Jeremy Scott Saved My Coachella

April 20, 2017

My first Coachella experience dates back to 2010. I optimistically returned the following year, 2011—only to be disappointed. In just one year, the phone-less, music-driven, hippie-going adventure to the middle of nowhere had been thoroughly commercialized. Phones were attached to right every hand, music seemed less important to the festival goers, and the hippies—the ones who grew up in Berkeley and San Diego, who brought their kids, and vibed with me the night Gorillaz closed out the three-day weekend (which, at that time, would not be repeated in “Week Two”)—were nonexistent. I am sure attendees from the 90s and early 2000s felt even more connected to the event in their respective eras, and have seen changes beyond what I have expressed. It is no wonder that I did not return until 2017 thanks to Hunter Boots sponsoring Simon Rasmussen, and by default, me.

Words by Marz Lovejoy

Off to a privileged Coachella we go!

I was most excited to see Kendrick Lamar perform two days after dropping his fourth studio album, DAMN. Would fans, like me, be singing along to a record we’d only been familiar with for 48-hours? Which new songs would he perform? Would he bring out U2? I was so DAMN curious. K Dot’s presence was keeping my festival energy on highly optimistic.

Can’t lie…seeing the Kogi BBQ food stand also excited me. It is hard to be anything but happy on a sunny day with a short rib kimchi taco in hand. Cold brew, b12 and ginger shots, teriyaki rice bowls, and lots and lots of water would be among my pallet’s favorites. Oh, and that trip to In & Out, of course!

Plenty of Lady Gaga impersonators.

A music nerd and food connoisseur is what I am. But the music and food only modestly added to the satisfaction of people watching. What a demonstration of individuality. A tall, lanky body dressed in black, shiny shorts, a bubble vest, wearing a motorcycle helmet. A Goth pirate. A fully coordinated couple in lilac leather. Sparkles, flower crowns, jean booty shorts, and strappy, flowy, see-through pieces. Sharks, bananas. Plenty of Lady Gaga impersonators. All parading in the crowd. And I’m pretty sure I saw Waldo. People were dedicated to their looks and I was captivated and positively entertained, appreciative of their efforts.

Thanks, Jeremy!

I was clearly experiencing a whole new Coachella. It was less about the music and more about the supplemental details that composed a unique environment upon which the festival was hinged…Radiohead’s sound cut out three times during their set; Future’s stage seemed too big for him; The Migos performed twice without being on the official lineup. Things that I would not have noticed before were overwhelmingly obvious…yet, I still had high hopes for Kendrick to hit a musical home-run.

The night of day two surprisingly made the whole trip worth while. Jeremy Scott’s production: a Moschino X Candy Crush event was the energy for which I had been searching! Colorful lights reflected off of the lake; DJs were playing ‘THIS IS MY SONG!’ songs, drinks and bites were readily available. Oh yeah, and there was also valet parking—you know, to make it more convenient for us. Thanks, Jeremy! There was a Candy Crush themed slide! Whaaat? Photographers all around ready to snap you and your crew should you want a Candy Crush boarder around your digital photo for memory; lollipops, gummy bears, and jelly beans filled to the tops of jars with mini shovels to scoop out whatever your Willy-Wonka heart desired. The eclectic mix of people was incredible.

I ran into middle and high school friends who were now famous. I saw homies I’d known from running the streets, faces I’d seen in movie sagas, rappers I heard on the radio. Queens were dressed better than everyone who thought they were going to win that award. Ethnicity, race, gender, non-conforming, celebs, new kids on the block, you name it—there was someone representing. If only the diversity and swag that was here, was at the actual music festival, oh what a world this would be.

After a night of dancing, meeting lovely, new people and catching up with old ones, taking photos, and drinking endless flutes of rosé, I was not hopping out of bed to rush to the festival grounds on day three. I, instead, took a ginger ale and sat down to breakfast, then hit up the pool to contemplate the day’s goals. Day’s Goals: meet up with Vince (Staples) and stay longer enough to see Kendrick’s set at 10:35 pm. Easy.

Meeting up with Vince was a breeze, sticking around the dusty, arid desert in the relentless heat, not so much. The hour long cat nap taken in the rental paid off big time.

At 10:25 pm my alarm rang. I got up, splashed some water on my face, and trekked back to Coachells to attend the event for which I had been anxiously waiting….

Simon Rasmussen wearing Hunterboots bag and jacket, shot by Leslie Kirch

Black-ish star, Yara Shahidi posing with TDE's SZA & friends

Simon Rasmussen wearing Adidas X Alexander Wang

Roughly 125,000 fans end their Coachella at Kendrick Lamar's set

All pictures by Simon Rasmussen and Marz Lovejoy unless otherwise stated.

Event

Space Camp

June 12, 2017

If you are a fan of Nike, and a fan of artist Tom Sachs, you will have to go to camp for the shoes to prove it.

The two have recently partnered to release the NikeCraft Mars Yard 2.0, a material update informed by Sachs’ long-term trail of the original NASA-inspired footwear.

The shoe, worn and built with thoughtful craft, has been the result of Sachs' longterm obsession with the work of astronauts and the physical and mental crossover in their training and efforts that overlaps with his own studio practices. In order to truly bring this to life, Sachs developed a pop-up installation, 'Nike and Tom Sachs’ Space Camp' on Governor's Island for those willing to endure fatigure, and failure to get their kicks.

See more photos from office Editor-in-Chief Simon Rasmussen's experience below.

The space camp is inspired by and indicative of Sachs' typical wit and aesthetic attention to detail, housed in an experience testing strength through obstacles that will strain mind and body. While a doubtlessly strenuous hour, the experience was meant to be accessible for all levels of ability and emphasized the inevitability of failure and a search for fearlessness, regardless of the context in which this can be employed after completion (and some retail therapy).

The first Nike and Tom Sachs’ Space Camp opened on June 8 in New York, and an additional camp will open in London over the course of the month.

Learn more at NikeCraft.com.

Event

The Standard & JVDF launch exlcusive collection of Accessories

Reflecting the brands’ shared appreciation for sophisticated personal objects, the pieces are defined by a visually sleek, luxurious aesthetic and feature gestures to refined industrial detailing, all the while meeting their fundamental need for utilitarian purpose.

JvdF is a New York-based brand that crafts one-of-a-kind objects and accessories composed of fine materials, elevating one’s smoking experience with a touch of extravagance. In keeping with the brand’s ethos, this three-piece collaborative collection with The Standard offers accessories for contemporary spirits that desire both style and function.

The Standard x JvdF offerings are the first metal iterations offered at a comparatively accessible price point, in line with the quality enamel essential collection, but never sacrificing the similar polished look of the fine metal signature collection. The products will be available for purchase individually–, Pot Case ($45), Joint Case ($45), and Lighter Holder ($25)– or as a set ($115) starting April 20th, 2017at The Standard Shops and ShopTheStandard.com.