ISSUE 006 - HOLIDAZE / DECEMBER '15

THINGS HOLIDAZE

#006

EDITOR’S LETTER This is the last Issue of 2015, and as 2016 begins – Things Magazine is starting fresh.

For Issue 006 we explored the concepts of traditions and rituals under the moniker “Holidaze”. One tradition we are taking part in, is the concept of starting anew each year.

When the clock strikes twelve, the calendar resets and so do we. Some say that you should be able to change or modify yourself at any time; you shouldn’t have to wait for a new year. But I’m a sucker for tradition and will gladly partake in changing how Things is done. A lot is changing in 2016. Issue 006 is the last issue that connects us to our past selves. Get ready for new Things :)

SIENNA KWAMI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

CONTRIBUTORS Local

Dominic Lombardi Leah Lombardi Wind Kuphirun Yiling Zhao

International Chelsea Paisley Natalia Shlyakhovaya

Team

Sienna Kwami - Editor in Chief Mandusu Sidibay - Creative Director Penny Mack - Blog Editor

Heat Photographed: Wind Kuphirun Modeled: Yiling Zhao

The Light Photographed: Natalia Shlykhovaya

Sip of Smooth Air

Photographed: Wind Kuphirun

Bridget

Photographed: Sienna Kwami Interviewed: Madusa Sidibay

The Boston (actually Brockton) dwelling, teenaged sewing star chats with us. But not about Project Runway Junior.

So, Bridget, who are you?

I am a 16 year old fashion designer, who loves the color purple.

At what age did you realize that designing and sewing was your passion?

I’ve been sewing since I was 9(or at least I think I started then!) and I’ve loved it so much ever since. When I was about 13 I started taking it more seriously though.

Where does your artistic influence come from?

Id say my artistic influence comes from my dad. He’s an incredible black and white photographer. Growing up I would always go to photo shoots with him, and he would always pick the most unusual places and people to take pictures of. I feel that he showed me how to truly be creative.

Describe the moment you found out you were going to be on the FIRST season of Project Runway Junior, what was that like?

When I found out that I was going to be on the first season of Project Runway

Junior, I was in awe. I was with my dad, just goofing off, when I saw that I was getting a call from the casting producers. I answered right away, and they immediately told me I was on the show.

Pretty sure I cried tears of joy a few times that day!

Before Project Runway Junior, did you ever consider being a fashion designer?

Absolutely. I’ve been sewing for the past seven years, so it crossed my mind a lot.

What goals do you have for yourself in 2016 considering the amazing year you’ve had?

Oh my gosh, I have no idea. All I know is that I want to take the opportunity Project Runway Junior gave me and run with it.

Do you plan to pursue a higher education in design in the future?

Possibly. If I did, I would study the marketing side of fashion.

Are you inspired by a specific designer’s journey?

Every season I’m inspired by the designers on the original version of Project Runway. A lot of the designers on the show are self taught so it’s amazing to see how far they’ve come.

What do you maybe see yourself doing in 10 years as a profession? It’s okay if you don’t know, I certainly don’t.

I have no idea. What I do know is that I want to be doing something creative, and definitely not a 9-5 job.

What is the most important piece of advice you learned from Project Runway Junior?

Don’t be afraid to experiment.

Favorite band?

The 1975, The Neighbourhood, and Glass Animals.

Current favorite song?

That’s a hard one!! Id say Seeing Stars

by BØRNS. Favorite book?

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han, and Hamlet by Shakespeare(if that counts!)

Favorite designer?

The Blonds.

Favorite food?

Anything with peanut butter in it.

Favorite person?

Also hard. I love Steven Tyler and RuPaul.

You Loved Me Better One Year Ago

Dominic & Leah Lombardi

Home For the Holidays Our earliest memories of the festive season almost always include family – from a bleary-eyed

A cursory glance at your Facebook news feed will reveal it’s not uncommon for friends and family to

traditional breakfasts at home, to seeing relatives for the first time all year. More than any other

be scattered across the globe – moreso than ever before – and along with this shift we see a shift in

time of year, our holiday rituals are integrally inthe communications and technology we use to fused with those with whom we are surrounded. “I keep in touch with one another. Email and instant can’t really think of a standout [holiday] memory with my own family, because for me one of the

messaging, video calls and social media updates mean we are updated in a constant and intimate

main comforts of Christmas is the familiarity of doing similar things every year,” my friend Elena tells

way, no matter where our loved ones are located.

Marshall McLuhan is associated with the term

me on the topic of the holidays. “Except one year my younger cousins adapted ‘Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer’ to be about my dad and I don’t think I’ll ever forget that.”

This year, however, is a little different. “This [festive season] I’ll be in Italy. I’m living and studying in Milan at the moment but for Christmas I’ll be in a small town in the South kind of close of Naples called Maddaloni.” It’s a long way from her Sydney home and the family she has there.

“the global village” – the removal of the hindrance of space to information, travel and communication. We can go anywhere in under 24 hours, find information in seconds and see, hear and talk to people that may be on a different continent (or on the next block) at the same rate. And yet, we remain drawn together to physical closeness with our loved ones during the holiday season.

“The Chinese Spring festival is usually [during] the vacation, and every year we go to the place where

Another friend of mine, Trecia, is flying home for my grandparents are and spend the holiday the holidays after being in Sydney all year. “I think there. My aunts and uncles and their families will also the most important part [of the holidays] is getting together – especially as I am an international go, so it is a big annual family get together,” Trecia recalls. “When I’m actually away from them student who cannot be with family for most of the and year. With my friends in China, it is very live by myself, I finally realise that they are my important to see each other during the vacation source of power.” to catch up with their news.”

So many of our holiday memories are integrally

linked to places – both places that are almost reserved for the festive season, and places that are given new life with celebrations. “Going to sing carols with my nana was the one time of the year I ever went to church; when I was little I liked it because they gave all the kids lollies, but when I got older I enjoyed being able to share that time with her since I knew how important it was to her,” Elena says. “I think holidays now are (slightly) less about the presents and more about spending time with people/family/friend that I don’t spend much time with the rest of the year.”

previously insurmountable physical distances.

But so do our cherished traditions bind us across the planet and at this time of year. Trecia reflects, “When I was in high school and had tons of homework, I thought the holidays are all about relaxing and doing nothing. Yet now, I find holidays should be spent with the people I care about and doing something meaningful.”

“This year I’m going to spend the Christmas/New year period with the family that hosted me when I did an exchange four years ago,” Elena says, and while she misses her family at home she’ll make the

Communications technology has transformed the way we keep in contact with one another: it’s

best of it. “Nativity scenes (called presepe) in family homes and churches are really big [in Italy] and I

indisputable. While on her travels, Elena keeps her family and friends updated and inspired with a

love looking at them, and obviously the food in southern Italy at Christmas is incredible.” Although

newly-created photoblog, while Trecia communicates by email with her loved ones during the

our loved ones and we may be strewn across the globe, we remain connected by our relationships,

semester. It’s meant the creation of new rituals – like the greetings and well-wishes circulated on

and rituals – wherever we may find them.

social media – as well as the transformation of existing ones – my own festive menu now consists largely of recipes found online and recommended by friends. Social media and the internet have made it that much easier to talk to the ones we care about, and allow us to seamlessly traverse

By Chelsea Paisley

#thingsmag