THE ARTISAN | DOMINIC CIAMBRONE "THE SURGEON"

If you've been collecting sneakers and have a passion for some of your favorite Nike, Gucci, Lanvin's etc that are deconstructed, reconstructed and customized with premium and exotic skins, Dominic Ciambrone, a.k.a. The Surgeon is the legendary creative mind that is at the forefront of taking our sneaker game to the next level! His work has been coveted and collected by Justin Bieber, LeBron James, Odell Beckham Jr, DJ Khaled, Canelo, and more. In addition he has worked with Bentley Motors, NBA, NFL, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, Heineken, Reese's, Glenmorangie, 7-11, and a number of other brands. We wanted to find out how he got into and pioneered this space, what his work entails, his projects, working with luxury brands, SRGN Studios, SRGN Academy, his passion for sports, The League, and additional projects that he is working on.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you realize that you wanted to be a shoemaker?

DOMINIC CIAMBRONE: When did I realize that I wanted to be a shoemaker? I would say when I was 19 years old. From the age of 15/16, I was painting shoes, but I realized that to actually be a shoemaker, I needed to take my craft a step further. That realization came I think when I met one of my mentors, Michael Anthony who hand makes western boots.

AM: What was that journey like to be able to be self-taught and learning all of those elements?

DC: It was a long road! I started with painting shoes and then I learned how to sew on top of them – I learned sewing in high school. Then I met my mentor who made western boots so I got to watch him make boots and then I realized that that’s what I wanted to do with sneakers. I wanted to make the highest end sneakers in the world and it took many years working for free and just doing stuff to learn about machines and tools. It was a lot of missteps and a lot of learning. I did paint, I did shoe repair, fixed purses and bags. I mean, I did all kinds of things just so that I could learn.

AM: Back in 2011/2012, I had a collaboration with Sebago and I had a line of their boat shoes and we sold it on HSN, Bloomingdale's and a few select retailers and I was so excited. But my background at that time was in apparel and jewelry as opposed to shoes. I remember reading an article about you and your work when I was on my flight heading to the factory in the Dominican Republic. After reading it, I felt that in hearing your story, how you approached your work etc, that if I could take that same approach and focus on the materials and create another way to highlight this style of shoe much as you do with sneakers that I could do it! So reading about you and just thinking about it in a different way saved me from freaking out on my flight I just wanted to say thank you for that!

DC: That’s awesome!

AM: Why do you call yourself The Surgeon?

DC: I was 18 years old in a hotel in NYC for the first time trying to figure out what to call myself, the brand, and what I was doing. I just wrote down a bunch of things and I was just trying to figure out what do I do to sneakers? What do I do to the shoes? I was like, “surgery,” and that’s where it got birthed – The Surgeon. Now that we're expanding the business, we've taken "Shoe" out of the name and go by SURGEON. Our creativity isn't limited to sneakers and you're going to see that more and more next year.

AM: When you’re customizing shoes, where do you start in that creative process when you’re making sneakers?

DC: I mean it changes. I don’t have one set process. For me, I have always been able to build something to life straight from an idea. I love sourcing materials, I’m really big into materials, I think that I’m mostly a materials person. I mostly just love it so much. You can turn something into a product and that’s a beautiful thing.

AM: I’m also a fashion stylist and an accessory expert, so I’m constantly talking about and believe that when someone is purchasing a handbag, jewelry, or shoes, you’re buying what the designer intended in making that item as well as what the wearer puts into it after wearing it and wanting it. Ultimately, that connection between the person who purchased it and the product creates its own history and meaning. When people are buying your shoes, what are they getting?

DC: I mean, ha – they get a piece of my soul. They get a piece of something that’s my entire life and they get a piece of shoemaking history that dates back all the way to Ancient Egypt! I mean, there’s those hieroglyphics on the wall that I looked at recently and some of the oldest ones have people making shoes!

AM: You have been worn and collected by so many people from LeBron James, Justin Bieber, Drake and more. What’s it like when you’re collaborating with them on specific ideas and incorporating your concepts together?

DC: Sometimes they give me the full range to do what I want and then there’s some that have a couple of ideas and I help bring their ideas to life where they will give a little bit of direction and I’m able to go back and forth. I think that a true collaboration is a very beautiful thing. You have 2 energies that are coming together to create something magical.

AM: You’ve also worked with so many brands whether it’s Gucci or Lanvin or Nike or Reese’s, what does it feel like to be able to work with these types of brands and to bring your creativity and artistry into what their lexicon is?

DC: I mean, it’s a beautiful thing. At the end of the day, I just – a friend of mine told me that I’m making commercial cool right? So a lot of the stuff that I get to do is that I get to make cool commercials and I didn’t look at it that way. People just reached out to me for my craft and my artistry and what I have been able to build from my Instagram to just a true foundation where I hold a high value on my quality and my artisanal work with the team so it’s really cool to be able to be part of it.

AM: You’re SURGEON X Bentley partnership last year where you had the limited edition shoes as well as Surgeon-ifying their car, what did it mean to you to work with this brand and to create in this way?

DC: Bentley is one of, if not the most, prestigious car company in the world. So, to be able to fly to Crewe, England and sit with the makers there and to see how they produced one of the highest quality cars in the world was a very humbling experience and it was so amazing to be able to do that because that car is the top of the top!

AM: Oh yeah!

The materials that you use – the leathers, the exotics are amazing. Have you also used sustainable materials like banana leathers, mycelium and things like that?

DC: Oh yeah, I’ve been using different ideas of sustainability whether it’s even recycled materials. I actually flew to Brazil, developed an Elephant Ear plant material and we have used that on shoes and right now, I have a shoe that is launching that the sole is dyed with turmeric, the swoosh is mushroom, pineapple leather, grape leaf leather – I mean, it’s a really cool shoe.

AM: What has been your favorite project that you have worked on?

DC: I don’t really have favorites …

AM: You’re like me – I don’t have favorites, but there are a lot of things that I vibe with!

DC: I think it’s myself – really working on myself is beauty and I never looked at it that way until recently. So to be able to work on myself and to be able to translate that to my children, the work will speak for itself. myself is beauty and I never looked at it that way until recently. So to be able to work on myself and to be able to translate that to my children, the work will speak for itself.

AM: When you started, this industry and the market didn’t really exist in this way and you definitely have left a mark on it. Where do you see the industry in the next 15/20 years?

DC: That’s a great question. I don’t know. I don’t think like that because shoes and the custom industry was something that I think that I really helped pioneer and now for me, it’s way bigger than that. I’m working on architecture, interiors, car design, and so many other things. So just for custom shoes as an industry, I think that more people will respect the process more. I think that some will try it and most won’t like it because it’s a lot of work. I do think that a lot of things will be going to automation and easy to do things.

AM: Tell me about SRGN Academy which you have in LA, Las Vegas and at the Seaport here in NY.

DC: The SRGN Academy was started 8 or 9 years ago now. Growing up, I didn’t have a class or a school that I wanted to go to so I wanted to offer a trade school that you learn how to make a pair of shoes from scratch and at the same time, it’s not just about the shoes. It’s about going through something for yourself and doing something positive for yourself.

AM: Then there’s SRGN Studios, why did you want to launch this and what does it entail?

DC: SRGN Studios and even SURGEON Worldwide, is just a company that I have been able to build. The studio is like my fantasy factory where we have sports and all things under one roof. Not until you’re able to come into the studio do you really get a feel for it. You can only see so much through social media and online. So it's just a way for people to be able to have fun and live life. Life’s too short. I wanted to create a safe and fun place for people.

AM: Tell me about The League.

DC: The League started out of – well my business partner Dallas Imbimbo, he plays basketball and I play soccer. So once we got into our newer space, we just started playing pickup games and then we were like, “oh, let’s do more.” So we turned it into a league and it’s been very competitive, and fun, and a great outlet for me to not just be creative – but athletic and to compete in a healthy way.

AM: It seems like you have a full schedule. Will you ever have versions where you go to other cities like here in NY or in Miami.

DC: Yeah, we’re working on it.

AM: A few minutes ago, you were talking about how your passion extends beyond just shoes as you’re working in architecture, interiors, and cars. Will you have a clothing line, will we ever see a hotel that you do?

DC: Yeah exactly! I’m working on all of those things. I think that the hotel is definitely something that I love. I’m passionate about traveling and experience is something that is very meaningful to me so a hotel is definitely ideating.

AM: Here at Athleisure Mag, we love talking about food, it’s a great love that we’re constantly covering. You have the Canevari’s Ravioli Factory & Delicatessen – tell us more about this.

DC: My dad took over this deli 12-15 years ago and growing up my whole life, my dad was a chef. My mom cooked and my dad, when I was going into my freshman year of high school, they opened a restaurant and I got to see them live out their passions by just opening up a restaurant. At the time, I took it for granted and I didn’t understand it. I thought that it was normal and it was just my normal. Now that they have the deli, I have helped them remodel it, help brand it, and to get the right eyeballs on it to continue to grow it. It’s helped my dad and I to become closer.

“They get a piece of my soul. They get a piece of something that’s my entire life and they get a piece of shoemaking history that dates back all the way to Ancient Egypt! I mean, there’s those hieroglyphics on the wall that I looked at recently and some of the oldest ones have people making shoes!”

— Dominic Ciambrone "The Surgeon"

AM: What do you do in terms of working out as we like to know. So what are 3 workouts that you do that we should consider to add into our routines?

DC: Play soccer! Play soccer! It’s such a good workout. I mean and then, steam room, sauna, and I also meditate which is a workout for the mind to relax and physical therapy. I think a lot of people don’t realize how important physical therapy is. We wait until we’re hurt or we need to recover to get to it. But it’s like, if you can be preventative, then you’ll always be good. Mobility workouts are great. It’s less about weight and going crazy, it’s about the body and being really kind to your body and figuring out how to open it up so that you can have it for the longevity of your life.

AM: Totally agree. I turned 40 a few years ago and prior to that I wasn’t as focused on recovering the body post workout and mobility. When I started adding it in, I wondered why I had never done that because your body needs it and you can feel it over time.

When you’re not working, how do you take time for yourself?

DC: How do I take time for myself? I have a life coach that I work with every week. You know, I would say that playing soccer is time for myself even though it is in the studio. It’s really the only time that I ever shut off unless I’m in a meditation or workout. Hiking, traveling, and then working on myself for my children.

AM: Are there any upcoming projects that you would like to share?

DC: Ha! I’d have to ask my team! I can’t even keep up. We’re moving into the new studio, another 20,000 sq ft. We have a collaboration with Allen Iverson that launches next month. I mean, there are so many, I can’t even keep up anymore.

AM: You have so many projects going on and dropping. When a project comes to your attention, how do you decide if that is something that you want to add to your schedule?

DC: We have built such a great team to help manage this stuff so that we can continue to grow and that for me as a creative, I can continue to explore new things. So, it just depends. There are so many great things that we’re working on and a lot of the things that I’m working on is the stuff for the future.

AM: You’re also an advocate and you speak about the importance of mental health which is something we believe in. Why is it so important to you and what do you feel is the connection between mental health and physical health?

DC: As a kid, I went through a lot of mental health challenges, and I don’t think that I knew of it that way. At 24, I ended up jumping out of a window when I was making shoes for Justin Bieber, and I was diagnosed bipolar and I didn’t really know what that meant. Then when I started doing more self-research and figuring more things out, it’s so important – mental health and physical health are one in the same and you need to do both. When you take care of your physical health, your mental health will be better. It’s just true in the same and so it’s very important to physically take care of yourself for your mental purposes and with mindful workouts which is meditation, positive self-talk, it's mindfulness and so many things. And yeah, there’s so many people with how the world is going where people are pushing you know, different types of medicines. There’s something so much more easier about being able to get up and going for a walk, being in the sun, and taking care of your mind, body, and soul.

AM: I heard you like to rap in the office!

DC: HAHA I like to make people laugh! Growing up, my dad always rhymed, more like Dr. Seuss than a rapper, but I do it for myself and also to help people around to laugh. My kids pick it up to and it’s so funny because if I try to start rhyming and rapping, my daughter’s like, “dad, stop!”

AM: I could see you dropping a mix tape!

DC: I mean, I’m working on music more for exploring it. It’s less about rapping and more about just creating!

IG @ciambrone

@thesurgeon

@srgnstudio

@srgnacademy

@srgnnyc

@canevarisdeli

PHOTO CREDITS | FRONT/BACK COVER, PG 20 + 9DRIP 42-45 Bryam Heredia/SRGN Studios + Grooming/Stefanie Guerra | PG 16-19, 22-41 SRGN Studios |

Read the NOV ISSUE #95 of Athleisure Mag and see THE ARTISAN | Dominic Ciambrone “The Surgeon” in mag.

TAKE IT TO THE WAVES | MONICA MEDELLIN

We enjoy a great docuseries where we get to follow our favorite sports and get behind the action to find out how it all comes together. Prime Video's 4 episode series, Surf Girls Hawai'i follows 5 native Hawaiian females as they take their shot on obtaining a spot in the world tour. We follow Moana Jones Wong, Ewe Wong, Maluhia Kinimaka, Pua DeSoto, and Brianna Cope as we see them navigating their season, training, and interacting with their friends and family.

We caught up with Monica Medellin, Creator and Executive Producer of this docuseries. We wanted to find out more about how she became a fan of this action sport, being a surfer, working in the surf industry, and the importance of storytelling to amplify voices that are underrepresented but have powerful points of view.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We’ve personally been a fan of your work for awhile so it’s exciting to be able to talk with you to know more about you’re your docuseries, and what you’re working on that’s coming up!

MONICA MEDELLIN: Amazing! I’m so excited! I think that this is perfect because every body that knows me makes fun of me because athleisure is all I wear.

Thank you so much for highlighting me. I feel like a unicorn in this space. I just turned 30 and this all happened before then and it seems like the tides are changing and there are very few women that are like me in this position. So I really want to share my story and to hopefully inspire more storytellers in narratives like this.

AM: Absolutely!

Before we get into talking about the docuseries, we want to know more about you. What was the moment that you realized that you wanted to be a filmmaker?

MM: Oh, I mean, I feel like I was destined to be a filmmaker ever since I was a little girl. I couldn’t really identify that that was what I wanted until later in life. I've always been involved in sports as a child. My mom was a single working mom from Mexico and she raised me on her own.

Through that, she found different sports programs and extracurricular activities and that’s where I really fell in love with different sports and it started with more traditional sports like volleyball, basketball, and soccer. Then I moved into gymnastics and then we both discovered surfing while we were walking along the Santa Monica Beach and at that point, I had started skateboarding, surfing, and exploring these non-traditional sports.

I actually used her old camcorder to film myself skating! That’s what I did with my friends on the weekends, so obviously the production value was what it was!

You know, I started documenting sports from a young age and I started documenting myself as a young girl participating in those sports from that time. You know from there, I obviously played sports in high school – I was the team captain of the volleyball team, I would teach at surf camp over the summers and I moved to university and I studied Journalism at the University of Oregon. So, this theme of filming our experiences as women in sports has been something that has been a thread throughout my entire life!

AM: Wow! It also seems that a lot of your films as well as commercial work that you have done has also focused obviously on sports, but also covering underrepresented groups as well. As someone who is Black and has enjoyed sports such as snowboarding where people don’t think of us playing it, I like that you’re showcasing what is being done that people don’t necessarily think of.

MM: Right and I think that that’s something where you want to be niche, but not too niche where you miss out on telling other stories as well. I think that my main thing is highlighting and shining a light on stories that are underrepresented in the mainstream. That is the essence of my work. It doesn’t just need to be sports, it can be in anything. I mean, when I worked at the Los Angeles Times in 2015, I was helping launch a new platform that talks about this emerging American identity with race, immigration, identity, what does it mean to be American, but also never to really see yourself represented in the story in that way. So, I think that that time at the Los Angeles Times and producing documentaries around those topics really did shape the direction of how I approach my storytelling. Like sure, if I’m telling a story about an athlete, that’s in sports, but I want to uncover who the person is behind the athlete, what is the human experience that we can all relate to because ultimately, even when you see Surf Girls Hawai’i, it’s not just about surfing. It’s about coming of age, it’s about sisterhood, it’s about supporting each other through challenging times, and navigating life. So, I think that that is my approach through all of my storytelling that makes it universal whether you are interested in the sport or the topic itself.

AM: Absolutely!

What was the first project that you did that you realized that you wanted to do this as a career?

MM: Hmm, it’s actually funny, because my first film that I created was about a young Latina surfer in the Bay Area. She was part of a program that helped underrepresented youth get into the sport of surfing, get into action sports, and that film actually premiered at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival here in LA. That moment of seeing my work and my film, premiered at The Chinese Theatre, in Hollywood was such a monumental moment for me because I could see that this kind of storytelling was valued. I could see the reaction of the audience and I could see the emotion and I could actually feel the energy in the room. So, I feel like the LALIFF selecting my film to premiere at the Chinese Theatre in that way was a really defining moment for me. I knew that I could really make something out of this career and hopefully, tell more stories. At that point, I was still in my early 20’s so it was just the beginning, but I think that that was the moment that I decided to pursue this full time.

AM: We love surfers! This year alone we had the honor of speaking with Carissa Moore as well as Kai Lenny as covers for Athleisure Mag. You also surf – what is it about this sport that you enjoy so much?

MM: I think surfing is such a unique sport because it’s not just a sport. It’s a lifestyle, it’s a culture, it has deep roots around the world, and had I known that this sport is originated by people of color and women of color, I would have felt that I belonged in it sooner. (Editor’s Note: The origin of surfing can be found in various cultures as far back as the Incas in 1590 when a Jesuit missionary José de Acosta published it in Historia Natural y Moral de las Indias. In West Africa’s – Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, and Senegal and Central Africans in Cameroon have had various accounts of this activity in 1640, 1679, 1834, and 1861. In Polynesia in 1769 there is documentation of he’e nalu which translates to wave sliding by Joseph Banks as he was on HMS Endeavour during the first voyage of James Cook while the ship was in Tahiti.) I didn’t know anything about the history of surfing until I met another Latina surfer who shared with me this deep history. After discovering that, I made it my life’s mission to try to tell the world that this is the truth and that this is the history of this.

I think that with surfing, it’s so special for that deeper reason, but also I think that it’s a way of connecting with nature to get outside and get off your phone. You have no way of communicating with anybody when you’re out there. It’s your time to exist and enjoy yourself and I think that it resonates with a lot of people. I think that when I first started surfing in Los Angeles, the lineups looked a lot different than they do today. Today I actually paddle out and I see more women, I see more women of color and I actually see friends every single time that I go. I think that this surf culture has been defined by advertisements, brands, the industry, but we are reclaiming what it means to be a surfer and you’re seeing that happening in your local lineups. You’re seeing that happening through Surf Girls Hawai’i, you’re seeing that happen through different lenses, I think! I think that that is what makes surfing special. It’s just, there’s nothing else like it honestly.

AM: As the creator of Surf Girls Hawai’i, what drew you to telling this story?

MM: Surf Girls Hawai’i is what I have dreamt of ever since I was a little girl. We saw Blue Crush released back in 2002, which was my favorite film, and I really identified with Michelle Rodriguez (Fast and the Furious franchise, Machte franchise, Resident Evil franchise), who was another Latina and I mean, that’s just one part of it. When I was working in the surf industry, I noticed that major mainstream platforms just had more coverage of male surfers. You barley saw women and in advertisements, it’s still really common to see a surfer girl in a bikini and a man on a wave surfing.

AM: Right.

MM: You walk down to any surf shop and that’s still the reality of our time in 2023! Actually, while I was working at the League (World Surf League), I started a personal archive of my favorite surfers who were women, who I thought deserved the spotlight and I pitched an idea that would eventually push the company to promote men and women equally on our social platforms. I think that since then, we have seen a shift. I just really wanted to be able to highlight women that I felt didn’t have a seat at the table. I think that through Surf Girls Hawai’i, they are finally getting the recognition that they deserve. That’s really cool that I helped spearhead that effort and identified this talent early on.

AM: For those that have not seen this docuseries, can you give us the premise of the show, and also, how did you decide to select the 5 Native Hawaiian female surfers that are featured in the docuseries.

MM: Surf Girls Hawai’i follows the next generation of native Hawaiian, female surfers as they compete at an elite level to earn a spot on the world tour of professional surfing. Surf girls is about a sisterhood of native Hawaiian surfers who are on the cusp of becoming pro and this is the most elite level that they have ever competed on and they are competing against each other, but also together in a lot of different ways and they support each other through that. I think that what makes it special is the fact that oftentimes when you see shows that center women, you see maybe cattiness or drama between the women. You see this marketable yet damaging portrayal of female relationships.

I think that what’s different with Surf Girls Hawai’i is, even though they are fierce competitors, and they are competing for one spot, they all support each other through this journey. That’s because they all know that if one of them makes it, everyone makes it because this is more than just winning for their own personal gain, this is about representing native Hawaiian culture at the highest level of surfing. I think that carrying that responsibility, and that legacy, is what makes this highest stakes in a lot of ways. You don’t need that cattiness or drama between the girls. I think that that is the premise, but also what makes it different.

AM: From your perspective as a filmmaker, how do you go about creatively organizing all of this. As you said, they’re all there for that aligned goal, but they are also individual people. How are you weaving that story and kind of planning it in your head especially when it’s only 4 episodes! By the end I was wanting to see more about these women, wondering if there would be another season, would the same surfers be followed – so many questions!

MM: The response to this show has been so overwhelmingly positive and I have been told that it is over performing. It shows that there is a gap and this storytelling was absolutely needed and 4 episodes did the trick! I think that that worked and I think in going back to your question, this cast is so special because on the surface, they are all native Hawaiian pro surfers that share this bond and share their culture together. But what I wanted to really accomplish with this series was to show them as multi-dimensional, multi-faceted women. They’re all different and all have different interests and different mindsets. They’re all different because you have on the one hand, Maluhia who is 26 years old, considered older to be competing and is at the crossroads of deciding on whether she wants to be a professional athlete and fulfill that lifelong childhood dream or pursue her education. She did both. She got her degree from Stanford and she is pursuing her PhD at UH Mānoha – all while competing on the WSL tour. I think that that is super unexpected. That defied expectations and I think that each character defies expectations of what you would think of them on the surface. So that’s just one example of how we approached the storytelling around each woman. How do we paint them as more than an athlete? Because each character is more than an athlete.

AM: What was it like working with Hello Sunshine on this project?

MM: I’ll start with Hello Sunshine. Hello Sunshine was honestly a dream partnership. Like we were aligned in our values before we even made the show together. I think for me as a creator, it was really important that the team working on Surf Girls was women-led and women-run, that is the essence of what makes Surf Girls Hawai’i what it is. I think that Hello Sunshine’s mission of changing the narrative for women aligned with my mission well before the final product. I think that Surf Girls put this native female Hawaiian experience at the forefront and Hello Sunshine invested in that, believed in that, and they saw that from the beginning. I think that that’s brave. This talent, they’re low profile, lesser known names outside of the surf industry, but that didn’t matter to them and I think that they just saw the magic. I also think that the Hello Sunshine team was very collaborative and supportive of hiring women behind the camera and making sure to work with my recommended Hawaiian and Hawaii local creators and crew. I just felt like the set was forward thinking and they understood the importance of picking a team to tell a story and in the best way.

I actually created and directed the original digital series that sold the show, and the vision stayed true throughout the process. I think that that is really hard to do actually. I feel that the women were really portrayed in a positive light and the culture wasn’t sensationalized. That was really really important. That’s my bit on Hello Sunshine!

AM: That’s amazing to hear. What has been your biggest takeaway in doing this docuseries?

MM: Oh my gosh, so much! I mean, creating and executive producing my first TV show, was an experience that I learned a lot from. I think that a big takeaway from the series is that you see the reactions from people that watched this and people are hungry for this kind of storytelling and they’re hungry to see women and women of color in sports. I think it’s interesting because this was technically made for Gen Z young women to identify with. But you see women of all ages responding to this and you see men of all ages intrigued, interested, and inspired by this story. So, I think that this is a story for everyone and that’s the takeaway – this story is important and deserves a spotlight and we were the first to do it and that’s really, really special. We were the first female sports docuseries on Hello Sunshine’s platforms and this was the first female sports documentary on Amazon.

AM: That’s a pretty big first!

MM: That’s big!

AM: That’s awesome!

I’m sure you’re always working on different projects, is there anything coming up that you are able to share that we should keep an eye out for?

MM: Yeah, so 2 things! I just got back from Tahiti for a shoot with the Olympic Channel, so that’s coming up. Then, I have another underreported, but fascinating field that centers women of color and Black women in sport that is not highly covered that I am currently developing. I’m developing projects constantly so we can leave it at those things.

IG @monicamedellin_

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 52 Ryan Gladney | PG 54 Brie Lakin | PG 57 Katie McDonald | PG 58 - 63 Prime Video |

Read the AUG ISSUE #92 of Athleisure Mag and see TAKE IT TO THE WAVES | Monica Medellin in mag.

MAKING HAIRSTORY | CHAZ DEAN

We always like sitting down with those that trailblaze their industries by working in their vertical and creating innovations that change the way that we go about doing what we do. We caught up with Chaz Dean, Founder of WEN and Celebrity Hair Stylist & Colorist, and have been fans of his since we first met him and followed his story on BRAVO's Flipping Out with Jeff Lewis, and when he went onto QVC to sell his line of haircare products. He creates products that you'll find using for your hair as well as other parts of your body! In addition, he is focused on clean ingredients that ensure our bodies stay hydrated and are not tested on animals.

We wanted to find out more about how he got into the industry, how being multi-talented in an array of areas allowed him to converge his skill sets even more to optimize his work, how he made his Chaz Dean Studio distinctive and his latest launch of WEN's Pina Colada line.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you realize that you wanted to be a hairstylist?

CHAZ DEAN: Probably when I was 18 because I took photography all through high school and I was a photographer all through that, loved it! We moved to Arizona the week after I graduated from high school. I was still 17 at that point and so I took a commercial course in photography and I thought, I was moving back to California, because Arizona was not for me! It was too hot – way too hot, which is what we’re getting now but anyway!

I knew I was moving back to California, but again, I was only an 18 year old kid. I felt like I was this little fish in this huge pond and I thought that I was going to be eaten alive out here. I wanted more experience under my belt and because I was a fashion/beauty photographer, I wanted to learn how to do the hair and the makeup to create the look that was in my head. I didn’t want to have to tell the MUA here’s what I see and the hair stylist, here's what I see - the vision that I saw, I wanted to be able to create that! That was really important to me so I went to school for hair and all through beauty school, everyone knew, this was the kid that was going to graduate and go back to California that’s his dream! I was going to work at Vidal Sassoon, that was my dream in school at least. I was going to go to Los Angeles to work at Vidal Sassoon. That was my dream in school. It was the full picture, not compartments.

AM: Exactly.

What led to you wanting to open your own salon and what were your goals in doing that?

CD: It’s funny, when we were in beauty school, one of our assignments was, if you had your own salon, what would it look like? We all had to draw it out like architects to show what it would look like and the layout. So, I remember that being our exercise, but I had no idea how I drew it out, now. It would be interesting to know how did I actually plan this as an 18 year old kid? How did I do it then versus how it really is now? I don’t remember, but it’s not like I sought out that I was going to own my own salon. Many people do and they can’t wait to open their own. Mine wasn’t that way. I worked for another company and I worked for them. I started creating products for them which is how it happened.

I was a 19 year old kid who asked them, “how come you have your own haircare line, but you don’t have your own deep conditioner?” They didn’t. They would buy those hypro pacs at the beauty supply. I didn’t think that it made sense to have your own product line, but not your own deep conditioner. So they said if I wanted, they would set me up with a laboratory to help them create one. I had never done it and again, I was only 19, but it opened a door for me. I like to cook, I’m creative, I love art and all of those things. So of course I wanted to do that. I did and we launched it and it was called Reconstructor and it was amazing and everyone loved it and it worked great. A few months later they came up to me and said, we’re thinking of doing more of a natural product line and they wanted to know if I would be interested. I said I was, but I wanted to know what I would get out of it. Their answer to me was, “prove to us that you can do it first and then we’ll talk about that.” A young intimidated kid from the owner’s salon thought, “well didn’t I already do that with the Reconstructor?”

But I wanted to do it and I probably was afraid that if I asked, that they might say ok forget it. So I wanted to do it and I’m glad that I did. We did it and we launched a Primrose Shampoo because they wanted more of a natural product line. At the time, the only one that was out was Aveda. I had to do my research to know what I would do and what I would want to do. So I did Primrose Shampoo, Sage Conditioner, and Rosemary Conditioner which were the first 3 products of the line. I’m someone that if my name is on it, it’s on it and you’re not going to run my name through the mud. So they were someone that wanted instant gratification and they kept saying let’s go, let’s go, let’s go. I would tell them that since my name was on it, if I was going to do it, I would do it right. It took longer than what they wanted it to be, but in hindsight, it was pretty quick. We finally did it and launched it and that was the line that it is and that’s the fashion formula line which is the Big Sexy Hair concept. So it’s that line. I developed those 3 items and it became huge! So after we launched it, I asked them, what am I going to get for this? So they told me to meet them in their office on Tues. So I went and their offices were in Westwood and they slid a piece of paper across the table to me and remember it probably took me 9 months to launch it so when I first did it, I was so excited and thought, oh my gosh, I’m going to create a product line for them and a young naïve 19 year old kid thinks that maybe I will get 15% out of it. You have no idea. As the months went on without having any dialogue with them and we do this as people, I went down to 12% and 10% in my own head just because I knew how they were. So in my own head, I talked my value down without any dialogue to them and I think I did it as well because I didn’t want to be let down with what it actually ended up being.

AM: Well, yeah.

CD: I’m not joking, I probably went down to 5-7% in my own head. So I went and met with them and remember I went from my own head thinking 15% down to 5%. So they slid the paper across the table to me, I turned it over and I kind of get a little emotional every time I say this. They offered me a penny per bottle for every bottle manufactured. I’m like woah! So I mean nothing – my worth is nothing!

AM: Oh my!

CD: In my head and I get goose bumps every time I say it because I don’t talk about it often, but in my head, I’m thinking I put in all that work and all that passion – yes I learned from it, but you’re a big Goliath here and that’s pretty messed up! In my head I’m thinking, that 100 bottles will equal $1! As a kid that has no money, how am I every going to get to $1,000? It was insane! I wasn’t happy about it and we had dialogue and they were like, that’s it – take it or leave it. Wow, it was a stab in the back and I had no choice and I signed it. But in all honesty, I never even saw that and I never even saw anything from that. I did get a discount from them when I purchased the salon from them which I am jumping ahead of them a little bit. Because you asked me about the salon and it’s really important.

Knowing I was screwed over when I first created a product for them, then I got screwed over a second time, also knowing that I worked for them as I was a manager and they didn’t pay their managers anything. I would ask them to just give me minimum wage to show that what I was doing for them carried merit, weight, value, respect, and what not. Because you had to have mandatory meetings and to cancel out your clients or book out your clients. I was like, I’m losing money as a manager and you’re not even covering me on anything here. I would ask for minimum wage and I’m sorry, back then it was $3.65 – so essentially, I’m asking for $120 a week to show me that I mean something to you. So no there was nothing. I did it as long as I could until I felt that my clientele was suffering because of my managerial and I was managing a salon of 25 stylists and so forth. So I said that I couldn’t do it anymore and that was after all the other things that I was screwed over on. I resigned from management and I left the salon that I was at which was in Century City and I went up to their Bel Air location. When I did, I realized that everyone that was working there were ex-managers. I was a 20 year old kid and I went to a salon that was all ex-managers. They all seemed to go there and it was in one of the richest neighborhoods in California. When I would go there, there would be no music there, no coffee made, there was no vibe, no energy and I couldn’t do it because I’m the full picture! So, I took on management again even though I didn’t get paid for it. I couldn’t be in that environment so I had to manage it. It’s funny because it bounced back between me and one of the other managers when I was like, I’m done with it, then she would do it. We both knew we weren’t getting paid for it, but we did it because we cared about the environment.

When it came up that we heard news that they might be selling the salon, we were like, “what are we going to do?” So I start looking around and you’re in Bel Air, it’s way up there around nothing. I looked and I couldn’t find a place as I knew I wouldn’t be able to control the environment. I would have to fit in to whatever it is and did I see myself in that type of an environment? At one point, they offered it to me on whether I would want to buy it, but my first knee jerk reacting in my head was, "how am I going to do this after you f-ed me over how many times?” Now you want me to do this so that you can do it again? But after thinking about it I realized that for years there was a reason why that salon wasn’t successful because every time one of the ex-managers would leave to go open their own salon, you’re losing that built in clientele they had. New stylists would come in, but you’re not getting new people walking into the door because you’re in Bel Air, a multi-million dollar neighborhood but it’s a chain salon Carlton above the door. These women have pride, they’re not going to a chain salon. I would tell them for years, change the name to anything but Carlton and you will have successful stylists. But they’re not walking in that door because of the name that’s over it. Even though it works for you everywhere else, it does not in this neighborhood. I said it for years and I have goosebumps as I tell you this and tell you my story as I don’t usually relive this. Their ego is in the way and they will not change the name. So I thought, I can make this work. So I did do it and that’s what turned everything around. I had never intended to own a salon, it was never in my cards, I was just a busy hard worker and I worked from 9 in the morning until 11/midnight because I was just passionate about hair. Marysol has been my housekeeper for 25 years and she jokes with me and says, “he used to work hard.” I’m like, what do you mean, I have no time to breathe! But it’s a different kind of work but I would be at the salon for 12 and 14 hour days so I “used to work hard.” It’s a different kind of work, now it’s a business kind of work. The irony is that I did it and I didn’t have any money. I had nothing. So I painted the walls and it was when shabby chic was in and I took my roses and hung them upside down and I made it quaint and cute and welcoming because I didn’t have any money to do anything else. I hated the floors and I couldn’t do anything about that. I did an opening party with friends and I had a friend that was a singer who had an incredible voice and she sang and I had people in the neighborhood and from the very beginning it was busy busy busy. They lived in the neighborhood and they would walk by and they were shocked. They would ask me how I did this and I told them that for years, all you had to do was change that name! I called it Chaz Dean. No one knew who Chaz Dean was back then, it was Chaz Dean Salon and they didn’t know who. I changed it to Chaz Dean Salon and now people know who the hell Chaz Dean is!

AM: Absolutely!

CD: I did call it my own name because I wanted to be able to incorporate my name because of my own photography. I wasn’t just building a salon, I was building photography and hair. I wanted them to be able to know who is Chaz Dean. Does that make sense?

AM: It does!

At what point did you feel like that you had been making these products for other people and now that you wanted to do it for yourself since you also had the salon?

CD: The day that I opened my salon!

AM: That’s what I thought!

CD: Because when I worked for them, you had to sell shampoo, you had to sell their products and it was all that you could do. That’s the ironic part. May 1st in 1993, the day I bought the salon and opened my salon, I gave up lather and said that I didn’t have to do that anymore to sell shampoo. I created it for them but I had already realized before that that I used to do shampoo and conditioner twice a day, 14 times a week. When I would shampoo my scalp, it would get tight and it felt horrible and it would be all stripped and I knew it. Then the conditioner would just comb through it and for 2 hours a day, it would look ok in the middle of the day, but then it would get oily and what not. It was a vicious cycle and I knew that there had to be a better way! I had a lightbulb moment that the only reason that anybody uses shampoo is to clean their hair. So if I can clean my hair and not strip it, so that my clients color won’t go down the drain, because I had been mixing vegetable color in with shampoos, that’s how I knew that the culprit was shampoo. So I’m emptying bottles of shampoo and mixing in vegetable color and putting them back in and I’m doing the same with conditioner – emptying them and putting back in vegetable color. But I know the culprit is shampoo, so get rid of the damn shampoo! That was before I bought the salon, but when I owned the salon, I no longer had to do this song and dance anymore. I can do my thing and that’s what it was.

The irony is, I never bought my shampoo from them. I bought the products that I created for them, but I never bought shampoo from them again. I would mix the sage and rosemary together – 2 parts sage, 1 part rosemary. Sage is more moisturizing and rosemary is more stringent so mixing 2/3 and 1/3, it worked. At the beginning, I told them about it because I was excited and they didn’t want to hear about it. About a year or so later, they realized that I never bought shampoo and I said, “why because I only do conditioner.” They thought that I was weird and crazy and then all of a sudden, they realized that I was on to something and then they came in asking about what I did and I knew! I knew that they were going to steal my idea because I was just this tiny little kid! My stylist next to me started telling me and I told her not to tell them. I knew what they were up to and they were going to rip me off.

AM: That’s awful!

CD: I did it and that was my moment when I started creating. It was still 2 years after that. So for 2 years, I mixed there’s and then in 1995, is when I started to work with the lab. When the lab came to me, I was concerned about them ripping me off so I didn’t even tell them what I was creating! With the lab, I would just pretend that I was creating a shampoo otherwise they were going to know what I was doing. So with the lab, they would send me the shampoo, various conditioners of different versions. I would keep making changes to the conditioners and they would note that I hadn’t with the shampoos and I would tell them that that one was good and I didn’t need any other changes. I didn’t tell them. It wasn’t until I launched it because my thinking was being someone much smaller than the larger companies around me, I had to protect it as long as I could and I kept the secret until it was launched. Even when I launched it, I still felt like I would have to keep it a secret. But by then I had to talk about it because it was out there and I had a patent pending. So I felt like it was guarded until I launched it.

AM: I love that story and it’s such a shame.There is such a backstory going on and you’re literally learning on a twisty curve and it’s awful when you’re the little guy!

CD: I probably wouldn’t have been around if it hadn’t happened that way. I didn’t do it out of spite or resentment. But I did it out of, if I did that for you, imagine what I could do for myself! That’s my thing. With the knowledge that I had back then versus what I had when I did it for myself, I knew I could do so much better than that.

AM: We had the pleasure of attending your virtual launch for the Pina Colada collection that took place last month. The system is great – what’s your process when you’re deciding about the scents that you’re bringing forward, what are the different kinds of products, and it’s great that there is that flexibility and such an intention behind what you do in these items that they can work for your skin as well as for your hair.

CD: I have very few products that only have 1 use. I’d have to think about which ones those would be. Most of them spill over for hair, skin, everything. As far as the fragrances, I have a Blessings Collection as well. Right now, we’re working on Prosperity. When we did the Pina Colada, we started out with wanting pineapple and coconut, but then as we went the process it became more than that! It literally became Pina Colada. Having pineapple and coconut made sense because of the benefits of the clarifying and the astringent properties, exfoliating properties, and hydrating properties. I knew where I wanted to go with it. This is one that I am so proud of! It’s been out since the beginning of June.

AM: When we got the WEN mailer, we were a little hesitant because some scents can be overwhelming and it’s just too much!

CD: Oh yeah, sometimes it’s like candy and too sweet!

AM: Yeah!

CD: Mine are not like that.

AM: When you’re using it feels like you’re at a spa and I really enjoy the balance of the scent.

CD: That is my element and as someone who suffers from migraines, the fragrances that I create are very clean. I avoid those nasty harsh synthetics and the musk because it drives my migraines and they know that about me too. So yeah, when you think of it and again, I smell other ones and I can’t because it goes right there! I keep it really clean and that’s what differentiates me so much because I have done over 50 fragrances and I will tell people not to wear fragrances because it drives my migraines, but the fact that I can create these and it doesn’t do that to me is so amazing. Again, I’m not making a claim, but anyone that does get migraines, or you have a fear of them, try it at least. I don’t remember anyone who has told me that it triggers their migraines.

AM: That’s good to know. What is the relationship when people are looking at having great hair – the balance between wellness and your haircare routine? Because it’s not just about what you put on your body, but also what you put in your body right?

CD: Oh yes! It’s really important. I try to get people to understand that everything that goes and I never use this analogy, but it’s the gas that you put in your car is going to determine that as well! Everything that you put into your body is going to come out as well. If you put in cheap gas you’re going to see that and it’s going to take its toll. But, the same thing with us. What goes in is going to have to come out somewhere. Your pores, your hair, your nails, your skin – somewhere. It has to come out, it doesn’t stay in there in a vault. So, yeah, when people realize that, you can change so much by your diet. What you do topically, you’ll notice it much quicker and immediately versus what you put in may take you a little longer to see what’s going on.

I definitely connect the two as I’m vegan and it’s been almost 4 years. I was pescatarian from Sept of 2014-2019 for 5 years and then I gave that up because I felt like I was probably eating more plastic than probably fish. Also, because they are living beings and there was all of that. I’ve been vegan now for almost 4 years. September will mark the 4th year. In terms of eating meat or any of that stuff, I haven’t in 9 years as of September. All of that is important to me. When I launched my product line, I did so with no animal testing. There are no animal biproducts, it’s cruelty-free, we are recognized by the leaping bunny and I did that again working on the line in 95, launching it in 2000 – so it’s not a bandwagon that I jumped onto. I have always been that way. Now, everyone is doing it being vegan and cruelty-free and I’m like, “where were you 20 years ago?” I launched that way. I don’t want to be swept away under the rug because everyone is now, I have been that way ever since I created my products. It’s important to me as well.

I think this is important, when I had my infomercial, I stipulated that I wouldn’t allow them to sell in China because they require animal testing. They knew that that was part of the contract and that I would not allow them to do that. They wanted to obviously, but it’s not ok.

AM: You’re schedule must be insane with your 2 salons in LA and here in NY, your QVC business with the brand as well as the brand on it’s own. What is an average week like for you? I love that you’re just smiling right now.

CD: No, it’s just that before you and I talked, I was talking with my business manager who was telling me that I had to do this, this, and this. I’ve been shooting for the past 2 days and almost everything was that. I know there are things that I need to do because they are important. It’s not a joke, my LA PR team, we were supposed to have a call a few days ago and then the shoot happened and she was like, we still need to talk and I was like, "I know, but when?” It just is and it’s not a complaint. It doesn’t stop.

We did a documentary. A guy reached out to me during COVID and he wanted to do it about our billboards. During COVID, I hadn’t done photoshoots for it. So a year and a half into it, I reached out and apologized that I hadn’t done anything for it. When we finally did it last July, it was a long time that he was waiting for us to do shoots. He came out and did the footage and what not, filmed it, asked me questions and did the interview and all of that. Just yesterday during our shoot, we happened to talk about it and our billboards for next year for Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer and what that will look like and what we want to do. We try to shoot the whole year. So we’re going to do our shoot and do a behind the scenes with our video guy where we’ll talk about what we’re doing, who we are, what it means, etc. The billboards have been out for at least 15 years and I need to figure out when the first ones went up because I really don’t remember honestly. Having said that, we talked about it and they said we haven’t heard from him and it’s been almost a year ago now. So we’re talking about what we’re going to do with behind the scenes and interactions with everyone involved with my team. I have the first sample of it today and in there it reminded me because he asked me this as well – and I said that there is something in me that’s afraid that if I took a vacation or time off, if I took a pause or a stop to it, I might not pick it back up again because I know what it entails. I always say that I feel like I am on this merry-go-round and if I get off, I don’t know if I am getting back on. So I’m afraid to put a pin or a pause in it. You’d think that that was what happened during COVID, but I got busier with Zooms and this. For people that got those breaks and what not, I didn’t!

AM: We had no break!

CD: I thought that I would and I’d have time to clean out my closet, my garage, etc. None of that happened! I didn’t get free time which is insane. Things got busier because people knew that Chaz was available. When I was behind the chair before, they would have to stand there and wait for me because they couldn’t get to me. As soon as COVID happened, everyone could get to me and it happened. Now I’m on these Zoom things in the salon here on Saturdays because the rest is taken up with all of this. In NY, I’m in the salon 5 days a week which is what I was used to during normalcy because I’m able to there as I’m out of this if that makes sense.

There’s no 2 days that are the same. I’m juggling. Today I’m trying to fit together meetings in – where are we going to fit it? Ask this one if they can stay 15 mins later, we’ll meet with this one after – it is what it is. Even during COVID, when I look at my life pre-COVID, even today, I don’t know how I did it. We were traveling every month to QVC sometimes twice a month. A team of 20+ going there. I look at it now and wonder how did we do that during 2019? I don’t know how and I know we did it for 16 years at that time. But I look at it and wonder how I lived that life before COVID and I don't know how and I don't even know how to get back to that! I don’t think that we ever will. So when you asked me that question, I lived it. How did we do all that we did? I don’t know.

Ever since COVID, the team that used to go doesn’t want to do that anymore. Everything changed.

AM: Everything changed! That’s very true!

What do you want your legacy to be in this industry?

CD: It’s so funny that you ask that. If you say Vidal Sassoon, Oribe, or what not – you know who or what they are. I want it to be that this guy changed the way that globally people thought about the way they cleanse their hair. I don’t feel like I have hit that yet and I don’t know why or what it will take to hit that. There was no such thing as cleansing conditioner when I did it. People thought that I was insane and crazy and said, “what do you mean that I’m not going to be able to use shampoo?” I’d tell them to trust me and that I promised that it would work. You do a week, 2 weeks, then 3 weeks. I’m on day 2, but still I’m 30 years that I haven’t had lather touch my hair, face, body, or skin. I would not have all this hair on my head if I continued to use shampoo. I’d probably have half this amount and I’m not joking because of the toll it takes on your scalp and your hair. So I’d really like to leave behind the recognition – I really would, that he really had a movement that changed things. It’s the same version of the person who created shampoo, I’m the guy who invented cleaning conditioner. I don’t think that it’s hit because everyone has copied it and it’s not the same. There are people who say they use cleansing conditioners and I ask them if it’s Wen and they say, “no, but it’s all the same.” And I say no – I had that message 30+ years ago and there are people on the bandwagon, but it was delivered to me. I didn’t understand what it was when I opened a salon, I didn’t plan on it. I stepped into that role of giving up lather, I didn’t know what it would mean, but I knew I was on a journey. So I would like it if I was known as that guy who gave up lather and created cleansing conditioner. It has been worldwide.

We did an event last night and sometimes people don’t realize it’s they me until we have the gift bags and they’ll say, oh my God, Wen – that’s you! So they connect it that way – you get what I mean! They’re like, your Flipping Out Guy or QVC guy. There are times that people don’t realize and they will tell me that they love Wen and that they love Chaz and then they’ll realize it’s me! It’s bizarre, it happens, and it’s crazy.

I know how hard I have worked for it and I would like it to be when it’s all said and done that there is a legacy behind it. I was passionate about it and I did it for her, him, the customer. Anyone that knows me, if I go anywhere, like last night, it was an event for pre Comic-Con and I was giving advice. There was a woman who was there who had all hair pieces and what not and her testimonial was amazing. She had been using it for 15 years or more and whatever industry her hair extensions come from, they all use it because it prolongs them. When you use shampoo on them, you’re buying another one, and another one, and another one – they’re getting trashed. So to hear her testimonial was amaz ing. How did I change her life, help her life, build her confidence? There are people who have been born and have never used lather in their lives since this has been out for 22 years. I have a goddaughter who is 23 and lather has never touched her hair – things like that, they have never had to experience shampoo because Wen was there. I’d like to have the weight of what it actually means and not just the story of the cleansing conditioner but how it touched people’s lives, built their confidence and all of those elements are why I do what I do. It’s a confidence booster!

IG @chazdean

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Chaz Dean

Read the JUL ISSUE #91 of Athleisure Mag and see MAKING HAIRSTORY | Chaz Dean in mag.

BEYOND THE ROSE | MICHELLE YOUNG

Earlier this month, we had a fun virtual event for VOT3D IO: A Conversation with Michelle Young! We talked with on of our favorite The Bachelorette leads to talk about her time on the show, self-care and what she's up to as she continues to use her platform to bring awareness and education to topics that she cares about.After our conversation with Michelle Young, guests were given some time to discuss and connect over the party chat box and also answer questions in the live treasure hunt for prizes

We also wanted to share this interview here in this issue as we know how many people are fans of the franchise and want to get to know her more beyond the show!

ATHLEISURE MAG: I’ve seen every season of The Bachelor/Bachelorette franchise. One of the favorite things that I enjoy, is seeing those that will be competing in The Bachelor or The Bachelorette. Getting to see what they look like, who they are, their backstory, etc. When I saw you on The Bachelor, I called it immediately! Michelle is beautiful, she’s from the Midwest, just like me and even if she doesn’t get married to The Bachelor, she can definitely helm her own season as The Bachelorette and I hope that they give her the chance to do that.

What drew you to wanting to be on the show?

MICHELLE YOUNG: I feel like that it is a huge question! Ok, well in order to see me come on The Bachelor, you would have to wait until week 3 or week 4!

AM: Right?

MY: That was not part of the plan, I will say that! Honestly, I was never like, “ I really want to be on this show.” It’s something that I watched with my mom for a little bit and I always felt like I could do that, but I never thought that the opportunity would come across my plate. I typically was always interested in how do people get on the show. Do they get nominated?

I knew that there was an application process. I didn’t apply, I was nominated and to this day, I have no idea who nominated me. Nobody has owned up to it. I know my friends really really well and I remember when I was chosen as The Bachelorette, I asked if they could please look into this. I wanted a name and I wanted to know who was lying to me and they were literally like, “no, your Instagram profile got sent in anonymously and no one has ever come forward with it.” It seems kind of weird because if you know me, I got on Instagram literally like 2 years ago and there weren’t really any pictures when they nominated me – I had 2 pictures and I didn’t like any photos – it looked like it was a fake account!

I don’t know. I was nominated and I thought it was kind of a scam! I got emails and eventually, I messaged back and they were kind of at the end of that whole process. They put me on a Zoom really quickly and on phone calls. It was a pretty long process and they expedited me through it and then I remember sitting there with the contract in front of my family saying, “ok, so –

AM: This is happening!

MY: Yeah, we went through the pros and cons and it just kind of happened and it was like this thing that just kept knocking on my door. It was honestly the most perfect opportunity where I was able to teach long distance for a little bit before I was actually on the show, so I didn’t have to miss as much teaching as I would have had to before. It was a mistake that I ended up being on the show, but here we are!

AM: I’m leaning towards, that it is definitely someone you know and they they don’t want to say, “yup I’m the one that started all of this!”

MY: I know right? Oh my gosh!

AM: It could be a family member, a puppy – somebody in your world was in the mix!

MY: I don’t know! I have no idea, but here I am!

AM: In learning about your background, we got to know that you were a Division I basketball player, you’re also a teacher and someone that is really straight forward and is never afraid to speak your truth and to be very honest. How did you prepare yourself to engage and interact in this very unique environment?

MY: Honestly, Division I Athletics is kind of dog-eat-dog on its own. I was always in competitive basketball, participating and in competition of some sorts. When you’re in the room, constructive criticism, unconstructive criticism – people can be mean. Women can be mean at times too, especially in basketball when you’re playing and you take a Senior’s playing time and that doesn’t go over particularly well. A lot of not so nice things were said at times. You kind of just build tough skin and you really do rely on who you are and who you are as a person and using your family as support. So, I kind of feel like and I don’t know if this is a strength or weakness, but going through the Division I Basketball experience that I went through, I went through a lot. I kind of feel like that I can handle anything that is coming my way. I know that I will be able to get through it and to have the tools that I will be able to need to get through it.

So, that was the same thing with this and I didn’t really know the Reality TV world or the social media world as much as I do now. So that wasn’t at the forefront part of my mind. I can tell you that it was brought to the forefront of my mind when I got into that bubble that I did when I came in late and with everything that was thrown at me. It definitely has come in handy and now on social media, there are a lot of haters out there!

AM: I love how you said that sports prepared you. Being from Indiana myself, going to IU, we believe that life is sport and sport is life. The way you are in sports says a lot about how you are in life and how you will navigate it. So when I came here to NY, I knew that if I could handle what I did then, I’d be able to do this as well. So that totally rings true to me.

When you went from The Bachelor to The Bachelorette, what was your process in terms of deciding how you were going to helm your own season and to make it your own?

MY: I think that my biggest focus was that it was a show. It’s a show where the leads have not typically looked like me in the past. I had a lot of conversations very up front with Executive Producers – even during The Bachelorette interview process with things that were non-negotiables for me. Things that I didn’t want it to be as it’s not a one size fits all situation. I had other things that I wanted to be able to speak about. I had Black stories specifically that I wanted told and it was really important to me that there were certain things that were not cut out where my season wend through the editing process. Those were things that I was definitely thinking about. For me, personally on my end, really asking hard questions about race, about experiences up front and not having producers trying to control my conversations and just being up front as you said, I’m a very blunt person. I’m going to ask these things because I need to know these things up front because I’m not going to spend energy on certain people that do not align with certain things as a Black female.

I set those boundaries very clearly and said, “if I’m going to sign on this dotted line, you’re going to know these things about me,” and there was respect at that time going both ways. So that’s how I was able to move forward. I definitely came guns a blazing and I came ready to throw those questions out there regardless.

AM: As someone who is just a fan of the show but was also rooting you on. There were times personally, when I would just tear up because I was so excited that you were able to have certain conversations and that you didn’t try to hem and haw. You let it be known what it was, what the reality is and if that person didn’t see it that way, there was the door.

MY: Yeah absolutely! It is a Reality TV show and I get that and it comes with a lot of different things. But at the same time, if you want us to have real relationships and real feelings, then there is also that part where we have to have real conversations. Those were my real conversations for sure.

AM: We have all dated at some point, but few of us have done it on TV in front of millions of households. What are tips that you learned that benefited your mental health and kept you grounded in this process?

MY: I will honestly say that when you’re dating in the public eye, it’s really weird because when you go through your experience of dating, it’s not first in the public eye. It’s being filmed and it feels very public, but you’re not actually dealing with the reactions of the public quite yet until after that certain experience is over.

So for me, there was always that sense of fear of what kind of edit am I going to get? I will say that anyone going into that kind of position, if you do not waver from who you are, you will be fine. Because, you’re going to navigate just like who you would navigate around in life. You might make mistakes, but those would be mistakes that you would make in the real world as well. But for me, it was like, if everyone is doing one thing and I don’t learn from that or it doesn’t go with who I am as a person, I’m not going to do it. There’s power of suggestion and it may seem like you’re forced to do this, but no. There is nothing that says that you have to do this, that you have to say that or that you have to gravitate towards that. It’s put out there and you can either take it or leave it.

A lot of that was me leaving a lot of those things in the first season of The Bachelor and saying, that’s not who I am. It’s not who I am, I can’t speak to that or I won’t/can’t say that or I won’t bandwagon hop! I think that a lot of people get caught up in that and that really hurts afterwards as it’s a huge learning experience because 1, you come off as a really mean or nasty person which is not who you are and you have these regrets. But if you’re consciously thinking through that, then it’s you and you can handle that.

AM: There are a number of people who are single and dating. So when you were navigating that on your dates whether they were 1-on-1 or group dates, what were qualities that you were looking for that were red flags that you wanted to avoid?

MY: I think it was really that you were in a situation that’s not normal. I think a lot of people when they get into a weird situation, it’s awkward and that can be a huge turnoff. Honestly and typically, in the normal world, that would probably have been a red flag for me. But in this situation, it’s more like – at the end of the day, you need to be able to relax in order to be able to get to know somebody. But if you’re too smooth in front of the camera, if you’re too comfortable with 50 people watching you kiss – then I’m thinking, why are you here? So, that was my red flags. The people who would be too smooth with things. I always messed up. I tripped, I fell half the time, I stumbled over my words, I could laugh at myself – it was uncomfortable to be in the situation at times because again, there were cameras and random people staring at you with everything that you do and sometimes, I’m standing there by myself. Somebody who would come into that and be awkward with me in that and just grow into it, but be real – that’s what I was looking for.

AM: For fans of the show, we all have our favorites from Hometowns. I always like it when Franco Lacosta is there for an episode. He’s a very good friend who I adore who has shot me before so shout out to him. What were your favorite moments in your season of The Bachelorette?

MY: Oh gosh! Honestly night 1! Night 1 is just something that I will always remember because it never kicks in that you are The Bachelor/Bachelorette or the lead until you’re standing there and then you’re like, “oh shit, there are the limos” and they’re starting to pull up and you’re there. You’re there in the way that you don’t have your phone, you don’t have your family to talk to, you don’t have your friends – it’s just you. You’re sitting in your own emotions and I had this moment when it just dawned on me that I was The Bachelorette – what am I doing? It really was a magical night and it was all about excitement. You know that there is going to be drama, but none of it emotionally affected me and it was just something that I embraced every second even though it was a really long night!

AM: How long is that night?

MY: I started at 3pm where I was actually in my dress – so hair, makeup everything was done. So that means I was in the makeup chair at 12pm. I got to bed finally at 11:45am the next morning. So that’s what the producers would tell the guys the next night. Because they would say that they were so tired and we took our group picture at 9:30am for you guys, but Michelle had to recap all of you. It’s a long night!

AM: I had no idea. I thought it was like 6 hours!

MY: No, you can’t start filming until it gets dark and then there are a lot of guys that you have to go through. Everyone is learning the ropes of everything so it’s a long one!

AM: Wow! That’s a new nugget for me!

Well, you filmed over the course of a number of weeks and participated in a lot of activities and had a lot of conversations. How did you incorporate self-care so that you could achieve some sort of a balance and feel like yourself?

MY: Ohh. Honestly, I would say that that was one of the hardest things for the leads. I went off of 3 hours of sleep for the first few weeks. For me, I do fairly well with no sleep and I just went back to that athletic mindset that I just had to push through and I had to keep grinding, keep a smile on your face or whatever you’re feeling. But it’s tricky. You don’t get time alone, you don’t get time to yourself unless you’re looking at the inside of your eyelids completely sleeping.

AM: Oh wow. That leads me to the next question that when you weren’t filming, how did you pass the time? But you’re saying that you didn’t have time alone!

MY: When I was the lead, you’re with someone 24/7. When I was a contestant on The Bachelor, when you get further out and there is less women there, you don’t have the cocktail parties, you go straight to the ceremonies and so you do have a little more downtime. I will say that as a contestant, I did find down time fairly frequently, because I learned that instead of just asking if I could go take a nap, I would just take a nap and because I was one of the people that wasn’t participating in drama, it would take them a minute to realize that I was gone. They would look for me and it gave me an extra 20 mins. I would sleep in other places like under a table, behind the couch.

AM: It’s like a hide-and-go-seek!

MY: Yeah! A little TLC.

AM: From a Bachelor Nation perspective, there are a number of commitments that you had from The Tell All and After The Final Rose. What has been your favorite part of this whole experience?

MY: It was very much being able to bring my family and friends along for the ride. You get to do a lot of really cool things. There are a lot of perks to it and most perks don’t come free. They definitely come with stresses on your mental health by being in the public, but being able to travel to different places and being able to go and do things like Jingle Ball – I got to bring my parents to Jingle Ball. I got to take my friends on a really cool excursion and trip and there are a lot of fun experiences that you typically wouldn’t get. I’ve been in this role and it’s cool to see them and their faces light up and to have them be apart of it.

AM: Who are your go-to’s in terms of chatting with people in The Bachelor universe? I know that there is the Bachelor Chat that you guys have, but do you have your core people there?

MY: I have my girls that I’m very close with. I’m close with Ryan Claytor from Matt’s season, Bri Springs, Serena Pitt, Becca Kuffrin – I think that you just find people that you really align with and even though you haven’t known them for as long as some of your other friends, you just get so close so quickly when you’re in a similar situation and you’ve all dated the same person or just different things that the public with pressures that they put on you. I definitely have so many group chats going on and I keep in touch with all of those people.

AM: What are some dating tips that you would suggest to those that may just be getting out there?

MY: It’s so hard! Getting back out there! I used to be a very closed off person. I would give a lot, I loved very hard, but when it came to talking about emotions and feelings, whether it was friends, family, relationships – I was very comfortable with someone else sharing, I created a safe space for them with me, but it was hard for me to share that back. This show truly taught me how relationships and even friendships can flourish when you're ttruly vulnerable and when yourself. It’s about being honest from the get go and it really does help things blossom and it’s scary because you’re scared about rejection and you’re scared about somebody not liking what you’re putting forward, but if that’s the case, yeah – it might sting initially. But essentially, you don’t want someone that doesn’t love you to your complete naked form. So that’s what I would say, be vulnerable and truthful right up front. If they don’t like it, they’re not your person.

AM: Absolutely! You can exit!

MY: The door is right here!

AM: One of the things that I enjoyed during the season as you navigated the journey, was that you focused on talking about your identity, the pressures around it and the importance of acceptance. Why was that so important to you to drive that awareness to people?

MY: For me, it was just a huge part of who I was. I grew up in Minnesota and I grew up in an environment for a very long time where I was the only person of color. That created a lot of different awareness’s for me. It was something that I also battled with in my relationships going forward. There were certain debates that were happening in a relationship where I didn’t want to have to explain those things and I shouldn’t have to explain those things. In order to make sure that that didn’t happen again, I had to have those conversations. I didn’t realize how much it was going to connect with people to see that side. I’m very happy that I was able to show that.

AM: I remember when I was watching it and I kept saying thank you. Whether it’s based on race or just to be accepted as a person, to be that vulnerable was so touching. It was like, inspirational Michelle and every episode had that in it.

MY: Aww thank you!

AM: With the conclusion of the season and after breaking up with Nayte earlier this year, how did you take care of yourself and heal from that relationship so that you could move on?

MY: For me, dating in the public eye – getting in the public eye is one thing and breaking up in the public eye are really difficult. With that relationship, I think that what pushed me and challenged me to move on as I did was that I was continuously being hurt by the actions of this other person and so that really forced me to make sure I did my healing very much so up front and that I healed fully, that I was creating a healthy thought process in my mind and I was responding to different things in a healthy manner because that was the moment that I realized that your emotions could get very out of control and it could be at the expense of what somebody else is doing or what the public is doing. I knew that I would have to see this person dating somebody else – physically see it which you might not have to do when you’re dating somebody normally. People are going to speculate, it’s going to be constant talk, you’re going to be constantly attached to that person. So I just really took that in and realized that I needed to give myself closure. I needed to make sure that I was confident in myself and that I’m fully healed in myself and self-talk was a huge piece of that – of reassuring and really sorting through my thoughts as they were coming through that breakup so that I had control of my emotions, I had control of my pain and that I wasn’t just receiving pain from outside sources.

AM: As a whole, what did you learn about yourself?

MY: I learned that I can truly give myself closure without getting it from somebody else. I didn’t realize how powerful that would be. But I think that in relationships, when you go through a break up, especially if it’s not how you thought that things would go or maybe you’re on the receiving end of it, you want to look at the other person – we talk about that closure part of the conversation – you want it from the other person and there are times when that just isn’t going to happen or it’s just not possible. So what are you supposed to do? Leave it unclosed for the rest of your life? For me, the biggest thing that I learned or showed myself was that no matter what situation happened, I could give myself closure. I don’t have to have all the answers and I can give myself the answers enough to be able to move forward. That right there was something that if that was the only answer I could take away from 2022, I’m 100% content with that.

AM: I know that you’re in LA right now. Why did you decide to take a break away from teaching?

MY: With teaching, the last 2 years teaching through a pandemic – the things that teachers had to go through and even nurses! There were so many things that were impacted by COVID and with teaching, yes being The Bachelorette and teaching at the same time as my season was airing, that was stressful and maybe expedited things a little bit more than just in teaching. I was getting to the point that I was so burnt out. I knew that that summer I was not going to be able to recharge fully to where I needed to get to. To be honest, the school year before hand, I felt and a lot of teachers alongside me, felt that they were going into that 2021/2022 school year not fully charged after COVID because we just weren’t taken care of by the school system or the education system. I just needed a break and I needed to take a breather and I honestly know that it was the best decision that I could have made. It was not an easy decision because I left college so passionate about teaching and that whole entire profession is built on passion. When that cracks, if we don’t take care of that, then we’re going to continue to have bigger and bigger issues. So for me, it was me looking at myself in the mirror and saying, “I need to acknowledge that I need a break, right now.” It is something that I want to be able to come back to or it is something that I want to be able to do a passion around, but I couldn’t return that next school year because I needed that breather. There were a lot of teachers right next to me that had to do the same thing. It’s sad because it’s like another breakup. You don’t want to break up with one of your passions! It’s been tricky!

AM: I think that checking in with yourself and finding that balance whatever that means to each person and being able to recognize when you’re feeling overwhelmed or burnt out is so important! Although it may not be for everyone, what were some of the things that you noticed that were signs that you needed to take the time?

MY: I would say that feeling of waking up and knowing that you’re not yourself. I’m an early riser, a get up at 5am, hit the gym, respond back to my friends and family fairly quickly, organizing different activities – I’m a very upbeat and bubbly person. I was just exhausted and I was able to still do those things and I was able to keep up those things, but I wasn’t happy doing them necessarily all of the time. I was just definitely run down. I could feel it and I was getting sick all of the time. For me, my stress tends to show in my physical health before it does in my mental emotional side.

AM: Well you’re adamant about using your platform to educate others. Why is being an advocate for mental health so important to you?

MY: For me, it’s really about making sure that youth, especially, youth of color understand that it is ok to ask for health. It’s ok to talk about your emotions. I used to be this former athlete that was taught to have thick skin and to rub some dirt on it. Yes, there is completely a point that when you fall down, you should bounce back up, but if you are hurting, it’s ok to talk about it.

AM: That’s something that I talk a lot about whether it’s my sister or a friend, that it’s ok if we’re saying ouch. We can be strong and we can trailblaze and be unicorns, but we still bleed and we still get bumps!

What have you been doing post The Bachelorette since you’re in LA and living your best life as we see your awesome pictures on IG.

MY: I’m laughing at that because this is the biggest question that people ask me. If you look at all of the haters, they think that I schedule random photoshoots and take pictures of myself! I promise you that I am doing more things then just that!

AM: You’re a whole person!

MY: I know right? Believe it or not, if it’s not on social media, it didn’t happen apparently! Oh gosh! Right now, I’m finding that next piece of how I can fulfill my passion of giving back to others, working with children, helping the youth, motivational speaking – all of these different things and kind of figuring out that brand of who this next Michelle Young is. I do have a lot of very exciting things that are in the works that haven’t come out yet and so I can’t say too much, but you will definitely see my speaking, I will leave it at that for now.

AM: Because I’m envisioning that I would see you acting, films/videos, collaborations –

MY: Honestly, I’m going to do it all! I’ll say that!

AM: Ok!

MY: You’re going to see me walking the red carpet, see me motivationally speaking, you might see me in and out of some schools, You’re going to see me everywhere!

AM: One of the things that I liked is when you were in that transition from teaching to all of the things that you will be doing in the future, you shared that you would do some influencer work and that a percentage of what you would make would go towards to various charities or organizations that were selected by your followers. Why did you want to be accountable and share that with people? You didn’t have to and why did you want to do it in this way?

MY: For me, anytime someone says that word influencer, everybody cringes. You know what that words casts on some people and there is such a thing as positive influencing. Influencing is such a tricky game to play and coming out of the ABC The Bachelor/Bachelorette in general, a lot of people tend to go the influencer route. What that has meant in the past is that you’re working with brands, you’re going to these carpets and doing all of these different things. For me, there are products that I would 100% recommend whether I’m being paid or not, but I want to change the influencing game. You do have a platform, you do have a voice and you can encourage these products and these brands that are working with you to give back as well. You can bring your viewers in with it and you can create an entire message that goes with it. Like the Ice Bucket Challenge and all these things that were started! Social media has so many negative negative things about it and this can be a positive one! So that’s why. I want to be able to challenge not only people who follow me and supporters, but I also want to challenge the brands that work with me to also give back. Ultimately, we’re doing a really good thing.

AM: Now that you’re in LA for awhile, what are 3 places that you enjoy grabbing a bite or a cocktail, where are 3 places that you like to shop at and what are 3 places you like to workout at?

MY: Oh wow! So these may not be as great as you think because I have really been bouncing back and forth between LA and Minnesota quite a bit. Then I got done with this period of time where I got really sick, then I was healthy and then I was sick again. Whoever had that mysterious illness where it’s not COVID but it’s influenza – that knocked me on my butt! It’s not great and you’re turning the corner for what feels like forever.

One of my favorite places to eat honestly, is Catch. I went there with Kaitlyn Bristowe and it was a really awesome spot. Where else have I been? Elephante – I feel like everybody says that one and so I have to ay it! My third one I’m going to keep to myself because it’s a hole in the wall place and I feel like…

AM: If you say it, you’re never going to get a seat in there again because people will want to check it out!

MY: Exactly, or people will go looking, you know?

When it comes to shopping, anywhere at The Grove. I’m a Nike girl – I love getting some sneakers. I haven’t done that much shopping recently actually. But oh Target! I’m a Target girl. You ask me how I take care of my mental health, Target!

AM: Oh yeah, you go in and say you need lip balm and then 100 and some dollars later, you have all of these things!

MY: Exactly and then you leave without the lip balm! And you have to go back!

AM: You have to go back for sure!

MY: That’s why we forget it so that we have to go back!

I have not been to too many fitness studios yet. I’ve avoided Equinox – no shade on Equinox, I’m sure that I will check it out eventually. I literally went to LA Fitness the other day. I’m a runner. I go outside and run. I haven’t done too much here. I’ve done a lot of at home stuff. I have dumbbells and weights here. When I’m at home, Lifetime Fitness is my go-to.

AM: I love Lifetime Fitness. They have an awesome facility here in NY.

MY: I’m so jealous! The nearest one here is 30 mins away. I don’t know, shout them out and maybe they can build one across the street!

AM: We know you like staying active and that you like to run, are there 2 other things that you like to do in your fitness routine?

MY: I’m trying to get back into a pickup basketball game. That cardio, running up and down the basketball court, that humbles me real quick especially when you get back to it. Honestly that and swimming. I grew up with a pool and I love swimming laps as it’s just such great cardio. Anything where I can go out and about. I’ll play tennis with my parents, they’re amazing tennis players. Winter sports, I’ll ski a little bit.

AM: I love snowboarding!

MY: I’m jealous! Honestly, I want to learn how to snowboard. I never have up to this point. In athletics, coaches wouldn’t let us snowboard because so many people would get hurt.

AM: Oh yeah, you could break an ankle.

MY: Now I can flail down the diamond all day! I might just end up on TMZ or something ha! My hats over here my gloves are over there!

AM: What do you want your legacy to be in terms of the impact that you’ve left?

MY: I think it’s incredibly important for people to not stop learning about how others around them work or think. It’s about being open minded to learn and I think that’s a huge part of coming through the experience of what I just came through where you really are a rare breed which is sad to say. But as a woman of color and just being from Minnesota with everything happening with George Floyd, cultivating young minds to accept those around them to think outside the box to not always go about life the exact way that everyone has in the past – to challenge things. Ultimately, to be a kind person and to just give back. Once you make it to the top, you want to be able to extend your arm back and pull others up and show them the route to be able to give back to them. So when I’m no longer here, someone that I impacted is now making it their mission to impact someone that is below them. That’s what I call a legend or leaving a mark so that the cycle doesn’t stop with them.

AM: Are there projects that you are thinking about being part of that you can share whether it’s a specific one or a vertical that you want to tackle?

MY: I’ve worked a lot with kids and I will say that I will definitely be around students, around young minds very soon in the near future. I’ve done a lot with Be the Match and giving back to that. I wish I could name a few others, but I can’t quite yet, but it’s coming. Keep an eye out for sure on social media as it’s coming! You’ll definitely see some new and inspirational things coming.

AM: We’ll be keeping a look out for sure on what you have going on next and it’s been great to watch your journey, seeing what you have going on and being able to see what those next steps will be as well!

MY: Well I appreciate you having me and I embrace what you are doing as well. Being able to help me extend that platform with my voice and with my message and what I’m saying and all of that circles back to you for amplifying that as well!

AM: Aww thank you!

IG @michelleyoung

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS | PG 40 - 44 ABC Photography @abc | PG 47 - 48 Film Digitals @filmdigitals |

Read the DEC ISSUE #84 of Athleisure Mag and see BEYOND THE ROSE | Michelle Young in mag.

BINGELY BOOKS

HEAT 2

William Morrow

Michael Mann + Meg Gardiner

4 X Oscar nominated writer/director of Last of the Mohicans, The Insider, Ali, Miami Vice, Collateral and Heat, Michael Mann collaborated with Edgar Award-winning author, Meg Gardiner to return to the characters of the classic crime film with

this story which talks about what is going on in the years prior to and after this iconic movie!

In Heat 2, we find ourselves with Chris Shiherlis (Val Kilmer) after the events of Heat who is in Koreatown, wounded and trying to escape LA. He is being hunted by LAPD detective Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino). Hours earlier, Hanna killed Shiherlis’s brother in arms Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) in a gunfight under the strobe lights at the foot of an LAX runway. Now Hanna’s determined to capture or kill Shiherlis, the last survivor of McCauley’s crew.

Heat 2 explores the events prior to the movie and after the movie and brings us into this world of heists and settling scores. We can only hope that there are plans to also bring this to the screen!

THE GRACIAS MADRE COOKBOOK: BRIGHT, PLANT-BASED RECIPES FROM OUR MEXI-CALI KITCHEN

Avery

Gracias Madre

Gracias Madre is a popular L.A. restaurant that is plant-based and brings the fresh, bright flavors of Mexico to Southern California. In The Gracias Madre Cookbook, you can enjoy all the Cali-Mexican dishes that are available there.

Mexican food is one of the original vegan cuisines. Prior to Spanish conquistadores that brought ingredients that included dairy, the Mesoamerican pantry centered around "The Three Sisters" - beans, corn and chiles. With this, they created salsas and moles. In addition, the cuisine focused on whole-foods for traditional meat fillings (mushroom carnitas and al pastor, jackfruit mixiote, dehydrated hibiscus) as well as nut-based cheeses (cashew crema and queso blanco, almond cotija).

This book has 125 simple, entirely plant-based recipes that includes Calabaza and Onion Quesadillas, Coliflor with Cashew Nacho Cheese, and Coffee Flan.

MUSHROOMS: OVER 70 RECIPES WHICH CELEBRATES MUSHROOMS

Hardie Grant

Martin Nordin

Martin Nordin shares his love in MUSHROOMS: Over 70 Recipes which Celebrates Mushrooms. Merging the dishes that his mother created with this ingredient (stuffed mushrooms, creamy mushroom mince on croustades and mock snails) with his passion for cuisines of Asia - Korea, Vietnam, Thailand and Taiwan. He plays with the textures and the flavors in this plant-based book so that those who are vegan, vegetarian, etc can enjoy this as well by substituting with nut butter, dairy-based milk or cream depending on their dietary approach to eating.

Read the AUG ISSUE #80 of Athleisure Mag and see BINGELY BOOKS in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | BAGEL + SLICE

There are 2 foods that are always a must, bagels and pizza. At Bagel+Slice, there are a number of creations that take these bites to the next level. Founded by Brad Kent, a food science professional, he is focused on improving the quality of delicious food. Bagel+Slice is a concept where people can purchase reasonably prices bagels and pizza throughout the day in a neighborhood setting and focuses on sustainability, community involvement, health and safety.

Although they are not 100% organic, Bagel+Slice strives to be as organic as they can and is focused on Regenerative organic which means that by purchasing ingredients in this category, it contributes to the aim in the reversal of climate change. Regenerative organic farming has been listed as the most highly effective way to sequester carbon from the environment to reduce greenhouse gasses. These farming practices add to topsoil as opposed to eroding it which creates biodiversity and improved crop yields.

It is important to Bagel+Slice that they support the local community as well as family farms.

Those selecting bagels and/or pizzas will find that heritage seasonal regenerative wheat in each one. Bagels are rolled by hand, boiled and baked on burlap-lined bagel boards. Their hand-crafted pizzas use mindfully sourced ingredients with an array of flavors and textures.

With a choice between an organic and an organic gluten-free wheat bagel, we suggest an Egg Breakfast Sandwich (Keller Farms Bacon, organic egg, cheddar and jalapeño pistachio pesto), Goldilox (Kvaroy Arctic Lox, scallion cream cheese, red onion, dill, capers and lemon olive oil) or The Superfresh (Select cream cheese or vegan cream cheese that's nut-based, tomato, cucumber, red onion, dill and pistachio chimichurri).

For those looking for the perfect slice, we suggest Cheese (Red Sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan Reggiano), Vegan Vodka (Creamy tomato vodka sauce that's nut based, vegan cheese blend, mushroom fennel sausage and red onion) or Pizza Bagel (Red sauce, mozzarella, Parmesan Reggiano, extra virgin olive oil and you have the option to add pepperoni for an additional charge).

BAGEL + SLICE

4751 York Blvd.

Highland Park, CA 90042

bagelandslice.com

IG @bagelandslice

PHOTO CREDITS | Bagel + Slice

Read the JUN ISSUE #78 of Athleisure Mag and see ATHLEISURE LIST | Bagel + Slice in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | PAUSE STUDIO

With a belief that due to our hyperconnected world that life has no off button, Pause creates the space needed for the mind and body to reset. With its 3 studios in LA all of their services assist both mental and physical recovery including: stress and anxiety relief, mental clarity, promotes better sleep, detoxification, elevated immunity, and aids in athletic/physical recovery.

Pause Studios offers flotation therapy where clients are partially submerged in 10" of clean, body-temperature water, custom blended with 1,200lbs of therapeutic Epsom salts. It can help with lymph drainage and promote the absorption of magnesium.

They also offer infrared saunas which allow you to experience a more intense sweat at a lower temperature. You can stay for a longer period of time so that you can increase your core body temperature by 2 to 3 degrees. This triggers a fever-like state in the body, increasing white blood cell production, and can help to flush out toxins and free radicals in the body.

Cold-water therapy is also provided where guests can take a dip into cold water that is well below body temperature. This creates a rush of the blood to the body's core and constricts blood flow to the body's surface tissue. When the body is back to a heightened temperature, the blood vessels are able to dilate and push nutrient rich fresh oxygenated blood back through the body.

In addition, they offer whole body cryotherapy, IV drip and LED beds. They continue to add additional modalities to the services offered. They continue to look for services that are science backed, live with and enhance the efficacy of the offerings and pass the vetting of their founders, their peer group and their Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine.

With a clientele that includes Tessa Thompson, Jessica Alba, Dax Shepherd, Kate Beckinsale, Rob Gronkowski and Anderson Silva to name a few, we can see why taking that time for ourselves is essential. The importance of the philosophy of rest, recovery and regeneration is one that we're all embracing regardless of what our day to day lives entails.

PAUSE STUDIOS

Venice

13353 West Washington Blvd.

Venice, CA 90066

West Hollywood

937 North Sycamore

West Hollywood, CA 90038

South Bay

850 Pacific Coast Highway

South Bay, CA 90245

pausestudio.com

IG @_pause.studio_

PHOTO CREDITS | Pause Studio

Read the MAY ISSUE #77 of Athleisure Mag and see ATHLEISURE LIST | Pause Studio in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | [SOLIDCORE]

[solidcore] is a 50-minute, full-body strength-training workout that uses slow, controlled movements to break down the slow-twitch muscle fibers so that they build back stronger and leaner. Described as “pilates redefined,” [solidcore] differs from a traditional pilates class by bringing different levels of intensity and efficiency to the workout and the overall experience. With a focus on empowering [communities] and creating a space where everyone feels inspired, included, and seen, [solidcore] is on a mission to help people create the strongest version of themselves.

If you have yet to do this kind of workout, we suggest heading to the studio 15 minutes prior to class so that you can have a demo with your trainer, learn about safety information, get hands an assistance and even learn about modifications that you can use throughout the workout. Their classes are designed so that even in a group setting, you can get personalized interaction that will help you optimize your workout and experience.

You'll find that during the workout that this version of pilates is unique as they focus on results that overload and break down your muscle fibers and then giving them time to recover and adapt. By using rotating monthly muscles it prevents plateaus and creates balanced bodies. This method helps people build long, lean muscles that frames your physique and increases your metabolism.

We also like that after your class, you can still be connected with others who also enjoy working out at this studio by staying in touch via their social channels whether you're looking for encouragement, tips or chatting with those who are in your class.

Whether you're taking one class or are looking for the membership that works best for your location or your travel needs, you should visit their site to see the options as well as the studios that are available near you.

[solidcore]

Culver City

8900 Venice Blvd. Unit 106

Culver City, CA 90232

Hollywood

6677 Santa Monica Blvd.

Unit 103

LA, CA90038

solidcore.co

IG @solidcore

PHOTOS COURTESY | [solidcore]

Read the APR ISSUE #77 of Athleisure Mag and see ATHLEISURE LIST | [solidcore] in mag.

MANIFEST YOUR LIFE WITH LONDON BROWN

This month, the anticipated release of STARZ's Power Book III: Raising Kanan premieres. Before it has even aired, it has already been greenlit for a 2nd season with the cast currently filming. We caught up with London Brown, who plays Marvin Thomas, Kanan's nephew to talk about the new series that takes place in South Jamaica Queens in 1991. We talk about his career from Fuse's The Hustle, his breakout role in HBO's Ballers and how he has evolved as an entertainer. We also talk about how important it is for him to stay grounded as he navigates the industry and his focus on giving back in the ways that he can.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you realize that you wanted to be an entertainer? You cover a number of areas as you’re an actor, dancer and a comedian.

LONDON BROWN: I think it’s just a thing that I remember early on always being into the arts. I felt that the arts came very naturally. Between the arts feeling like they were already part of my proclivity, I enjoyed them as well, fortunately. A lot of times, people are gifted and are good at what they do, but they’re not necessarily drawn to them. I was always very passionate about the arts in general. I just remember that it started when I did Easter plays and that sort of thing. So I did it and at school I realized that they had more plays there, so I did those and played the Scarecrow and in Black communities where you grow up in religious households, you go to church – so you’re playing an instrument, you’re singing – you’re doing something on that level. So all these things were just kind of normal and it transmitted to school and so throughout high school, I was involved in bands, was in plays and that’s when I started to take it seriously. I had a theater teacher that saw more in me than I did and encouraged me to take it more seriously.

From there, I went away to school and one of my friends encouraged me to dance. He was a choreographer with a dance team and he said, "you should join the dance team." I told him, "nah, I'm not going to do that.” He then told me that I should do it because he was gay, the rest of the team were all girls and since I was straight, that that would be a great match. So I did and I danced, I kept doing it and I taught dance which allowed me to pay the bills all while I became a teacher where I taught high schoolers theory of acting. While this was going on, I took some auditions to get into the groove of my art. It’s funny because while I was teaching for the high school, a fellow teacher told me about a comedy show that the school was putting on and I asked about it and they suggested that I should sign up to be part of it. I realized that the same energy of the instant gratification that we get from doing live theater, I can also get it from doing standup as it’s just a one man show. Doing standup, I finally felt that I had a voice. I do a lot of different things, but I also feel that with all of the things that I do, God gave them to me because he knew that I would also give them away. So teaching, I inspired a lot of other young people to do whatever they do now.

I was doing standup for about 2 years and I ended up connecting with Chris Tucker and we hit it off. I started touring with him as his opening act for a few years. Somewhere in there, I land my first TV show, The Hustle. That was 2013, it was a small network, but the creator was also the showrunner for Insecure, so Prentice Penny saw a bunch of young actors and said, “hey I want you guys to do this,” gave us a call and we auditioned and he took chances on us. In Hollywood, they want familiar faces so the fact that he took a shot on me, I did a season of The Hustle, Chris had stopped touring and with no TV show, I no longer had an agent or a manager.

So now, I am agentless and I get a call from a friend of mine who asked if I had auditioned from Ballers. I let him know that I had heard about it, but at the time, I was a choreographer just trying to pay bills. He said he would pass my information along. I go in, this is during 2014 and I audition for Ballers and they said they liked me. Initially the character was only supposed to do 1 or 2 episodes. After the audition that I did, they wanted to make me a lead on the show and keep me all 5 seasons. I moved to Miami, filmed and then finished the other half of the season in LA, so after that, the series ends in 2019 and Dwayne pulls the plug as I think that he was just busy because it was still #1!

AM: For sure, we loved watching it every week and although your character generated a lot of reactions and people didn’t like him. But we enjoyed your character. The growth that you did as the character, it’s interesting to see someone who was in a situation where he was trying to protect his friend, try to do what’s right, but you’re in an industry that you really have to learn quickly and to see the progression of the character season by season. We weren’t familiar with your work previous to that show, but when you have a knee jerk reaction to a character, they’re acting their ass off to make you feel that way. It’s not easy to come off that unlikeable.

LB: Right? For me, that’s why it was so important because on paper, the character wasn’t going to be around as that wasn’t the plan initially. He was supposed to be character A, Reggie the best friend. I knew that I really needed to be able to establish my presence 1, a lot of the guys that were on there had established resumes and had been in the industry a long time. I knew the opportunity and the weight that that project was going to have. It had the #1 entertainer with Dwayne Johnson and also it’s HBO, a very credible network. For me, I was going to exhaust whatever energy from whatever scene to make sure that I wasn’t doing too much but I was standing out on some kind of level. And 2, I became the antagonist by accident because we’d be on set and I was improvising a lot because they didn’t have any lines for me because I wasn’t supposed to be around. They said, “ok, let’s let him go and let’s see what we come up with.” So I was giving them stuff and then we kind of found this voice of Reggie as far as making him the fly around the food. So once I tapped into that, I knew I could amp it up wherever they allow me to go. At the same time, as an actor, in the development of making a character 3 dimensional, in season 1 and part of season 2, he was the annoying guy. But we wanted to take him to such a place that by season 5, he’s more responsible and he’s trying to get it together so that he’s really advising Vernon in positive ways. I wanted to make sure that I kept the character interesting and not just fall and be a character like Best Friend #1.

Now, we find out on Instagram that the show is over so I’m like, ok. I’m not worried because from a spiritual place, I don’t even put all my energy into man anyway. So, I feel that I will be fine. I’m working clubs, on the road and touring. So now it’s the fall of 2019 and I get a call from Robi Reed who does all the casting for Spike Lee’s projects and is really great. She calls and asks if I can do American Soul to play Bootsy Collins. I get down there and I learn the guitar and whatever I have to do for the part. I then do a horror film in Canada so I’m doing these 2 projects and my manager says that there is a young agent who is familiar with my work and wants to work with me. I tell him it's cool and he says that he likes what I do and asks me to read the sides, which are pieces of the script.

On the sides I see Power at the top. I think to myself that this can’t be the real Power because I had seen billboards all over Times Square that they are on the final season. So I thought that it was a mock because sometimes, they put a fake title on there. So I went in, I read the part and felt that it flowed well and that whoever was writing it had good language and it’s how I would talk so I thought it was cool. I sent the tape in, I didn’t hear anything and after the Christmas break, the new agent that I’m building with because we are just feeling each other out, I visit the people at the office and they let me know that I have a callback. I do 6 or 7 takes and then I go in and long story short, the agent said that they liked me and wanted to offer me the part. So I agreed and I’m still unaware that it’s Power and then I hear that it’s Raising Kanan. Mind you, I had never watched anything from Power at all. When I would run into fans on the street, they would say, “hey man, my favorite show is Ballers, Game of Thrones and Power.” So I wanted to be part of Power, but I was grateful for what I did have. I wanted to do Power so badly that I didn’t even want to watch it because I was already committed in my current project at the time. So when they said, Raising Kanan, I was confused, but I knew it was a show and it took place in the 90’s. I get on set and I start to connect the dots. People are telling me that this is the backstory of Kanan and I knew that 50 Cent had done something with Kanan because the streets were talking.

It wasn’t until I really got into filming the shoot that I realized that this was a spinoff – Power Book III: Raising Kanan! We’re an official spinoff because we’re the prequel. The other ones continue the story. So when I found out it's 1991, this character is not like Reggie – he’s Reggie on steroids and he just goes there. He’s short-tempered, but he loves and is loyal to his family. There’s a leadership power struggle between him and his siblings because his younger sister is running the whole family operation. She’s showing love to the younger brother because he’s really cool, calm and collected. So my character feels a certain type of way about that. My daughter and I have a strange and strained relationship because my character had done some time and she got a whole other life. So the only person that my character is able to flex some leadership on is my nephew Kanan (editor’s note: in Power, the flagship series Kanan is played by 50 Cent). So I’m the guy who introduced my nephew to this nefarious lifestyle that he begins. So, I’m like the muscle of the crew. My sister gives the orders, I carry them out and sometimes I go beyond what she asks for and that causes some animosity between us but in the end, it’s the loyalty that keeps us very connected to each other.

So, that answers your question and gives you the spill on how this all came out!

AM: You took us on a great journey! The way you presented your story makes me think about something I tell people all the time. When you’re building your brand and taking opportunities that are based on your interests or become available, you never know the people that you come into contact with and the projects that come your way. It’s the sliding doors that you enter and exist that allows you to build your career and sometimes it’s completely unplanned but each link adds another to get to your end result.

LB: You’re right. I know that for a lot of people, when they first saw me, it was from Ballers. But people didn’t know that there were a lot of foundational things that took place when I was doing theater that helped me to have a presence when I was playing across to Dwayne. That’s one side and the other is, if you can’t be the hero, the antagonist is the next best thing. It all just lined up! Even for people who didn’t know me, the fact that all my scenes in season 1 were with Dwayne, it pushed me into a space that I couldn’t have been more grateful for.

My first TV show allowed me to transition from theater and to learn how to play everything inside of a small frame. Ballers helped me to establish my onscreen presence. So by the time I got to Power Book III: Raising Kanan, I have more of a handle on what’s going on and how to play to it. I think that people will really connect with the project and my character Marvin – especially my friends because I do more cursing and drinking on TV then I do in real life! He’s charming but he is intense. My friends who know me, they find it funny that I’m playing Marvin because I’m cursing and rude and I’m so not these guys. But that’s why I enjoy playing them so much because I’m so the other way. I’m chill and very easy going. With Reggie, he didn’t care and he was loud. This character is shooting, fighting and doing all kinds of stuff. So I think people will connect with it very much so!

AM: Power Book III: Raising Kanan released earlier this month. When you got this role, what did you do to prep for it? It takes place in the 90’s. How did you get into the vibe and feel for this series?

LB: For me, I’ve always been a champion for the 90’s from the sitcom, the clothes and the music. I love the 90’s. It’s already part of my regular life so what I did in terms of preparation, I listened to a lot of Nas and 90’s hip-hop to understand the language. We had a dialect coach on set to just keep us where we needed to be in terms of the accent and dialect. I just tried to stay very present. My home is still LA, but for filming we all relocated and I’m actually here now in NY because we got a pick up for the next season already!

AM: Which is awesome because you were confirmed for a 2nd season just days before the premier dropped!

LB: I know and it’s such a blessing! I think that maybe the producers saw what they needed to see and they know it’s rich. I’m not even mentioning me, these guys performances are just strong. Mekai Curtis who plays Kenan is very connected. Our lead actress, Patina Miller (plays Raquel Thomas) she just gives it up - she won a TONY coming from theater. So a few of us have come from theater so already between that and when we came together, we didn’t have any egos. Sometimes in auditions, you meet each other and have chemistry tests and you vibe and they put people together and pair you up to see. We didn’t have any time for that. They booked us, we flew out to NY, we had a photoshoot and the first day was like a family scene. If we were playing like we were in high school on the first day of class, we could play with the awkwardness of real life on screen. But we’re playing a family that’s a tight unit. So we can’t be with the weird stuff. Everyone needs to be present and professional. Anything outside of that has to be left at the door because it can affect the chemistry. Fortunately, day 1, everyone was just cool and supportive of each other. The offscreen energy read very well for what we did onscreen.

The whole thing should come together well. The costumes definitely helped us. The hairdos – I’m in a high top. I spoke to the costumer just yesterday for the fitting and he felt that my character was one of the ones which helped to sell the era. They put me in some Dapper Dan. I mean the budget to make it come to life – even renting the cars so that every car all the way down the block and in the view of the camera was taken back to ’91. They really got all of the aesthetics down for it. I just hope people enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed making it.

AM: How was it working with 50 and Courtney Kemp?

LB: After all the shenanigans that people feel 50 does, they have to understand that the dude is a very smart tactile guy! At the end of the day, 50 is very charming, but he is onto something. I had the chance to talk to him a few times and he really believes in the project, he’s really invested into it and Courtney’s energy and her last say so’s of things with her vision and I think that they both work well with guiding the ship in the right direction. We had a great lead writer, Sascha Penn, she wrote the hell out of the script. All of them were very open if we didn’t understand something or we felt that the character wouldn’t do this or that, it wasn’t about doing it like the way they said, it was very collaborative. They would ask, what do you think and I’d say that I didn’t think Marvin would do it this way, but we could play with it this way. Even with the hair or other items – everyone was really cool. I think again, all the way around the set because we didn’t have egos or dictatorship energy, it allowed people to give their opinions even if we didn’t agree. They were still open to hearing and we found a medium place. That I think is what helped this project all the way around.

AM: Do you find as an actor, that it’s difficult to prepare for a character when it’s a series versus a movie? Then when you’re looking at a series, is it difficult as you go in and out of that character when you’re picking it up to get back into the character when it takes place over multiple seasons? Is that hard for you to separate yourself from that character?

LB: For me, I always separate it from the emotional stuff. I just stayed in the dialect. I didn’t want to be back and forth. So the whole time I was filming, I stayed with the dialect. So now, I have to get back into it because we’re about to film again and I have been in and out of it today. But when I’m filming I stay that way throughout the filming and even off set. The emotional stuff, I leave at work so that I can live, breathe and process because my character is doing all kinds of stuff so I don’t need to bring any of that at home! When I come out of the costume, jump into my sweats and get dropped off, I’m back to that. Also, we were in the pandemic. I'm glad at the time, there was no real social stuff going on. For me, my routine was hitting the gym everyday, I’m a sneakers guy and I’m living in Harlem so I passed by 8-10 sneaker shops and walk in everyday and if I saw something new, I'd grab those and get some groceries. Then, I’d be home to study. I had a very simple vibe of things that I did. I just locked in and tapped in. We were in the middle of winter. I’m from LA and I realized that I was the only one that gave a damn about the snow. Everybody else was indoors and I’m the only one that was outside glad to be in the street and walking to the gym in the snowstorm. But that’s how simple I am – I just enjoyed it. I was grateful to work and grateful to see the snow. I do photography so I went out and would shoot. In my mind, going back to what you said about one path leading to another path and so forth, I’ve always wanted to live in NY but I didn’t want to uproot and to leave LA. So just like this is setup is exactly how I wanted it to be. My things are in LA but I can be here for a period of time but I can still go back home. This is just like how I would have wanted it to happen even though I didn’t ask for this. That’s how I know I’m where I’m supposed to be.

That’s why I encourage people to go out there for what they want to do. There are things on your list that you’re unaware of that automatically come with what they do. I have friends who say that they love to travel, getting free stuff and clothes and I’m like, “do the things that you’re supposed to do and the other things will come.” My core goal is to be an actor, but the other things as a result is living in NY, being able to travel and the free stuff. There’s the love that you get and even helping other people. I don’t complain, I’m just really grateful that people care enough to even want to sit down with me and talk with me so thank you!

AM: What are the workouts that you do and clearly with your job you always have to be ready for whatever is coming at you.

LB: I do a few things. I change up the routine so that my body doesn’t get too comfortable. At one point, I was doing a Dwayne exercise which we would focus on a particular muscle group for that day so Mon – chest, Tues – back legs, Wed – shoulders, Thurs - abs, Fri - arms. I was doing that for awhile. Right now, I’m doing a compound full-body approach. I do something for each muscle group but as a full-body type of thing. When we start filming, I will probably do an upper-body routine and then a lower body the next day. I try to do abs every day usually – at least 200 of something for abs. Again, even with Ballers, in season 1, they were like, “London, we need you to put this tank top on.” I was like, “ahhhh not right now.” At the end of season 2, not that I turned into Dwayne, but I filled out a bit and worked on some stuff. When I did that pool scene, I got myself together with my arms.

Even with this, I got some intimate scenes in season 1 and I’m still vacillating between ideas of what I look like because that was one scene that I wish I could have gone back and taken a look. Not that I could have have changed what I looked like that day, but I know that that scene is coming up and I just hope that I look ok! Because it’s onscreen and this is now locked in forever. That’s why I don’t waste any time. They were making jokes at me for going into the gym, but I was telling my co-stars that this is the first time that people will see whatever they are seeing of us and on the branding side of things, I have done a few photoshoots outside of this. So if people reach out because they think your body looks nice, they may want you to be the face of Levi Jeans or Gap Jeans. I’m thinking way past the scene – it’s the branding side of it. I’m also thinking about the leading guy side of it. Will Smith was The Fresh Prince of Bel-Aire until we saw him in I Am Legend for example. We saw him chiseled up and then we saw him in Ali and he put some size on him. Or even Michel B. Jordan, we were like, “hey that’s the handsome looking Black guy." Then he sized up for Creed and people were like, "ooo Michael B. Jordan." The response that women had when they said his name, I was like, “ok he leveled up!” When he did Black Panther, now he’s in a different league and he is a leading guy. These are the things that I am thinking about so when people are joking about me being in the gym, I’m like, “listen, we’ve got to think past Power if we’re thinking about the next level. We’ve got to look good.”

AM: Absolutely. You don’t know where it’s coming from. You’re right with Michael B. Jordan, we had his trainer who is a Body Transformation Specialist, Corey Calliet who also does a lot of the people in the Marvel Universe etc as our July cover in 2018. He talked about how he transformed his body and you’re right, when he started taking on those roles with that physique, he’s a leading action hero! Now he’s in Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse. So you’re definitely ahead of the game!

LB: I’m just thinking advanced because I live in anticipation and I believe that I can have it and I manifest it. I don’t have any doubt and I am just preparing for the things that I believe are going to come. It’s like when Noah had the arc and people said, there’s going to be a storm and you need to get on the boat and people were like, “yeah sure - right.” I’m just trying to tell my friends that we have to get ready. Everyone mentally is not able to function in that capacity. But I know of many things that I have said and they did happen and when I spoke about Power and to be on Power, I had no idea it would be in the spinoff and I knew I wanted to do it. There are a couple of things on the list and I am just trying to do the best that I can to be prepared for them as I know that they are on the way.

AM: Do you have other projects that you’re working on that we should keep an eye out?

LB: Right now, it’s Power and now that the clubs are opening up, I will get back into doing standup. But there is a book of photography that I’m working on. I want to use the photos for the income from the book to help with homeless people. I do a lot with homeless people. Growing up, I always have helped street people and would feed them. LA has a huge homeless problem so I am working on this coffee table book. As people look at the homeless people from the different places that I have traveled to, it’s a way to keep us very grounded and to remind us on how we look at things. It’s very easy, not that I am in a high position, but even in the position that I am in, you can get caught up and think it’s about you. The best way for me to keep my heart in check is that I am always giving. By doing this book and what have you, it will help people that when they sit down and their rich friends come over and they take off their Rolex, there’s a book there that you can just tap into every so often and they can say that they are grateful for their apartment, house or whatever they have. That book will remind them that there are people who don’t even have a bed or food. I would give these people a pear, apple, PB+J and they would say, “thank you, I appreciate you.” I would talk with them and I realized that people aren't just crazy or on drugs. They may have went through a depression, a divorce, were in the military and they just fell on tough times. Even with this pandemic, it showed how people had troubles and everyone was shut down. Now people have to reup and regroup and focus. I did a table read during the pandemic and one of the actors was complaining about something and I’m like, “brother, we’re doing a table read. We’re working.” That’s the angle, I’m not mad at him. It just reminds me that I need to keep giving and keep myself very connected and grounded because the truth is, if I stay on the ground, if I fall or stumble, I’m already down there. But when people get besides themselves and spiritually, I’d rather keep myself humble then to have God do it – I got it and will do what I need to do because I don’t want Him to do it. I'll stay in check.

AM: So when you’re not on set or on stage and all of the things you do, what do you do to take time for yourself?

LB: If it’s not the gym, I’m going live and cooking. I do a lot of live stuff and interact with my followers. Or it’s my photography, I’m out and about with my camera shooting or just trying to help friends with their headshots. I also cut hair so if I'm in the city or I'm at home, guys want to come up, I cut hair. I’ll be home if anything, I’m really easy going. I like the self-care of cooking at home or going to the gym or giving to others in some capacity – the homeless and feeding them and trying to be of service.

IG @RealLondonBrown

PHOTO CREDITS | PG 127 London Brown | PG 128 + 131 HBO/Ballers | PG 132 - 139 STARZ/Power Book III: Raising Kanan |

Read the JUL ISSUE #67 of Athleisure Mag and see Manifest Your Life with London Brown in mag.

WHEN WOMEN SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER WITH WHITNEY PORT

One of our faves that we enjoy chatting with is Whitney Port. In addition to being someone that is positive, continues to grow her business interests and more, she truly enjoys reaching out to women and ensuring that they are connected with those that can assist them in their journey. We catch up with Whitney right before she starts filming for the second season of MTV's The Hills: New Beginnings. We talk with her about her upcoming projects, balancing her busy life as well as taking time for herself.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We talked to you last fall and touched on The Hills: New Beginnings and how we loved seeing you back on that show again! What can you tell us about the second season?

WHITNEY PORT: We haven’t started filming yet but I am eager to start back up and connect with everyone again! The show will dive deeper into our lives as parents and our relationships with each other.

AM: We have also become fans of your podcast and love how you share people that you are a fan of or talking with your husband to get to know more about you. Who are some upcoming guests that we should get excited about hearing?

WP: Well, last week I put out one of my favorite episodes ever! It was with BJ Fogg, a professor at Stanford. We talked all about how we can train our brains to be happier and more fulfilled by learning small habits to incorporate into our daily lives. We will also be having some fun peeps on soon like Kaitlyn Bristowe and Rosie Huntington Whiteley.

AM: Tell us about your partnership with Chloe Wine and Dress for Success?

WP: I’ve teamed up with Chloe Wine Collection to raise a glass to hardworking women everywhere this International Women’s Day. Together, we’re also raising awareness for ‘Your Hour Her Power,’ Dress for Success’ signature giving campaign, which encourages supporters to donate one hour of their pay to help women reach their full potential. I recently stopped by the Dress for Success LA boutique to style some of their clients in preparation for upcoming job interviews.

AM: Why does this partnership mean so much to you?

WP: As a business owner, I know how the right outfit can arm you with the confidence and charisma to make a great first impression, and how important it is to have a network of support cheering you on. I wouldn’t be where I am without the strong women in my life, so I’m proud to join Chloe Wine Collection in paying it forward.

AM: Many women are looking to live their best whether it’s starting a new business, delving into their communities and networks or just changing it up to go to a new city. What are your tips for women to optimize themselves through networking, putting their best foot forward as well as to establish themselves in a new city?

WP: Take advantage of social media apps like Bumble Bizz, Meetup and Facebook groups to make connections with likeminded women in industries you are interested in. Keep your eyes peeled for networking events or other fun after-work activities and make it a goal to go to at least one per week. If you work in a big office, send out an all-company slack message to see if anyone is free to grab lunch or a happy hour. It might sound intimidating to put yourself out there, but people are more willing to help than you think!

AM: How do you balance the needs of being a woman with a career, being present as a wife and being a mom?

WP: It’s definitely a challenge but I try to be ok with the imbalance as opposed to striving for perfect balance because that is just not very attainable. Some days may be very work heavy and there’s little time for Sonny or some days may be ALL about Sonny and my inbox might be flooded. It is all about being ok with this, being present in the moment you are in and almost most importantly, making sure your needs are being fulfilled so you can be present for your family and your career. For instance, to feel like a whole human, I need to work out a couple times a week so I make this a priority. It is ok to have needs. I make a working to-do list in a google doc and make sure my needs being met is something scheduled in.

AM: How do you support and motivate the women in your life?

WP: I try to always lend an ear when someone is in need. I try to listen without judgment and not just give advice. I try to hear where they are coming from and work through situations as opposed to just telling them what has worked for me. It is also important just to send random messages or quotes or words of inspiration to those you know need it! But really, just make it known that you are always there to work through tough situations.

AM: What are your 3 go-to power foods that you enjoy to keep your energy up when you’re constantly on the go?

WP: Sunflower seeds, almonds or pumpkin seeds, the Tranquility Smoothie from Kreation, and if I am running out the door but haven’t eaten I will toast some sourdough and slather on some peanut butter for a snack in the car!

IG @WhitneyEvePort

Read the Feb Issue of Athleisure Mag and see When Women Support One Another with Whitney Port in mag.

PROPEL CO:LABS 2019

Astute readers know that this time last year, Propel Co:Labs Fitness Festival had one of its stops here in NYC along with LA and Chicago. We had a great time working out beside Gunnar Peterson, Harley Pasternak, Akin's Army and more. We talked with them about a number of fitness tips, focuses and more. This month, the event took place in LA with the same energy with a number of new and old friends. We're sharing a few conversations with Gunnar Peterson, Harley Pasternak, Casey Ho, Simone de la Rue and Angela Manuel-Davis.

We kicked off with Gunnar Peterson.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What tips do you have for those just beginning their fitness journey?

GUNNAR PETERSON: Enjoy the process. Obviously short- and long-term goals are great, but if you can find a way to enjoy what you’re doing in the moment, you’re going to be so much better off throughout the whole thing – not to mention, your goals will be there sooner than you know.

AM: What advice would you have for those struggling to find motivation?

GP: The motivation comes from inside. I’m not a big believer that the trainer motivates – I don’t know what I can say to you if you’ve decided you’re not doing something. And I also don’t think that’s incumbent upon the trainer. People decide for themselves. They have their own reasons and get after it because they’ve decided to make that change. It can be family, job, tired of feeling low energy – whatever it is, just draw on that from the inside and don’t deny it.

AM: What is the Propel Co:Labs Fitness Festival all about?

GP: To me, the Propel Co:Labs Fitness Festival is all about bringing a relatively disjointed fitness community together and on even ground. Even when you’re here, you’ll notice people who are yoga people, weight people, and people who are way more cardio-intensive – and there’s such a great comradery and feeling here. This is what fitness should be. Propel makes this what fitness should be about – community. Here, people are sharing information and also being receptive to other fitness professionals, which is why it’s such a great event.

AM: Tell us about the class you’ll be leading with Luke Milton?

GP: I can’t tell you – it’s totally top secret. Actually, Luke and I have a similar philosophy in terms of peripheral action and planes of motion. The environment created in the workout is all because of how the movements are sequenced. So, when we developed this, it was so fun and totally logical. For us, the goal is up-down-up-down, switching it up the whole time, upper-body, lower-body, core. And moving people in that way, very specifically and thought out, helps them get the most out of the workout.

AM: Why are electrolytes important?

GP: We lose electrolytes when we sweat, and with Propel, you replenish them. You can workout harder and longer. Propel is helping everyone here do more – their bodies are ready to go sooner and to keep pushing – and that’s really what it’s all about.

One of the exciting things about attending a festival of this nature is that you're able to try out a number of methods that allow you to enhance what you already do. You also have the opportunity to hear about the methods and the reason why these celebrity fitness trainers do them. Last year, we enjoyed connecting with Harley Pasternak and once again, he didn't disappoint.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Tell us about the class you’ll be leading at the Propel Co:Labs fitness festival.

HARLEY PASTERNAK: We are doing a really exciting class today that will require no equipment whatsoever – just absolutely tons of energy and a high pain threshold. We will be focusing on the lower body, and the class is called ‘Butt my legs hurt’ – get it? All kinds of iso-lateral (one side at a time) lower body movements. Variations of lunges from regular lunges, skater lunges, reverse lunges, lateral lunges and jump lunges. Then during the rest in between, we’ll be doing hip thrusts and pike planks. So a little bit abs, a little bit of glutes as your rest period, which is kind of insane. Let’s just say, I will be everyone’s pain in the butt today.

AM: Are lunges enough for a lower body workout?

HP: If you were to have one lower body workout, lunges would be one of my favorites. But, it does not train your upper body. It will elevate your heart rate, so I like variations, and with the addition of the hip thrust we’re getting the posterior chain.

AM: What would you add to balance out the upper body?

HP: I really focus on the posterior chain, so a back row of some kind with a TRX or dumbbell – something for your rhomboids. I’d put in a triceps movement, maybe a laying dumbbell triceps extension with a hip thrust together – I call those a Harley. It’s butt and back with your arms at the same time. Those moves, combined with the lunge variations, as well as a stiff leg deadlift for your hamstrings and lower back.

AM: With your busy schedule, how do you manage to fit workouts into your schedule?

GP: It's the other way around. I build my schedule around my workouts - they're a priority to me. It’s that old analogy of – if you fill a fish tank full of rocks, and it looks full, there’s still room for small rocks, gravel, sand, and water. But if you do it in any other order, it won't work. So you have to decide in your life, what are those big rocks? What are the small rocks, the gravel, the sand, and what’s the water? And for me, staying in shape and exercising is definitely one of the larger of this, and not something to try and jam in at the end of the day.

AM: What’s the best fitness advice you’ve ever received?

HP: Make the process the goal. It’s not about the number on the scale or having a certain aesthetic. You have indirect control over those, but not direct. So focus on the things you have control over. How many steps did you take today? Did you workout today? How did you eat today? Those things you can control. So focusing on the process, not the end goal.

Also, understand that we only have one set of joints. As I get older, focus on what do you need to do, not what you can do. What’s the least you need to do to get the most results.

AM: What’s your favorite workout song at the moment?

HP: There’s something about the cadence of ‘Love Lock Down’ from Kanye’s 808 Heartbeats. Cause that’s how I teach people to do resistance training – that cadence is timeless.

AM: Why is being strong important beyond appearance?

HP: There’s a confidence that spills into every other aspect of your life when you feel strong. That confidence just oozes everywhere. You’re staying functional in everyday tasks and less likely to get hurt.

AM: Tell us what its like training your celebrity clientele?

HP: I’m very lucky, cause having clients who make a living off how they look instills a motivation that is unrivaled by any other population. They’re as motivated as can be. They’re a minute early and putting in everything they can, cause they know their identity and their profession is very much tied to looking great.

AM: What is the biggest health and or wellness myth you’d like to bust?

HP: Celery juice! Go away! It’s not harmful and it won’t hurt you, but it’s totally pointless and does nothing positive for you. Juicing in itself is pretty pointless, but juicing one of the least nutritionally dense vegetables that exists in nature today, and throwing out the fiber to drink it with water and the dye that comes in the vegetable, and people thinking it’s going to fix their autoimmune diseases and cancer and weight management – it’s just really pointless.

As is the case of our previous celebrity fitness trainers, Simone de la Rue is someone that we have enjoyed doing her method. She has also been in Revenge Body with Khloe Kardashian on E! As a new mom, we looked forward to finding out how she prioritizes what's important as well as her fitness.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What are you doing here at Propel Co:Labs today?

SIMONE DE LA RUE: I am here to share my love of fitness and encourage people to hydrate with Propel! Hydration and your water intake is a huge assistance in weight loss, so drink, drink, drink!

I am here at Propel Co:Labs to share my brand which is Body By Simone, which is all about dance-based fitness. I taught class this morning in the festival hanger with my team to an amazing crowd of people that came out to sweat. [Propel Co: Labs] is really building a community in an inclusive ego free environment where we all come together to sweat.

AM: As a new mom how do you find time to keep fitness a priority in your life?

SDLR: It’s all about juggling. The most important thing is that you have to have a schedule, which is difficult with a child. Meal prep is a massive thing. If you prepare all your food and then put it in the freezer, that’s setting you up for the week where you’ll make great decisions and won’t order takeout. Secondly, as a new mum, finding time exercise. You don’t have to do an hour straight—you can choose to do 10 minutes in the morning or half an hour in the morning and possible another 30 minutes at night, but it's just finding that time for you that is so important.

AM: What’s the best fitness advice you’ve ever received?

SDLR: Set realistic goals. When you say to yourself I’m going to work out for two hours today and completely change your diet you set yourself up for failure because that's unrealistic. Set achievable goals and on day one just try and stay in the room, or gym, or class. And then the next day improve on that—add another 10 or 20 minutes to your workout or eliminate one item from your diet, whether that be sugar, caffeine alcohol. If you go cold turkey on day one, it’s likely you’re going to binge or give up.

AM: What is the biggest health and or wellness myth you’d like to bust?

SDLR: Just get up and do something. Just get your butt off the couch. There’s not one workout that’s going to give you your dream body so the most important thing is to find something that you connect with and will motivate you. So, the myth is that there is one workout that is the best for you.

AM: What keeps you motivated?

SDLR: My business has always kept me motivated because I have so many staff that I have to take care of. My clients also motivate me! They usually come in with a different goal whether that’s a Grammy appearance or Oscar red-carpet or film—which is exciting. Now, my biggest motivation is my son! I want to get up and be the best version of myself for him, I want to be a great role model for him so that he can see me in the best light.

We have interviewed Casey Ho previously as we love her 30 day challenges, fun fitness YouTube videos and her perky attitude as the founder of Popilates. With her first time joining this fitness festival, we wanted to find out about what her session involved, her favorite movements during her workout and how she stays motivated.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Tell us about the class you’ll be leading at the Propel Co:Labs fitness festival.

CASEY HO: It’s called Abs of Envy by PIIT 28. So obviously it’s going to be an abs focused class because I’m a Pilates instructor—it’s going to be core crazy! PIIT stands for Pilates intense interval training, it’s a 30-minute class which has cardio intervals with the toning aspects of Pilates with abs—so basically prepare to die!

AM: Why did you decide to partner with Propel Co:Labs Fitness Festival?

CH: I love that Propel is putting on a live fitness event to bring people together and also bringing together the best fitness studios in LA because I’m a big class pass user so I’ve been to a lot of these studios, so it’s really cool see all these amazing trainers get together in this environment. I love that Propel is doing this because yes [teaching classes] online is a big deal, but [teaching] in person is an even bigger deal because real in-person relationships are being built.

AM: With your busy schedule, how do you manage to fit workouts into your schedule?

CH: I always workout in the morning. 7:15 is my time and I don’t miss is unless I’m feeling tired or traveling. I set aside time in my schedule like a set anything, I make it a date in my calendar so I don’t miss it.

AM: What keeps you motivated?

CH: What keeps me motivated is keeping this happiness level inside me—just feeling whole and healthy. There have been points where I have not been happy with myself and it’s taken a lot to get to this stage so that keeps me motivated staying balanced and harmonious. Also, my husband and my dog!

AM: Favorite workout/movement at the moment?

CH: Of the moment, I’m super into deep stretching and I’m not talking about yoga! I mean I’m in a split and someone is pushing on me to the point that you’re almost crying—but after your splits are even lower! I’m taking this new class as SM Stretching in Beverly Hills and its run by a rhyme gymnast and she’s kind of hard on you and I love it!

AM: What’s the best fitness advice you’ve ever received?

CH: Find the joy in working out. Don’t keep doing the thing that feels like a chore. For a while I felt like I had to do the hardest thing and feel like I was dying every time I finished a class or I wasn’t pushing myself enough, but that wasn’t true. It’s the [workout] you can stick to that will make you happy.

AM: Why is being strong important beyond appearance?

CH: It’s important to be strong so you don’t break later, so you can live longer, so you’re able to carry 17 grocery bags from your car to the house in one trip! Obviously, strength is what matters, vanity is just a side effect

AM: What is the biggest health and or wellness myth you’d like to bust?

CH: No one diet or workout program is going to work for everyone. Everyone needs to realize that your fitness journey is entirely individual in your self-discovery.

AM: What is your mantra you like to live by?

CH: Give yourself the 100% chance to succeed because you’ll never know if you don’t. Whether you give your 100 and you fail or you give yourself 100 and you don’t fail—you’ve got to go 100 every time or you’ll live a life of regret.

A fitness festival of this nature is all about taking in the positivity, workouts that are offered and sampling what makes the most sense for you. We took a few moments to chat with Angela Manuel-Davis to find out how she was energized by the participation, her approach to working out and more.

ATHLEISURE MAG: So what are you doing a Propel Co:Labs today?

ANGELA MANUEL-DAVIS: So today at Propel Co:Labs I am leading a class on AMDIO method, which is Angela Manuel-Davis changed from the inside out. So, I’m going to be pushing and challenging everyone that shows up to close the gap between where they are and where they dream to be in their life!

AM: What was it like on the Co:labs festival stage?

AMD: It was incredible being on the Co:Labs festival stage! People really came open and ready to receive—the energy was high and I really feel like every single person that walked in walked out different.

AM: How do you fit time in your busy schedule?

AMD: You have to make it a priority. Life can take over and there’s always going to be a number of things that seem more important but if you do not make it a priority to take care of yourself you won't be able to take care of anything else or anyone else. So, it's about making yourself a priority and understanding that the stronger you are, the stronger you are for others.

AM: What keeps you motivated?

AMD: Living a purpose driven life keeps me motivated. Every single day I wake up and I’m really interested in operating in my gifts and talents that’ve been given to me personally and encouraging others to do the same—that’s my purpose in life. So, living a purpose driven life for sure.

AM: What’s the best fitness advice you’ve ever received?

AMD: Best fitness advice I’ve ever received is that the recovery time is just as valuable as the time I put in the workout. Sometimes we get so caught up in the workout and we go super hard and we don’t remember that the recovery is when the benefits of the workout find their rightful places.

AM: What is the biggest health and or wellness myth you’d like to bust?

AMD: Spinning doesn’t give you big legs.

PHOTOS COURTESY | Jessica Nash for Propel Co:Labs Fitness Festival

Read the July Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Propel Co:LABS 2019 in mag.

BINGELY STREAMING

SPORTS WARS

Wondery

Spotify

We have been a fan of Wondery's Business Wars, hosted by David D. Brown who shares the history and battle between businesses through serial episodes to dig into what made them great and in some cases who was unable to continue to compete.

With the success of this show, they recently dropped Sports Wars which is hosted by SB Nation's regular contributor, Dan Rubenstein. This looks at the rivalries that exist in sports and not just those by opposing teams! In its inaugural season that dropped this month, they started with the rivalry between Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre - quaterbacks on the Green Bay Packers. They highlight where this rivalry began, the backstory of both players as well as what was taking place as this feeling of contention continued to grow.

YOU VS WILD

Netflix Originals

Growing up, the Athleisure Mag team enjoyed reading Choose Your Own Adventure books which allowed you to select an array of choices that led you through a journey that was either successful, perilous or somewhere in between. The beauty of it is that you could continue to read this and have a number of endings that had various levels of satisfaction.

This concept has been brought into a new interactive show with Netflix and Bear Grylls . We know Bear as an outdoorsman that is military trained who goes into a number of situations in the wild whether solo or with such celebs and personalities as former president Barack Obama, Ben Stiller and Vanessa Hudgens just to name a few.

In this new series, a series of episodes focus on a mission from getting medical supplies to a remote village, sustaining yourself in a survival mission and more. As Bear goes along his journey he gives you a choice between two different situations and outlines the pros and cons of each. You select what happens and go along for the ride. You can always go back to change the ending or see all possible outcomes.

BOSCH

Season 5

Amazon Prime Originals

Season 5 of Bosch starts April 19th and this season he puts himself in the mix in order to uncover crimes of abuse and manipulation. With his need to bring those to justice, he also has to balance his purpose of his work with the fact that he is the sole surviving parent to his daughter Maddie.

As always, there are multiple story lines each season that take place as he continues to bring a bit of law and order in LA! If you have yet to catch up, you can binge the previous seasons in prep for the upcoming dynamic season.

Read Athleisure Mag’s April Issue and see Bingely Streaming in mag.

IT BEGINS AND ENDS WITH THE BREATH WITH POPPY JAMIE

This time of year, there are a number of activities that are pushing for our attention. There are notifications on our phones, making various appointments, checking that we're not missing studio time at yoga as well as getting our nails done. There are times where you forget to eat or even to breathe! Breathing is one of our most vital tasks and as much as we do it, many of us are not doing it right! We took a moment to chat with Poppy Jamie, Breathing Instructor and enthusiast, TV presenter, Co-Founder/Designer of Pop and Suki and Founder of Happy Not Perfect, a new app and lifestyle brand that recently launched to find out what a breathing workshop is, how we do it and what led her to this career!

ATHLEISURE MAG: Where did the year go? How is it almost Christmas.

POPPY JAMIE: I know right, I mean I was just telling myself, where did the year go and how can it be the end of the year already? At least we have the holidays to look forward to!

AM: You cover a number of areas so in looking at your background, how did you get into doing TV, have a successful line – Pop & Suki (accessory line created by best friends Poppy and actress and model Suki Waterhouse), your app/lifestyle brand, Happy Not Perfect as well as being a breath enthusiast?

PJ: Well really, I was inspired I suppose by my upbringing. My mum is a hypnotherapist and my dad is an entrepreneur. When we were growing up, we spoke about the mind at the age of 8 and it was so normal to talk about emotions, how you process them, how you manage your mind, meditation, breathing. These were all things that were just as normal as brushing your teeth, washing your face and going out for a walk. Mental health has been such a part of the way that I was brought up and in my DNA.

I always knew that I wanted to be a TV presenter. Ever since I knew I could talk, I wanted to be able to communicate with people because I just found it so incredible how you could share a conversation and storytelling and that really led me to my first career as a TV presenter and host. While I was a TV host, that was the thing that really gave me insight into this social setting and made me analyze what people were looking at and how they were reacting to things. When I launched my show on SnapChat, PillowTalk (the first show to air on SnapChat), I would see hundreds of thousands of messages of people just reacting about what they were thinking, feeling and going through. At that moment, it was my upbringing and where I was in my career that came together. I would start to call up my mum and I would ask her advice on how I should respond to these questions that included people that were struggling at work/school or feeling stressed about their relationship. In that moment I realized how little we know about the mind and how fortunate I was to have a mum that would teach me about the mind and these sort of things. I began to wonder how I could go about sharing my mum and putting her into an app and to give her to everyone. It wouldn’t matter where you were or what time of day it was – it’s about the thought process. It’s really what a great therapist does – they help you process your thoughts and find a new perspective by using different tools such as breathing and journaling. It’s funny that my career has gone in so many different directions, but it all happened to go into the creation of Happy Not Perfect.

At the time, I was living in LA with my best friend and that’s how the handbags started. My best friend and I are two of the most disorganized girls that you could ever meet as we’re always losing things and we thought that if we could design handbags, we’d be less disorganized. It’s been a really crazy 3 years and I couldn’t be happier working on these things that I now are really helping people. We have so many messages a day where people are like, “Oh my God this is really helping me.” People thanking us on teaching them how to breathe and those who were feeling low before Happy Not Perfect and n ow after using it they feel less anxious. I love how I am doing my part into what I should be doing.

AM: I love how connected it is and how the app also has an extension as a lifestyle brand with products that are attached to it as well – correct?

PJ: Exactly! We found that in our focus groups that people really struggled with dealing with things and that Millennials are some of the most stressed out people that ever lived. It showed through our qualitative research in America, Europe and Australia that we did. I wondered what we should do and how could we assist in managing their stress levels and people were silent about it. That’s when I learned that people weren’t so sure on what they could do to manage their mental well being. People wanted to know what they could use! This holds true for why there is product in Happy Not Perfect as well as why I was intrigued to work with Breathe Right Strips. Even a simple thing like putting the strip on your nose, you can sleep better because you are getting more air and it’s an upward spiral. Suddenly you have a clearer mind in the morning and it’s a simple thing that can help you feel better. We found that with the site and lifestyle components that everyone can benefit from these items.

AM: We were unable to attend the breath workshop which was unfortunate, but how did this partnership between yourself and Breathe Right Strips come about as we understand the natural synergy here.

PJ: I’ve been using Breathe Right for years and it has been a bit of my secret hack! When I trained as a breathing instructor and when I would do my classes in London, NY and LA afterwards I would say, if you guys are struggling with breathing at night when you’re trying to sleep, you should use these strips. Someone then said, “I know them – you should connect with them.” I was being their biggest advocate even before they knew me because I loved them. Then we were connected and I was so happy about that because I love the natural way that you can just be help yourself and be a little more relaxed and have a clearer mind. It’s about sometimes having the simplest thing like a breathing strip and learning how to breathe into your belly that will have a formative effect on your mental and your physical health.

AM: I heard that you have a 24kt gold Breathe Right Strip – is this true?

PJ: I do and I’m very excited about my it and honestly, it’s one of my favorite beautiful mantle pieces! I mean I never ever thought that I would have a 24kt gold basically nose statue! Now I do! I was traveling back from NY to London because my parents were so excited to see this and it is the coolest thing. I carried it in my hand luggage and when I went through security, nobody could believe my gold karat nose and it has now traveled halfway across the country and it is now very close to my heart.

AM: What’s it like going through a breathing workshop and how do you guide people through their proper breathe?

PJ: A breathing workshop begins with teaching people how to breathe. When I first started out as a breathing instructor under Dr. Belisa Vranich, who is one of the leading experts in the world, she is the author of Breathe and she is one of the most crucial women that I have ever met. I couldn’t believe it when she said that 9 out of 10 people breathe incorrectly! It’s unbelievable. We all breathe, but when you realize that we pick up bad breathing habits from the age of 5 because we go to school and begin to hunch over tables and we start breathing too much air and we start to do shallow mouth breathing. This is a forced habit from the central nervous system it pumps up our stress level and makes us feel like we’re in danger and we have that fight or flight feeling. But when you start engaging in belly breathing and slowly inhale through your nose and slowly exhale with lower body breath, it emulates your vega nerve and takes you out of that fight or flight state.

This is a calming breath that allows you to have a pretty instantaneous moment of clarity. You make better decisions and it reduces your nerves. So the breathing teaching and the breathing workshop teaches you the power of learning how to relax your nervous system when you need to and the best way to do that is through nose/belly breathing, and then once you kind of learn that, we can practice by putting weight on our bellies to practice bringing that weight up and bringing it back down, as that is helpful. A great trick to do this is to do so when you’re in bed and you can’t get yourself to sleep, you can put a heavy book on your belly to breathe the book up and to breathe it back down (editor’s note: this is an exercise to calm you down to be able to sleep as the book is only for the breathing practice). It’s a great trick and if you have friends who are a bit anxious or stressed out, teach them to lie down, put a book on their belly to breathe it up and down as it is really calming and relaxing. I really like to teach people tools that they can share with their friends and family. And then, we go into a kind of breath work meditation which uses the breath to sink into a meditative state and during the breath workshop that we did a few weeks back at the event, we did a Love and Kindness Meditation, which is one of the scientifically backed meditations that really help to nurture kindness and compassion not only for ourselves, but for those around us and after experiencing that, we come out of meditation which lasts at about half an hour or 45 minutes in terms of the education, the practicing and the meditation. Hopefully everyone leaves feeling a little bit happier and calmer and a lot less stressed.

AM: That sounds fantastic. With a new year coming up, there is a lot of stress and anxiety that people will have in wanting to do resolutions and things that are different, but also coming down from a busy holiday season – how can breath work help with this so that they can calm down and do what they need to during the day?

PJ: This is why I love breathing! It doesn’t mean that you have to meditate for 20 minutes if you don’t have time. The holidays are so busy and you have loads of family around. So the belly breath which I actually do this while I am talking with someone or perhaps in a stressful meeting, I lightly put my hands on my belly and I start breathing slowly into my nose and out through my nose into my belly. I consciously have this hack knowing that I have it whenever I need it is powerful.

Even if you want to just take a couple of moments in the morning to just lie down on your back and to just focus on your breathing through your nose and down for a couple of minutes as it really just sets your nervous system. During the holiday season, it’s so hectic because people are buying their presents and you need these short effective tricks for your nervous system and belly breathing is definitely one of them and anyone can do it which is fantastic!

AM: You’re based in NYC where would we find you grabbing a drink/meal and working out?

PJ: Oh my gosh my new favorite place is abcV the new vegan place that I am newly obsessed with that! I have to say that no one can't beat The Bowery Hotel! It's really magical and fun and I always have a lot of friends there. I like to think that wellness is a little bit of everything. It’s not only about looking after your mind, but it doesn’t mean depriving yourself of other things. It’s a bit of everything. My favorite yoga studio is Yoga Vida and I love this yoga instructor named Will Schneider who is my favorite. I also love dancing as it’s incredible for your mental health and great for a mood boost that makes you feel good. If I am in a really dedicated mood, I love SLT which is incredible, but dancing and yoga are really my thing as I find yoga is really great for the mind and to stretch the body, you need to relax the mind. This exercise incorporated meditation and I’m a big yoga fan.

IG @PoppyJamie

PHOTOS COURTESY | Poppy Jamie + Happy Not Perfect

Read more from the Dec Issue of Athleisure Mag and see It Begins and Ends with the Breath with Poppy Jamie in mag.

GRAB YOUR FORK AND KNIFE WITH JORDAN ANDINO

This month, we focused on foods and festive gathering as we begin to head into the holiday season. Our Nov cover is graced by Celebrity Chef and Owner of FlipSigi, The Original Filipino Taqueria, Jordan Andino. In addition to running his two fast casual restaurants on the UES as well as in its flagship, West Village location - Jordan is a man on the move! He has been named Zagat's 30 Hottest Chefs Under 30; was noted as one of People Magazine's Sexiest Chefs; he's hosting his second season of The Cooking Channel's Late Nite Eats; he has had numerous guest appearances on shows including: Chopped, Beat Bobby Flay, Rachel Ray, Worst Cooks in America and more. Jordan merges his world of chef, TV Personality and entrepreneur seamlessly.

We took some time out of his busy schedule (this week alone included a launch party for his pop up restaurant in Brooklyn and a dinner he is preparing in conjunction with James Beard) to talk about his career and of course to rock great menswear that is in line with his vibrant personality.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you know that you wanted to be a chef?

JORDAN ANDINO: I began cooking in kitchens since I was 9 years old with my father, as that was the best way for me to be able to hang out with him as he was always there since he was a professional chef. I remember one day when I was around 12 standing next to him and he was a man of few words, but he pointed out the other people in the kitchen that were in their 20’s and 30’s and he said, “Jordan, you are better then any of them!” I was taken aback but it really stuck with me when he said that. That's when I knew that this is what I wanted to do!

AM: Tell us about your culinary journey and what chefs/restaurants you were a part of as you made your way to launching your own restaurant.

JA: I was really fortunate to learn the business and techniques from my father. One of the chefs that my dad trained eventually went on to Jean Georges. Because of my connections there, I was able to work there and then go on to Spago with Wolfgang Puck at Spago in LA. I also went on to work with Thomas Keller at French Laundry in Napa.

AM: How would you define your style of cooking?

JA: I would say that my cooking style is Mediterranean with a French influence for sure.

AM: Tell us about FlipSigi. When it opened what was your vision behind this restaurant?

JA: I really wanted to introduce Filipino food to NYers via my grandmother’s recipes and give them tastes of the food that I love and keeping it familiar by including it in burgers, burritos and rice bowls. I wanted to bring my personality into the restaurants by being able to having fun energetic music, a vibrant mural and a high energy personality. I really wanted to kick off our first location in the West Village to show that this style of food would do well here and that's what I set out to do!

AM: Are there differences between Flip Sigi in the West Village and the one on the UES and is there a meaning behind the name?

JA: Nope the menus and the experience is the same at both locations. Well, it’s pretty simple, Flip is slang for Filipino and Sigi means ‘Go,’ so essentially it means Go Filipino.

AM: We know that you are opening up a new restaurant that will be a pop up. Tell us about this and how long will the pop up be?

JA: I’m pretty excited about our pop up that is at The Royal Palms Shuffle Board Club in Brooklyn. We have been open for about a week and we will run through the middle of Jan.

AM: What is the hope for this pop up?

JA: Well hopefully they like the pop up and we can continue to be there!

AM: How did Late Nite Eats come about and what is it about this show that drew you in to being a part of it as you are currently in your second season.

JA: I remember when I was talking with the executives at the network and we were throwing around ideas of doing a show. I knew I wanted to do a show where I could travel and introduce people to bars and their menus.

About two months later, I got a call and they were like, "do you want to host a show that focuses on bars/restaurants in the late night scene?"

I have been able to travel all over the US doing this show and being able to see whats out there and what's trending which is fantastic.

AM: Are you part of the cannabis cooking movement?

JA: I am really intrigued by it and interestingly enough, my business partners and I have been talking about it as I think that it is the next movement in terms of the culinary world.

AM: What is your style with that in terms of flavors and effects in savory and sweet specialties and will this be something that you will bring into your restaurants?

JA: Well I am still in the R&D phase and that's why I am excited about planning the menu and participating in this dinner tomorrow for James Beard. It's a great way for me to learn and try out! Since I'm still in R&D at this point, there are still a lot of legalities to figure out.

AM: We loved hanging out with you on the shoot, seeing you pop into the kitchen to make a few dishes and bringing out your inner model – you also have a great personality as evidenced by seeing you on shows like Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Beat Bobby Flay, judging on Chopped etc – how important is it to you to be able to share your brand on these shows?

JA: First and foremost, I am a chef and today, it’s important for me to be out there to be able to share who I am as well as to promote my restaurant. Being on a number of shows allows me to do that and being on Instagram and all those networks allows me to continue to amplify me to a wide audience. It’s definitely important in addition to everything else that I am doing.

AM: Tell us about your personal style as we know via your Instagram, you can definitely rock fun colors.

JA: What can I say, my personal style is vivacious, colorful and high energy and I love my clothing to reflect that vibe – I’m a pretty happy guy.

AM: With all the things that you have going on, we're struck by how humble you are.

JA: Well I'm appreciative of everything that I have. I love what I do and although I am driven and can be hard on myself, I am thankful for what I have been able to achieve.

I know what it is to work hard and to come from humble beginnings and to know what it takes in order to be successful!

AM: Where would we find you grabbing a bite/cocktail here in NYC, shopping and of course working out?

JA: I love to go out – when you think about having 21 meals in a week, I probably eat out for 20 of them! When I’m not in my restaurant and want to grab a drink, you’ll find me at dive bars - I love them! I love to exercise – I love running in Central Park when I can, I’m all about cardio and weights and work out about 5 times a week. I fucking love Equinox as it’s the best gym in the world! I also love to skate. A lot of times I skate from Flip Sigi’s UES location to my West Village location which is about 10 avenues over and about 100 streets down!

AM: With the New Year around the corner, what projects can you tell us about that will launch/be released next year that we should keep an eye out for or should we just keep an eye on your social to find out?

JA: I’m excited about a number of things coming up! In a few days I have a new merch line coming out under my brand Fork Knife which will include tumblers, hats, wallets etc that are in really fun vibrant colors and goes right along with my personality! I am working on a book and I am working on another show that will be coming out!

AM: What’s on heavy rotation on your playlist to cook, entertain, workout and about town?

JA: My music taste is fun and eclectic and is like what you would hear if you were in my restaurants! If you went through my playlist you'd see that I have: Drake, Miguel, Bill Withers - Ain't No Sunshine, Marvin Gaye - Ain't No Mountain High Enough, J. Lo - Ain't It Funny!

IG @Fork_Knife

| CREDITS - COVER, PG 22 - 25 | AVIATOR NATION Velvet Sweatshirt | MAVI JEANS Denim |

| PG 16, THIS PG + BACK COVER | PARAJUMPERS Outerwear | AVIATOR NATION Velvet Sweatshirt | MAVI JEANS Denim |

| PG 18 - 20 | ANUAR LAYON Simpsons Leather Jacket | HANRO Muscle Tank |

| PG 30 - 31 | ANZ Cardigan | MAVI JEANS Denim |

Read more from the Nov Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Grab Your Fork and Knife with Jordan Andino in mag.

SOMETHING YOU SHOULD KNOW | THE SCOOP ON NAIL ART

Whether you see it on Pinterest, you're following your faves on Instagram, seeing your favorites on the red carpet and of course when you're at the nail salon selecting your favorite hues - the power of the nail is everywhere! From innovative shapes, techniques, nail art and more! We had to sit down and talk with Celebrity Manicurist, Sarah Bland who is also an ambassador of Smith & Cult to get the scoop on what we need to know about what's going on in nails.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What took place in your career that allowed you to include nail art within your portfolio?

SARAH BLAND: I think that most music videos that I have worked on and red carpet manicures that I have done require nail art to make it different from all the other celebrities.

AM: Who are some of your celeb clients that you have done nail art on?

SB: LaLa Anthony, Kelly Rowland, Jessica Alba, Paris Hilton, Zooey Deschanel and a bunch more that I’m not allowed to mention ;-).

AM: Can you share events that your nails have been a part of from Awards Season, NYFW shows and more?

SB: I tend to work on celebrities for different things like lifestyle manicures, red carpet, TV shows, concerts, and press/editorial.

AM: How did you become a nail artist and what inspires you in your work?

SB: I started painting nails when I was five years old, I’ve always had a passion for nails and nail art. I started doing nail art in fourth grade. A lot of natural landscapes and architecture inspire my nail art.

AM: What are your must haves in your nail kit and what do you suggest that we should have at home when we're in between our salon appointments just in case we have to do a touchup?

SB: A few must haves in my nail kit are rhinestones and glitter. I also never forget to have Smith & Cult Nailed Lacquer in 1972 because it is a client favorite. In between appointments to keep your manicure looking fresh, I suggest adding a topcoat 1 to 2 days after you get your manicure to avoid chips and keep it shiny.

AM: We know that you are a Smith & Cult Nail Ambassador, what does this entail and what are your roles/responsibilities there?

SB: As the brand ambassador, I create all of the nail art designs that are seasonal, I travel around the world educating salons and nail artists on nail art and about the product. I also do special events for the brand.

AM: We’re in the thick of wedding season - what 3 nail art designs would you suggest that are perfect for weddings? We’d love to know about looks that play with negative space, nail art for those that are not afraid to be bold as well as for someone who is new to including this within their look and wants to dip a toe in?

SB: I would suggest doing a very neutral hombre French manicure with negative space in the background, I also think very dainty geometric designs look great with neutral colors. For a bride that likes something very blingy, I would suggest adding glitter and/or rhinestones.

AM: In terms of nail care - how can you ensure that you are protecting your nails ESPECIALLY those that are frequent users of gel as we get many questions on the type of gels that should be used as well as how often can one do gels before they need to take a gel break?

SB: Unfortunately, it's impossible to ensure you’re protecting your nails these days because there are a lot of dangerous products out there that uneducated professionals use. Especially when it comes to artificial nails. The biggest piece of advice I can give is to stay away from drilling your natural nails. A lot of salons will even drill the soft gels to remove them which is extremely damaging to your nails and the laziest way of taking them off. I also suggest staying away from hard gel if you want to protect your natural nails. They are only removable with a drill which is very damaging. I tell my clients to take a break from gel every few months and to use Smith & Cult as the in between polish. In my personal experience and my clients’, I’ve seen drastic improvements of the health of my nails since I’ve been wearing Smith & Cult. It literally dries so quickly and lasts over a week without chipping! It is also 8 free so it’s almost like you’re repairing your nails without the nasty chemicals.

AM: Since you're based in LA, where would we find you this summer from grabbing cocktails and dinner with friends, shopping and do you have a fitness studio you like to go into?

SB: Rumble is my new favorite spot after I discovered it for the first time in NYC. Grabbing cocktails & dinner is super fun at Zinc or Gracias Madre on Melrose. Rooftop at the Nomad Hotel in Downtown LA is amazing for a fancy night out of summer cocktails. Shopping is a must downtown at the ROW. It’s a new historical development that has one-off unique shops. LA is always fun in the summer!

PHOTO COURTESY | via Sarah Bland's Instagram

IG @SarahBland

Read more from the Oct Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Something You Should Know | The Scoop on Nail Art.

THE DENIM FACTOR

The global denim business is a $100 billion dollar industry and is a staple in our wardrobe. We had the chance to talk with Andrew Olah and his daughter Emily Olah, who are luminaries in their industry. Together with their team, they run a series of businesses that further the denim industy from Olah, Kingpins (which we attended earlier this summer) and Denim Days. We sat down to find out about the upcoming Denim Days taking place this fall.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We enjoyed checking out Kingpins and are looking forward to Denim Days in NYC this fall. We look forward to being media partners this year. Tell us about your backgrounds and how it led to where you are now.

ANDREW OLAH: Well we’re really excited to talk with you about Denim Days! Let me share a little about me first. I’m second generation in the textile sales business so early on I kind of changed it and switched to denim. We’re from Canada and we used to do every kind of fabric.

I grew up in jeans and in the 60’s, jeans weren’t so accessible and they didn’t have any connotation of any kind of social position. In my culture they did, but not in the rest of the world. I couldn’t wear my jeans - some schools wouldn’t allow you to wear them etc. So it’s all I wore and when I got to represent companies that made denim or corduroy I loved it because I knew that I could wear it – how could you not wear what you were selling? Even in the denim industry back in '97 when I was thinking of moving to NYC, I had to think about it because I would have had to wear a suit.

Eventually, we moved the business to fabrics in denim. I worked for the first denim mill ever outside of the United States which was a really lucky job. It was an Italian company – the Italians impacted the denim industry really really early on being the first ones to use denim in non-traditional shapes. In the American history of denim if you look at vintage pictures, it’s all workwear related and very traditional styles.

The Italians were the first ones to say, let’s make a sexy top, a sexy dress etc. I don’t know if you have ever heard of a company called Fiorucci that’s what they did – fashion tops and fashion bottoms in weird shapes. No one had ever heard of that or thought of it in America really. Obviously there were no fabrics in the United States to do that and when people were sourcing they realized it was cheaper for them to make that shirt outside of the US and to do it in Asia so this started to happen there and this started the denim industry in Asia. The Italians impacted the industry because they  enlarged what was seen as a jeans industry by the shapes and the sizes and by women's wear.

The second job that I got was to work with a Japanese company. Again, the Japanese have a huge impact on the jean industry globally – I’m talking about global business and not just American. So the Japanese recreated vintage. Their emulation of vintage was better than the original vintage. It’s like someone copying a Mustang from ’65 and making it 10 times better than the original one and yet looking the same – that’s kind of what they did. They’re obsessed with the components and application so their obsessions make them uncompetitive. They have their own cache. So the company moved to NY in ’98 and we wanted to meet customers and we already had 20-30 customers but we wanted 70 so we started Kingpins as a tradeshow because we wanted to meet more customers and have them come in, hand out their business cards and say hello. When we first stated in the beginning, we used to do personal introductions to everybody because the shows were small.

Kingpins started in 2004 and we never even charged anyone for it, it was just a party and we did it for 2 or 3 years, until 2007 when the recession hit, and we switched the business model to being for profit and now Kingpins is the largest tradeshow in the industry for supply chain – not to boast and quite accidently. It was never our aspiration but it just happened. Our Amsterdam show is really really huge.

AM: And why Amsterdam?

AO: We picked Amsterdam because the community in Amsterdam loves jeans. The late mayor of Amsterdam was a believer in jeans and he felt it was the business for his city. They did a study and they found that Amsterdam had more jean brands per capita than any other city in the world. Which is easy when you have a population of 700,000 – a little more difficult if you’re a city like Tokyo, Istanbul, Sao Paulo* or LA even. That was their mantra and the fact is the fact that that is their business in Amsterdam. They have a lot of brands there and they made it their business to celebrate that to go with what was working for them and to try to get brands in this vertical to move there because they have an industry. They have the culture there and the population loves it there!

Do you ever notice that when we’re there people wear more denim there then here?

EMILY OLAH: Oh yeah 100%.

AO: It’s kind of weird because we’re jeans people and you go there and everyone is wearing jeans. Even in hotels the people working in the hotels and the restaurants - even the uniforms are jeans or denim! It's kind of weird whe you first see it. When we first went there, we stayed in this brand new boutique hotel and ever since people wore jeans and even their aprons were denim!

But anyway, we decided to do it in Amsterdam and there was also the issue of the House of Denim – have you heard of that?

AM: NO!

AO: Over the course of my career, of 40+ years I was frustrated that there wasn't a school for those in the denim trade. We all got jobs and we had to just learn o the job, but there ws no place to learn outside of that.

I have produced a class on jeans for 14 years at FIT which is known as the Capstone Course and they're preparing for their 5th year anniversary. Recently it was announced that there would be a New Jean School in Milan - so this is the start of a big difference in our industry as we grow up!

Now the House of Denim in Amsterdam started the first jeans school in 2012. They're also planning on putting a laundry in the city so that people can wash their jeans.

So in doing our supply chain tradeshow Kingpins there, they said that they wated to do a festival known as Denim Days which led us to doing it there.

What we didn't realize was how many people all over Europe and Turkey and other countries liked Amsterdam and loved shopping there. They loved going there and being their for inspiration. It was an amazing decision.

AM: So Emily, before we delve into Denim Days, how did you get into the denim industry?

EO: I went to college for biology. I was not a good student so I went and had various jobs. One day I got a phone call from my father and his friend – they were in a taxi. He said I needed to go to Portugal and learn the business with our family friend. I had to get my life together, learn Portuguese in 6 weeks if I was serious. I said yes. I packed up my life, learned Portuguese in 6 weeks (I went to language school 4-5 days a week) and moved there about 6-8 weeks after.
I worked in a garment factory and worked in our friend’s shirt factory. I worked in every department learning each component of it together through it’s complete process. I had to make a garment where the pattern was made by me, sewn by me, finished by me and it had to be approved before I could work from the office.

AO: They wouldn’t let her out of the factory until it was approved.

EO: I was failed like 20 times. I sewed my finger, it was like your sleeve is a centimeter shorter then the other sleeve, try again So I eventually passed my production sewing job and I started
working in the office.

AO: Who were your customers?

EO: My customers were Paper Denim, Burton Snowboards, AG and Marc Jacobs. So I had the American market and the factory that I worked for was a boutique factory so we did small runs. We did all kinds of products and not just shirts – it was shoes, bags, sweaters etc. In Portugal, all of the factories around us did small run production so I would just have to drive in a 50km radius to go to factories that did any kind of production. And then when I was ready to leave from Portugal I had been working with Rogan for awhile and got an internship with them here in NY.

AO: At that time, he was one of the most renowned designers in the industry.

EO: He was growing his business really quickly and there was this small staff of like 6 people when I went there as an intern. They had me running to midtown to check on their garment factory and whether their production was going ok and in 2 weeks they were like, “we have this new brand and we want you to run it.” I was like, “really ok”. They said, “it’s a really big opportunity, we’re going to do jeans and t-shirts. Production is already set you just have to deliver the goods.”

AO: And that was Loomstate.

AM: Oooo we love Loomstate wow!

EO: I did all of the product development and the production. Jared who works here now, also worked there and developed the sales. That’s how I got started in the business.

AM: Wow everyone loved their jeans and the shirts were great! So how did you make your way here?

EO: So I worked for several brands in the premium area on the production side. I eventually moved to LA because a lot of them were there and I wanted to come to NY. I had an opportunity to work for the factory that I stated with and that brought me back to NY and I worked out of the Olah office. That’s sort of the beginning.

AO: A few key things happened that led to her being at the Olah umbrella. We never hired her.

EO: Yeah his business partner hired me.

AO: True, what happened was she was working with AG and Rock and Republic and then she moved back to NY to work with the Portuguese guy that she started with and we paid her salary because they weren’t going to pay her enough so we said there are things to do around the office and she had her own world and it had nothing to do with me so I thought that that was cool. Then he and I had some issues and the relationship got funky and one day when the relationship ended, she had no job, but was in our office. So we tried to see what she could do to justify her being her.

My partner kept telling me that she was really smart and I was glad to hear that, but I didn’t think about it.

EO: And now 11 years later, here I am haha.

AM: So what do you do here?

EO: So our business is segmented into 3 areas and I straddle all 3 in an operational way, but I spend most of my time in the events world like Kingpins and Denim Days.

AM: So how will Denim Days this year be different then Denim Days last year?

AO: One thing that we will do which is different is that we are changing the speaking. We had people speak last time. The day before we did Legends. But this year we will have something everyday on Sat and Sun all day long so the speaker element will be amazing.

EO: Right like speakers and workshops that will be engaging to the consumers that come in and it won’t be on a separate day. Quite honestly, our Legends last year were a bit more B2B. The access to the attendees will be a lot greater this year.

AO: If you come in and feel what’s going on, it will all be in one big room. It’s going to be much better this year!

EO: I think 2019 will be a big evolution because we are going to move Denim Days to be the same week as Kingpins so it allows us to have denim events for 6 days in a row as opposed to being segregated.

AO: Then it will be a proper festival because it will be 6 days in a row with B2B and B2C.

EO: It will be a lot more dynamic that way and will engage a lot more people.

AM: What made you want to introduce Nashville to Denim Days?

AO: They asked us. But they have started the Nashville Fashion Alliance* and the NFA people are nice and their arguments for the fashion industry to move there to me is compelling. They remind me a lot of Amsterdam.

EO: Yeah their local government is very similar to Amsterdam.

AO: Yes you have access to the mayor, the Senate, Senators, the governor – there is a whole level of community. When you have academia, politics and commerce mix, it’s like the perfect moment. It’s like nirvana – it doesn’t happen here, but when it happens, everyone is on the same page. All the people are not competitors you’re doing the same thing and it becomes a community. Amsterdam has nailed it – accidently – but they are in this status and if they don’t screw it up, it’s brilliant. Nashville sees it and is trying to create it and I believe that they will. Then they have the music industry and so when they came to us, we said yes. They said they would help us with the media. Little cities in many ways are the future. So it’s interesting for us.

AM: So what trends are you seeing in denim that we should keep an eye out for fall of this year and more specifically for Spring 19?

EO: It’s about fiber and performance.

AO: The biggest thing – everyone wants something special. In the old days, if you wanted something special it was about having the Jordache name on it and that was something special.

EO: And that was enough.

AO: I remember I had a friend telling one of the Hilfigers at the time that they should just sell their label at the checkout counter because you have all the same jeans. So Polo could be $5 for the label and Tommy could be $6 and this one is $10 and Levi’s could be $3 and you just stick it on because it’s all the same stuff. That’s the history of the jeans business.

Exceptional jeans products right now – I think that everyone makes exceptional jeans products so then the issue is what is the company like. Everlane has done really really well with jeans and they’re not a jeans brand – but they have done well. It’s about the company and what’s
inside it and most of all how it fits and performance. Performance is everything and that means that you have to step out and find new ways of doing things.

EO: I completely agree. People know more about the product and want to know more about it. They have to have a reason for its existence and it just can’t be another piece that’s lined up
on the shelf. Something in it that’s different than something else and that’s outstanding.

AO: Like, when you go to Selfridge’s. The jeans shop is huge and there isn’t one sign but the brand name – what is that? That is like having this table with bananas and then saying, which one do you want? This one is $105, this one is $98, this one is made in LA – I mean really? They’re bananas!

AM: Just so our readers are clear, in addition to having your tradeshow within the supply chain - Kingpins as well as a festival denim show - Denim Days; you also work with brands that want to become denim brands?

AO: Yes, we have 3 actual business models. In addition to the shows, we develop fabric and then we sell the fabric. That division would help small brands that we believe in. Scott Morrison he was doing Paper Denim – we helped him with that. We’re happy to help those that are looking to get into the business - to a point. You can give someone food, but you can’t help them chew it!

PHOTOS COURTESY | Olah Inc.

Read more from the July Issue of Athleisure Mag and see The Denim Factor in mag.

ATHLEISURE LIST | LEKFIT + LEKFIT ON DEMAND

Former professional dancer, choreographer and celebrity fitness instructor Lauren Kleban is the founder of LEKfit which opened officially in 2016 in the Larchmont/Hancock Park area of LA.  She created a dance-inspired fitness method designed to create long and lean muscles by using intervals of low impact, high intensity, fat burning cardio with muscle sculpting techniques created to strengthen and tone.

LEKfit takes a musically driven approach to fitness with Lauren consistently drawing inspiration from her ballet, jazz, burlesque and yoga training to create fun and effective workouts that empower and promote body love and acceptance.

Lauren has trained a number of celebs including Busy Phillips, Emmy Rossum, Lindsay Price, Alia Shawkat, Katie Duplass, Ever Carradine, Lara Worthington, Judy Greer, JoAnna Garcia, Charlotte Ronson, Elizabeth Chambers, ad Katherine McPhee.

This method offers three different concepts. BOUNCE is a signature intense cardio and muscle sculpting workout.  Each class includes a warm-up, low impact, high-intensity cardio session using mini Jump Sport trampolines, leg, arm and core series plus a cooldown.

SCULPT is a ballet and yoga inspired class designed to create long and lean muscles. Each of these classes includes a warm-up, leg, arm and core series plus extended stretching for optimal muscle recovery.

FUSION is a high-intensity cardio and muscle sculpting class that incorporates the best parts of each LEKfit workout. Each class includes a warm-up, intense cardio session, leg, arm and core series plus a cool down and stretch.

Amenities that guests can enjoy at this studio include showers, changing rooms, a waiting room and the Joovv infrared light.

For those that want to continue taking classes outside of the studio session or for those that may live outside of LA, Lauren launched LEKfit On Demand early 2017. Those who connect with this service see Lauren in her LA garage studio with the LEKfit On Demand.

This service allows you to stream two brand new fifty minute full-body workouts every Wednesday directly from her studio and LA clients. This service offers hundreds of full body workouts. You'll also find do anywhere + anytime shorter workouts and "add-ons" which allow you to mic and match what you do based on your time and ability.

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LEKFIT + LEKFIT ON DEMAND

Larchmont/Hancock Park
LA, CA 90036

www.LEKfit.com

IG @LEKfit

Read more from the June Issue of Athleisure Mag and see ATHLEISURE LIST | LEKfit + LEKfit in the Studio.

A MOMENT WITH CLAUDIA JORDAN

When it comes to a girl's girl, we'd add Claudia Jordan to our crew. In addition to being a hard worker (we remember her from her days as being one of Barker's Beauties on The Price is Right), is stunning and is never afraid to speak her mind! As a former BRAVO Real Housewives
of Atlanta, we always loved when she kept it real with her girls.Currently, she is a co-host of the Ice-T produced, The Raw Word talk show that launches this month and has had guests that have included Ludacris, Common, Tracy Morgan and more. We got the scoop on what she's up to, the show, her style and more.

ATHLEISURE MAG: How did you become attached to this show, and what about it made you feel that it was aligned with what you are doing in your career?

CLAUDIA JORDAN: I had recently moved back to LA, after passing an offer from “Real Housewives Of Atlanta” as a "friend of the show". I was having second thoughts on whether or not I had made the right decision. I knew I wanted to be on a talk show and I knew I wanted to be in film. I prayed on it. Out of the blue, I got a call to come in and meet with Andre Jetmir, about a possible new talk show. I went in, my heel broke in the interview and I walked out
limping. I saw it as sign that something was going to come of this!

AM: As the Co-Host, what can we expect from you, and what will you focus on during certain segments/stories?

CJ: I love the ability to say the first thing that comes to mind when our topics come up without sounding like it's a safe and rehearsed answer. I want to continue being authentic and say what
our viewers may be thinking. I think I have an almost childlike enthusiasm for life and love talking with people. I love hearing their stories and I hope people can feel my sincerity through the screen.

AM: What guests should we keep an eye on that you were excited to interview?     

CJ: I love interviewing anyone with an inspiring story, especially those recognized as an underdog whether they are a celebrity or not. We had Deon Cole (of ABC's Blackish) on the show, who encouraged people to keep pushing even when things get difficult. He's one of the
most sought after comics in the industry, but shared that he has never booked anything he auditioned for. Things just fell into his lap that were meant to be. Writers have even written roles to fit his character. Deon’s story is inspiring and shows that never giving up is truly important. Rapper Nipsey Hussle came on the show and discussed how he came from the streets. I truly enjoyed listening to him talk about his past and really peel back the layers. I felt honored to be a part of it. I love that I have the chance to show our guests in a different light
and show they are more than the boxes that they are put in to.

AM: In addition to your role here, you're also an actress - do you have any films/special projects that you can share?

CJ: Yes I do! I'm very proud of my budding acting career. I have a film with Brian White, Columbus Short and Kearia Shroeder that was directed by Dame Dash called “The List”. I think people will be surprised when they see me in this role as my character develops. I actually had to get into a coffin in a church for one of the scenes. It was amazing working along side such seasoned actors like Columbus and Brian. They made me a better actress! We start production on our next film “A Woman's Grief” in two weeks, focusing on police brutality.

AM: As an entrepreneur, we know that you have your own wine, handbag line, etc. - how do you take time for yourself?

CJ: Yes, I have my wine company - JUST PEACHY, my bag line - Claudia Jordan and Celfie Cosmetics - a cosmetics company that is expanding greatly in Africa. We are in two countries; Kenya and Uganda, and will be expanding this summer. I'm very excited about that. You can find my peach flavoured sparkling wine in all 276 Cost Plus World Markets. I love the flavor and I highly recommend picking up a bottle! As for time to myself? I barely have any!

AM: In LA, where can we find you shopping, grabbing lunch and a cocktail, and what is your favorite workout studio?

CJ: I love being outdoors, running on the beach, or the hills at Kenneth Hahn Park. I don't like being inside at the gym unless I absolutely have to. As far as shopping, lately I've been shopping online or at the Gucci outlet! You might still find me at the swap meet as well. It all depends on my mood. I'm all about mixing the highs and the lows! For lunch, I love The Ivy in West Hollywood for their stone crab claws.

For cocktails, I love Catch in West Hollywood. They have great lobster rolls and lobster mac and cheese. For din- ner, my favorite is Crustaceans, also in West Hollywood. I suggest getting the garlic noodles with the cracked crab. Thank me later!

AM: How would you describe your style for brunch versus running errands?

CJ: I enjoy being a woman and dressing "girly." I have a pageant background so I guess that's always going to be a part of me. I really don't own sweats and unless I’m working out, you won't catch me in a flat shoe!

AM: How do you give of your time in terms of philanthropy/charity?

CJ: One charity I'm supporting is “My Friends House”, run by my friend Tiffany Rose. Her commitment to helping the homeless is inspiring. She has been doing this for years. I jump at the opportunity to spend time with those less fortunate and do what I can to help whether it's bringing food, or supporting their fundraisers. Homelessness in our nation has always hurt my heart; especially knowing so many people are one paycheck away from being on the streets. I wish there was more being done by our government to help! I personally have started, “Claudia's Closet” where I personally gift young girls with prom dresses. It’s something I hope to continue expanding.

PHOTOS COURTESY | CLAUDIA JORDAN

Read more from the March Issue and see A Moment with Claudia Jordan in mag.

READY ON SET WITH FABIANA PASCALI

If you haven't watched FX's American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace, now may be the time as there are a number of our favorite actors in this Ryan Murphy series. We caught up with Fabiana Pascali who plays the role of the Female Senior Designer to the house of Versace. Fabiana had some common ground with the great designer, shares how she prepared for her role, let's us in on her favorite spots as well as what it's like to be Creative Director of her line, Thinking Panties! Continue reading to find out about this dynamic show and make sure to catch up on this series as we find ourselves talking about it to a number of our friends who are looking for a new show to embrace.

ATHLEISURE MAG: How did you get into acting and what was the moment that took place that made you realize it was for you?

FABIANA PASCALI: As a child, I was quite the creative extrovert. It was always easy for me to get into character and give my family fictional performances. During middle school and high school, I was always involved in theatre. It was only after quitting dentistry school at 19 that I got offered to audition in an all-girls music group. I made the cut and joined the group! It was then I knew showbiz would be part of my life.

AM: Tell us about shows/movies that you have been in?

FP: Most of my career is based in hosting and commercial work, with shows airing at to local, national, and international community. I’ve had the pleasure of more than twenty years doing
what I love.

AM: You are currently in American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace where you play the role of “Female Senior Designer” that worked with Gianni in the House of Versace, and who was also one of the right hands of Donatella! How did this part get offered to you, what was the process of getting this part and how did you prepare for this role?

FP: My theatrical agent, Jaime Ferrar, called saying he had a high-profile audition I should read for. Casting was looking someone to play an Italian designer. That’s all we knew. I had no idea what show it was or what it was about, let alone who were the actors involved! Looking back, the secrecy surrounding the audition was tight!

Preparing for the role was a bit different, given I knew little about the character or what I was reading for. I rehearsed, read the description of the character, and dressed by my gut instinct.

AM: In playing this character, you already had connections to the subject matter as you are a Creative Director of Thinking Panties, you're half Italian and your husband came from the same province as Gianni - how did that assist you in taking on this character?

FP: As you said there a number of commonalities with my character. When I booked the job and learned more about the character, I laughed because who they were describing was me! Speaking Italian didn’t hurt either! It gave me an insight into how to best approach the character. It’s much easier to bring a character to life when you can get inside their head!

AM: Tell us what it was like to film this TV show especially working beside Penelope Cruz, Ricky Martin and Edgar Ramirez?

FP: It was a phenomenal experience to be part of a series of this magnitude. What can I say?! Seeing my name on the call sheet along these giants makes one feel accomplished!

Most of my scenes were alongside Penelope [Cruz], who plays the role of ‘Donatella Versace’, which was a bit humbling. When Ricky [Martin] was playing ‘Antonio D’Amico’ (lover to Gianni Versace), he completely blew me away! All of them are completely cool-headed professionals that were an absolute pleasure to work with and learn from!

AM: Were you a fan of Versace prior to coming into this program and how was it to be immersed within this opulent world?

FP: Absolutely! I have always been a huge fan of Versace!

AM: The world of Versace is a different lifestyle than most everyone experiences.

FP: The fashion world is worlds away from everyday life. The life of Versace, the man and the brand, is an experience onto itself. You’re taking a world that’s in the limelight yet veiled from
prying eyes, then translating that into a show. In a way, it’s imitation of Versace. Talk about poetic.

AM: Tell us about Thinking Panties!

FP: I founded Thinking Panties in 2011 as a line of underwear with a fun concept for the creative type who wants to personalize everything. All you need is a marker and your imagination! The
idea was to give someone’s inner artist a chance to flourish and even be a fun gift to give someone.

You can find get a pair direct from www.thinkingpanties.com

AM: Where are your favorite spots to work out, grab a drink and eat and to shop in LA?

FP: I enjoy hiking in the mountains, with some go-to trails in the Arroyo Seco between LA and Pasadena, as well as those in Hollywood and Griffith Park. I love the feeling of releasing endorphins, breathing fresh air, and enjoying the warmth of sunrays touching my skin.

When it comes to the restaurant experience, I’m pretty biased (lol). Of course, I prefer Italian and Argentinean foods. If you’re going out for Italian, try Bestia in the Arts District, Terroni in Downtown, Eatalian in Culver City. For Argentinean, Carlitos Gardel near West Hollywood, Malbec and 1810 Argentinean in Pasadena.

To grab a drink I head over to visit my cousin Guillermo Zapata, owner of SUR Restaurant & Lounge, in West Hollywood.

Where do I shop? Everywhere, really! I always find great pieces of wardrobe at Anthropologie and Free People. There are a bunch of different boutiques and department stores around town I frequent. There are just too many to list!

AM: What is your personal style when you're running around LA, heading out to brunch and when you're heading out to meet your agent/go on a casting/do a table read?

FP: I love wearing a good pair of jeans and nice t-shirts/blouse with a leather jacket on top. Depending on the occasion, I’ll throw on boots, pumps, or Converse. I keep my color palette fairly neutral.

AM: What projects do you have coming up that you can tell us about?

FP: I’m currently focused on new design projects. A big part of me is always coming up with ideas in my design studio and seeing where it naturally progresses. There’s some hearsay on going back to TV hosting, which I would love to do.

AM: What ways do you give back to the community or provide philanthropy?

FP: For every pair of Thinking Panties purchased, I give another pair to women in need. Much like Tom’s shoes, who matches a pair for every pair purchased. I provide these to local shelters,
women’s organizations, and missions.

I also donate monthly to institutions such as St. Judes Children’s Hospital, Food for the Poor, Wounded Warriors, and Operation Smile.

I believe just a little help given with love can make a difference. If we all did a little, it would add up to a big change!

Read more from the Feb Issue and see Ready On Set with Fabiana Pascali in mag.

AWARDS SEASON | OSCARS RED CARPET

NICOLE KIDMAN | PHOTOGRAPHY Steve Granitz/Getty Images | STYLIST ___ | ARMANI PRIVE Gown | CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN Shoes | FRED LEIGHTON Jewelry | OMEGA Watch |

The Red Carpet for the Oscars didn't disappoint. There was glamour, color, nudes/neutrals and of course a lot of bling. As always, we're sharing some of our favorites.  We will continue to update the looks in terms of the stylist, pieces and how to get the look. Are favorites are throughout this post.

LAURA DERN | PHOTOGRAPHY Kevin Mazur/WireImage | STYLIST Cristina Ehrlich | CALVIN KLEIN BY APPOINTMENT Dress | SWAROVSKI Jewelry | ___ Shoes | ___ Watch |

CHADWICK BOSEMAN | PHOTOGRAPHY Kevin Mazur/WireImage | STYLIST Ashley Weston | GIVENCHY HAUTE COUTURE Suit | DAVID YURMAN Jewelry | 

BETTY GABRIEL | PHOTOGRAPHY David Frasier/REX Shutterstock | STYLIST ___ | TONY WARD COUTURE Gown | 

LINDSEY VONN/Team USA PyeongChang Bronze Medalist Winter Olympian | PHOTOGRAPHY Frazer Harrison/Getty Images | STYLIST ___ | CHRISTIAN SIRIANO Dress | BULGARI Jewelry | GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI Shoes | ROLEX Watch | PRADA Clutch | 

ALLISON JANNEY/Oscar 2018 Winner - Best Supporting Actress | PHOTOGRAPHY Kevin Mazur/Wire Images | STYLIST Tara Swennen | REEM ACRA Dress | FOREVER MARK Jewelry | JIMMY CHOO Shoes | ROGER VIVIER Clutch | 

JANE FONDA | PHOTOGRAPHY Kevin Mazur/Wire Images | STYLIST Tanya Gill | 44 FRANCOIS PREMIER/Balmain's Couture Capsule Collection White Beaded Dress | CHOPARD Jewelry | SALVATORE FERRAGAMO Shoes | PERRIN PARRIS Clutch |