to be kind and loving to yourself, and talk to yourself like you would talk to your best friend.” -

Camila Cabello

“Make peace with your broken pieces.” - r.h. Sin “No other love, no matter how genuine it is, can fulfill one’s heart better than unconditional selflove.” -

Edmond Mbiaka

As you practice and promote self-love, your aura becomes contagious. Everyone who comes in contact with you also becomes self-loving. What you encourage and model to others will spread. The good seed of love will raise positive energy around you. Loving yourself is not far-fetched.

Take a deep breath and give yourself a warm hug. Follow these little steps daily, and you will love yourself little by little.

• Start each day by telling yourself something positive. How well you handled a situation, how lovely you look today. Anything that will make you smile.

• Fill your body with food and drink that nourishes and makes it thrive.

• Move that gorgeous body of yours every single day and learn to love the skin you’re in. You can not hate your way into loving yourself.

• Don’t believe everything you think. There is an inner critic inside us trying to keep us small and safe. The downside is this also stops us from living a fulfilling life.

• Finally, surround yourself with people who love and encourage you. Let them remind you just how amazing you are.

Self Love is loving yourself unapologetically every day. You continually take care of others, so you should not feel bad about taking time for yourself now and again. Besides, why shouldn’t you love yourself? After all, you only have one choice: to be yourself. You might as well love yourself.

PHOTO BY DANE WETTON

“You deserve someone who makes you feel like the otherworldly creature you are. Yourself.”

- AMANDA LOVELACE

Skincare is self-care

influential people 338

QUEER FREEDOM BY: JESSE ADUMA

THE IMPACT OF THE ACTIVITIES OF QUEERCITY MEDIA & PRODUCTIONS ON THE LGBTQI+ COMMUNITY IN NIGERIA

QUEER

BY OLAIDE KAYODE TIMILEYIN

The urge to express one’s innermost identity is an impulse rooted in any living species. And since humans—being more intelligent than most—have the ability and are more prone to conceal aspects of their lives that may not conform to the standards set by the majority in society, this impulse eventually evolves into a severe compulsion as the real self is always striving to break through the skin.

PHOTOGRAPHED

WRITTEN BY JESSE ADUMA

FREEDOM

Olaide Kayode Timileyin

As a result of the constant struggle to suppress these aspects of ourselves and keep the make-shift personas afloat, a lot of people go through life feeling insufficient and inadequate, constrained even. Which could adversely affect a person’s well-being and overall livelihood.

It is from this struggle between an individual’s innate compulsion to reveal their complete self and their determination to suppress these aspects of their personality that an identity crisis is born.

In today’s society, this sad tale is very common with members of the LGBTQI+ community, whose nontraditional way of life has been deemed abnormal by the rest of the world, forcing a majority

to hide these “strange” aspects of their identity for most of their lives.

These worldly views on life have been met with stiff opposition in Nigeria, where the culture is strong and the people rigid. As such, the community’s growth in these areas has been hindered. However, thanks to the efforts of different pillars in the community, queer persons in these areas are finding the will and motivation to take pride in the aspects of their personalities they once concealed, thereby embracing their full identities and becoming whole.

One such pillar of the community is Nigeria’s own Olaide Kayode Timileyin. Timi, as he is popularly called, has played, and is still playing, a huge role in furthering the LGBTQI+ movement in Nigeria.

Timi has ventured into many career paths and describes himself as “a person of multiple endeavors.” Despite his young age, Timi has traversed multiple fields of discipline and accrued knowledge as a trained scientist, teacher, podcast producer, curator, activist, and archivist. Burdened by the neglect of the community in his country—of which he is a part—Timi decided to take matters into his own hands, putting in the effort to bolster his community, thereby challenging the unprogressive ideologies prevalent in his part of the world.

One of the instruments that have been most useful to Timi in furthering his cause is his very own media organization, Queercity Media & Productions.

Queercity Media & Productions is West Africa’s foremost LGBTQI+ media and arts organization. Founded by Timi, a Nigerian culture producer and creative executive, the organization has been very forward in advocating for the community’s freedom of expression. Amongst other things, Timi works as the CEO of Queercity Media in Lagos and, via the organization, has succeeded in revitalizing the community as he puts in a lot of effort to attract attention and keep the buzz about.

African artistic scene, researchers, cultural organizations, and curating festivals, experiences, performances, and exhibitions”

“I work as the Festival Manager, artistic researcher, and CEO of Queercity Media in Lagos, leading the organization and its sub-collectives like Pride in Lagos, the Haus II Gallery (Nigeria’s LGBTQI+ Museum of Queer Arts) – where my works are majorly on the reclamation of LGBTQ+ narratives and the decolonization of Africa, through collecting archival materials and working with indigenous West

–

OLAIDE KAYODE TIMILEYIN.

The efforts made by Queercity Media & Productions in furthering the cause of the LGBTQI+ community have been nothing short of magnanimous, and the tremendous results are only a testament to this.

In June of 2022, Timi, through the organization, organized the Pride in Lagos festival, a one-week-long event to reclaim indigenous Queer representation and further societal acceptance for sexual minorities and gender-diverse persons in West Africa. This served as a huge milestone for the community. Individuals from different areas of life who had gotten used to hiding their identities finally had the courage to step out and be their true selves.

When asked about how he had directly contributed to the growth of the LGBTQ+ community in Nigeria, Timi couldn’t conceal his sense of pride.

Besides helping to attract attention, and creating buzz and visibility for his community, Timi, through Queercity Media, has also been aiding members of the community by creating employment opportunities for those in need.

Timi is not indifferent to the difficulties of leading a progressive lifestyle in a developing country. He has opened up to being on the receiving end of backlash for his persistence in overturning tradition.

“I have had to change addresses multiple times, I have been denied housing even after paying for it, and I have faced continuous violence from the Nigerian police, which has had a huge impact on my mental health and how I navigate public spaces” – Olaide Kayode Timileyin.

Besides the challenges faced as an individual, Timi has encountered some hindrances while running Queercity Media.

“This is me trying to count how many times we’ve made history, which is funny because all our works and projects are not only unique but phenomenal. From Queercity Media, which has risen to be West Africa’s biggest LGBTQI+ media space, to Pride in Lagos which is now an international household, to The Third Café, our new coffee space, etc. In the past five years of running Queercity Media, the works I have done haven’t just created visibility for LGBTQI+ persons in Nigeria, but have continuously brought international solidarity on the very human experience of the Nigeria Queer persons.”

– OLAIDE KAYODE TIMILEYIN.

But despite the drawbacks, the hindrances, the opposition faced while doing what began as a passion project, Timi’s colossal successes cannot be overlooked. Thanks to the traction gained from his efforts to create visibility for the LGBTQI+ space, Timi has had the privilege of working with international media institutes, academic institutes, and experts on reporting LGBTQI+ narratives in West Africa, thereby bringing international solidarity to the plight of the Nigerian Queer persons.

Timi says that besides helping him find peace, his affiliation with the LGBTQI+ space and the efforts to foster a sense of pride “fulfilled the essence of his being and helped him find his voice and build a community.” Grateful for the growth of the movement and optimistic about the future, Timi had this to say about the future of the movement in Nigeria.

“I will say that the challenges I face are both internal politics within the movement and externally, the laws of Nigeria have really reduced our capacities, we can’t get registered, talk more of working to our maximum potential”

– OLAIDE KAYODE TIMILEYIN.

“The next five, we might experience more diversity in organizing, and this might be followed with some legal back and forth too. Maybe, we would have been registered by then. I am staying hopeful”

– OLAIDE KAYODE TIMILEYIN

Olaide Kayode Timileyin

Sourced small batches of materials, with the idea that scarcity is the ultimate luxury.

Modern style, created by hand. Each piece is bespoke and custom made using the best European tanneries and materials.

Ethically Handmade and Sustainable Jewelry Made in Spain

Written by: Cary Wong, Filipa Araújo, Nizie Lokman.

Photographs courtesy of: Coolhaus, Uzumaki Gallery, Sophie Collé Designs, Tito Art & Design, TOMBOY X, Automic Gold.

Culinary

Coolhaus

CHOCOLATE MOLTEN CAKE PINT, DAIRY FREE COOKIE DOUGH LYFE SAMMIE

LGBTQ women-owned ice cream brand

$6.99 - $10.49 USD

COOL.HAUS/COLLECTIONS/ALL

Rancho Gordo

FRENCH-STYLE GREEN LENTIL, AYOCOTE MORADO BEAN

Concentrates on heirloom beans but also has grains, spices, and other pantry items for sale

$6.25 - $7.25

RANCHOGORDO.COM

Grinding Coffee

12 PACK ORIGINAL ROAST K-CUPS, AFRICAN KAHAWA BLEND

Vegan and gluten-free coffee that’s roasted the same day of shipping

$27.59 - $81.43

GRINDINGCOFFEE.CO

Home Design & Decor

Uzumaki Gallery

Created by Los Angeles–based artist Uzumaki Cepeda is known for her colorful fur-clad forms. She explores her artistic expression with safety, comfort, with objects and space.

UZUMAKI STOOLS

The Uzumaki stools are handmade, with 7 choices of colors and a dimension of 13'W x 13'D x 24'H. Weight limit is 275 lbs. This item is made to order. You can expect 2-3 weeks for your stool to be made before it’s shipped.

$250

UZUMAKI.GALLERY

TABLE LAMP

A beautiful handmade table lamp made with faux fur is available in seven colors.

Measurement: 16.2 x 7.1 x 4.3"

Note: Use ONLY LED non-heating light bulbs for safety. The fur has no contact with the bulb.

How to use: Unscrew the plastic piece that’s by the light bulb and flip the lamp shade right side up to set up.

Under no circumstances plug this lamp into a socket that might be short-circuiting or having any potential electrical problems. Though there is no faux fur inside the lampshade to protect from heat, it’s best to keep in a safe place. Safety first!

$175

UZUMAKI.GALLERY/SHOP/UZU

Sophie Collé Designs

The collection explores pastel colors embodying humor, personality, and play.

WIGGLY HEART MIRROR

Pre Order item. As this is a handmade item, do expect some imperfection. Made with wood, latex paint, polyacrylic varnish (waterproof), it comes in 5 colors. Available in thick or thin frame choices. There is also an option for installment payments.

$285

SOPHIECOLLEDESIGN.COM

COW PRINT TISSUE BOX

This item is one of Sophie’s famous handmade cow print accessories that revolve around humor, personality, and play. Made with a wooden case for a tissue box with a measurement of 5.9” x 5.9” x 5.9”

Please give 2-3 weeks from order time.

$75

SOPHIECOLLEDESIGN.COM

Tito Art & Design

This amazing creation by Nathanael Tito Gonzalez depicts daydreaming creativity. He is known for his home design and decor, photographed flying off into space next to prints of mysterious shapes appearing in the sky over the Hollywood sign.

ENTITIES OVER HOLLYWOOD SIGN

This art piece is a head-turner. Photographed with the Hollywood sign, it tells an abstract that could be perfect on your wall at home. Water-based archival print on matte photo paper:

12" x 16"

16" x 20"

20" x 28"

24" x 36"

Giclee print on canvas: 39" x 55"

$50 - $350

TITOART.DESIGN

UFO LORE TAPESTRY

Made with 100% cotton, Nathanael Tito Gonzalez was inspired to make this piece by his passion for the mystery of aliens. Represented here are the total solar eclipse in Oregon (2017), native designs from Santa Fe, New Mexico, and the California poppy fields.

$200 – $300

TITOART.DESIGN

Fashion & Accessories

Tomboy X

TomboyX was founded to fill a need that has been unfilled for far too long. We asked ourselves, “How hard can it be to make good underwear?” And by that, we meant underwear that fit regular bodies and how we saw ourselves. And underwear that any body could feel comfortable in, regardless of where they fell on the size or gender spectrum.

Automic Gold

Radically wearable fine jewelry for everyone. The pieces are made from reclaimed gold and arrive in recyclable packaging. Automic Gold is a queer, trans-owned business. Automic Gold is for all genders. Not because it is jewelry that fits a person of any gender. Not because the style is a baseline style deemed “acceptable” for binary genders but because Automic Gold jewelry was specifically designed to mix and warp the feminine, masculine, in-between, and outside to make fine jewelry beyond gender.

A truly gender-free jewelry designed by a genderqueer person.

KEY CHARM, BEE RING

$349.00 - $239.00

AUTOMICGOLD.COM

BEE RING SOLID 14K GOLD

Beautiful shoes should be comfortable too

100% NATURAL SOY WAX

FREE OF DYES 7 SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCE

PREMIUM BLEND OF FRAGRANCE OILS & ESSENTIAL OILS

HAND-POURED IN SONOMA COUNTY, CA

CLONE CANDLE COLLECTION lopezfamilyvineyards.com

Our mission is to remake, re-use, recycle, and repurpose for a prolonged life cycle. diarrablu.com