Words by Dean Mayo Davies, Photographs by Tommy Ton

Tommy Ton is the photographer and creative who injected warmth into street style photography throughout the 00s, with his site Jak & Jil. He continues to illuminate the world of fashion from an axis where runway segues reality, creating a new genre of editorial – the artistry of surveillance...Enter for the full story

Words by Dean Mayo Davies, Photographs by Tommy Ton

Tommy Ton is the photographer and creative who injected warmth into street style photography throughout the 00s, with his site Jak & Jil. He continues to illuminate the world of fashion from an axis where runway segues reality, creating a new genre of editorial – the artistry of surveillance. (Some of Ton’s greatest pictures are unposed, a mammoth zoom lens ensuring the subject doesn’t know he’s there, able to capture moments, mannerisms and interactions the camera shouldn’t see).

Ton’s ongoing celebration of fashion’s everyday theatre has led to collaborations with Style.com, Vogue Nippon, Harper’s Bazaar, GQ and Lane Crawford, amongst others. His passion and enthusiasm unlocking behind the scenes invitations from designers such as Proenza Schouler in the process. And representation from the same agency as Inez & Vinoodh and Melanie Ward.

In acknowledgement of Jak & Jil’s more-purist-than-ever redesign, and at the precipice of the autumn/winter 12 season, we spoke to Tommy about clothes, obsession, character – and keeping a healthy distance.

What are you wearing at this moment?

I’m wearing a Gap parka, under it a quilted Andrea Pompilio jacket, a Roots marled sweater, Dries Van Noten pants, orange New Balance 576 sneakers and a Stüssy knit cap. I’m actually on the way to the airport heading to New York for a shoot.

Can you tell us about where you grew up in Canada?

I was born outside of Toronto in a town called Etobicoke but then I was raised (and still live) in Oakville, which is a suburb outside of Toronto. It’s just a short train ride into the city. Oakville is a very quiet and safe town. I’m lucky to have been brought up here but then it wasn’t the most diverse town when I was growing up. Maybe more so now. I was sometimes the only asian in some of my classes growing up. I think the reason I rebelled so much and tried escaping to Toronto whenever I had a chance was because of where I lived – but isn’t that the case for most kids that live in the ‘burbs.

Do you remember what got you into fashion – was there an image or piece of clothing in particular?

I remember vividly what inspired me to get into fashion. It was 1997 and my sister had been away for the summer – she had asked me to record a program called Fashion Television for her. The one Saturday I decided to sit and watch it happened to be about Gucci spring/summer 1997. It was Tom Ford’s heroin chic collection and the instant the models appeared with their oiled bodies and smoky eyes, I became seduced. When Tom appeared on screen, I was mesmerised by how eloquently and passionately he was speaking about his work. I just thought to myself I wanted to be a part of this world and be able to have somewhat of an effect on men and women like he did. After that, I just become completely obsessed with fashion. It consumed me like a curse and I spent all of my free time riding my bike to the library, borrowing magazines and pulling and ripping out images. My walls were covered in Gucci and Versace campaigns. I made scrap books of clippings of runway images. This was before internet access was so readily available. I read mostly only the mainstream mags like Vogue, Bazaar, Elle, Mademoiselle and Marie Claire. I probably was more intrigued by glamour than fashion itself but who isn’t when they’re young?

You interned at Wayne Clark, worked in buying for Holt Renfrew before consulting to Lynda Latner’s Vintage Couture website. Were they your education in the mechanics – and craft – of fashion?

In my teenage years, after I knew that I wanted to work in fashion, I had to start strategizing how. I had initial aspirations to be a designer and go to Central Saint Martin’s one day, so I thought it would be wise to intern first. I did my research and Wayne Clark was the designer at the time that I felt I would get the best experience from. I wrote this ridiculous, cocky letter thinking I knew everything but after not receiving a response several days later, I tracked down his studio. His team knew exactly who I was when I stepped foot inside. They liked my passion, so they granted me an internship in 2001. It definitely was a wake-up call not knowing how much time and effort went into running a brand. Of course I was the one running up and down the street carrying bolts of fabric, sourcing zippers and buttons and packing the dresses but I loved it. After several years of working for Wayne while I was still in high school, I kind of lost the desire to pursue that initial dream. I gave it some thought for a while and thought maybe becoming a buyer would be the next step. If I wanted to be a buyer, I had to work for THE luxury department store in Canada, Holt Renfrew. I started off in the women’s accessories department as the Christmas help in 2002, but my enthusiasm for product kept me on board for the next few years. While working at Holt’s selling women’s scarves and sunglasses, I had gone to George Brown college for fashion merchandising with plans of making my way into the buying office when it became time for my internship in spring 2004. After a few months, I was offered a merchandise assistant position and all was going to plan. But then, again, after working in the buying office, I kind of realised buying was too political for me and that there was no creative aspect to the job that I was hoping for. I had thought of the idea of maybe launching a web magazine that would feature street style photos in Toronto and party photos from all the social events. I went back to working on the sales floor so that I’d have a more flexible schedule that would grant me the time to work on this new project, bought myself a digital SLR, went to web development and entrepreneurial courses and really went full force on this idea. It was a bit of a slow start but I was creating something I was passionate about. In the spring of 2005, Jak & Jil was born and it was supposed to be a lifestyle web magazine. Lynda Latner had met me through a colleague and saw some potential in me that could be brought to her e-commerce site. So she brought me on board. Working with Lynda was great because I got to have a better understanding of how clothes were constructed and it was like being in a museum, being able to play dress-up with all these vintage Dior and Balenciaga suits and dresses from the 50s and 60s. Lynda could see I was getting bored of pursuing my passion in Toronto, so she offered me a trip to London and Paris during the show season to see what the commotion was about. I noticed The Sartorialist had started becoming this up-and-coming street style photographer, so then I thought I would give it a shot, in February 2007. I had no clue what I was doing but I remember being so enamoured that first season. Being in London during the Nu Rave moment and then after going to Paris, which sealed the deal. I had to go back every season after that while still working for Lynda. She was great because I still had a job when I returned but it was the fact that she knew how important it was for me to go. Anyway, having all these experiences really helped educate and further my knowledge of the industry. I feel that if anyone is going to pursue a career in fashion, what’s most important is the amount of experience you can gain from working in many aspects like design, production, public relations and retail. But then what makes you really stand out from anyone is the amount of love and passion you have. Without that, you’re just lost and working in the wrong industry. A lot of kids are really impatient and feel with the snap of a finger, you can become a designer or in the case of today, become a hot-shot blogger. You will only learn the craft of your field if you allow yourself time to grow and become experienced by working.

Does it nourish you to see runway clothes in the street? And what’s your view when fashion goes the other way – into a museum as an exhibit?

I think there’s no greater joy than when you see runway clothes in the street. Seeing things worn by someone just breathes new life into the garment – it can totally open your eyes seeing it worn in a way you never expected. That’s definitely when style and character come into play – the person wearing it makes it beyond what it is. It obviously can get a bit monotonous seeing the same thing worn again and again by everyone, but I get the greatest high when I see obscure runway pieces from seasons past, especially anything Balenciaga circa 2000-2005. Street style images certainly have a hand in creating a demand for particular items, especially runway pieces because not everyone can see them past the runway. When you see a style icon or just someone randomly on the street wearing a runway piece, it creates this immediate desirability. In the case of designers like John Galliano, Cristobal Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen and Hussein Chalayan, seeing their work in a museum or exhibit really is crucial and can only really be valued in that setting. It’s the only opportunity to appreciate the grand scale of their work and great deal of craftsmanship. Without these exhibitions, how else would we ever see these pieces of art? It’s important that more and more of these exhibits occur.

Your pictures are a great portrayal of character and personal nuance…

Regardless of what designer someone is wearing or their background or upbringing, what makes someone stylish is their character. Without having any sense of character, you’re just a walking clothes hanger for whatever you’re wearing. I’m lucky to spot many characters in my job. Women like Catherine Baba or Anna Dello Russo are certainly two rare birds with lots of character.

Who do you think has great style?

I think Haider Ackermann and Stefano Pilati have great personal style. There’s no better word than elegant to describe their style. I love Haider’s sense of colour and the proportion of Stefano’s outfits. There’s an ease and romance to the way they dress themselves. I love photographing plenty of people you can always see in my work: Hanne Gaby Odiele, Robert Rabensteiner, Taylor Tomasi Hill, Catherine Baba, Nickelson Wooster, Aurora Sansone, Shala Monroque, Justin Doss. I probably have more photos of Anna Dello Russo in my archive than anyone else. I most likely have thousands of photos of her.

You enjoy a great relationship with Anna and have collaborated with her on several projects, including an exhibition. What captivates you about her?

I just love Anna’s love and enthusiasm for fashion and you can easily see that the moment she arrives at a show. There are plenty of people who love fashion but she takes it to another level and celebrates it by dressing up, which is a rarity these days. She keeps every article of clothing she’s ever owned – even hosiery from when she’s a young woman – and thoroughly archives it. She makes great photos and she likes to think of herself as a walking editorial, but then calls herself a “pagliaccio” which means clown in Italian.

Menswear autumn/winter 12 is nearly here. Are you psyching yourself up for show season? How do you prepare for fashion week?

I’m very, very excited for the upcoming men’s season. It was only Milan and Paris I looked forward to but now that I go to Pitti, I look forward to that most of all the events of the year, for street style snapping that is. It’s funny because I didn’t have much of an interest in menswear when I first started going to the shows five years ago but I think because of all the time I spent observing, my interest further developed and now it’s all that I really look forward to. I buy mostly men’s magazines and scour men’s fashion focused Tumblrs. Before the shows I treat myself to a nice, warm vacation – I have to cover both men’s and women’s and they’re smacked next to each other during the winter season. I generally go to my favourite spot, Parrot Cay, in the Turks and Caicos islands but they’re all booked up so now I’m scouring for a place. A week at the spa and in the sun really psyches you up.

What are you predicting for the autumn/winter 12 collections?

Hmmm… There’s been more of an athletic influence I’ve noticed recently and it would be interesting to see a clever take on sartorial tailoring and athletic sportswear. I’m a sucker for knitwear so it would be great to see new takes, particularly from Jil Sander and Prada. I’ve been really interested in strange egg-shape proportions for men, so possibly fuller trousers and shorter volumes on top.

Tell us something we wouldn’t expect of you…

I really do relish normality, coming home to Toronto and being with friends and family. As much as I love fashion – actually I’m obsessed with it – there’s no greater luxury for me than being at home. It’s really disappointing I’m sure for people who follow my work but I love keeping a certain distance from being immersed in fashion.

Words by Dean Mayo Davies, Photographs by Matteo Montanari, Styling by Marcelo Burlon, Colin wears Neil Barrett

Colin Donahue and Natalia Bonifacci met at Frank Sinatra’s old house in Palm Springs. The date was 29th April 2006. “I noticed her immediately sitting off in the distance,” Donahue tells. “I waited a bit, then a simple wave, she smiled, so I walked over to introduce myself. I had been practicing Italian for almost two weeks so finding out she was Italian was perfect… that was the beginning of a long courtship”. “I have to say it was an amazing Summer, “ Bonifacci adds. ..Enter for the full story

Words by Dean Mayo Davies, Photographs Matteo Montanari, Styling by Marcelo Burlon, Colin wears Neil Barrett

Colin Donahue and Natalia Bonifacci met at Frank Sinatra’s old house in Palm Springs. The date was 29th April 2006. “I noticed her immediately sitting off in the distance,” Donahue tells. “I waited a bit, then a simple wave, she smiled, so I walked over to introduce myself. I had been practicing Italian for almost two weeks so finding out she was Italian was perfect… that was the beginning of a long courtship”. “I have to say it was an amazing Summer,” Bonifacci adds.

The following photograph series was shot whilst on vacation in Tulum earlier this year. As Colin and Natalia reveal more of their love story, ambitions and influences…

Can you each describe each other in five words?

Colin: Natalia is loving, vulnerable, loyal, stunning and dramatic.

Natalia: Colin is witty, intelligent, critical, sexy and indomitable.

Where did you grow up?

C: I grew up in Iowa, middle America, genius place to grow up. In terms of getting to Milan, I was just chasing Natalia, I wanted to be a part of her world, see the world, as simple as buying the ticket.

N: I was born and raised in Bolzano, a stunning little city in the middle of the Dolomites in the Italian Alps, just south of Austria. My mother is from Costa Rica, so each Summer was mostly spent there where I have a huge family. I speak Spanish to my mom and Italian to my dad. Walking the streets of Bolzano you hear both German and Italian; my grandmother’s family is Ladin, and my parents always loved to travel and have insisted for my brothers and I to do so. All this background makes me feel incredibly lucky, as much as I love Italy and I am happy to be Italian, the multicultural aspects of the way I grew up and a curiosity of my own have allowed me to feel a citizen of the world in many ways. I first arrived to Milan with my mom – doing a little modelling first, and then, officially, when I attended Politecnico there.

Can you explain about what you do?

C: At the moment I’m involved in various projects, production design, taking my own pictures, designing interiors, ground up. Trying to develop a multi-faceted design studio, one that can both create for fantasy as well as permanency.

N: I am in love with travelling, modelling full time is a great tool to satisfy both that passion and the love of meeting new people. I do a little acting here and there and so far has been a lot of fun whenever it happens.

How did you get scouted? And how long have you been modelling?

I was scouted for the first time at 13 when I was having a sandwich in Milan with my mom. At the time my parents were a little wary of the fashion world and thought I was too young. The agency kept touching base, so when I was 16 I went to Milan with my mom and did some tests, some shows and jobs. Then I decided I wanted to go to school so I took a break and went to university. I continued to get offers so I would do shoots here and there and realized I missed it and went full time in 2009. I don’t like playing favorites with clients, each experience, each job, each day brings something different and new to the table, yet there are some collaborations that happen over and over, creating the world of friendship: the atmosphere is lighter, the connection is stronger, the communication level is immediate, I’d say those have become my favorite shoots, I love to work with friends.

What goes through your mind when you’re in front of the camera and the photographer is clicking away?

It depends on many things, the job, the crew, the day.  I think of various references from cinema to books, travels, paintings and even invoke family members. I try to become the character, whatever it calls for: joy, sadness, flirtatious, fragility. I guess I always want to give back, I like the intimacy of dialogue through the camera that happens with photographer. And how lucky I am to be part of this little adventure and wake up every day to a job that I truly enjoy.

Colin, you’ve worked repeatedly with Peter Lindbergh. Do you feel you share a vision?

I think Peter and I share much, I think we both tend to want to expose what is present, to actualize on something that exists rather than transform. But I think we share more than just an idea of imagery and it is that what has led us to continue our collaboration. In the end he is just an absolute joy to be around.

You co-own a bar too…

Currently I am involved in a few bar/restaurant projects. It might sound odd, but I had just finished watching Out of Africa, the Meryl Streep film, and I’d decided I wanted to take a risk. Then a phone call came and the opportunity arose. I’m happy to say that white star and the smile are still up and running.

What projects are you both working on at the moment?

C: Currently I am in the process of expanding both the design business as well as the restaurant, looking to add a capsule collection of furniture pieces as well as a to-go component of the restaurant. Hopefully I can just keep my hands busy.

N: I am in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic at the moment where I had my consulate appointment to get my new visa for the US, which was a perfect excuse to mix the obligation with vacation time and discover a country I’ve never visited before. I have a couple of jobs in LA coming up next, I am excited to work with my friend the photographer Hilary Walsh and have a chance to catch up. Then I’m off to the Philippines on a job. There is also a new web adventure starting next month that I am excited about.

Can you tell us about the trip to Tulum?

C: Our trip to Tulum was magical. I have been many times before as I have some dear friends who have a hotel there. I was always promising to take Natalia and when we finally set the dates, Marcelo and Macs decided to join and then the list just grew and grew: my brother Ryan, Ed, Barbara, Matteo and last but not least Giorgio. Everyday was easy, breakfast, a swim, a walk maybe we would take a few pictures. But the most consistent sound was that of laughter, I can’t tell you how much we laughed.

N: I have to say it was possibly one of my favorite vacations so far. Simple pleasures, lots of laughter, good food, the beauty of the nature and good hearts. It was magic to share those days with people we really love, old and new friends. I forgot about all the little things that seem to get in the way, all the things that actually don’t really matter. In the end I just remember a lot of joy and one joke after another.

It seems like you have a very great, real group of friends – creative minds that look out for each other…

C: I can’t tell you how much these people mean to me, and in a very short time as well. There is a generosity that exists amongst this group that is contagious, and I love that it originates from all parts of the world. I think in terms of creative, it is invaluable to have these different tastes, different aesthetics, and the ability to share them honestly without fear of being judged.

N: They say that there’s the family where you come from and the one that you create by yourself, and I think that this is the beauty of it, when we’re together you really have this feeling of family, you can feel that we care for one another, and you feel that love for one another growing year by year. We all have different backgrounds and nationalities yet somehow we kind of operate as one. I think we all inspire each other through new projects, ideas, stories, experiences, and there’s always laughter, a little moment of teasing each other and we laugh at ourselves which is quite beautiful. I also think that the freedom of being truly ourselves with one another is what really makes it special.

What’s the best way to spend a day?

C: So many great ways to spend a day, the list goes on and on. And it may sound cheesy, but I am just happy to wake up next to Natalia.

N: Good hearts, some laughter, physical affection, and whatever the world has to offer.

What has been your biggest influence?

C: My mother without a doubt has been the largest influence on my life, she taught me how to love and made me the man I am today.

N: I think when it’s time to say goodbye I might be able to break it down to just one, but so far I think it’s a melting pot: my family, my travels, the people I love, random encounters that inspire, points of view different that mine that bring questioning and sometimes shift or not at all, literature and poetry, those who remind me who I don’t want to be, those who remind me what’s the good in this world. I guess I am influenced daily.

What are your ambitions and dreams?

C: I want to have children, continue to create, and hopefully have multiple careers before it is all said and done.

N: I hope I can lead as many lives as I can. I hope to grow kinder and I hope to laugh at myself more and more. I hope to create family. I hope to always be able to overcome fear, to always be curious and I hope to always believe in love.

Tell us something no-one expects of you…

C: I don’t think anyone expects that I was a huge Bobby Brown fan, and that my wardrobe used to consist of Cross Colors and Triple FAT Goose jackets.

N: I used to wear a back brace as a young teenager and I had three imaginary friends as a three-year-old: Ana Biki, Ana Bianca and Ana Rosa. Funny enough, my mother’s name is Ana Lucia.

Do you have any tattoos?

C: No tattoos.

N: I’ve got scars.

If you could change one thing, what would you change?

C: I am pretty content to be honest, but I think it would be invaluable to us as a species if we lost the idea of the other and realized we are one.

N: This world would be a better place if we aspire to be the best selves we can possibly be.

Intro and Interview by Anonima Nuotatori, Photographs by Luca Campri,

Dario Guccio (1988) and Francesco Jao Scavarda (1987) are two young artists who live and work in Milan.
Their artistic researches develop in different ways and embrace different subjects. …Enter for the full story

Intro and interview by Anonima Nuotatori, Photographs by Luca Campri.

Dario Guccio (1988) and Francesco Jao Scavarda (1987) are two young artists who live and work in Milan.
Their artistic researches develop in different ways and embrace different subjects.
Dario tries to manage and explore daily life and the different aspects and interpretations of everyday realities dealing so with his own privacy in a personal and hermetic way, yet often entrusting other people to make his artworks. The intimate relationship he has with the objects of his research creates a world apart, a world that is ambiguous and open.
Francesco, exploring and analyzing some aspects of the occidental culture, tries to capture common points and similarities among different traditions and subcultures. Through a thorough analysis and interpretation of the details and distinctive features of worlds apparently distant and different he succeeds in making known the intrinsic and timeless mechanisms that link them.
Ranging over a variety of cultures distant in time and space from the Renaissance culture or the exotic cultures to the ones that are closer to us like the hip hop culture or the television culture, he creates short-circuits that generate confusion and recognition at the same time.

How did you meet?

Dario: In different ways.
Francesco: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WILyWmT2A-Q

Which kind of relationships exist between you? What connects you guy?

D: …
F: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyDjRd0Tjss

What is the meaning of your artistic practice?

D: I’m not sure whether a true meaning exists. I’d rather say there are different signifiers of which i’m not completely aware.
F: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlZydtG3xqI

How do you develop your research? Can you explain the way you work?

D: There isn’t a beginning or an ending but more things all together in a state of potentiality
F: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O53yqG0KgmQ

What are your points of reference? What inspires you?

D: Sean Young entering Rick Deckard’s house in Blade Runner
F: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6y_4_b6RS8

What are your upcoming projects?

D: …
F: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3kgjzUsDeg

Photographs by Gastón Suaya; Concept & Styling by Marcelo Burlon; Interview by Elia Quadri; Models: Dafne Cejas Galiano @ Hype, Buenos Aires, Emilio Alix, Juan Arguedas and Marcos Fecchino @ Civiles, Buenos Aires; Make up by Mechi Miqueo; Thanx to Rosa Trosman Sandrigo, Jeronimo Turek Trosman, Pablo Sandrigo.

Departing from orthodox garment-creating techniques, Argentinean designer Jessica Trosman’s work could easily be described as a spur to the senses. ..Enter for the full story

Photographs by Gastón Suaya; Concept & Styling by Marcelo Burlon; Interview by Elia Quadri; Model: Dafne Cejas Galiano @ Hype, Buenos Aires, Emilio Alix, Juan Arguedas and Marcos Fecchino @ Civiles, Buenos Aires; Make up by Mechi Miqueo; Thanx to Rosa Trosman Sandrigo, Jeronimo Turek Trosman, Pablo Sandrigo.

Departing from orthodox garment-creating techniques, Argentinean designer Jessica Trosman’s work could easily be described as a spur to the senses. Refusing the concept of ready-made as far as the fabrics are concerned and creating unlawful shapes that result in a harmony of movements and dynamic structures, her clothes pleasently nourish the eyes whilst giving you the impression of being phisically dragged in an other tactile dimension by a pair of strong arms. If all that sounds slighlty restless, don’t worry; she does it without any struggle and she could also make you look effortless. In fact, she’s a real woman who makes herself inspire by nature, artifice, youth and love, but whose outcomes are far from average. On the contrary, they are outstanding, easy or brainy, depending on how you interpret them. Chameleontic.

Let’s have a chat with her.

What’s the methodology of your work?

Generally, I start with an idea which perhaps I couldn’t achieve for the previous collection or that I attempted and was not able to develop in a way that I would’ve liked. I start off from a volume generated on the sewing machine and then I apply it to the mannequin.

The fabrics you use are so peculiar that often it takes a while to understand what they actually are. How important is your research in that field?

The textile side is very important to me, I love the possibilities that fabrics have to be able to transform into surfaces which can become three-dimentional, works of art or only interesting textures. I really believe in generating surfaces which are not readily available.

You work and live in Buenos Aires. Do you think it would be esaier to work somewhere else? What inspires you about the city?

I live in Buenos Aires, with everything good and bad that comes with living here. It would’ve been easier to live in europe doing what I do but distancing myself from the fashion centres does me good, I don’t think i’m that obsessed. Buenos Aires is a city which inspires me from something very chic and elegant like it’s architecture, the old buildings with black doors and golden handles, to something super trashy like the area where I work, in front of the “Cancha de Atlanta”, a place filled with mechanics’ workshops and a soccer field. This contradiction attracts me.

What do you think about the rhythm of fashion nowadays. How is it being a fashion working mom?

I’m a serious workaholic. It’s really difficult when one is a mother. There are times when i don’t see my kids for an entire day.

Did you have any formal training in fashion? Do you think that not having it gives you more creative freedom?

I studied for a year and left because I felt I wanted to start creating my own collection. The same would’ve happenned to me wether I had studied or not. To me everything has to do with how passionate you are about what you are doing and what you aspire to do in life regarding what you are doing. I knew I would dedicate myself to making clothes from when I was 10 years old. I didn’t really question it. It was something natural.

What do you want your customers to feel while wearing your clothes?

I want them to feel that it’s something which has nothing to do with fashion, that they can wear it today or in ten years and feel the same.

Interview by Elia Quadri, Photographs by Luca Campri, Styled by Ilaria Norsa, all clothes by Dries Van Noten, Special Thanks to Hangar Bicocca

Right after the feature on the last issue of I-D Magazine, here is the complete body of work we made out of a nice day all together at Hangar Bicocca: me, Ilaria, Luca and my kids. …Enter for the full story

Interview by Elia Quadri, Photographs by Luca Campri,Styling by Ilaria Norsa, all clothes by Dries Van Noten, special thanks to Hangar Bicocca

It’s friday night and Pink is Punk is the place to be in Milan. Not only because of it’s involving music selection or because you could find Kim Ann Foxmann, Fisherspooner or Devendra Banhart on the dj booth, but because the effortless power of the crowd never makes the party redundant. If you go there, you know what to expect, but you have no idea of what is going to happen. These are the reasons why Marcelo Burlon and his crew have been invited to bring their vibes and their moods all over the world, from Istambul and Moscow, to Buenos Aires, Barcelona and Paris. Besides Marcelo, have you ever wondered who makes the magic possible? You maybe only see them during the night, but you should know that they also exist during the day. Paolo, Michele, Stefano and Massimo are the boys of Pink is Punk! They are Marcelo’s right hands and they are essential to make your bootie shake on the dancefloor. Let’s get to know them better after the jump!

Paolo (the stylish one at the door)

Where are you from?
I’m still wondering about that.

What do you do in life?
Always trying to create something, worth it or not.

What are your hobbies?
Loving and dancing.

Where do you see yourself in twenty years?
I don’t see myself.

What’s your best memory?
+3934077056212

What makes Pink Is Punk special?
When you work there, you don’t actually know!

What’s the weirdest experience that happened to you while working there?
Telepathy.

One word to describe Marcelo.
MOTHERFATHERSISTERBROTHER

Michele (the sexy one at the door)

Where are you from?
I come from a little town in southern Italy called Putignano.

What do you do in life?
I’m a VFX designer in computer graphics.

What are your hobbies?
Playing games on the net and cinema, music, tecnology and architecture.

Where do you see yourself in twenty years?
I guess in a multinational company as a senior game designer, possibly in Los Angeles with an office equipped with voice recognition, retinal scanner, a robotic I.A. that brings me coffe. Ahah!

What’s your best memory?
When time stopped and I heard “I love you too”.

What makes Pink Is Punk special?
I think that Pink Is Punk is special because all the people coming there are special; they create the atmosphere and the coolness of it.
Then, of course, we have Marcelo, who’s always ready to transmit his kindness and joy of living.

What’s the weirdest experience that happened to you while working there?
Ahah! Come to Pink is Punk, find me at the door and I will tell you everything live!

One word to describe Marcelo.
Fucking_amazing_gentleMan.

Stefano (the DJ)

Where are you from?
Torino, Italy.

What do you do in life?
Playing/recording/stealing/buying records.

What are your hobbies?
Subbuteo.

Where do you see yourself in twenty years?
With Handlebar moustache in the garden of my country house.

What’s your best memory?
Playing football with my grandpa.

What makes Pink Is Punk special?
People from all corners of the world, unified by music.

What’s the weirdest experience that happened to you while working there?
Seeing the other DJ’s shoes on fire while mixing a track.

One word to describe Marcelo.
Optimistic.

Massimo (the one behind the scenes)

Where are you from?
I’m from Rome, Italy.

What do you do in life?
Communication and Art direction, friendly chats and serious business.

What are your hobbies?
Music, music and music (and style). Did i mention music already?

Where do you see yourself in twenty years?
Can’t tell you, I’m sorry.

What’s your best memory?
Right now I’m drooling over the opening of an event we (Studio Cucco) developed for Altaroma. It’s called Limited Unlimited. Go check it out!

What makes Pink Is Punk special?
Good viiiiiiiiibeeeeeeees.

What’s the weirdest experience that happened to you while working there?
I dunno.

One word to describe Marcelo.
Marcelo of course.