What's Contemporary

What’s contemporary for the artistic director who’s known for being both timeless and innovative? “To live in the present, which is very difficult to achieve, and to trust your instincts for the future.” Listen to the episode here: whatscontemporarynow.com/episode/journe…

In this conversation, Koller relates how she maintains an evergreen curiosity and is inspired by the younger creative generation’s unexpected responses to a quickly evolving media landscape.

With a humble yet distinctly energized, independent artistic perspective, Suzanne Koller has been a force in the European fashion industry from behind the scenes over the past three decades.

From crafting unique identities to redefining industry norms, they share their insights on blending artistry with commercial success. Tune in to explore their visionary perspectives and learn what drives these contemporary fashion trailblazers. whatscontemporarynow.com/episode/the-cf…

Avant-garde fashion meets sustainability in this episode with Melitta Baumeister and Henry Zankov, the 2023 @CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund winner and runner-up. Dive into their creative journeys and how personal history and ethical practices shape their groundbreaking designs.

Discover more about Shona Heath’s journey, insights on AI in art, and reflections on winning the Oscar for Best Production Design in the full episode: whatscontemporarynow.com/episode/fashio…

From her humble beginnings in the British countryside to winning an Academy Award for Yorgos Lanthimos’s most recent film Poor Things, Heath’s journey is as captivating as her creations.

In this episode, we step into the fantastical world of Shona Heath, the renowned art director and set designer whose work spans from fashion sets to film and from luxury collaborations to the pages of top publications.

She embraces her “neither-nor” identity, finding inspiration in this tension—and it’s that fluidity she finds contemporary now. Listen to the episode here: whatscontemporarynow.com/episode/the-mu…

Dara advocates for everyday optimism, fluidity, and performance. Her strong sense of style and self stems from a deep visual creativity, and persists in spite of the challenges of the New York fashion scene.

Stylist, model, and fashion director at @InterviewMag Dara views fashion as an art of crafting desire and glamour, where the method of persuasion is as crucial as the message itself.

The conversation explores ephemeral beauty and sensuality, showcasing Ghertner’s ability to evoke emotion and provoke thought through her imagery and principled intentionality. Listen here: whatscontemporarynow.com/episode/zoe-gh…

Collaborating with leading fashion brands and publications, Ghertner’s images challenge the norms of commercial success and the traditional male gaze while holding true to deeply rooted values. Each project reflects her commitment to portraying beauty in its authentic form.

Zoe Ghertner’s photography captures the essence of human connection and authenticity. From rural New York to vibrant California, her work transcends boundaries, inviting viewers into a world blending fashion and fine art, the personal and the commercial.

Farneti’s journey is a masterclass in editorial expertise, with exclusive insights into his approach to magazine making, his dedication to high-quality storytelling that sets its own precedent, and the power of teamwork in shaping impactful editorial content.

In this episode, Emanuele Farneti, renowned editor-in-chief of D-la @repubblica, and formerly Vogue Italia and L’Uomo Vogue shares his editorial philosophy, at the intersection of tradition and innovation in fashion journalism. whatscontemporarynow.com/episode/behind…

Tune in to find out what is contemporary now in Risso’s world: not just the collaboration in the making of Marni’s vibrant designs, but shared experiences of music, art, raving, food, sex, and beauty. whatscontemporarynow.com/episode/the-ma…

From the moment he first started experimenting in his grandmother’s closet as a child, Risso was obsessed. His designs, even today, still possess the kind of creativity and freedom that have made most designers recognize him as a true visionary.

In this episode, Francesco Risso, creative director of fashion’s cheekiest brand, shares his eclectic journey—from studying in Milan to leading @marniofficial.

Through it all, Rougier has had access to fashion’s bigger picture—and in this episode, he shares how his clients gauge success, whether elitism in the industry is actually out, and what makes or breaks a young designer’s talents.

Rougier counts Maison Margiela, Helmut Lang, and Yohji Yamamoto as fundamental to forming his vision. His PR work with Hermès, Balenciaga, and Alexander McQueen saw those labels through the rise and fall of countless trends.

Over the course of several decades and fashion’s most fast-paced cities, renowned fashion publicist and @PRConsulting founder Pierre Rougier’s career has informed the zeitgeist as it’s evolved. Listen to the episode: whatscontemporarynow.com/episode/pierre…