VICKY LAWTON: THE VISUAL FANATIC

Last year’s winner of Creative Circle Award, for the Best New Female Commercials Director, Vicky Lawton is a director, photographer, she works with Rankin as Creative Director, she shot numerous fashion films for Elie Saab and Chanel, just to name a few, and she realized music videos for influential artists including Dua Lipa. Here some curiosities about this talented and chameleonic artist.

You define yourself a “visual fanatic”. When did you know that visual arts would be your profession?
Ever since I started buying Vogue around 14years old and ripping out the pages to use as wallpaper. I then became really interested in both fashion and photography – making my own photo shoots in my bedroom and garden featuring my friends!

How did you meet Rankin?
I interned for Rankin during my second year at Kingston University studying Graphic Design and Photography. I had a 3 week internship, stayed in touch and they asked me to come back once I had completed my degree.

What are your major sources of inspirations?
I love love love – Irving Penn, Richard Avedon, Meisel but I also really admire photographers like Cass Bird and Ellen Von Unworth who have such unique styles and approaches. I search through blogs, books, try to visit art galleries as much as I can – but my biggest inspiration is cinema.

As a fashion photographer, what is your relationship with fashion in your daily life?
Fashion for me is a perfect way to reflect my mood! Its also a chance to experiment – I’m a big fan of vintage clothing and I love visiting L.A to find some one-off, unusual pieces.

There are not so many famous female photographers and directors. Do you find that this is predominantly a man’s field?
Not any more!

Which social profiles do you find particularly interesting and why
I particularly love @celestebarber because fashion can be really funny

Which is your favorite social media?
My favourite has to be Instagram. It’s a chance to see new work, new ideas and put bunny ears on my selfie. What’s not to like?

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NICOLO’ DE DEVITIIS

Born as the “anti-influencer”, to mock the fashion bloggers at the zenith of the phenomenon, Nicolò De Devitiis is known online as the first Italian motorbike blogger.

One of the protagonist in the Italian TV show Le Iene, a degree in marketing and a reputation as the sex symbol of Italian TV, how are you, a Millenial, experiencing this ascent of yours?
I am experiencing all this with great equanimity, as I accomplished all of my dreams when I was a child. Furthermore, I try to enjoy every single moment, doing my best, whatever I do. As a “Iena”, I work a lot and sometimes I sleep in my car for more than one day to complete a report.

Yours is the enthusiasm of a generation that, thanks to the birth of creative start-ups, is crossing the boundaries of global communication. Those who ascribed your popularity to your good connections, ignore that your success stems from the capability of exposing yourself, thus generating new ideas. How do you find the creative sparkle for your reportages?
I am very creative, all the projects arise from my ideas and, every time they are broadcast, we start all over again, from scratch. I constantly document myself and I keep and eye on what is happening around the world. My followers’ expectations are very high and I don’t want to disappoint them.

What is the professional achievement that, over the last few years of experimentation, has made you the proudest? For example, rumours have it that, before becoming a Iena, you worked with the old-timers to learn the ropes…
I am very proud, after working my way up the ladder, to have interviewed Valentino Rossi when he never spoke with the press, and Gian Piero Ventura and Carlo Tavecchio, following Italy’s debacle in the run-up to the World Cup. Nicolò and fashion: you declared that, apart from your Iena outfit, you prefer an urban and casual style, in keeping with your biker imprinting.

If you were to choose a different style for yourself, how would you imagine yourself?I imagine myself on the Red Carpet with smoking, bow-tie and an old-style British actor attitude.

From imagination to reality, what are the professional “rides” expecting in 2018?
I am very superstitious, I absolutely want to continue with Le Iene, Goal Deejay and Car Karaoke. Then, whatever will be will be!

Fashion stylist & art director| Alessia Caliendo
Photographer| Riccardo Ambrosio
Grooming| Ginevra Calie
Fashion assistant| Veronica Carrocci
Location| Roots Milano Hair & Tattoo www.rootsmilano.com

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Food influencer: a whole world of recipes, cocktails and vineyards

Cover_Chiara Maci

They know how to influence the taste of those who follow them, they can teach, even to the most awkward, how to cook a awless poached egg, or how to tell a Brunello from a Barbera: these are the food in uencers, who, with their recipes and pro-tips, have taken the social networks by storm.
A common feature of food and wine influencers is that, in most cases, they have started by accident. «It all started as a game – so Benedetta Rossi, social-cook who, on her blog www. fattoincasadabenedetta.it, prepares traditional Italian dishes.
When I used to work in my parents’ holiday farm and prepared breakfast and desserts, our guests often asked for the recipes of my jams and cakes. I, a geek, to be nice to them, beside giving them the hand-written recipe, loaded a video on YouTube, where they could clearly watch the whole procedure. One year on, my father showed me that some of my videos had more than 100K visualizations. Incredible! So, again with my husband’s support, I decided to do something more professional, without great expectations, but thinking: “Just in case, one never knows”. With much dedication, we kept on uploading videos until our dedication was rewarded».
If the step from the kitchen to the blog is short, successfully going from the office to the web is a bit harder. This is the story of Chiara Maci, who, after a major role in Sky’s marketing division, decided to launch the blog Sorelle in pentola with her sister Angela, which enjoyed instant success. Three months later she was selected for the TV show Cuochi e Fiamme on La7, which was so popular that she soon started to host a show of her own: Vita da food blogger (A food-blogger’s life). “What my followers like most is that my profiles not only talk about cuisine, but also feature moments of my private life”. Through the web she announced that she was expecting a baby-girl and also her love affair with the chef Filippo La Mantia, father of her second son, expected in February.
If, in the food universe, recipes and tips are the key to becoming an influencer, when it comes to wine, the task is more daunting, as wine lovers are generally very well-prepared. «With my colleagues-followers – so Walter Gosso, Bacardi Global Travel Retail – we talk about recipes, products, courses, techniques, job opportunities, everything focuses on the professional sphere. For my followers who are keen on wine and spirits, there’s a wealth of tidbits, ranging from the best bars and wine-bars, to my favourite cocktails, the ones I love to drink and the ones I love to concoct, the brands I choose and the ones I dislike… There is so much to talk about, that sometimes they even inspire questions that I had never asked myself. »
Some start using social media to bypass issues connected with the location of their business, and eventually become stars. «Sicily – states Marilena Barbera, Sicilian winemaker entrepreneur – is far from the rest of the world and Menfi is a little village in the province of Agrigento. I started twitting when this media was not much used by Italian wine-makers and traders. Today social networks generate 25% of my business’s turnover».

Benedetta Rossi
Facebook, oltre 3milioni di follower
Instagram, più di 270mila follower
YouTube, più di 450mila follower

Chiara Maci
Facebook, 473mila follower
Instagram, 350mila follower
YouTube, 10mila follower

Walter Gosso
Facebook, 5 mila amici
Instagram, oltre 2600 follower

Marilena Barbera
Facebook, oltre 3000 amici
Instagram, oltre 3800 follower
Twitter, 7400 follower

Elbio Bonsaglio

He is one of the founders of the brand Letasca, international success story, which, in a matter of a few seasons, has conquered the most prominent multi-brand stores around the globe. Elbio Bonsaglio is also one of the most renowned Italian models; he worked for the most important brands and was photographed by internationally acclaimed photographers. With a huge following on the social media, he tells us something more about his universe, his Instagram profile and his travels.

No longer a model, but an influencer, thanks to the social media and other activities. How did this transition occur and when did you become a designer too?
The passage from model to influencer was totally accidental. I have never had a blog, I never thought that I could influence someone, I have always tried to be true to myself on the social media, posting on Instagram what I do, my passions, like boxing, or my travels. Maybe, because I was previously a model and now I also have my own brand, people got curious and started following me.

How many of your tips and pics are genuine and non-sponsored?
My Instagram profile tells a great deal about me, also through the stories. There is a lot of my humour, my way of joking, of what I do on a daily basis. There are not many sponsorships, most of my time and my attention are devoted to Letasca, but also in this case I have always been honest.

How do you envision the evolution of the social media and of the role of the influencer?
This social medium has, very democratically, enabled anyone to become an influencer. This is positive, but also negative, as not all influencers are qualitatively good. Back in the days having an education, a certain kind of taste made a difference. Now things have changed, and this is the reason why many criticize the apps and the world they have helped shape.

Which city has stuck to your heart? Is there a favourite place you would recommend?
I travel a lot in my job, hence there are many places I adore, like New York, with its special, matchless vibe, and Ibiza. Then, I remember having a good time also in a Sidney, probably because it it a kind of city I was not used to, with its shores and warm weather all year round.

Photo: Ryan Simo
Styling: Stefano Guerrini
Grooming: Susanna Mazzola
Photo assistant: Alessandro Chiorri
tylist assistants: Verena Kohl, Paula Anuska, Cristina Florence Galati

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julien boudet – blue as a state of mind

Perhaps best known as Bleu Mode, Julien was born in Sète, a French town on the Mediterranean Sea. It’s likely from vivid blue of the sea that he derives his artistic pseudonym and his passion for colours and for photography. Relatively new in the world of street style, active since 2013, he loves to document the evolution of fashion over the years, capturing what he loves to define as the “decisive moment.” Thanks to his sensibility and his extreme attention to detail, Bleu Mode manages to capture in a few seconds that which is invisible to most people. To date, Boudet collaborates with brands such as Thom Browne, Adidas, Uniqlo, and magazines like CR Fashion Book and Elle Us with a particular fondness for emerging brands and sportswear. He doesn’t want to be labelled as a street-style photographer, since he also works in other photography styles: from documentary to fashion editorial to architecture.

Who is the most important influencer on social media?
I think first it’s important to define what kind of importance are we talking about; is it the influence of a celebrity (actress, rapper, basketball player…) on his or her fans, the influence of a medias on their audience, the influence of a blogger who actually built his career using social media. There are a lot of different aspects to take into consideration. That said, the most influential person right now would be by definition someone who has the most followers on Instagram. Yet, if we take a specific field like fashion for instance, I would say Virgil Abloh probably has the most influence right now, because he reaches a lot of people from very different backgrounds- whether you like him or not.

Do you consider yourself an influencer considering your social following?
Regardless of what you do in life, you will influence people around you, whether in a positive or a negative way. If you are successful in what you do, you will obviously influence and reach more people. The only difference is the number of people you reach; for example someone who initially has a big following for his work (as in my case working as a photographer) might become an influencer himself because he was already able to get people’s attention in the first place. Hopefully, through my images and my style (both ways of expressing myself), I do positevely influence people, but I don’t consider myself an “influencer.”

How important is social media for your work?
To be perfectly honest, it has been essential for my work. I started out as a photographer in January 2013, and thankfully I have been able to stand out from the masses and get more and more people interested in what I do, only thanks to social media, in particular Instagram. I still get a lot of jobs through this platform, so yes it is still very important, even now.

Do you also use your image to promote your work and get more likes and followers? Does it, or doesn’t it work that way?
I do use my image to promote my work, and a lot of professionals that I know encouraged me to do so, because it’s important for your followers to see who is behind the account. It adds something to it, it feels more real, more personal. I don’t like it as much as I prefer being on the other side of the camera but I try to do it a little more. However it isn’t to get more likes and followers.

What content performs best online?
I guess it all depends on your audience. We all have a very different audience, and if a fellow photographer (with the same following for example) posts the same look I posted it won’t necessarily have the same engagement.

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Carlo Sestini: a citizen of the world

Carlo Sestini was born and raised in Florence. At the age of thirteen he started to Switzerland and then in London at the Regent’s University. He is very keen on art but first and foremost on high fashion. His sophisticated sense of style makes him one of a kind: his wardrobe is made of iconic pieces which combine luxury and vintage. He’s just came back from LA where he spent two months studying acting and improving his communication skills.

Your definition of influencer/blogger/ambassador?
An influencer is someone able to influence somebody else’s tastes and purchases through his image and social profiles, but let me say nowadays an improper use of this word is really widespread.

How do you imagine the evolution of the social world and of your business?
Digital universe is running so fast that everything I can imagine today would be available tomorrow and for sure somebody else is already developing it. I’d love to buy now directly from Instagram without jumping into websites, it would mean saving time and buying exactly what I see. I know Instagram is testing this new option in several Countries but Italy is still missing.

In your opinion, which is the social (network) of the future?
Instagram – Instagram and again Instagram.

Negative side of your job?
I don’t really think there is a negative side.

How many of your advices are sincere and not sponsored?
A sponsored content doesn’t necessarily mean is not sincere, I do personally check all the collaborations I’m bringing forward and if a brand or its request doesn’t fit my style I kindly thank but decline.

Practical suggestion of style or beauty or places you like ?
London is my second (now maybe first) home, I feel at ease over there and it always surprise me with great new restaurants, Spas, Gyms and Clubs. I’d suggest Mr Chow for an amazing Chinese dinner and Annabel’s for a drink, founded almost 50 years ago is one of the most elegant clubs in the world.

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Patrick Van Negri

Patrick Van Negri is a highly motivated, driven, passionate individual who is strongly dedicated to learning and executing duties effectively to achieve goals and grow in success. Originally from beautiful Croatia, he is currently living in Miami which has been his dream since he was a little kid. He grew-up watching Scarface, Miami Vice, CSI Miami, and Ultra, and he loved the heat of summer and days at the beach, while he loathe the cold of winter, so choosing a sunny place to set down his roots were a no-brainer. He recently graduated double-majoring in International Business and Marketing. Nowadays, he is modeling and exploring acting, as well as still producing music and consulting brands in digital and social media with a strong entrepreneurial passion.

Your definiton of influencer/blogger/ambassador
It is someone who is a role-model and trustworthy. Someone who wears cool shoes that you instantly fall in love with and want to buy them. In other words, someone who can influence the mass with their authenticity, positivity, and connection to his/her community.

How do you imagine the evolution of the social world and of your business?
Well, eventually people will use it even more than nowadays (yes, I said that). Lol. With the AI and augmented reality we will just put some contact lenses on our eyes and it will be so good that your brain will be fully convinced it is real. This is just the beginning.

In your opinion, which is the social (network) of the future?
That is really hard to predict. It might be the one that is not even launched yet. I believe that Instagram will maintain it’s leadership role for a long time, and that Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat will keep evolving. I know a lot of great platforms like Anchor and Peach, or even Marco Polo that has a great potential, but we will see what the future will bring. I hope Pinterest will become more “mainstream” because it is a really useful platform.

Negative side of your job
I honestly do not see any negative aspects of my job. Otherwise, I would not do it. I would love to hear it from others.

How much do you earn with this job? The numbers of your business
I wish I can disclose that, but the contracts do not allow me to do it. Let’s say it is a decent amount.

How many of your advices are sincere and not sponsored?
The only asset I have is authenticity. My “brand” is based upon authenticity itself, so I want to make sure I am truthful to my audience and that my advice is always 300% sincere at all times, whether something is sponsored or not. That is the thing I care about the most. Your priority should be that you are bringing the most value to your audience, as much as you can. You are there to serve them! All the perks that are coming with it should be a “side-effect”. You always have to give more, and never expect anything in return. That is the beauty of it.

Practical suggestion of style or beauty or places you like (a travel guide for a city)
Uff! I can go here on an on. For style, go with your personality and character. Try to find your own style and own it. Do not try to copy others – just be yourself! For beauty, I would recommend using all-natural and organic products with no chemicals or anything that is doing you a disfavor. Travel? Since I am from Croatia I have to sell it to you! LOL. Jokes aside, it is the most beautiful and versatile country – I call it the center of the universe. It truly has everything you need: a beautiful coastline with 1,200 islands, amazing mountains and national parks, and every village is so authentic and has its own charm. I honestly do not know where to start, last time I went back home I was there for almost 3 months, and I did not even get pass Istria, which is my state. So many beautiful places, food, and people to explore. No wonder it is becoming the world’s favorite destination.

Has The “influencer” job a deadline? How do you imagine your job when you will be old?
If you think about it, “influencer” job started a long time ago, all the way to Ancient Greece and even further. There will always be people who influence the masses. So, I do not believe it has a deadline. It will just evolve and find it’s way in different mediums, forms, and platforms. I do not imagine what my life will be when I am old. I am focused on today and creating the most value and bringing that value to others in different forms and shapes. If the only thing you are good at is social media numbers, then you are doing something wrong. That cannot be the best thing about you.

What counts most? A beautiful face or a good content?
Good content always wins, every day. What if a beautiful face has a fake and ugly personality? That happens very often. In my book, intent and heart are what matters the most.

How many hours do you dedicate to the preparation of your look and job?
With the look, it is pure inspiration. So, it happens instantaneously. To go out and shoot the content can vary. It can be done in 20 minutes, and sometimes it can be more than 1 day if the content did not come out to be as good as I would be satisfied with it, so I have to re-shoot it.

Which app do you use to retouch your photos and how many retouches do you use to create the perfect picture?
I do not use apps or retouchers to edit my photos anymore. Now I mainly use Photoshop and sometimes Lightroom. Learn those softwares and that is all you need!

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THE PARIS CLUB MUSIC RENAISSANCE – The SECOND PART

The Paris club music scene quietened down a er the French Touch era in the 90s, but now, with the arrival of a dynamic new generation of French DJs and producers, the revival of Gallic club culture is well underway. Filling up dance oors, taking over the airwaves, touring the world and releasing records on international labels, this new guard of music makers is bringing an eclectic electro sound-a genre – defying combination including techno, house and hip hop with UK and African in uences – to the wider worldwide stage. We met ten of the most in uential gures on the scene to nd out more about the return of Paris to the contemporary music map.
Here is the second part: Betty, Simo Cell, Sam Tiba e Miley Serious.

As one of the most talented DJs on the French club music circuit, Betty Bensimon has a taste for unexpected blends that get the crowds moving. She has created a community around her Bonus Stage parties in both Paris and London, and is a member of the House of Mizrahi, a crew that is part of the vogueing scene. She also hosts a radio show on Rinse France, has featured on the global online music broadcasting platform Boiler Room (twice) and plays throughout France and Europe. French DJ and producer Simo Cell creates an eclectic sound combining techno, UK bass and electro. The first foreign artist to be released on UK record label Livity Sound (plus he has a new EP out with them now), his reach goes beyond his Paris base—indeed, he embarks on an Asian tour in May. A member of the French electronic music group Club Cheval, DJ and producer Sam Tiba is also a solo artist in his own right, injecting a large dose of hip-hop into his explorative sets. He’s currently working on his first album, which will be released early 2018. DJ Miley Serious is a member of TGAF, an all-female music collective that hosts a radio show on Rinse France and that has guest DJed on BBC Radio 1. Miley blends electro, house and techno to create a high energy sound and has just launched her own label, 99cts Records

How would you describe your style?
B:
I like music that can be played in clubs and that makes people dance. I like to wear red, leather and t-shirts from my favourite record labels.
S: My style is very simple: trainers, jeans, wool sweaters, a cap. And the essential item: slightly oversized plain black or white t-shirts.
M: I love black, but I also love romanticism. So, I could describe my clothes and my music style like that. When I’m playing, I like to wear nice shoes-I pay a lot of attention to my outfits and don’t try to hide that.

Who and what influence you and your music?
B: At the moment, the clothing style of the women in The Sopranos and the music played at weddings and Bar Mitzvahs.
S: Nowadays, it’s Paul Pogba and my mum.
S.T.: A bit of everything: Paris, my musician friends, the films that I watch.
M: My influences are quite wide-ranging but come together. I’m a rummager-that’s part of my job. I’m passionate about everyday objects, fanzines, NYC, Manchester and counter-cultures. As for who inspires me-the list would be too long.

What role does social media play in your work?
B: Social media is an important tool for promotion. Using it is work rather than pleasure for me.
S: I have a tendency to be super addicted to social media. The further I am away from it, the better I feel. I don’t even have a smartphone.
S.T.: A bit less than before. I feel like self-promotion has become very boring over the years and that’s maybe the only thing I dislike about social media.
M: Social media is important but it brings me down. I hate that interest depends on the image used or the time of day that you post.

Is Paris back on the music map? What’s your role in the Paris music scene?
B: I’m a DJ: my aim is to make people dance in clubs, to allow people to discover music thanks to my monthly radio show on Rinse France and to bring a community together around dance music in my city by KIM LAIDLAW club nights.
S: There is a lot of competitiveness at the moment in Paris and lots of talented artists are emerging. There is a dialogue between the generations: the older people on the scene are pretty receptive to the work of the younger people and vice versa. We are better represented on the international scene and we all want to collaborate and grow together. There’s not a style of music that belongs to this new, emerging scene: everyone comes from a different world and brings their own touch.
S.T.: Paris never disappeared. For me, this city is always bubbling up-there is always something happening and the scene is just getting bigger. Maybe I’m between two generations, the old and the new, and sometimes I try to bridge that. The arrival of radio stations like Hotel Radio and Rinse France has allowed a really cool scene to emerge-the future of Parisian music is really exciting!
M: I don’t know if Paris is back but I admire what people are trying to do here right now. My role as a DJ or with my label is to be the link between the studio and the dance floor and for me that has enormous importance.

What do you wear when you’re performing?
S.T.: I wear the same thing on stage that I wear in my everyday life: a mix between basic and vintage. Like 95% of Parisians today, in a way.


Photographer| Lucie Hugary
Stylist| Nicholas Galletti
Assistant Stylist| Ariane Haas
Hair Stylist| Delphine Goichon @Backstage Agency
Make up Artist| Ludovic Cadeo @Backstage Agency

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Frank Gallucci – proud to be italian

Cover_suits Suitsupply, Shirt Navigare, Turtleneck Brooks Brothers Belt Brunello Cucinelli, Watch Panamera, Shoes Barbanero

Upon opening your 131K-followers Instagram profile, it is impossible not to notice the hashtag under your name, #proudtobeitalian. Frank Gallucci has turned Italian style into his asset, to become what he is today. Born in 1986, a degree in political and economic sciences attained at the university of Perugia and a journey in Australia, followed by the launch of your blog four years ago, which has quickly become a reference point for Italian lifestyle.
How would you define yourself?
I represent the Italian man, who can wear different styles, from elegant to casual, with versatility and nonchalance.
What’s your idea of style?
Simply, I believe in Italian beauty and in the Bel Paese.
Who is an influencer today?
Someone who can influence people’s choices. I try to do so by conveying my lifestyle, not only through fashion, but also through my taste in music and food, my travels, and much more.
How do you envision the evolution of social networks?
Facebook will never disappear. In general, the audience of these years will not evaporate, though it can be channelled towards other directions or towards the birth of new forms of social marketing.
And how about the evolution of your business?
I am working to become a style consultant, a reference point for businesses and designers alike.
How do you envision your work in a far-away future?
I’d like to be an Ambassador in 10 years’ time.
Is there a downside to your profession?
Yes, never taking a break.
The numbers of your business.
(He does not answer. He laughs, Editor’s Note.)
Is there a city you feel particularly attached to?
Milan, where I have been living for four year. Its dynamism allows you to succeed in whatever you want to do.
How many of your style tips are true and honest?
I am ready to turn down job offers, above all when they are imposed on me. To this regard, I have to point out that I am not followed by agencies, I prefer to build my relationships personally.
What counts more: a pretty face or a good content?
Content, boded by a beautiful image.
How long does preparing your look take you?
I would not speak in terms of hours, much less than that.
Which apps do you use to retouch your photos?
I always rely on photographers. The pics that are posted live, instead, are shot by my girlfriend Giulia Gaudino, using Snapseed.

Photo| Karel Losenicky
Stylist| Lucio Colapietro
MUA & Hair| Giuseppe Giarratana
Fashion Collaborators| Orsola Amadeo and Dario Amato

Read more on the last MANINTOWN print issue
available in best Italian and worldwide newsstands and bookshops!

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ADAM KATZ SINDING – DON’T CALL HIM INFLUENCER

cover_portrait by Jonathan Daniel Pryce Garconjon.com
He doesn’t like to be called a street-styler, or an influencer. He prefers to be called a photojournalist, because he considers his work a visual report of everything happening in the fashion world, primarily from backstage at fashion weeks to the streets outside. Undeniably, his style has made him one of the most important street photographers, especially for his special touch of an intense, emotional light that only his photos emit, capturing the eye of the most prestigious brands (from the likes of Gucci, Dior and Helmut Lang) and international magazines such as W Magazine, In Style and Highsnobiety.
We’re talking about Adam Katz Sinding, whom everyone knows for work on his site le21eme.com, and who all, or most, usually misspell both of his last names. After inheriting his first Nikon camera from his father, Adam began his career as a photographer shooting landscapes and abandoned buildings around Seattle. After moving to New York, fashion came into his life. His talent turned his hobby into a career as a photographer, creating advertising campaigns, look books and editorials. Over time he has become a constant presence at all fashion weeks, and when we say all, we mean everywhere from Copenhagen, where he now lives, to Russia, New Zealand or the United Arab Emirates. He is an artist on the go, animated by passion and a tough temperament, whose only vice is never stopping.

Who is the strongest influencer on social media?
I suppose Chiara Ferragni still reigns supreme in the fashion realm. Otherwise, of course, the Kardashian/Jenner/Hadid clan are clearly at the top.

Do you consider yourself an influencer given your social media following?
Although I suppose by definition I would be considered as such, I don’t identify with this title. Also because I don’t think my engagement is very high.

How are social media channels important for your work?
I am very much reliant on Instagram and Facebook with my business. Without these channels, my business would not be the same, and I wouldn’t have the same size audience seeing my work. It’s like a tiny digital Art Gallery, curated by you.

Do you also use your personal image to promote your work and get more likes and followers? Does it, or doesn’t it work that way?
I try to avoid posting photos of myself on my Instagram channel. I feel that, although it seems that my followers like this kind of photo, I have no desire for people to only follow my account and my work due to “me” but instead due to my photos alone. I post my #AKSForeheadSelfie as a “fuck you” to the normal narcissistic selfie that the world seems to have deemed acceptable. I see the classic selfie as completely self important and… mostly boring.

What content performs best online?
Sadly, the most commercial content… or images with bright colours such as red or pink or yellow. Often the quality of the actual photo has very little to do with how well it performs.

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