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    Now reading: set the city alight!

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    set the city alight!

    North to south, east to west, London’s creatives are energizing every pocket of the city. From models fighting preconceptions of beauty, to designers redefining British style and rappers making London the sound of now, meet the boys and girls living…

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    Naomi Shimada, 27, model, writer, TV presenter

    If you weren’t doing this what would you be doing? I’d be a chef or a sex and relationship therapist. What is the best thing about living in London?It feels like you can try your hand at anything! What’s the biggest luxury in your life? World travel. What does the word luxury mean to you? Something delicious that smells beautiful.

    Naomi wears top Jeremy Scott. Pants model’s own.

    Ronan McKenzie, 21, photographer

    What do you do and why do you do it? I take photos because I like to capture moments of mine and other people’s lives. If you weren’t doing this what would you be doing? Either studying English language, cooking, or talking to homeless people. If you could spend an hour doing anything in the world what would it be? Learning how to make traditional Vietnamese food from a grandma who’s lived in Vietnam for her whole life. What does the word luxury mean to you? Taking an Uber!

    Ronan wears cardigan Ashley Williams. Jeans and earrings model’s own.

    Matty Bovan, 25, fashion designer, illustrator, model

    If you weren’t doing this what would you be doing? A locked up artist or bad musician. Who or what inspires you? My mom. If you could spend an hour doing anything in the world what would it be? Half an hour making an outfit/half an hour with friends partying. What do you do in your spare time? Buy make-up/ make creepy day necklace creatures. What is the best thing about living in London? The energy, you’re immune to how dark it can be. How does the city remain a source of inspiration? Feeling part of something and doing your own thing. What’s the biggest luxury in your life? Being creative and young.What does the word luxury mean to you? Looking rich and feeling cheap.

    Matty wears dress Matty Bovan. Watch, scrunchies and jewelry model’s own.

    Tom Emmerson, 15, photographer/student

    What do you do and why do you do it? I take photos because it makes me happy. If you weren’t doing this what would you be doing? Probably just skating and studying a lot more. Who or what inspires you? Gosha Rubchinskiy and Alasdair McLellan as well as skating, skate culture, and London itself. If you could spend an hour doing anything in the world what would it be? Skating and taking photos with my friends. What is the best thing about living in London? Meeting great people and getting all sorts of opportunities. How does the city remain a source of inspiration? The different architecture and people are what really inspire me — no two places are identical. What’s the biggest luxury in your life? My education. What does the word luxury mean to you? A privilege.

    Tom wears Jacket vintage Polo Ralph Lauren. T-shirt Supreme. Jeans Vintage Levi’s. Shoes Adidas x Palace.

    Maisie Cousins, 23, photographer

    What do you do and why do you do it? I make pictures because I can’t do anything else. If you weren’t doing this what would you be doing? Just eating and crying. Who or what inspires you? All my friends. If you could spend an hour doing anything in the world what would it be? Swimming and eating. What do you do in your spare time? I make a lot of pies at the moment. What’s the biggest luxury in your life? Being able to spend money on flowers just for pleasure. What does the word luxury mean to you? Having a bit of cash in your account after you’ve paid rent.

    Maisie wears dress Molly Goddard.

    Mimi Wade, 25, fashion designer

    What do you do and why do you do it? I design clothes and prints because it makes me happy. If you could spend an hour doing anything in the world what would it be? Swimming in the sea. What do you do in your spare time? Go out, go to the cinema, eBay. What is the best thing about living in London? There are so many possibilities and so many people who support creativity here. How does the city remain a source of inspiration?London is the best place to live actually but it’s not actually where I find my direct inspiration. Who or what inspires you? Films, actresses, Americana, Pulp Fiction, my friends, lovers, old movie posters, my granny. What’s the biggest luxury in your life? Silk Cuts.

    Mimi wears jacket and dress Mimi Wade.

    808 INK, music collective, (left to right) Mumblez Black Ink, 21, 808 Charmer, 24, Ime Algboche, 22

    What do you do and why do you do it? 808 Charmer: Music producer — I love creating and shaping culture through sound. If you could spend an hour doing anything in the world what would it be? Mumblez Black Ink: Traveling through different places listening to “Lady” by Modjo. What is the best thing about being young and living in London? Ime Algboche: Being ignorant yet having your wits about you and running amok with your friends. What does the word luxury mean to you? Ime Algboche:Something that frees your mind.

    Mumblez Black Ink and 808 Charmer wear all clothing models’ own. Ime wears top Stone Island. Trousers, jewelry and shoes model’s own.

    Sanaa Hamid, 24, visual artist

    If you weren’t doing this what would you be doing? Art is how I explore my brownness because it’s the only way I know how. If I could write I would. What’s the biggest luxury in your life? All the love I’m given. What does the word luxury mean to you? Privilege.

    Sanaa wears shirt Bella Freud.

    Joe Skilton, 26, photographer/publisher 

    Who or what inspires you? John Cassavetes and Maya Deren. If you could spend an hour doing anything in the world what would it be?Champagne jacuzzi. What does the word luxury mean to you? Cashmere.

    Joe wears shirt Carhartt WIP. T-shirt, jeans, hat and belt model’s own.

    Imma, 28, performance artist

    What do you do and why do you do it? Inspire. To live. If you weren’t doing this what would you be doing? Nothing. Who or what inspires you?Kazuo Ohno, strippers, the 80s. What’s the biggest luxury in your life? Living my dreams every day.

    Imma wears shirt model’s own.

    Rózsa Farkas, 27, gallerist 

    What do you do and why do you do it? I run Arcardia Missa Gallery and Publishers. I wanted to show people who weren’t (but are now) getting shown. What is the best thing about living in London? Living near my family and friends. What does the word luxury mean to you? Disparity?

    Rósza wears all clothing model’s own.

    Lily Bertrand-Webb, 27, photographer

    What do you do and why do you do it? I take photos because I love meeting new, exciting people and capturing their personality. How does London remain a source of inspiration? London is so multicultural. Everyday I discover the city’s delights and its unique inhabitants.

    Lily wears top Aries. Dungarees Claudie Pierlot.

    Caitlin Price, 28, fashion designer

    What do you do and why do you do it? I design clothes inspired by the girls around me and styles I wore growing up. What do you do in your spare time? I don’t have much of that! Party hard. What does the word luxury mean to you? Aspiration.

    Caitlin wears jacket and pants Caitlin Price. Jewelry model’s own.

    Lotte Andersen, 26, art director/founder Maxilla

    If you weren’t doing this what would you be doing? I can’t do anything else! What’s the biggest luxury in your life? Buying straight cigarettes instead of roll ups. What does the word luxury mean to you? All white everything.

    Lotte wears all clothing model’s own.

    Hannah Quinlan + Rosie Hastings, 24, artists 

    What do you do and why do you do it? We make work that deals with the prevalent issues in queer culture. What is the best thing about living in London? The queers and Arcadia Missa.

    Hannah wears hoodie Carhartt WIP. Trousers and boots model’s own. Rosie wears all clothing model’s own.

    Credits


    Photography Francesca Allen
    Styling Max Clark
    Text Lynette Nylander
    Hair Brady Lea at Stella Creative Artists using American Crew
    Make-up Jessica Meija at Stella Creative Artists using NARS Cosmetics 
    Photography assistance Jackson Bowley, Hannah Nagle 
    Styling assistance Bojana Kozarevic, Louis Prier-Tisdall

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