Logging On is ICYT's weekly newsletter by Columnist-at-large Ian Chow and Co-Founder Raeland Mendoza​. The duo also make up ICYT's consultancy division, Tomorrow Works.

Weekly Specials: It's a season finale!

RAE: With this week, season 2 of Logging On is coming to an end. In a short run we've covered every niche take timelines, and spanned from Toronto to NYC. Much Love!

We have a lot planned in the coming month, so we're taking a bit of a break on the newsletter to give those projects are full attention. Though we're always online, we'll be back and logged on soon enough.

IAN: Boss needed a break, so we're wrapping this season up! Content never sleeps, but we need to (or call it a nap).

LINKS:

FAshion

RAE: ISLA PROJECT X ALIMA WORLDWIDE: SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BOATMEN​

ISLA PROJECT​ is a Filipino-American streetwear brand that's been long on my radar for a minute now. They recently lined up with local brand ALIMA to help support the local boatmen that play an essential role in the surf culture and ecosystem on the island of Siargao and the Pesangan reef. All proceeds go directly to local boatmen, not to mention the graphics are absolutely fire. 

R: CORTEIZ’S STATESIDE SHUTDOWN WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME​

The UK cult-favourite brand brings their feverish hype to NYC for their first stateside drop, alongside their Nike collab.

R: Hugo Mendoza appointed as brand director of AWAKE NY

In other streetwear news, my imaginary tio and all around tastemaker Hugo Mendoza, most known for his work at Stüssy amongst other things, was appointed as brand director Awake NY. In his words, "let's get to work". 

I: LADY WHITE CO IS QUIETLY EVOLVING

It's no secret to anyone who knows me, but Lady White Co. is easily my favourite brand out there. In my humble and yet always right opinion, they are THE standard for basics. At this point, 90% of what I wear daily is LWC and I couldn't be more pleased. They don't come out with crazy colours, it's just classics and I'd like to think of myself as a classics kinda guy. Uniformity is sexy. 

Their new Spring Summer collection is what I've come to expect, short sleeve pique polos in pure cotton sourced only in California, boxy yet slightly cropped hoodies in smooth lightweight cotton jersey, oversized coaches jackets, they have everything I need. They have a devout following in Japan and we all know the Japanese know a thing or two about American sportswear.

*Please do not bother clicking on the image. There is no redirect. I have indeed scooped these off eBay.

MEDIA​

Bad Projection Is Ruining the Movie Theater Experience vulture

Multiplexes are failing at their most basic function: delivering a bright, sharp image.

The Path to Paradise Begins in Hell: Sean Pablo 032c

Sean Pablo, skateboarder, musician, and artist, says that all art is seduction—and skateboarding is art as much as drawings are.

He’s the Most Popular President In the World. Everyone Hates Him. mother jones

FIFA’s Gianni Infantino is the personification of soccer’s gilded age.

I: I love footie, but Infantino and FIFA's interpretation of what the future of football is the personification of "money talks".

What makes skaters so swaggy? blackbird spyplane

Sauce inspiration from very fitted rippers

I: Look no further for the very best in fits journalism. Skaters evidently inform how a majority of the world will start dressing. You may think that's an exaggeration, but you just need to look a little harder. The rise in baggier and baggier pants? Skaters brought it back first. The rise in chunkier sneakers? That's right, skaters. The arguably uselessness of shoelace belts? Ding ding. Skaters again.

MUSIC​

RAE: This week (like every week) love songs dominated my playlist. I'm a romantic, what can I say?​

RIMON ft. RINI "I Choose U"
I'm an absolute sucker for endearing visuals, and this video is full of them.

Coco Jones - "ICU" TV premiere
Incase you didn't know, Coco Jones is next up.

I:  Yves Tumor - Praise A Lord Who Chews But Which Does Not Consume  warp

Yea I'm sure you're spinning the new Lana record and all. But I wanna make sure you check the new Yves Tumor album because it's one of my favourite albums of the year so far.

Benny Sings - Young Hearts stones throw

The 43 Most Anticipated Albums of Spring 2023 pitchfork

New releases to look forward to in the coming months, from Lana Del Rey, Yaeji, Boygenius, and more.

Andy Shauf Live at WNXP's Sonic Cathedral

RAE'S WILDCARD:

MY NEW FAVE PODCAST & THE ALFRED/RAE ORIGIN STORY

It's been well documented on this newsletter, and even in my interviews, but I look up to Eddie Huang a lot. So when I saw him launch a podcast with his wife, I automatically had to check it out. Even better, multi-hyphenate and all around creative WILDCARD of a person Zack Fox was the podcast's second guest interview. In the episode, they cover everything from mentorship, creative endeavours, relationships, and even their wives matching with each other once via dating app. 

I definitely watched/listened to this ep with a big dumb grin on my face, and couldn't help but think it reminded me of the dynamic that fellow ICYT crew member ALFRED and I have. Even down to Eddie and Zack's awkward first meeting. Inspired by the sentiment, I thought I'd quickly give the story of how Alfred and I first met. 

The year is approximately 2013. To paint a picture, my jeans are way too skinny for their own good, I spend my weekends clocking into Urban Outfitters, and I've yet to even get my first tattoo. My friend Alex whom I work with tells me I'd get along with one of his engineering classmates, and like any reasonable person, all 3 of us carpool upon meeting for the first time and head to my friend Julius' basement to get haircuts, well before he opened up his own barbershop. And if you've never hung out at a barbershop without an appointment, you know how long it can take. At 45 minutes to an hour per head, plus travelling there and back, we basically spent the whole day talking about life, love (or what we thought love was at the time), and everything in between. We definitely covered enough conversational grounds to fill out multiple seasons of horrible straight-bro podcasts. Most notably, I distinctly remember us bonding after comparing notes of a specific intimate encounter where one party (after almost a decade, I assume statute of limitations are up), definitely had too dry of hands to be engaging in foreplay. 

To digress, male friendship is a beautiful thing. That and at the pleasure of anyone you may be engaging in intimate relations with, moisturize your hands and keep your nails in order! And go listen to Separate Bedrooms, now available on all platforms.

PS - Who knows, for season 3 maybe I'll give the origin story of how Ian and I met?

Your fave multi-disciplinary creative cowboys reporting for duty. Yeehaw.