Meet Bianca Valle

March 20, 2017 in Influencer, Artist

Bianca is the Community Manager at Milk. Born and raised in Coronado, California, she always knew the city life was for her. She graduated New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts with a major in Film and a minor in Art History. In addition to her position at Milk, she does freelance photography, painting, and production design for editorial videos and short films. Lately she's also been modeling for a number of brands that are striving to feature girls with untraditional looks. She also recently self-published a zine, "hotpot," with photos she took on a recent trip throughout Asia.

Meet Sara Radin

March 14, 2017 in Writer, Editor

Based in Brooklyn, NY, Sara Radin is a writer and curator. Full time, she is the Youth Culture Editor for WGSN, where she consults global brands on consumer trends for Millennials and Generation Z. Outside of work, Sara does memoir writing and curates pop-up art events and workshops. She is the co-founder of It's Not Personal, a collaborative project, growing anthology and collective inspired by the female dating experience. Previously, her personal writing has been published by Bust Magazine, Huffington Post and Thought Catalog. She also teaches the pre-college program at the Fashion Institute of Technology and is currently a mentor for Girls Write Now.

Meet Rawan Rihani

March 07, 2017 in Florist, Fashion Designer

Rawan is the founder of Aurora Botanica, a floral art studio where she specializes in creating work with a dreamy, serene and wild aesthetic. Next year, Rawan will begin offering sacred flower bouquets inspired by sacred herbs and wildflowers, as well as launching an inspired clothing line called Aurora Vestita.

Meet Verena Michelitsch

February 28, 2017 in Art Director, Graphic Designer

Verena is a freelance graphic designer, illustrator, and art director originally from Austria. Splitting her time working for clients in both New York and San Francisco, she is also the founder of Sand and Such, a blog about sleep.

Meet Daryl Oh

February 21, 2017 in Creative Producer

Daryl Oh is a photographer, entrepreneur, and founder of Holyrad Studio. As a WOC, Daryl is dedicated to creating safe spaces for the other, by the other. Holyrad Studio aims to operate outside of outdated systems of the creative industry through bolstering young, enterprising creatives.

Meet Allie Berman

February 14, 2017 in Model

Allie is a model living in Bedford-Stuyvesant, but is originally from a seaside town in New Hampshire. She enjoys shopping for vintage clothing, being alone with her brain, reading, and collecting classic rock vinyl.

Meet Kristi Garced

January 01, 2017 in Writer, Editor, Copywriter

Meet NYC Passerby, Kristi Garced, Fashion Market Editor at WWD

Meet Beth Garrabrant

December 31, 2016 in Photographer

Meet NYC passerby, Beth Garrabrant, photographer and photo director at Nylon Magazine after working at Travel + Leisure Magazine where she discovered her talents.

Meet Katy Hallowell

December 30, 2016 in Location Scout, Producer

Katy is an NYC based location scout and writer. Born in Connecticut, she moved to Toronto and then to San Francisco before moving back to the east coast. Avid film-goer, Rolling Stones lover, reader and explorer. Occasional trespasser.

Meet Mariana Orkenyi

December 28, 2016 in Meditation Teacher

Mariana Orkenyi is a Meditation and Mindfulness Teacher. Her work is to guide through meditation and integrated teachings bringing clarity, awareness, and support for people to go within and expand. She holds a masters degree in Arts and Cultural Management, a Meditation Teacher Certification through Ananda School of Yoga and Meditation and in Mindfulness through UCLA. She is currently studying Contemplative Psychotherapy at Nalanda Institute. Mariana leads courses, guided meditations, private sessions and talks all over the world. Mariana was born and raised in Brazil, lived in Mexico City and Barcelona and studied with some of the most important leading masters in spirituality and meditation.

Meet Heba Kadry

December 14, 2016 in Mastering Engineer

Mastering Engineer Heba Kadry was born in Egypt and grew up listening to early 90s indie shoegaze records whenever she could get her hands on them. She works at Timeless Mastering in Bushwick in the studio she physically helped build.

Meet Alaa Balkhy

December 06, 2016 in Graphic Designer, Fashion Designer

Alaa was born in Jeddah and raised in Montreal. Her passion for art developed with her changing surroundings. She founded the brand Fyunka and is currently working on the launch of a cultural publication she co-founded called Minaa Zine.

Meet Alyssa Coscarelli

November 30, 2016 in Writer, Influencer

Alyssa Coscarelli is a fashion writer, consultant, and influencer based in the East Village, New York City. After working as an editor for Refinery29 for 5 years, Alyssa recently took the leap to give the freelance life a whirl, and in addition to contributing to various digital publications, consulting for up-and-coming New York indie brands, she's working on launching her own online platform in the coming months. She's an impulsive shopper with a love for vintage and indie brands specifically, and can never pass up the perfect pair of Levi's (even though she owns more than any one human should).

Meet Sabrina Diaz

November 19, 2016 in Entrepreneur

Sabrina Diaz grew up in Bergen County, New Jersey. She describes her high school as “your quintessential and stereotypical school,” closely resembling Mean Girls. There was even a rumor going around that the movie was based off her school. By her junior year, tired of of that scene, Sabrina took any opportunity she could to get out of her school and her hometown, often ending up in the city. She knew that New York was where she wanted to be for college, and started at LIM before moving to FIT, where she studied marketing and business.

Meet Laura Helms

November 13, 2016 in Historian, Archivist

Born in Manhattan, Laura grew up in London before returning to New York to attend NYU. She is a fashion and cultural historian—working primarily as an exhibition curator, writer and design consultant.

Meet Gaby Ron

November 12, 2016 in Curator, Consultant

Born in Tel-Aviv, Israel, Gaby is a curator and cultural producer. Gaby has lead, curated and researched projects that merge interdisciplinary practical work experience with academic studies.

Meet Cara Flaherty

November 07, 2016 in Events Producer

Cara Flaherty is the Events & Content Manager for Urban Outfitters’ concept store, Space Ninety 8, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. She has lived in the neighborhood since the early aughts, though she is originally from Columbus, Ohio.

Meet Zahra Bennani

October 21, 2016 in Entrepreneur

Meet NYC passerby, Zahra bennani. After 11 years in Paris, she recently moved to Rabat to launch JNOUN - a creative studio and clothing line in collaboration with her sister Meriem Bennani.

Meet J Wortham

September 11, 2016 in Writer, Podcast Host

“J moved to New York in 2009 to work for the New York Times as a technology reporter. Before that, they lived in San Francisco and worked as a waitress and fact-checker at Wired Magazine. They’re originally from Virginia, and studied biology and anthropology as an undergraduate at the University of Virginia. Having a background in science really helped them to see that they loved everything about information tech, infrastructure and thinking about how things work and evolve. Initially, J felt alienated from tech culture because they didn’t present as a stereotypical “nerd” but the more they dug into it, the more they became fascinated with the way the Internet, machines and software shape our understanding of ourselves, the world, and each other. And they’ve been doing that ever since. ”

LISTEN TO J's PLAYLIST | J’s LAST GOOGLE SEARCH

*Outfit Details: Top, Puma ; Pants & Blouse, Vintage ; Choker, ASOS*

on their Morning Routine by season

In summer, I wake up naturally. I love warm weather, and I can’t wait to be outside. In winter, it’s the complete opposite. I lie in bed and negotiate until I’m on my way into the day. No matter the season, I like to alkalize as soon as I wake up, with charcoal filtered water with a squeeze of lemon, lime or blood orange, whatever is in the fridge.

on becoming a writer

I’ve been reading since I was 2, the story goes, so it feels natural that I would work in words. My family is very working class, so it took me awhile to realize I could earn a living by writing, and once that happened, there was no going back.

I love having a job that allows me to investigate the human condition, and think about life, and explore alternate ways of being and doing things.

on what they’re working on now

My goal for the rest of the year is to expand my idea of myself as a creator. I am working on an art book with a friend, and teaching myself more about film and moving images. I love working with video. In five years, I hope to be as excited and invigorated as I am today to write and connect with new people.

“Anything that explores the interiority of black women appeals to me and I was lucky enough to get a copy of the new Zadie Smith and I haven’t been able to put it down since.”

— on writing that appeals to them

On their personal style

I mostly shop online. Trying on clothes gives me body anxiety and so many places have free online returns, so. In general, I aim for maximum comfort and bright colors, which I get from all over. I am experimenting with more masculine styles right now because that's what is in my heart. I love ASOS and I have a few friends who sell vintage and they occasionally set pieces aside for me, which is dope.

on the perfect skin mask & their skincare routine

Raw honey is a perfect skin mask. I just buy a jar of something raw and organic and spread it on my face a few minutes and then rinse it off. I do it a few times a month, in the morning or before bed . Honey is a natural antibiotic and moisturizer. It keeps my skin clear and looking dewy and moist. It’s THE BEST!

My skin is so temperamental and hyper-reactive, so I can’t use too many things at once or too much makeup, or my face has a meltdown. I just try keep it clean and moisturized to prevent break-outs. I love Orgaid sheet masks because they have probiotics and witch hazel in them, which is incredible. I’ve been using a vitamin C serum too, which is working wonders for my summer complexion.

*Outfit Details: Dress, ASOS; Kimono, Free People; Rings, Pamela Love*

“Holistic health is very important to me! I’ve become extremely attuned to the foods that make me feel great and the ones that make me feel terrible. And now I’m learning to experiment with teas and things just for health. I bought a block of organic reishi mushrooms at the Union Square Farmer’s Market for $10! I’m going to brew it this winter as a health tonic. I just started a newsletter to document these adventures. TinyLetter.com/FermentationandFormation”

— on the importance of holistic health

J's Favorite Books

The Black Book by Middleton A. Harris, Ernest Smith, Morris Levitt, Roger Furman, & Toni Morrison

This Bridge Called My Back by Cherríe Moraga and Gloria Anzaldúa

Swing Time by Zadie Smith

Bluets by Maggie Nelson

J's Favorite Places

Best Coffee: SuperCrown

Best Paletas: Tulcingo Deli

Best Juices at AP Cafe

Best Place for Cool Shows: Trans-Pecos

Best Discowoman Sets: TheLotRadio and Market Hotel

Best Acupuncture: TigerLily

Best Spot For A Date & Sushi: Momos

Best Place for a Movie: Syndicated

Meet Nicole Steriovski

September 11, 2016 in Art Director

Nicole is a creative director, producer, filmmaker, copywriter and co-founder of Local Creative, a collaborative lifestyle collective and studio.