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Set Adrift on Memory Bliss in NYC

Every place reveals a different rhythm.
Some feel like a stop along the way, others like a turning point. This one feels like the moment everything starts to make sense.

Thank you @civilianhotel and @davidsimonlopez - Grateful for the shift!

Set Adrift on Memory Bliss in NYC

Every place reveals a different rhythm.
Some feel like a stop along the way, others like a turning point. This one feels like the moment everything starts to make sense.

Thank you @civilianhotel and @davidsimonlopez - Grateful for the shift!

Set Adrift on Memory Bliss in NYC

Every place reveals a different rhythm.
Some feel like a stop along the way, others like a turning point. This one feels like the moment everything starts to make sense.

Thank you @civilianhotel and @davidsimonlopez - Grateful for the shift!

Set Adrift on Memory Bliss in NYC

Every place reveals a different rhythm.
Some feel like a stop along the way, others like a turning point. This one feels like the moment everything starts to make sense.

Thank you @civilianhotel and @davidsimonlopez - Grateful for the shift!

Set Adrift on Memory Bliss in NYC

Every place reveals a different rhythm.
Some feel like a stop along the way, others like a turning point. This one feels like the moment everything starts to make sense.

Thank you @civilianhotel and @davidsimonlopez - Grateful for the shift!

TOUCHÉ

An issue devoted to craft.
To what is made by hand.
To the quiet, radical act of intention.

We begin with Mohamed Benchellal. (@benchellal)

A designer who does not sketch, but works directly in fabric, allowing form to emerge through touch and movement. “Two dimensions limit me,” he says.

His couture resists excess, even as it commands space. Built from deadstock materials, each piece carries a sense of restraint and precision—proof that limitation, when embraced, can become its own kind of freedom.

In The Son of the Waterfall, creation is not fixed. It unfolds. It responds. It moves. THE SON OF THE WATERFALL
Mohamed Benchellal @benchellal

Photographs by @timverhallen_photography
Interview by @mrpatrickduffy
Model @valentinebouquet
Hair & Makeup @ilhammestour
Producer Ashiq Abdulraheem Khan

—

TOUCHÉ is live at irkmagazine.com

TOUCHÉ, an issue devoted to craft. To what is made by hand. To the quiet, deliberate act of intention.

Across fashion, art, and image-making, this issue follows those who build rather than produce. From #MohamedBenchellal, sculpting form directly through touch, to #JulienFournié, where couture becomes a matter of time, precision, and responsibility. From the instinctive photography of #MirandaPennTurin to the enduring clarity of vision in #AlbertWatson, each story returns to the same principle: Nothing meaningful is rushed.

This magazine is built on presence.
On materials that carry memory.
On gestures that cannot be replicated.
A return to making things that matter.

TOUCHÉ, On Sale Now. Order your copy through the link in our bio.

FEATURE CREDITS

Image 1 & 4
THE SON OF THE WATERFALL; Mohamed Benchellal.
@benchellal
Photographs by @timverhallen_photography
Interview by @mrpatrickduffy
Model @valentinebouquet
Hair & Makeup @ilhammestour
Producer Ashiq Abdulraheem Khan

Image 2
Julien Fournié; French Cowboy
@julienfournie
Photographer: @french_cowboy @juliencrouigneau @miamacfarlane
Model; @mikaellatomanova

Image 3
OMBRE COUTURE, French Cowboy
Photographer: @french_cowboy @juliencrouigneau @miamacfarlane
Models: @ingridbehague @chihiro_t2828
Stylist: @iamthedrama69
Photo Assistant: @nicolinomanca
Stylist Assistant: @leah_ermann / @sofiemariekraus
Location: @studio.labriquerouge

#IRKMagazine TOUCHE FashionEditorial Craft SlowFashion ArtDirection Photography VisualCulture CreativeProcess IndependentMagazine LuxuryEditorial HauteCouture

TOUCHÉ, an issue devoted to craft. To what is made by hand. To the quiet, deliberate act of intention.

Across fashion, art, and image-making, this issue follows those who build rather than produce. From #MohamedBenchellal, sculpting form directly through touch, to #JulienFournié, where couture becomes a matter of time, precision, and responsibility. From the instinctive photography of #MirandaPennTurin to the enduring clarity of vision in #AlbertWatson, each story returns to the same principle: Nothing meaningful is rushed.

This magazine is built on presence.
On materials that carry memory.
On gestures that cannot be replicated.
A return to making things that matter.

TOUCHÉ, On Sale Now. Order your copy through the link in our bio.

FEATURE CREDITS

Image 1 & 4
THE SON OF THE WATERFALL; Mohamed Benchellal.
@benchellal
Photographs by @timverhallen_photography
Interview by @mrpatrickduffy
Model @valentinebouquet
Hair & Makeup @ilhammestour
Producer Ashiq Abdulraheem Khan

Image 2
Julien Fournié; French Cowboy
@julienfournie
Photographer: @french_cowboy @juliencrouigneau @miamacfarlane
Model; @mikaellatomanova

Image 3
OMBRE COUTURE, French Cowboy
Photographer: @french_cowboy @juliencrouigneau @miamacfarlane
Models: @ingridbehague @chihiro_t2828
Stylist: @iamthedrama69
Photo Assistant: @nicolinomanca
Stylist Assistant: @leah_ermann / @sofiemariekraus
Location: @studio.labriquerouge

#IRKMagazine TOUCHE FashionEditorial Craft SlowFashion ArtDirection Photography VisualCulture CreativeProcess IndependentMagazine LuxuryEditorial HauteCouture

TOUCHÉ, an issue devoted to craft. To what is made by hand. To the quiet, deliberate act of intention.

Across fashion, art, and image-making, this issue follows those who build rather than produce. From #MohamedBenchellal, sculpting form directly through touch, to #JulienFournié, where couture becomes a matter of time, precision, and responsibility. From the instinctive photography of #MirandaPennTurin to the enduring clarity of vision in #AlbertWatson, each story returns to the same principle: Nothing meaningful is rushed.

This magazine is built on presence.
On materials that carry memory.
On gestures that cannot be replicated.
A return to making things that matter.

TOUCHÉ, On Sale Now. Order your copy through the link in our bio.

FEATURE CREDITS

Image 1 & 4
THE SON OF THE WATERFALL; Mohamed Benchellal.
@benchellal
Photographs by @timverhallen_photography
Interview by @mrpatrickduffy
Model @valentinebouquet
Hair & Makeup @ilhammestour
Producer Ashiq Abdulraheem Khan

Image 2
Julien Fournié; French Cowboy
@julienfournie
Photographer: @french_cowboy @juliencrouigneau @miamacfarlane
Model; @mikaellatomanova

Image 3
OMBRE COUTURE, French Cowboy
Photographer: @french_cowboy @juliencrouigneau @miamacfarlane
Models: @ingridbehague @chihiro_t2828
Stylist: @iamthedrama69
Photo Assistant: @nicolinomanca
Stylist Assistant: @leah_ermann / @sofiemariekraus
Location: @studio.labriquerouge

#IRKMagazine TOUCHE FashionEditorial Craft SlowFashion ArtDirection Photography VisualCulture CreativeProcess IndependentMagazine LuxuryEditorial HauteCouture

TOUCHÉ, an issue devoted to craft. To what is made by hand. To the quiet, deliberate act of intention.

Across fashion, art, and image-making, this issue follows those who build rather than produce. From #MohamedBenchellal, sculpting form directly through touch, to #JulienFournié, where couture becomes a matter of time, precision, and responsibility. From the instinctive photography of #MirandaPennTurin to the enduring clarity of vision in #AlbertWatson, each story returns to the same principle: Nothing meaningful is rushed.

This magazine is built on presence.
On materials that carry memory.
On gestures that cannot be replicated.
A return to making things that matter.

TOUCHÉ, On Sale Now. Order your copy through the link in our bio.

FEATURE CREDITS

Image 1 & 4
THE SON OF THE WATERFALL; Mohamed Benchellal.
@benchellal
Photographs by @timverhallen_photography
Interview by @mrpatrickduffy
Model @valentinebouquet
Hair & Makeup @ilhammestour
Producer Ashiq Abdulraheem Khan

Image 2
Julien Fournié; French Cowboy
@julienfournie
Photographer: @french_cowboy @juliencrouigneau @miamacfarlane
Model; @mikaellatomanova

Image 3
OMBRE COUTURE, French Cowboy
Photographer: @french_cowboy @juliencrouigneau @miamacfarlane
Models: @ingridbehague @chihiro_t2828
Stylist: @iamthedrama69
Photo Assistant: @nicolinomanca
Stylist Assistant: @leah_ermann / @sofiemariekraus
Location: @studio.labriquerouge

#IRKMagazine TOUCHE FashionEditorial Craft SlowFashion ArtDirection Photography VisualCulture CreativeProcess IndependentMagazine LuxuryEditorial HauteCouture

New To Market: Some places make city living feel effortless. At 1200 On The Mall in the heart of Downtown Minneapolis, you’re connected to everything while still feeling tucked away from the noise.

Mornings start with a stroll through Loring Park and a coffee from Fawkes Alley Coffee. Lunch at Gai Noi, a stop into SKN TONES, or an afternoon wandering the galleries at Walker Art Center. Pick up a few things from Lunds & Byerlys before heading home to your private balcony overlooking the courtyard as the city softens into evening.

This updated one-bedroom condo sits right in the heart of Loring Park while somehow still feeling calm and tucked away. Bamboo floors, stainless steel appliances, soft-close cabinetry, heated underground parking with storage, and EV-ready capability make daily life easy.

The building also features a sauna, fitness room, resident events, free guest parking, and an HOA that covers nearly everything except electricity — including heat, water, cable, internet, sanitation, snow removal, and 24-hour staff.

📍1200 On The Mall #307
💰 $162,500
🛏 1 Bed | 🛁 1 Bath
🌿 Private Balcony
🚗 Heated Underground Parking + Storage

OPEN HOUSE
🗓 Saturday & Sunday
⏰ 11AM–1PM

Co-listed by @logietherealtor and @mrpatrickduffy of @edinarealty

Are you interested in Reloating to Minnesota? Check out @commonthreadrealestate for more details!

New To Market: Some places make city living feel effortless. At 1200 On The Mall in the heart of Downtown Minneapolis, you’re connected to everything while still feeling tucked away from the noise.

Mornings start with a stroll through Loring Park and a coffee from Fawkes Alley Coffee. Lunch at Gai Noi, a stop into SKN TONES, or an afternoon wandering the galleries at Walker Art Center. Pick up a few things from Lunds & Byerlys before heading home to your private balcony overlooking the courtyard as the city softens into evening.

This updated one-bedroom condo sits right in the heart of Loring Park while somehow still feeling calm and tucked away. Bamboo floors, stainless steel appliances, soft-close cabinetry, heated underground parking with storage, and EV-ready capability make daily life easy.

The building also features a sauna, fitness room, resident events, free guest parking, and an HOA that covers nearly everything except electricity — including heat, water, cable, internet, sanitation, snow removal, and 24-hour staff.

📍1200 On The Mall #307
💰 $162,500
🛏 1 Bed | 🛁 1 Bath
🌿 Private Balcony
🚗 Heated Underground Parking + Storage

OPEN HOUSE
🗓 Saturday & Sunday
⏰ 11AM–1PM

Co-listed by @logietherealtor and @mrpatrickduffy of @edinarealty

Are you interested in Reloating to Minnesota? Check out @commonthreadrealestate for more details!

New To Market: Some places make city living feel effortless. At 1200 On The Mall in the heart of Downtown Minneapolis, you’re connected to everything while still feeling tucked away from the noise.

Mornings start with a stroll through Loring Park and a coffee from Fawkes Alley Coffee. Lunch at Gai Noi, a stop into SKN TONES, or an afternoon wandering the galleries at Walker Art Center. Pick up a few things from Lunds & Byerlys before heading home to your private balcony overlooking the courtyard as the city softens into evening.

This updated one-bedroom condo sits right in the heart of Loring Park while somehow still feeling calm and tucked away. Bamboo floors, stainless steel appliances, soft-close cabinetry, heated underground parking with storage, and EV-ready capability make daily life easy.

The building also features a sauna, fitness room, resident events, free guest parking, and an HOA that covers nearly everything except electricity — including heat, water, cable, internet, sanitation, snow removal, and 24-hour staff.

📍1200 On The Mall #307
💰 $162,500
🛏 1 Bed | 🛁 1 Bath
🌿 Private Balcony
🚗 Heated Underground Parking + Storage

OPEN HOUSE
🗓 Saturday & Sunday
⏰ 11AM–1PM

Co-listed by @logietherealtor and @mrpatrickduffy of @edinarealty

Are you interested in Reloating to Minnesota? Check out @commonthreadrealestate for more details!

New To Market: Some places make city living feel effortless. At 1200 On The Mall in the heart of Downtown Minneapolis, you’re connected to everything while still feeling tucked away from the noise.

Mornings start with a stroll through Loring Park and a coffee from Fawkes Alley Coffee. Lunch at Gai Noi, a stop into SKN TONES, or an afternoon wandering the galleries at Walker Art Center. Pick up a few things from Lunds & Byerlys before heading home to your private balcony overlooking the courtyard as the city softens into evening.

This updated one-bedroom condo sits right in the heart of Loring Park while somehow still feeling calm and tucked away. Bamboo floors, stainless steel appliances, soft-close cabinetry, heated underground parking with storage, and EV-ready capability make daily life easy.

The building also features a sauna, fitness room, resident events, free guest parking, and an HOA that covers nearly everything except electricity — including heat, water, cable, internet, sanitation, snow removal, and 24-hour staff.

📍1200 On The Mall #307
💰 $162,500
🛏 1 Bed | 🛁 1 Bath
🌿 Private Balcony
🚗 Heated Underground Parking + Storage

OPEN HOUSE
🗓 Saturday & Sunday
⏰ 11AM–1PM

Co-listed by @logietherealtor and @mrpatrickduffy of @edinarealty

Are you interested in Reloating to Minnesota? Check out @commonthreadrealestate for more details!

2026 Moments: a year that’s been… a lot.

Big shifts, some exciting, some uncomfortable, all of them real. Planting ideas I’m not totally sure how to land yet, but believing in them enough to keep going.

There have been days where everything feels clear, and others where it’s just… noise. Trying to stay sane in the middle of it, hold onto some kind of vision while still dealing with what’s right in front of me.

Somehow still trying to see the forest through the trees, even when I’m fully lost in the trees.

Not everything is figured out. Honestly, most of it isn’t.

But it feels like something important is starting to take shape as we launch some new things into existence!

How do yall feel about the Fire Horse year so far?

(Huge shout out to my mom and close friends for keeping me on the path to greener pastures, I am beyond grateful for all your love and support)

2026 Moments: a year that’s been… a lot.

Big shifts, some exciting, some uncomfortable, all of them real. Planting ideas I’m not totally sure how to land yet, but believing in them enough to keep going.

There have been days where everything feels clear, and others where it’s just… noise. Trying to stay sane in the middle of it, hold onto some kind of vision while still dealing with what’s right in front of me.

Somehow still trying to see the forest through the trees, even when I’m fully lost in the trees.

Not everything is figured out. Honestly, most of it isn’t.

But it feels like something important is starting to take shape as we launch some new things into existence!

How do yall feel about the Fire Horse year so far?

(Huge shout out to my mom and close friends for keeping me on the path to greener pastures, I am beyond grateful for all your love and support)

2026 Moments: a year that’s been… a lot.

Big shifts, some exciting, some uncomfortable, all of them real. Planting ideas I’m not totally sure how to land yet, but believing in them enough to keep going.

There have been days where everything feels clear, and others where it’s just… noise. Trying to stay sane in the middle of it, hold onto some kind of vision while still dealing with what’s right in front of me.

Somehow still trying to see the forest through the trees, even when I’m fully lost in the trees.

Not everything is figured out. Honestly, most of it isn’t.

But it feels like something important is starting to take shape as we launch some new things into existence!

How do yall feel about the Fire Horse year so far?

(Huge shout out to my mom and close friends for keeping me on the path to greener pastures, I am beyond grateful for all your love and support)

2026 Moments: a year that’s been… a lot.

Big shifts, some exciting, some uncomfortable, all of them real. Planting ideas I’m not totally sure how to land yet, but believing in them enough to keep going.

There have been days where everything feels clear, and others where it’s just… noise. Trying to stay sane in the middle of it, hold onto some kind of vision while still dealing with what’s right in front of me.

Somehow still trying to see the forest through the trees, even when I’m fully lost in the trees.

Not everything is figured out. Honestly, most of it isn’t.

But it feels like something important is starting to take shape as we launch some new things into existence!

How do yall feel about the Fire Horse year so far?

(Huge shout out to my mom and close friends for keeping me on the path to greener pastures, I am beyond grateful for all your love and support)

2026 Moments: a year that’s been… a lot.

Big shifts, some exciting, some uncomfortable, all of them real. Planting ideas I’m not totally sure how to land yet, but believing in them enough to keep going.

There have been days where everything feels clear, and others where it’s just… noise. Trying to stay sane in the middle of it, hold onto some kind of vision while still dealing with what’s right in front of me.

Somehow still trying to see the forest through the trees, even when I’m fully lost in the trees.

Not everything is figured out. Honestly, most of it isn’t.

But it feels like something important is starting to take shape as we launch some new things into existence!

How do yall feel about the Fire Horse year so far?

(Huge shout out to my mom and close friends for keeping me on the path to greener pastures, I am beyond grateful for all your love and support)

2026 Moments: a year that’s been… a lot.

Big shifts, some exciting, some uncomfortable, all of them real. Planting ideas I’m not totally sure how to land yet, but believing in them enough to keep going.

There have been days where everything feels clear, and others where it’s just… noise. Trying to stay sane in the middle of it, hold onto some kind of vision while still dealing with what’s right in front of me.

Somehow still trying to see the forest through the trees, even when I’m fully lost in the trees.

Not everything is figured out. Honestly, most of it isn’t.

But it feels like something important is starting to take shape as we launch some new things into existence!

How do yall feel about the Fire Horse year so far?

(Huge shout out to my mom and close friends for keeping me on the path to greener pastures, I am beyond grateful for all your love and support)

2026 Moments: a year that’s been… a lot.

Big shifts, some exciting, some uncomfortable, all of them real. Planting ideas I’m not totally sure how to land yet, but believing in them enough to keep going.

There have been days where everything feels clear, and others where it’s just… noise. Trying to stay sane in the middle of it, hold onto some kind of vision while still dealing with what’s right in front of me.

Somehow still trying to see the forest through the trees, even when I’m fully lost in the trees.

Not everything is figured out. Honestly, most of it isn’t.

But it feels like something important is starting to take shape as we launch some new things into existence!

How do yall feel about the Fire Horse year so far?

(Huge shout out to my mom and close friends for keeping me on the path to greener pastures, I am beyond grateful for all your love and support)

2026 Moments: a year that’s been… a lot.

Big shifts, some exciting, some uncomfortable, all of them real. Planting ideas I’m not totally sure how to land yet, but believing in them enough to keep going.

There have been days where everything feels clear, and others where it’s just… noise. Trying to stay sane in the middle of it, hold onto some kind of vision while still dealing with what’s right in front of me.

Somehow still trying to see the forest through the trees, even when I’m fully lost in the trees.

Not everything is figured out. Honestly, most of it isn’t.

But it feels like something important is starting to take shape as we launch some new things into existence!

How do yall feel about the Fire Horse year so far?

(Huge shout out to my mom and close friends for keeping me on the path to greener pastures, I am beyond grateful for all your love and support)

2026 Moments: a year that’s been… a lot.

Big shifts, some exciting, some uncomfortable, all of them real. Planting ideas I’m not totally sure how to land yet, but believing in them enough to keep going.

There have been days where everything feels clear, and others where it’s just… noise. Trying to stay sane in the middle of it, hold onto some kind of vision while still dealing with what’s right in front of me.

Somehow still trying to see the forest through the trees, even when I’m fully lost in the trees.

Not everything is figured out. Honestly, most of it isn’t.

But it feels like something important is starting to take shape as we launch some new things into existence!

How do yall feel about the Fire Horse year so far?

(Huge shout out to my mom and close friends for keeping me on the path to greener pastures, I am beyond grateful for all your love and support)

2026 Moments: a year that’s been… a lot.

Big shifts, some exciting, some uncomfortable, all of them real. Planting ideas I’m not totally sure how to land yet, but believing in them enough to keep going.

There have been days where everything feels clear, and others where it’s just… noise. Trying to stay sane in the middle of it, hold onto some kind of vision while still dealing with what’s right in front of me.

Somehow still trying to see the forest through the trees, even when I’m fully lost in the trees.

Not everything is figured out. Honestly, most of it isn’t.

But it feels like something important is starting to take shape as we launch some new things into existence!

How do yall feel about the Fire Horse year so far?

(Huge shout out to my mom and close friends for keeping me on the path to greener pastures, I am beyond grateful for all your love and support)

2026 Moments: a year that’s been… a lot.

Big shifts, some exciting, some uncomfortable, all of them real. Planting ideas I’m not totally sure how to land yet, but believing in them enough to keep going.

There have been days where everything feels clear, and others where it’s just… noise. Trying to stay sane in the middle of it, hold onto some kind of vision while still dealing with what’s right in front of me.

Somehow still trying to see the forest through the trees, even when I’m fully lost in the trees.

Not everything is figured out. Honestly, most of it isn’t.

But it feels like something important is starting to take shape as we launch some new things into existence!

How do yall feel about the Fire Horse year so far?

(Huge shout out to my mom and close friends for keeping me on the path to greener pastures, I am beyond grateful for all your love and support)

2026 Moments: a year that’s been… a lot.

Big shifts, some exciting, some uncomfortable, all of them real. Planting ideas I’m not totally sure how to land yet, but believing in them enough to keep going.

There have been days where everything feels clear, and others where it’s just… noise. Trying to stay sane in the middle of it, hold onto some kind of vision while still dealing with what’s right in front of me.

Somehow still trying to see the forest through the trees, even when I’m fully lost in the trees.

Not everything is figured out. Honestly, most of it isn’t.

But it feels like something important is starting to take shape as we launch some new things into existence!

How do yall feel about the Fire Horse year so far?

(Huge shout out to my mom and close friends for keeping me on the path to greener pastures, I am beyond grateful for all your love and support)

2026 Moments: a year that’s been… a lot.

Big shifts, some exciting, some uncomfortable, all of them real. Planting ideas I’m not totally sure how to land yet, but believing in them enough to keep going.

There have been days where everything feels clear, and others where it’s just… noise. Trying to stay sane in the middle of it, hold onto some kind of vision while still dealing with what’s right in front of me.

Somehow still trying to see the forest through the trees, even when I’m fully lost in the trees.

Not everything is figured out. Honestly, most of it isn’t.

But it feels like something important is starting to take shape as we launch some new things into existence!

How do yall feel about the Fire Horse year so far?

(Huge shout out to my mom and close friends for keeping me on the path to greener pastures, I am beyond grateful for all your love and support)

2026 Moments: a year that’s been… a lot.

Big shifts, some exciting, some uncomfortable, all of them real. Planting ideas I’m not totally sure how to land yet, but believing in them enough to keep going.

There have been days where everything feels clear, and others where it’s just… noise. Trying to stay sane in the middle of it, hold onto some kind of vision while still dealing with what’s right in front of me.

Somehow still trying to see the forest through the trees, even when I’m fully lost in the trees.

Not everything is figured out. Honestly, most of it isn’t.

But it feels like something important is starting to take shape as we launch some new things into existence!

How do yall feel about the Fire Horse year so far?

(Huge shout out to my mom and close friends for keeping me on the path to greener pastures, I am beyond grateful for all your love and support)

2026 Moments: a year that’s been… a lot.

Big shifts, some exciting, some uncomfortable, all of them real. Planting ideas I’m not totally sure how to land yet, but believing in them enough to keep going.

There have been days where everything feels clear, and others where it’s just… noise. Trying to stay sane in the middle of it, hold onto some kind of vision while still dealing with what’s right in front of me.

Somehow still trying to see the forest through the trees, even when I’m fully lost in the trees.

Not everything is figured out. Honestly, most of it isn’t.

But it feels like something important is starting to take shape as we launch some new things into existence!

How do yall feel about the Fire Horse year so far?

(Huge shout out to my mom and close friends for keeping me on the path to greener pastures, I am beyond grateful for all your love and support)

2026 Moments: a year that’s been… a lot.

Big shifts, some exciting, some uncomfortable, all of them real. Planting ideas I’m not totally sure how to land yet, but believing in them enough to keep going.

There have been days where everything feels clear, and others where it’s just… noise. Trying to stay sane in the middle of it, hold onto some kind of vision while still dealing with what’s right in front of me.

Somehow still trying to see the forest through the trees, even when I’m fully lost in the trees.

Not everything is figured out. Honestly, most of it isn’t.

But it feels like something important is starting to take shape as we launch some new things into existence!

How do yall feel about the Fire Horse year so far?

(Huge shout out to my mom and close friends for keeping me on the path to greener pastures, I am beyond grateful for all your love and support)

2026 Moments: a year that’s been… a lot.

Big shifts, some exciting, some uncomfortable, all of them real. Planting ideas I’m not totally sure how to land yet, but believing in them enough to keep going.

There have been days where everything feels clear, and others where it’s just… noise. Trying to stay sane in the middle of it, hold onto some kind of vision while still dealing with what’s right in front of me.

Somehow still trying to see the forest through the trees, even when I’m fully lost in the trees.

Not everything is figured out. Honestly, most of it isn’t.

But it feels like something important is starting to take shape as we launch some new things into existence!

How do yall feel about the Fire Horse year so far?

(Huge shout out to my mom and close friends for keeping me on the path to greener pastures, I am beyond grateful for all your love and support)

NYCxDESIGN Festival 2026 is our best yet and if you’re coming, here’s how to do it right.

Start with the Opening Party. It’s the kickoff, but really it’s a room full of people who shape culture pretending they’re just having a drink. You go for one conversation and somehow leave with five new ideas.

Then the Future Now AI Summit. It’s smart, a little mind bending, and honestly kind of thrilling. You sit there thinking, okay… everything is about to change, and I’m glad I showed up for this.

Hervé Descottes’ night boat tour is pure magic. New York from the water, lit perfectly, a little cinematic, a little surreal. It makes you fall in love with the city all over again. @lobservatoire_intl

During the day, go to SHINE at the Seaport. It’s free, which feels suspicious given how good it is. Seventy designers working with light, installations you actually feel, not just look at.

And Friday night, SoHo, NoMad, Flatiron. No tickets, no plan. Just wander, pop into spaces, follow the music, stay for something unexpected. This is where the city really opens up.

You don’t attend this week.
You flirt with it,
and somehow it keeps pulling you back in.

Comment HALO and I’ll send you the link to the NYCxDESIGN Festival Opening Party.

Together, we showed what community can do. ❤️

At ISAIC Honors, our live fundraising effort brought us one step closer to expanding access, opening doors, and sharing resources with the community in meaningful ways!

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors, we are elated to announce that we have exceeded our goal, raising over $25,000! 🎉

Every contribution fuels opportunities, strengthens connections, and helps us continue this important work beyond tonight. �And with our new space we can expand access, with the $25k+ to directly fund expanded access to ISAIC’s equipment, global expertise, extended building hours, and programming in our new space for 50 community members. This funding removes barriers and creates meaningful pathways into workforce development.

We’re so grateful to everyone who gave, shared, and supported. This is what impact looks like. And a grand shout-out to @mrpatrickduffy founder of @globalfashionexchange for being an amazing MC and getting the ball rolling! 🧶�

💭 �Thinking about joining the mission? Follow the link in our bio to our website to learn about how you can contribute today!

#ISAICHonors #CommunityImpact #FundraisingSuccess

Together, we showed what community can do. ❤️

At ISAIC Honors, our live fundraising effort brought us one step closer to expanding access, opening doors, and sharing resources with the community in meaningful ways!

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors, we are elated to announce that we have exceeded our goal, raising over $25,000! 🎉

Every contribution fuels opportunities, strengthens connections, and helps us continue this important work beyond tonight. �And with our new space we can expand access, with the $25k+ to directly fund expanded access to ISAIC’s equipment, global expertise, extended building hours, and programming in our new space for 50 community members. This funding removes barriers and creates meaningful pathways into workforce development.

We’re so grateful to everyone who gave, shared, and supported. This is what impact looks like. And a grand shout-out to @mrpatrickduffy founder of @globalfashionexchange for being an amazing MC and getting the ball rolling! 🧶�

💭 �Thinking about joining the mission? Follow the link in our bio to our website to learn about how you can contribute today!

#ISAICHonors #CommunityImpact #FundraisingSuccess

Together, we showed what community can do. ❤️

At ISAIC Honors, our live fundraising effort brought us one step closer to expanding access, opening doors, and sharing resources with the community in meaningful ways!

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors, we are elated to announce that we have exceeded our goal, raising over $25,000! 🎉

Every contribution fuels opportunities, strengthens connections, and helps us continue this important work beyond tonight. �And with our new space we can expand access, with the $25k+ to directly fund expanded access to ISAIC’s equipment, global expertise, extended building hours, and programming in our new space for 50 community members. This funding removes barriers and creates meaningful pathways into workforce development.

We’re so grateful to everyone who gave, shared, and supported. This is what impact looks like. And a grand shout-out to @mrpatrickduffy founder of @globalfashionexchange for being an amazing MC and getting the ball rolling! 🧶�

💭 �Thinking about joining the mission? Follow the link in our bio to our website to learn about how you can contribute today!

#ISAICHonors #CommunityImpact #FundraisingSuccess

Together, we showed what community can do. ❤️

At ISAIC Honors, our live fundraising effort brought us one step closer to expanding access, opening doors, and sharing resources with the community in meaningful ways!

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors, we are elated to announce that we have exceeded our goal, raising over $25,000! 🎉

Every contribution fuels opportunities, strengthens connections, and helps us continue this important work beyond tonight. �And with our new space we can expand access, with the $25k+ to directly fund expanded access to ISAIC’s equipment, global expertise, extended building hours, and programming in our new space for 50 community members. This funding removes barriers and creates meaningful pathways into workforce development.

We’re so grateful to everyone who gave, shared, and supported. This is what impact looks like. And a grand shout-out to @mrpatrickduffy founder of @globalfashionexchange for being an amazing MC and getting the ball rolling! 🧶�

💭 �Thinking about joining the mission? Follow the link in our bio to our website to learn about how you can contribute today!

#ISAICHonors #CommunityImpact #FundraisingSuccess

Together, we showed what community can do. ❤️

At ISAIC Honors, our live fundraising effort brought us one step closer to expanding access, opening doors, and sharing resources with the community in meaningful ways!

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors, we are elated to announce that we have exceeded our goal, raising over $25,000! 🎉

Every contribution fuels opportunities, strengthens connections, and helps us continue this important work beyond tonight. �And with our new space we can expand access, with the $25k+ to directly fund expanded access to ISAIC’s equipment, global expertise, extended building hours, and programming in our new space for 50 community members. This funding removes barriers and creates meaningful pathways into workforce development.

We’re so grateful to everyone who gave, shared, and supported. This is what impact looks like. And a grand shout-out to @mrpatrickduffy founder of @globalfashionexchange for being an amazing MC and getting the ball rolling! 🧶�

💭 �Thinking about joining the mission? Follow the link in our bio to our website to learn about how you can contribute today!

#ISAICHonors #CommunityImpact #FundraisingSuccess

Calfskin. Canvas. And a philosophy that flips luxury on its head.
petit h is Hermès' most subversive proposition, a living creative studio where offcuts, imperfections, and unused materials from the house's ateliers become one of a kind objects. This Bell tote is exactly that: a piece that could only exist because someone chose curiosity over correction.

Read the full feature in the new TOUCHÉ issue of IRK Magazine. Link in bio.

Credits
Image: petit h Bell tote bag in calfskin and canvas
Editor in chief: Patrick Duffy @mrpatrickduffy
@hermes

NYCxDESIGN is back May 14–20, and New York City is flirting with design everywhere you look.

Last year, I ducked into a space to escape the heat and somehow ended up in a very serious conversation about whether a chair could feel “honest.” No one knew each other. Everyone had a point of view. Someone handed me a drink mid debate. I stayed far longer than planned. That’s the thing about design week here. It pulls you in when you’re not even trying.

You don’t attend it. You fall into it.

This year’s theme, Design Connects Us, lands because you actually feel it. In the middle of Times Square at the Design Pavilion, in a quiet corner downtown at SHINE in the Seaport where 70 designers are shaping light into something emotional, almost cinematic.

Then there are the conversations that linger. The Salon Series with Rolls-Royce Motor Cars (@rollsroycecars), INC Architecture & Design (@inc.nyc), and TenBerke (@tenberke_architects), intimate, sharp, just insider enough. And the Future Now AI Summit at Cornell Tech (@cornell_tech), with voices from Google DeepMind (@googledeepmind), IBM (@ibm),and MIT Media Lab (@mitmedialab) quietly reshaping what creativity even means.

The mix is what makes it work. B&B Italia (@bebitalia), Poltrona Frau (@poltronafrauofficial), Porada Furniture (@poradafurniture) #and cultural forces like Villa Albertine all showing up across the city, at the same time, in completely different ways.

And somewhere between a crowded sidewalk, a perfectly lit installation, and a conversation you didn’t plan to have, it clicks.

Design isn’t something you look at here.
It’s something you walk into… and stay for. Sometimes by accident. Sometimes entirely on purpose.

Comment “Design” to get the full article on @irkmagazine

#NYCxDESIGN #DesignConnectsUs #NYCDesignWeek

In a fashion system driven by acceleration, craft becomes a quiet form of resistance. It returns production to intention, where every stitch, fold, and finish carries the weight of time, labor, and attention.

Across ateliers, workshops, and studios, handmade processes are no longer peripheral. They define how contemporary fashion understands value. What was once read as tradition now reads as urgency, where care itself becomes a method of innovation.

In the TOUCHÉ issue, editors @mrpatrickduffyand @rob_co reflects on craft as both cultural language and economic structure one that sustains communities while shaping identity across a global network of makers.

Discover the latest TOUCHÉ issue now.

Designer: @casbethofficialaccount

#IRKMagazine #TheCraftReport #ToucheIssue #FashionCraft #SlowFashionMovement
#MadeWithCare

In a culture engineered for immediacy, craft insists on time.

The Craft Report, written by Patrick Duffy with key insights by Robert Meeder, explores a global movement where making is no longer a romantic aside, but a force shaping economies, identities, and the future of design. (@mrpatrickduffy @rob_co )

Craft contributes over 3% of global GDP and employs more than 6% of the world’s workforce—quietly sustaining communities while the rest of the world races ahead.

But beneath the numbers, something deeper is unfolding.

Meeder frames craft not as decorative, but as stabilizing—a system that builds resilience socially, economically, and emotionally. A way of holding culture together when everything else begins to fracture.

Across Sri Lanka, India, Mexico, and Armenia, a new cartography of craft is emerging. One where material becomes memory, and design becomes responsibility—less about production, more about authorship.

From weavers in exile to designers reclaiming heritage, craft carries identity when borders fail. It is resistance you can hold in your hand.

And perhaps most provocatively, it asks us to reconsider value itself—where care, longevity, and intention define what luxury really means.

The Craft Report. Now live. TOUCHÉ issue.

#IRKMagazine #CraftReport #PatrickDuffy #RobertMeeder #Craftsmanship #DesignCulture #SlowLuxury #Sustainability

In the TOUCHÉ issue, editor @mrpatrickduffy highlights, craft is both cultural and economic infrastructure, sustaining communities while shaping identity across global networks of makers.

Discover the latest TOUCHÉ issue now.

Photographer: @cactusmedia.lk

#IRKMagazine #TheCraftReport #FashionCraft #SlowFashion #CraftInFashion #MadeByHand

I remember standing in the corner of the room at the Detroit Foundation Hotel just before my set, watching the light move across the walls and thinking… this city really has a point of view. It felt calm for a second. Then the music came in and the room softened, like everyone had quietly agreed to stay a while.

Earlier that day, I gave myself a loose architecture tour. No map, just instinct and a lot of looking up. Detroit rewards that. You start to see the rhythm in everything. The magnitude of Albert Kahn, the elegance of Minoru Yamasaki, and then the full, unapologetic expression of the Guardian Building. Detroit has a magic about it, and I loved seeing it again through the lens of design & development.

That feeling carried into the set. Detroit has too much history to ignore, tough to fit into a few hours but believe me, I tried! Motown Records alone could carry an entire night, with voices like Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder setting a tone that never really leaves the room. And then there’s the pulse of Detroit techno, shaped by Juan Atkins, Theo Parish and Derrick May, which still feels like the future!

Somewhere in the middle of the set, I looked over at the bar and saw people dancing in place, smiling, giving me a thumbs up like we were all in on the same secret. One guy came up and told me I’d just played songs he hadn’t heard in 30 years. That kind of moment stays with you. It’s not about the track, it’s about the memory it unlocks.

I didn’t try to overproduce it. I let it unfold. A little soul to start, then tightening things just enough, letting rhythm take the lead. The kind of set where you stop thinking about transitions and just trust the moment.

And then, because I can’t help myself, I slipped in a few of my forever favorites. Cerrone for that suoernature disco fantasy. Diana Ross, because elegance is non-negotiable. Donna Summer, obviously. Chilly for a slightly unexpected funk moment. And Gino Soccio, because Italo disco, in the right room, always wins.

My motto has always been “Glamour will save us.” And for a brief, very Detroit moment, it actually felt like it might.

A little nostalgic. A little electric. Exactly how it should be.

I remember standing in the corner of the room at the Detroit Foundation Hotel just before my set, watching the light move across the walls and thinking… this city really has a point of view. It felt calm for a second. Then the music came in and the room softened, like everyone had quietly agreed to stay a while.

Earlier that day, I gave myself a loose architecture tour. No map, just instinct and a lot of looking up. Detroit rewards that. You start to see the rhythm in everything. The magnitude of Albert Kahn, the elegance of Minoru Yamasaki, and then the full, unapologetic expression of the Guardian Building. Detroit has a magic about it, and I loved seeing it again through the lens of design & development.

That feeling carried into the set. Detroit has too much history to ignore, tough to fit into a few hours but believe me, I tried! Motown Records alone could carry an entire night, with voices like Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder setting a tone that never really leaves the room. And then there’s the pulse of Detroit techno, shaped by Juan Atkins, Theo Parish and Derrick May, which still feels like the future!

Somewhere in the middle of the set, I looked over at the bar and saw people dancing in place, smiling, giving me a thumbs up like we were all in on the same secret. One guy came up and told me I’d just played songs he hadn’t heard in 30 years. That kind of moment stays with you. It’s not about the track, it’s about the memory it unlocks.

I didn’t try to overproduce it. I let it unfold. A little soul to start, then tightening things just enough, letting rhythm take the lead. The kind of set where you stop thinking about transitions and just trust the moment.

And then, because I can’t help myself, I slipped in a few of my forever favorites. Cerrone for that suoernature disco fantasy. Diana Ross, because elegance is non-negotiable. Donna Summer, obviously. Chilly for a slightly unexpected funk moment. And Gino Soccio, because Italo disco, in the right room, always wins.

My motto has always been “Glamour will save us.” And for a brief, very Detroit moment, it actually felt like it might.

A little nostalgic. A little electric. Exactly how it should be.

I remember standing in the corner of the room at the Detroit Foundation Hotel just before my set, watching the light move across the walls and thinking… this city really has a point of view. It felt calm for a second. Then the music came in and the room softened, like everyone had quietly agreed to stay a while.

Earlier that day, I gave myself a loose architecture tour. No map, just instinct and a lot of looking up. Detroit rewards that. You start to see the rhythm in everything. The magnitude of Albert Kahn, the elegance of Minoru Yamasaki, and then the full, unapologetic expression of the Guardian Building. Detroit has a magic about it, and I loved seeing it again through the lens of design & development.

That feeling carried into the set. Detroit has too much history to ignore, tough to fit into a few hours but believe me, I tried! Motown Records alone could carry an entire night, with voices like Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder setting a tone that never really leaves the room. And then there’s the pulse of Detroit techno, shaped by Juan Atkins, Theo Parish and Derrick May, which still feels like the future!

Somewhere in the middle of the set, I looked over at the bar and saw people dancing in place, smiling, giving me a thumbs up like we were all in on the same secret. One guy came up and told me I’d just played songs he hadn’t heard in 30 years. That kind of moment stays with you. It’s not about the track, it’s about the memory it unlocks.

I didn’t try to overproduce it. I let it unfold. A little soul to start, then tightening things just enough, letting rhythm take the lead. The kind of set where you stop thinking about transitions and just trust the moment.

And then, because I can’t help myself, I slipped in a few of my forever favorites. Cerrone for that suoernature disco fantasy. Diana Ross, because elegance is non-negotiable. Donna Summer, obviously. Chilly for a slightly unexpected funk moment. And Gino Soccio, because Italo disco, in the right room, always wins.

My motto has always been “Glamour will save us.” And for a brief, very Detroit moment, it actually felt like it might.

A little nostalgic. A little electric. Exactly how it should be.

I remember standing in the corner of the room at the Detroit Foundation Hotel just before my set, watching the light move across the walls and thinking… this city really has a point of view. It felt calm for a second. Then the music came in and the room softened, like everyone had quietly agreed to stay a while.

Earlier that day, I gave myself a loose architecture tour. No map, just instinct and a lot of looking up. Detroit rewards that. You start to see the rhythm in everything. The magnitude of Albert Kahn, the elegance of Minoru Yamasaki, and then the full, unapologetic expression of the Guardian Building. Detroit has a magic about it, and I loved seeing it again through the lens of design & development.

That feeling carried into the set. Detroit has too much history to ignore, tough to fit into a few hours but believe me, I tried! Motown Records alone could carry an entire night, with voices like Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder setting a tone that never really leaves the room. And then there’s the pulse of Detroit techno, shaped by Juan Atkins, Theo Parish and Derrick May, which still feels like the future!

Somewhere in the middle of the set, I looked over at the bar and saw people dancing in place, smiling, giving me a thumbs up like we were all in on the same secret. One guy came up and told me I’d just played songs he hadn’t heard in 30 years. That kind of moment stays with you. It’s not about the track, it’s about the memory it unlocks.

I didn’t try to overproduce it. I let it unfold. A little soul to start, then tightening things just enough, letting rhythm take the lead. The kind of set where you stop thinking about transitions and just trust the moment.

And then, because I can’t help myself, I slipped in a few of my forever favorites. Cerrone for that suoernature disco fantasy. Diana Ross, because elegance is non-negotiable. Donna Summer, obviously. Chilly for a slightly unexpected funk moment. And Gino Soccio, because Italo disco, in the right room, always wins.

My motto has always been “Glamour will save us.” And for a brief, very Detroit moment, it actually felt like it might.

A little nostalgic. A little electric. Exactly how it should be.

I remember standing in the corner of the room at the Detroit Foundation Hotel just before my set, watching the light move across the walls and thinking… this city really has a point of view. It felt calm for a second. Then the music came in and the room softened, like everyone had quietly agreed to stay a while.

Earlier that day, I gave myself a loose architecture tour. No map, just instinct and a lot of looking up. Detroit rewards that. You start to see the rhythm in everything. The magnitude of Albert Kahn, the elegance of Minoru Yamasaki, and then the full, unapologetic expression of the Guardian Building. Detroit has a magic about it, and I loved seeing it again through the lens of design & development.

That feeling carried into the set. Detroit has too much history to ignore, tough to fit into a few hours but believe me, I tried! Motown Records alone could carry an entire night, with voices like Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder setting a tone that never really leaves the room. And then there’s the pulse of Detroit techno, shaped by Juan Atkins, Theo Parish and Derrick May, which still feels like the future!

Somewhere in the middle of the set, I looked over at the bar and saw people dancing in place, smiling, giving me a thumbs up like we were all in on the same secret. One guy came up and told me I’d just played songs he hadn’t heard in 30 years. That kind of moment stays with you. It’s not about the track, it’s about the memory it unlocks.

I didn’t try to overproduce it. I let it unfold. A little soul to start, then tightening things just enough, letting rhythm take the lead. The kind of set where you stop thinking about transitions and just trust the moment.

And then, because I can’t help myself, I slipped in a few of my forever favorites. Cerrone for that suoernature disco fantasy. Diana Ross, because elegance is non-negotiable. Donna Summer, obviously. Chilly for a slightly unexpected funk moment. And Gino Soccio, because Italo disco, in the right room, always wins.

My motto has always been “Glamour will save us.” And for a brief, very Detroit moment, it actually felt like it might.

A little nostalgic. A little electric. Exactly how it should be.

I remember standing in the corner of the room at the Detroit Foundation Hotel just before my set, watching the light move across the walls and thinking… this city really has a point of view. It felt calm for a second. Then the music came in and the room softened, like everyone had quietly agreed to stay a while.

Earlier that day, I gave myself a loose architecture tour. No map, just instinct and a lot of looking up. Detroit rewards that. You start to see the rhythm in everything. The magnitude of Albert Kahn, the elegance of Minoru Yamasaki, and then the full, unapologetic expression of the Guardian Building. Detroit has a magic about it, and I loved seeing it again through the lens of design & development.

That feeling carried into the set. Detroit has too much history to ignore, tough to fit into a few hours but believe me, I tried! Motown Records alone could carry an entire night, with voices like Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder setting a tone that never really leaves the room. And then there’s the pulse of Detroit techno, shaped by Juan Atkins, Theo Parish and Derrick May, which still feels like the future!

Somewhere in the middle of the set, I looked over at the bar and saw people dancing in place, smiling, giving me a thumbs up like we were all in on the same secret. One guy came up and told me I’d just played songs he hadn’t heard in 30 years. That kind of moment stays with you. It’s not about the track, it’s about the memory it unlocks.

I didn’t try to overproduce it. I let it unfold. A little soul to start, then tightening things just enough, letting rhythm take the lead. The kind of set where you stop thinking about transitions and just trust the moment.

And then, because I can’t help myself, I slipped in a few of my forever favorites. Cerrone for that suoernature disco fantasy. Diana Ross, because elegance is non-negotiable. Donna Summer, obviously. Chilly for a slightly unexpected funk moment. And Gino Soccio, because Italo disco, in the right room, always wins.

My motto has always been “Glamour will save us.” And for a brief, very Detroit moment, it actually felt like it might.

A little nostalgic. A little electric. Exactly how it should be.

I remember standing in the corner of the room at the Detroit Foundation Hotel just before my set, watching the light move across the walls and thinking… this city really has a point of view. It felt calm for a second. Then the music came in and the room softened, like everyone had quietly agreed to stay a while.

Earlier that day, I gave myself a loose architecture tour. No map, just instinct and a lot of looking up. Detroit rewards that. You start to see the rhythm in everything. The magnitude of Albert Kahn, the elegance of Minoru Yamasaki, and then the full, unapologetic expression of the Guardian Building. Detroit has a magic about it, and I loved seeing it again through the lens of design & development.

That feeling carried into the set. Detroit has too much history to ignore, tough to fit into a few hours but believe me, I tried! Motown Records alone could carry an entire night, with voices like Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder setting a tone that never really leaves the room. And then there’s the pulse of Detroit techno, shaped by Juan Atkins, Theo Parish and Derrick May, which still feels like the future!

Somewhere in the middle of the set, I looked over at the bar and saw people dancing in place, smiling, giving me a thumbs up like we were all in on the same secret. One guy came up and told me I’d just played songs he hadn’t heard in 30 years. That kind of moment stays with you. It’s not about the track, it’s about the memory it unlocks.

I didn’t try to overproduce it. I let it unfold. A little soul to start, then tightening things just enough, letting rhythm take the lead. The kind of set where you stop thinking about transitions and just trust the moment.

And then, because I can’t help myself, I slipped in a few of my forever favorites. Cerrone for that suoernature disco fantasy. Diana Ross, because elegance is non-negotiable. Donna Summer, obviously. Chilly for a slightly unexpected funk moment. And Gino Soccio, because Italo disco, in the right room, always wins.

My motto has always been “Glamour will save us.” And for a brief, very Detroit moment, it actually felt like it might.

A little nostalgic. A little electric. Exactly how it should be.

I remember standing in the corner of the room at the Detroit Foundation Hotel just before my set, watching the light move across the walls and thinking… this city really has a point of view. It felt calm for a second. Then the music came in and the room softened, like everyone had quietly agreed to stay a while.

Earlier that day, I gave myself a loose architecture tour. No map, just instinct and a lot of looking up. Detroit rewards that. You start to see the rhythm in everything. The magnitude of Albert Kahn, the elegance of Minoru Yamasaki, and then the full, unapologetic expression of the Guardian Building. Detroit has a magic about it, and I loved seeing it again through the lens of design & development.

That feeling carried into the set. Detroit has too much history to ignore, tough to fit into a few hours but believe me, I tried! Motown Records alone could carry an entire night, with voices like Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder setting a tone that never really leaves the room. And then there’s the pulse of Detroit techno, shaped by Juan Atkins, Theo Parish and Derrick May, which still feels like the future!

Somewhere in the middle of the set, I looked over at the bar and saw people dancing in place, smiling, giving me a thumbs up like we were all in on the same secret. One guy came up and told me I’d just played songs he hadn’t heard in 30 years. That kind of moment stays with you. It’s not about the track, it’s about the memory it unlocks.

I didn’t try to overproduce it. I let it unfold. A little soul to start, then tightening things just enough, letting rhythm take the lead. The kind of set where you stop thinking about transitions and just trust the moment.

And then, because I can’t help myself, I slipped in a few of my forever favorites. Cerrone for that suoernature disco fantasy. Diana Ross, because elegance is non-negotiable. Donna Summer, obviously. Chilly for a slightly unexpected funk moment. And Gino Soccio, because Italo disco, in the right room, always wins.

My motto has always been “Glamour will save us.” And for a brief, very Detroit moment, it actually felt like it might.

A little nostalgic. A little electric. Exactly how it should be.

I remember standing in the corner of the room at the Detroit Foundation Hotel just before my set, watching the light move across the walls and thinking… this city really has a point of view. It felt calm for a second. Then the music came in and the room softened, like everyone had quietly agreed to stay a while.

Earlier that day, I gave myself a loose architecture tour. No map, just instinct and a lot of looking up. Detroit rewards that. You start to see the rhythm in everything. The magnitude of Albert Kahn, the elegance of Minoru Yamasaki, and then the full, unapologetic expression of the Guardian Building. Detroit has a magic about it, and I loved seeing it again through the lens of design & development.

That feeling carried into the set. Detroit has too much history to ignore, tough to fit into a few hours but believe me, I tried! Motown Records alone could carry an entire night, with voices like Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder setting a tone that never really leaves the room. And then there’s the pulse of Detroit techno, shaped by Juan Atkins, Theo Parish and Derrick May, which still feels like the future!

Somewhere in the middle of the set, I looked over at the bar and saw people dancing in place, smiling, giving me a thumbs up like we were all in on the same secret. One guy came up and told me I’d just played songs he hadn’t heard in 30 years. That kind of moment stays with you. It’s not about the track, it’s about the memory it unlocks.

I didn’t try to overproduce it. I let it unfold. A little soul to start, then tightening things just enough, letting rhythm take the lead. The kind of set where you stop thinking about transitions and just trust the moment.

And then, because I can’t help myself, I slipped in a few of my forever favorites. Cerrone for that suoernature disco fantasy. Diana Ross, because elegance is non-negotiable. Donna Summer, obviously. Chilly for a slightly unexpected funk moment. And Gino Soccio, because Italo disco, in the right room, always wins.

My motto has always been “Glamour will save us.” And for a brief, very Detroit moment, it actually felt like it might.

A little nostalgic. A little electric. Exactly how it should be.