good taste vol 3
I’ve spent the last few weeks collecting and being inspired. All of a sudden (not really), people are doing extra amazing things. So much, I will be working reallllly hard to make today’s edition as compact as I can.
Lately I've been noticing brands create worlds and experiences… instead of focusing on the things/products. Be it fashion, public spaces, storytelling, or community projects, there seems to be a collective desire to make experiences people can feel, not just consume.
Let’s talk about it…
Fashion brands creating otherworldly brand experiences
I've been completely captivated by everything coming out of Menswear Fashion Week. Beyond the clothes, what struck me most was the commitment to creating worlds rather than simply staging runway shows.
Everyone has seen Pharrell's Louis Vuitton SS27 presentation by now. Instead of another catwalk, they built an immersive coastline in the middle of Paris, complete with waves, sand and the sounds of the ocean. Even better, the installation was designed with sustainability in mind, with materials repurposed after the show. It wasn't just spectacular; it reinforced the story the collection was trying to tell.
Then Jacquemus reminded us that you don't always need to build a world when one already exists. His SS27 show took place on the cliffs of Corsica, where the Mediterranean became the backdrop and the wind became part of the performance. Nature did what no production budget ever could.
What I’m also obsessed with is their website, an endless moodboard of their collections. See for yourself.
Two completely different approaches, yet both achieved the same thing, they made me feel something beyond the clothes.
It makes me wonder how many brands think about experience before promotion. We spend so much time asking how to market something when perhaps the better question is, how do we make it unforgettable? I’m talking to you Namibian brands.
The content that came along with these experiences also brought me joy:
Coastal Community (Pharell & LV)
Collective Creations
We've all been speaking about connection lately. About community. About slowing down, going analog and spending more time making things with our hands.
So I instantly fell in love with this project.
For over a year, a textile designer, @levitsatelier, has been travelling with a participatory weaving installation that invites people to contribute to a collective tapestry. Every person adds a thread, and every tapestry becomes a record of conversations, encounters and shared moments.
The creator is now looking to take the project to cities around the world, inviting communities, schools and festivals to host the installation.
I absolutely love this.
The world feels so deprived of activities where strangers can simply gather, create and spend time together without needing a reason. I'd love to see something like this in Zoo Park. Imagine walking through town and finding a loom where people from completely different walks of life are slowly creating one piece together.
That would be so cool.
GQ Heroes
I didn't even know GQ Heroes existed, but what a cool concept.
It's an annual summit that brings together some of the world's biggest creatives, designers, entrepreneurs, activists and cultural leaders for two days of conversations, performances and experiences. What a room to be in.
What first caught my attention wasn't even the event itself, but a series of beautifully shot interviews they released online. The set design was stunning, the conversations felt thoughtful, and every interview seemed to leave you with a little nugget to carry with you.
It reminded me how much I enjoy listening to people who have spent years mastering their craft. There's something inspiring about hearing how differently successful people think.
I'd love to attend something like this one day. Or host one at Midgard.
See more here.
Please Be Seated
You know I'm always talking about public spaces in Windhoek and how they can be better.
We need more places where you can simply exist. Somewhere you can decide to stop after work, meet a friend, read a book, people-watch or just take a beat without feeling like you have to buy something.
So when I came across Please Be Seated, I immediately thought of Windhoek.
Designed by British designer Paul Cocksedge, it's a monumental public installation made from flowing timber that curves into benches, walkways and arches. It's sculpture, but it's also furniture. It's beautiful, but it's incredibly functional too.
"This piece was an instinctive response to the space and the rhythm of people through it. It fills a public square and engages passersby, without obstructing the space."
I love design that invites people to interact with it instead of simply looking at it.
It made me wonder what our own public spaces could become if we designed them with gathering, resting and connection in mind instead of just moving people from one place to another. Not just another mural, please.
Cross-Dimenional Art
Turkish artist Eda Zamanpur transformed the Luna Love Seat into a canvas, turning a piece of furniture into a work of art.
I love collaborations like this because neither discipline overpowers the other. Instead, they create something neither could have achieved alone.
I’d love to see more Namibian creatives collaborate this way.
Xalla Original Pantsula
I first experienced Xallamo at the Otjomuise Live Arts Festival and was completely in awe of his performance and craft. The style, the outfits, the movement, the way they had the crowd absolutely buzzing, I became a fan instantly. I even met him in town the other day and fan girled hard.
So I was very pleased to come across this documentary trailer that follows his story. Not only does it look beautifully made, it reminded me how important it is to tell our stories and honour our artists while they're still here. To give them their flowers. To tell them how special and talented they are.
I really enjoyed watching this, and I can't wait to see the full documentary.
NFC Shorts Premiere
While we're on the topic of telling our stories, I recently attended the NFC Shorts Premiere from their previous round of funding and watched three Namibian films—one documentary and two narrative shorts.
I loved Mindful Maestros for the subject they chose to explore because, as a neurodivergent girlie, I could really relate. I think it's important that more Namibians know about neurodivergence so they can better understand us—and maybe even themselves. I was also completely drawn in by the visuals. Kevin did an amazing job with those frames and sequences. Stunning work.
I loved Connections for its style. Comedy, minimal dialogue, a simple but engaging story, and even more importantly, the visuals. This is exactly what we mean when we say Namibia is beautiful. There are so many ways to showcase our landscapes, and film is one of the best.
I loved One More Win for how relatable it felt. It's a familiar story, and I think we need more familiar stories on our screens.
I'm so proud of everyone involved and pleased to see Namibian filmmakers creating such exciting work.
Also, it was a reminder that our stories deserve beautiful cinematography too.
The magical place that is Velvet Vagabond
Have you ever walked into a place and immediately felt like you'd stepped into another world? Like everything outside disappeared for a moment? That's what walking into Velvet Vagabond feels like.
Honestly, I can't even explain what the space is, you just have to experience it for yourself.
Every corner is beautifully designed. Every square metre feels intentionally curated. I always leave inspired by the interiors, the products, the timeless pieces. It's a world designed to inspire you and leave you feeling at peace.
A visual representation of good taste.
I was honoured to be invited to their launch day, watch my experience here.
World Cup Illustrations
This artist, @shut.bug, turned the World Cup into a series of art illustrations and limited-edition posters.
Each poster features dark-skinned figures (mostly women) wrapped in the colours of the country they're representing, alongside sports kits or cultural patterns. What I loved even more is that they research each country before illustrating it, drawing inspiration from its culture, patterns, history, and identity.
I love every single piece. See more here.
Colour Palettes inspired by Nature
As a graphic designer, I draw colour inspiration from real life all the time.
I take photos of the sky (more often than I'd like to admit) and use the eyedropper tool to pull colours into my layouts. Sometimes I upload the image to Coolors and generate an entire palette from a photo I took.
The creator shares more of these on their account.
Sports Photography
It's been a sports-filled season, and I've been loving the content coming out of it.
We've had World Cups and leagues before, but it feels like this recent creative resurgence has also inspired photographers to capture incredible moments—images we'll probably look back on decades from now.
Here are a few threads of sports photography I've been enjoying recently.
@em.johnson for the Knicks game
Putting yourself out there
A creator on TikTok, who I believe is also a singer-songwriter, posted a series of videos harmonising Noah Kahan songs.
He commented on one of them: "Name the city and you're on stage for this song."
And then she was.
She joined him on stage in Pittsburgh to perform the very song she had covered on TikTok.
I think it's the perfect example of what can happen when you put yourself out there.
People often assume that posting online means you want to be an influencer. But sometimes, posting your work is simply about making yourself visible. It opens doors you didn't even know existed.
I can definitely attest to that.
I've built my career this way. I built a creative business I genuinely love. I was invited to a creative summit in Zimbabwe in 2020, another in Algiers last year because of my presence online and work. I've connected with incredible people who've become collaborators and clients. I've landed brand partnerships around my entrepreneurship journey. I've been invited into rooms I never would have entered if I hadn't simply shared my work.
You never really know who's watching. So this is your sign to put yourself out there this week in whichever way you see fit.
That's it for this edition of Good Taste!
A little reminder to create worlds around your brand and to put yourself out there, in whatever way feels authentic to you. More often than not, the opportunities you're hoping for find you because you made yourself visible.
Share your art with the world. It deserves to be seen!
Until next time.