Just a block away from glittering Christmas tree-lined Park Avenue, the beloved NYC-based denim brand Still Here opened their second storefront in the Upper East Side.
In a night of nostalgia, beats, and style, the ECKŌ UNLTD 30th Anniversary Celebration: Dear1993 brought together fashion enthusiasts, music lovers, and fans alike for an unforgettable journey through the brand’s illustrious history and exciting future. Held on Thursday, November 16, 2023, at THE RISE HOLLYWOOD, the event was a spectacular ode to three decades of ECKŌ UNLTD’s groundbreaking innovation.
The highlight of the evening was the launch of the collaborative capsule “Dear1993.art” by streetwear icon and ECKŌ UNLTD co-founder Marc Eckō. The collection, paying tribute to the “World Famous Rhino Brand” and the year it was born, seamlessly blended the essence of the past with a bold glimpse into the future. Limited-edition pieces from this exclusive collection became available on ECKO.com the same night, allowing fans to take home a piece of history.
The beats curated by renowned DJ MUGGS from Soul Assassins/Cypress Hill and Blondie Beach set the perfect ambiance for the celebration. The soundscape was a masterful blend of old and new, reflecting the essence of ECKŌ UNLTD’s evolution.
As guests explored the venue, they had access to an archive pop-up museum featuring rare collections from the “ECKŌ HEADS” era (Circa 1993-2003). It was a walk down memory lane, showcasing the brand’s evolution and impact on streetwear culture.
Complimentary beverages flowed generously, providing the perfect accompaniment to toasts raised in honor of three decades of style, creativity, and innovation. Uncle Paulie’s Deli catered for the evening, providing the ideal snack for attendees.
The Dear1993 event wasn’t just a celebration but a living testament to the brand’s journey through time, a fusion of past and future that left an indelible mark on everyone present. As the night unfolded, it was clear that ECKŌ UNLTD’s legacy is not just a story of the past, but a vibrant narrative that continues to shape the future of streetwear.
Watch our Instagram Reel of the event, here.
We found perfect holiday cheer all in one place.
On November SIXth, the Museum of Broadway officially opened its special exhibit, “SIX: The Royal Gallery,” honoring Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’s esteemed show, SIX The Musical.
The renowned SPANX brand debuted a creative, shoppable art installation that showcased its incredible apparel that women have been wearing since 2000.
No matter your shape or size, SPANX has something for your body and is driven by a commitment to solve common wardrobe problems that we all have, and help women juggle the many roles we take on every day.
SPANX Retail Pop-up at Hudson Yards — Image from BMF
Founded in 2000, the brand has become synonymous with their feminine and redefined apparel, active, and shapewear, and now they are getting creative with pop-up installations. With a wide range of sizes and styles available, SPANX understands the body and has created apparel and activewear designed to effortlessly adapt a woman’s busy lifestyle, ensuring she feels seen, confident, and comfortable—no matter the occasion.
To showcase this, SPANX in partnership with global integrated creative marketing agency BMF, created a retail experience that allowed the public to immerse themselves and shop the expansive line of wardrobe-staple apparel.
SPANX Retail Pop-up at Hudson Yards — Image from BMF
The event took place at Hudson Yards in New York City, followed by a pop-up in Washington DC. The installation will head to Miami on November 11th. Additionally, it will head to London’s upscale department store Selfridges, where shoppers will be able to shop the collection ahead of the holiday season from November 20th – December 22nd and beyond.
SPANX Retail Pop-up at Hudson Yards — Image from BMF
Guests also had the opportunity to engage with Nigerian-Australian artist Nkosi Ndlovu‘s captivating artwork through interactive shopping art installations, while exploring the latest apparel collections from SPANX. Claudia Oshry from GirlWithNoJob was among those who attended the shoppable experiential retail space.
GirlWithNoJob, Claudia Oshry, at SPANX Retail Pop-up at Hudson Yards — Image from BMF
Founded by Sara Blakely, SPANX is a dynamic women’s brand that is now a powerhouse lifestyle brand. SPANX offers both innerwear solutions and figure-flattering outerwear, constantly identifying and solving problems from a women’s point of view. SPANX elevates women through product and empowers them to look and feel their best.
Loud music, laughs, and congratulations echoed through The House of Cannabis in SoHo for the launch of the new Starter X Cookies capsule collection. “ALL CITY.”
Courtesy of Press
The recently released collaboration is a match made in heaven, as the two businesses are titans in their respective fields. Starter was launched in 1971 and has since changed the sports apparel game forever with licensing deals with every prominent American sports league and more professional sports teams than other brands donned Starter. Not to mention, megastars, including Justin Bieber, LL COOL J, Missy Elliot, Jay-Z, Will Smith, Snoop Dogg, Run DMC, and many more have sported the brand.
Courtesy of Press
On the other hand, rapper and entrepreneur Berner founded Cookies, whose street credit has made them highly sought-after in the global market.
“ALL CITY” features the Cookies X Starter II jackets. They currently come in black and gray, blue and orange, red and gold, and purple and gold, definitely a design for everyone. The designs and silhouettes are derived from the early ’90s style, combining streetwear, sportswear, and nostalgia, sure to turn heads on the subway.
Courtesy of Press
After striking up a few conversations with influencers and business owners, we concluded that they projected the collection to see success. The preparation of the carefully thought-out design, with the right timing, as the 90s/Y2K isn’t going anywhere, soon, makes the “ALL CITY” jackets a closet staple.
Courtesy of Press
The “ALL CITY” collection was enough to keep people talking all night, but the music by Scream Jones and the food by PLNT Burger were the perfect complement to keep the vibes going all night and then some.
Courtesy of Press
The Cookies X Starter “ALL CITY” capsule collection is selling out fast, so be sure to grab yours for the fall here.
Fashion enthusiasts are head over heels for Meta Girl Caterina Mongillo’s hyper-feminine sneakers, and even industry giants like Adidas and Vans can’t resist partnering with her.
On Saturday, October 23, Minase showcased their Urushi Maki-e Hakose series at this year’s Windup Watch Fair at The Altman Building in Chelsea. While many of their products are special, their secret weapon can only be described as luxury itself. Urushi lacquer comes from the sap of the very valuable, but incredibly toxic Urushi Tree. Minase’s delicacy towards transforming the lacquer into such breathtaking dials is what representative Kelly Henriksen says makes Minase unique.
The Japanese-inspired designs honor the beauty of nature with their blending of elegant artistry and high-quality Swiss craftsmanship. At first glance, a Minase watch is undoubtedly gorgeous, but the detail in construction is what sets the brand apart. In just the dial itself, it takes layering five separate pieces to puzzle together. Minase prides itself on mastering the labor-intensive “Sallaz” technique, giving each watch that smooth polished finish.
Minase challenges the dichotomy of past and future as their pieces are classics made to last a lifetime. Representative Sven Erik Henriksen states, “The main point is the uniqueness of the designs. They are not getting their inspiration from any other watches or companies, it’s a brand-new concept based upon nature and geometry.”
One of Minase’s biggest inspirations comes from geometry as their Windows Design redefines the sophistication and beauty in mathematics. As seen in the watch above, the rectangular case symbolizes the imperfection of the earthly world while the round dial is a metaphor for infinity and calmness. Henriksen’s interpretation of saying, “Life will not always be joy, but that does not mean it can’t be interesting and beautiful,” is a perfect description of Minase’s effect.
In an industry wealthy with innovation and expertise, Minase champions their goal of individualism and traditional techniques. Though the company plans to release only 500 watches from the Urushi collection worldwide, Henriksen assures us that there will be more to come. With their incomparable design and detail, the luxury watch industry can expect its future to be safe in Minase’s hands.
An exceptionally fruitful scent makes its way to the big apple just in time for Fall.
The ESSENCE Girls United (GU) Disruptor Summit returns on November 11, 2023, in Atlanta, GA. The one-day event will be held at the PC&E soundstage from 10 AM to 5:30 PM EST and will serve as a safe space for young Black women, girls, and gender-expansive youth engage in panels, workshops, networking, activations, and more.
This year’s theme is “The Era of the Disruption” and inspires the new generation to come together and use their voices, innovate, share ideas and celebrate the richness of the Black experience.
The lineups does not disappoint and includes sister-duo Jordyn & Jodie Woods, Fashion Blogger and Designer Aleali May, Social Media powerhouses Yung BBQ and Aliyah’s Interlude, ESSENCE Ventures President & CEO Caroline Wanga, and a live taping of Season 5 of If Not For My Girls with rapper BIA, singer-songwriter Muni Long and actress and comedian Pretty Vee.
Hailing from South Africa, singer-songwriter Tyla will mark her performance debut at ESSENCE Girls United. Her track “Water” gained TikTok fame and has since made a significant impact in the industry, earning her a No. 1 spot on Billboard’s U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart, displacing “Calm Down” by Rema featuring Selena Gomez.
“ESSENCE GU continues to embrace the values of empowerment and leadership. With a strong focus on personal development, intellectual growth, and societal change, our initiative has been meticulously curated to inspire young women and girls, creating a ripple effect of disruptors,” said Essence Girls United Co-Creator Rechelle Dennis.
Participants can secure free tickets for the 2023 ESSENCE Girls United Disruptor Summit at https://www.essence.com/gusummit2023, with virtual access on ESSENCE.com and GirlsUnited.ESSENCE.com. Join the conversation on social media @ESSENCEGU, using #GUDisruptorSummit.