LIVING FOR THE CITY
Call us biased, but New York is arguably the center of the universe, a jam-packed microcosm of the world as a whole, full of every culture and personality imaginable. Sure, it’s not perfect. It’s expensive as hell but still so filthy, it’s too hot, it’s too cold, it’s too loud, there are too many goddamn people (and why does literally everyone have an attitude problem?), and the MTA really sucks sometimes. But there’s nowhere else where you can be whoever you want to be at any given moment, where you can come from any corner of the world to chase a dream and manifest hopes into a wild reality. There are so few other places in the world where so many different people, cultures, and histories collide to find one common ground. And New York’s energy is unmatched; no matter what your hustle, the Big Apple serves as a wonderland to bring a fantasy to fruition.
From a fashion perspective, it goes without saying the New York is one of the most important fashion centers in the world, where some of the most prolific names have gotten their start and continue to thrive. New York’s fashion world is somewhat at a point of compromise these days, where moments of glitz and glamour have been pared back, and where the cutting edge is often traded in for a safer, more commercially focused direction. But there’s a powerful wave of youthful energy brewing, and we’re using this moment to celebrate a new generation of inspired creatives pushing boundaries and forging new paths. Allow this issue to serve in part as an index of some of New York’s most exciting talents and image-makers on the rise, with a nod to New York’s most promising labels – both new and old – throughout.
Possibly the most beautiful thing about New York is its immense diversity. There is no singular face of the city, rather it’s all of our differences that make it so special to be here. We celebrate the colorful and multifaceted inhabitants of all backgrounds, from wealthy families in TriBeCa to starving artists in Bushwick and everyone and everything in between. On our journey throughout the five boroughs, we meet downtown cool kids and head to the ball with proud members of the LGBTQ community, we get down with the vivacious and quickly growing Latinx community in Queens, and we even get to know Bronx-bred rising star Maliibu Miitch, who serves as another example of New York’s immense contributions to arts and culture.
So head to the bodega and stock up on snacks, get comfortable in your “cozy” apartment, and join us as we celebrate the city we call home and the colorful characters that make it so special. Deadass, it’s gonna be OD lit.
Find out more on Phosphenes #6 – “New York,” and get your copy here.