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A tiny coffee bar in Paris became an unexpected lens into a broader shift in consumer behavior. Through the insights of hospitality, retail, and luxury fashion, the essay explores a recurring tension of modern life: as experiences become increasingly accessible and optimized for mass appeal, the value of the specific, the intentional, and the distinctive grows. A reflection on consumption, attention, belonging, and why the pendulum always swings back.
From the violated spectacle of the Eiffel Tower to dishes at midnight, a fleeting hummingbird, and the cosmic elements of stars and dirt, Polyhedron is an intimate piece on love, absence, and selfhood.
This piece defends Demna Gvasalia’s misunderstood legacy at Balenciaga and affirms his radical appointment at Gucci. Through cultural critique, personal insight, and a detailed analysis of the Balenciaga by Demna exhibition, this essay interrogates the very idea of innovation. Like Cristóbal Balenciaga, who designed for the realities of his time, Demna confronts the cultural conditions of ours. Tracing his thematic use of volume, readymade, trompe-l’œil, and upcycling, revealing how Demna mirrors society’s absurdities while reanimating Cristóbal Balenciaga’s spirit. The piece closes by forecasting how Demna’s vision is poised to revive Gucci.
A reflection on the weight of self-imposed pressure and the paralysis of writer’s block. Sometimes the only way forward is through.
No. 7 delves into the intricate relationship between the luxury fashion industry and individual self-perception. The piece examines the rise of "quiet luxury" as a marketed reaction to previous ostentatious trends, and marketing tactics that lead individuals to conflate personal identity with consumption patterns. Furthermore, it discusses the illusion of individuality in a market-driven society, where personal style is often shaped by broader economic and social forces rather than genuine self-expression.
Today marks exactly one year since I packed my life into two suitcases and moved from Minneapolis to France, seeking purpose and growth. Navigating life abroad without initially knowing the language, confronting vulnerability, and embracing imperfections taught me invaluable lessons about resilience, acceptance, and self-discovery.
This piece explores the part of me that anxiously craved control and certainty about the future, and how learning to rest in the unknown has become a rite of passage toward experiencing something more beautiful.
I reflect on my journey from addiction and self neglect towards a confusing spiritual awakening.
This post breaks down and discusses the economic and philosophical implications of an economy exclusively producing luxury goods for consumption.
A tiny coffee bar in Paris became an unexpected lens into a broader shift in consumer behavior. Through the insights of hospitality, retail, and luxury fashion, the essay explores a recurring tension of modern life: as experiences become increasingly accessible and optimized for mass appeal, the value of the specific, the intentional, and the distinctive grows. A reflection on consumption, attention, belonging, and why the pendulum always swings back.
From the violated spectacle of the Eiffel Tower to dishes at midnight, a fleeting hummingbird, and the cosmic elements of stars and dirt, Polyhedron is an intimate piece on love, absence, and selfhood.
This piece defends Demna Gvasalia’s misunderstood legacy at Balenciaga and affirms his radical appointment at Gucci. Through cultural critique, personal insight, and a detailed analysis of the Balenciaga by Demna exhibition, this essay interrogates the very idea of innovation. Like Cristóbal Balenciaga, who designed for the realities of his time, Demna confronts the cultural conditions of ours. Tracing his thematic use of volume, readymade, trompe-l’œil, and upcycling, revealing how Demna mirrors society’s absurdities while reanimating Cristóbal Balenciaga’s spirit. The piece closes by forecasting how Demna’s vision is poised to revive Gucci.
A reflection on the weight of self-imposed pressure and the paralysis of writer’s block. Sometimes the only way forward is through.
No. 7 delves into the intricate relationship between the luxury fashion industry and individual self-perception. The piece examines the rise of "quiet luxury" as a marketed reaction to previous ostentatious trends, and marketing tactics that lead individuals to conflate personal identity with consumption patterns. Furthermore, it discusses the illusion of individuality in a market-driven society, where personal style is often shaped by broader economic and social forces rather than genuine self-expression.
Today marks exactly one year since I packed my life into two suitcases and moved from Minneapolis to France, seeking purpose and growth. Navigating life abroad without initially knowing the language, confronting vulnerability, and embracing imperfections taught me invaluable lessons about resilience, acceptance, and self-discovery.
This piece explores the part of me that anxiously craved control and certainty about the future, and how learning to rest in the unknown has become a rite of passage toward experiencing something more beautiful.
I reflect on my journey from addiction and self neglect towards a confusing spiritual awakening.
This post breaks down and discusses the economic and philosophical implications of an economy exclusively producing luxury goods for consumption.