Issue No.4 | The Obsession with Youth Issue | AW17
contents
RENASCENCE No.4
ed’s letter ...five
editor’s choice ...six grooming - redefine ...ten opinion... monde mtsi ...twelve profile... okechukwu ...fourteen boy on the edge ...eighteen tailor made ...thirty-two #throwback ...fourty-six
masthead//contributors MONDE MTSI editor Lindile Ndwanyana managing editor Brian Lehang contributing editor Larry English contributing photographer Sarah Keogh contributing photographer Jordan-Lee Garbutt contributing photographer
DISCLAIMER: Questions, comments and contribution enquiries can be forwarded to renaissancemensa@gmail.com.
4
Obsession With Youth Issue / AW17
editor’s note They say ‘better late than never’, appropriate in this instance, as this issue has been coming along. So far back, it was conceptualized as a summer issue, however, life adulated, and I found myself having to push it back to later; to now.
Working as a one-man team is not as glamorous and easy as one may think, but that’s no need for tears. It’s essentially an opportunity for one to hone in on their vision and learn to develop the fundamentals that make the project what it is in the end. In the process of producing this issue, I have learnt quite a few lessons. I think, honestly speaking, the most important has been: I may prefer to live and work as an island, however, tourists are more than welcome to visit, as long as they leave after a while. Enough of that. In this issue, we briefly look at the industry’s obsession with youth. I tackle the ideology behind celebrating youth and worshipping remaining young, we profile a young up-and-coming model from Nigeria and we look at some trendy fashion for the transitional season right now. It’s a little bit of a byte than our usual issue, however, it’s enough to get your fashion fiend dealt with. Let’s hope now that the teething process has been managed, I can produce this baby on a more regular basis for you. So sit back and enjoy. Don’t forget to let us know your thoughts.
monde mtsi
On The Cover Photographer – Sarah Keogh Stylist – Monde Mtsi Model – Okechukwu Ojukwu Fashion – Levi’s Line 8 Collection
5
RENASCENCE No.4
2 1
3
Editor’s
4
Choice As seasons change, so do parts of our lifestyle. This Autumn, as a new season arrives, switch up your life to match the jet-setter inside of you.
6
1 PUMAxSTAMPD Trinomic Wove Collection MEN Bomber - R1’499 / 6 HiSense Infinity Elegance – R R1’499 – The Casio Shop / 9 Ame
Obsession With Youth Issue / AW17
8
7 6
9
5
en Sneaker - R2’999 – Puma / 2 SkinCeuticals Physical Matte UV Defense SPF50 - R650 - Skin Renewal / 3 H&M Studio 9 – H&M / 4 Masons – Cuban Mojito - R98 for 4 pack - Cyber Cellar / 5 Titch Backpack Sling – Black - R1’250 - Titch Rose Quartz - R3’999 - Take-a-Lot / 7 Dolce & Gabbana - R3’090 - Luxottica (0214866100) / 8 Casio Retro B640WC erican Tourister Bon Air – R1’899 – 66cm Spinner - House Of Samsonite.
7
RENASCENCE No.4
RE
2 1
DEFINE
We discover 9 elements your skin and body should not live without as the season chills down a bit. Take vital, bold action – without a loss of opulence.
6
1 Chanel Allure Homme After-Shave Lotion - R1025 – Re Hour Cream All-Over Miracle Oil - R425 – Red Square / 7 Tom Ford Neroli Portofino Eau De Parfum - R3795 – Re
10
Obsession With Youth Issue / AW17
3
5
2 4
7
8
9
ed Square / 2 Axe Dark Temptation - R31.95 – Clicks / 3 LAB Series – PRO LS All-In-One Shower Gel - R650 – Red Square / 4 Elizabeth Arden Eight 5 Kiehl’s Rare Earth Pore Refining Tonic - R425 – Kiehl’s / 6 Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Whipped Body Butter - R685 – Kiehl’s / ed Square / 8 Elemis Deep Cleanse Facial Wash - R350 – Elemis / 9 Tabac Gentlemen’s Care Moisturising Gel Energizing - R195 – Red Square.
11
RENASCENCE No.4
Vox Populi
YOUNG’n
Fashion has always had a crush on being young, but is this crush turning into a blind obsession? Editor, Monde Mtsi, gives the subject a botox injection to try and decipher the root of it all. What is it with fashion’s obsession with youth? Does it have to do with the desire to stay forever young? Perhaps it’s the inclination that life is better when you’re a little bit younger. Think back to your own carefree days of adolescences, the rebellious teen years and the flutter of being brave enough to do anything you put your mind to and conquer. All of that happened before we started adulating. Traces of recurring youth can be dated back to the 80s, 90s and 00s, with designers such as Alexander McQueen, Raf Simons and Hedi Slimane drawing inspiration for their collections from teenage punk years, rebel adolescences and even high school nostalgia. The melancholy of it all was the essence of what those phases meant, what those stages of life looked and felt like. Them and a handful of others, captured the movement of the stage and what it represented for them then in a now-stateof-mind, illustrating it through fashion. Somehow, down along the timeline, designers (and mass media in general, including music, pop culture, advertising and television) starting morphing the line between chasing the essence of youth today and the body of youth today. In modern times, the term youth in fashion has geared itself more to the physical representation of 12
youth, as opposed to the youthfulness of one’s heart and spirit. Today we’re faced with underage (younger than 18 years old) models strutting their walks on the runway. All this and a bag of chips because something called hypermasculinity managed to forged its way into the industry some decades ago. Now the idea of obsessing over youth is about extremely young bodies, chiseled torsos, brazened bodies and extremely tallness. And all this, creating a sensation that one does not use clothes to look younger, but have to transform their actual body into a time-machine. This is not the ideal. Great designers are able to take the memoirs of their youth and recreate them in modern times to create a classic piece of contemporary fashion that can be worn by both the old and the young. Fashion should not constitute the visual image of one’s physical being, but rather communicate their youthful aspirations through development of modern garments fitting of their age. Will there be a stop or regression from this movement? There needs to be. Fashion should retain its storytelling through clothes and not dictate how one should feel about senescence. MM
Luka Sabbat photographed by Matthew Priesley and styled by Sam Walker.
Obsession With Youth Issue / AW17
13
RENASCENCE No.4
okechukwu Your full name is… Okechukwu Ojukwu.
What’s the last song you James, Mai Atafo and Maxivive). listened to? Breathless - Artist UnAs a model, your face is But you prefer being known. your commodity. What called… Oke. What do you always car- is your industry-insider to grooming perfection? ry with you? I use my MYSHA Facial You are represented by… My mobile phone. Mask and I do a deep My Booker Model Management Nigeria. What was the last country cleansing every week. (or city) you visited and Any advice for young How long have you been what did you do there? a professional model? I was recently in South guys looking to get into 2 years now. Africa for South African modelling? Always believe in yourMenswear Week. self. Did you walk into an agency or were you dis- What do you aspire to covered? have or achieve in 5 What do you do outside modelling? I was discovered by years? Uchenna Okwudima. Givenchy. Runway, look I am currently in school. book and campaign. I Outside of that I will either be playing football What do you love about want it all. being a model? or helping my cousin at I must say the opportuni- Who is your favourite de- his agency. ty to travel and the mon- signer to model runway ey is also not so bad. for? Any shout outs? To my family and friends Givenchy. What do you enjoy doing for their support and to outside modelling and Your Top 3 African mens- my brother and booker, wear brands/designers? Uchenna for his support with whom? I play football with my Imprint, Naked Ape, Or- and always believing in ange Culture (and Tokyo me. team on my off days. 14
Obsession With Youth Issue / AW17
15
RENASCENCE No.4
boy.on
18
Obsession With Youth Issue / AW17
n.the.edge photography by Larry English fashion by Monde Mtsi
19
RENASCENCE No.4
Monde wears Denim shirt & Jacket - Levi’s; Jeans H&M; Staffetta sneakers - Diesel.
20
Obsession With Youth Issue / AW17
21
RENASCENCE No.4
22
Obsession With Youth Issue / AW17
Monde wears Denim jacket - Levi’s Line 8; Sleeveless tee, Slouch trousers and Ballet slippers - H&M Studio MEN.
23
RENASCENCE No.4
Monde wears Jacket - Diesel; Shirt - H&M; Jeans Diesel; Jake sneakers - Diesel.
24
Obsession With Youth Issue / AW17
25
RENASCENCE No.4
26
Obsession With Youth Issue / AW17
Monde wears Leather jacket, tee (worn underneath) H&M; Sweat pants - H&M Studio MEN; Mono-V-Gram sneakers - Diesel.
27
RENASCENCE No.4
Monde wears Hoodie, Mesh top, Sweat sho H&M Studio MEN; Mono-V-Gram sneakers - D
28
Obsession With Youth Issue / AW17
orts Diesel.
29
RENASCENCE No.4
Monde wears Mickey Mouse cap - Stiaan Louw; Cut-Out Tuxedo S Sweat pants - H&M Studio MEN; Mono-V-Gram Sneakers - Diesel.
30
Obsession With Youth Issue / AW17
Shirt - Stiaan Louw;
31
RENASCENCE No.4
Tailor Made
Photography / Jordan-Lee Garbutt ... Fashion / M
32
Obsession With Youth Issue / AW17
Monde Mtsi ... Models / Andrew & Athini
33
RENASCENCE No.4
34
Obsession With Youth Issue / AW17
Andrew (left) wears Jacket, Polo shirt, Chinos from Ben Sherman. Athini (above) wears Crew neck and Two-piece suit from Ben Sherman. 35
RENASCENCE No.4
Athini (above) wears Polo-neck and Bomber coat from H&M Studio MEN. Andrew (right) wears V-neck jersey by Chulaap from Merchants on Long. 36
Obsession With Youth Issue / AW17
37
RENASCENCE No.4
38
Obsession With Youth Issue / AW17
Andrew (left) wears Shirt with matching jacket by FMBCJ from Merchants on Long, Chinos from Ben Sherman. Athini (above) wears Crew neck by Maxhosa from Merchants on Long. 39
RENASCENCE No.4
Athini (above) wears Polo-neck from H&M Studio MEN, Jacket by Liam Power. Andrew (right) wears V-neck jersey by Maxhosa from Merchants on Long. 40
Obsession With Youth Issue / AW17
41
RENASCENCE No.4
42
Andrew (left) wears Crew-neck by Maxhosa from Merchants on Long.
Obsession With Youth Issue / AW17
Athini (right) wears Crew-neck by Maxhosa from Merchants on Long.
43
Levi’s premium footwear is the epitome of practicality and style. Made with genuine leather uppers, the shoes boast a level of comfort only surpassed by the footwear’s fashion-forward essence. The current Levi’s Premium Footwear collection consists of cap toe, full brogue and plain in their formal shoe category. While the boots in the collection feature the Worker and Chelsea Boots. Be sure to be in-season and in-style this autumn winter with the Levi’s Premium Footwear AW16 collection.
Available at Levi’s retail stores and Selected Edgars stores.
RENASCENCE No.4
46
#
Throwback