Men In This Town: The Podcast (Giuseppe Santamaria Studio)

In this episode, I connected with Ali Asghar Shah, a name you might be familiar with if you’ve read the last 4 issues of MITT magazine or attended one our talks featuring the fashion enthusiast. When I first met Ali a few years ago, his love and deep knowledge of the fashion industry was apparent from our first conversation, he literally could not stop talking about the matter. From then on, I knew he would be an amazing voice for Men In This Town, one of a fashion outsider, looking in and fanboying out. Along with discussing his MITT issue 10 cover story featuring Jeremy Hershan (which is available to order now), we also chat about growing up in Pakistan, his Lollywood famous father and leaving it all behind to follow his own path in Australia.

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place.

Welcome to Men In This Town: The Podcast. I’m Giuseppe Santamaria, and for over a decade, I’ve been photographing men’s street style in various towns around the world, looking for those whose dress sense speak volumes about who they are. In this podcast, I take a closer look at those men by bringing them into the studio for a portrait and having a chat about their particular approach to the many facets of life.

In this episode, I welcome Tyrone Pynor to the studio, a man that caught my eye during this past fashion week here in Sydney and I knew I had to have a chat with him. Currently working his way up the ranks in the Australian media industry, the now radio presenter at Triple J is on a journey of finding out who he wants to be in this world, and expressing it through his personal style is just the beginning. 

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place.

Produced by MITT Work, recorded at Pocket Studio in Sydney.

In this episode, I’m in Melbourne chatting with illustrator Jeffrey Phillips. With a passion to draw the little things in life that go unnoticed, I immediately felt like I related to his works, observing the lives of strangers from a far. But as we sat down in his kitchen for this interview, I learned that as much as our work has us looking from a distance, we still need to get a little closer to truly appreciate the details.

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place.

In this episode, I connected with Leo Greenfield — an artist whose work has brought him around the world, having collaborated with brands including Vogue and Gucci. His street style illustrations originally caught my attention on Instagram — his way of capturing strangers on the street has an almost whimsical feel to it, reminding me of the opening scene of Disney’s 101 Dalmatians, only more fashion. When I learned Leo was living back in Australia, I was desperate to connect and share stories from the front line.

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place.

In this episode, I connected with Cesar Cueva and Daniel Narvaez — two life long friends with a common urge to make things. Their shared creative drive has kept them in each other’s faces for over a decade, whether they've liked it or not.  Now with their own respective business’s under the same roof of Sydney’s Strand Arcade, the two reminisce about the journey that got them to where they are today — a tailor and a metal smith (amongst a few other endeavours ) — creating beautiful things that are authentic to them.

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place.

In this episode of Portrait Session presented by Portuguese Flannel, I invited Sydney based dancer Thuba Ndibali to the studio. He talks about his love for the highly energetic dance form of Pantsula, his natural ability to teach others and finding joy in the little things in life.

Watch the full episode at www.meninthistown.com/podcast.

Produced by MITT Work.

In this episode of the podcast, I welcome wonderful human and fashion designer, Gary Bigeni to the studio. With over 15 years in the fashion industry with his namesake women's wear label, Gary has put in the work to become a house hold name here in Australia. But with the past year giving us all a chance to sit back and reflect, it gave him the opportunity to find ways to bring more of his colourful self to his work, and realise that playing by the rules was never his way in life, so why not in his work? 

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place. 

Produced by MITT Work, recorded at Pocket Studio in Sydney.

In this episode of Portrait Session presented by Portuguese Flannel, I invited actor, drag queen and all-around lovely human, Anthony Severino to the studio. He talks about his life in drag, the joys of being single, and how his creativity has been therapeutic for him when it comes to dealing with his Tourettes.

Watch the full episode at www.meninthistown.com/podcast. 

Produced by MITT Work.

In the final episode of this season, I connected with a friend of Men In This Town, Amy Tong. As a regular writer in MITT magazine since issue 5, Amy has been bringing the stories of men from Australia and around the world to life with her wonderful writing and insightful interviews. We sit down and reflect on some of her favourite features in the magazine so far, her recent time living in Japan and a little taste of a new project were working on together.

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place.

In this episode of the podcast, I welcome Baden Hitchcock to the studio, a dancer with the Bangarra Dance Theatre, whose creative upbringing — thanks to his mother's loving encouragement — presented him with opportunities that have brought him around the world. With family in Papua New Guinea and the Torres Strait Islands, music, singing and dancing are second nature, making it a wonder to his family how he made it into a living. We chat about growing up with these strong women in his life, his teenage wardrobe that consisted of homemade garments and hand-me-down's inherited by his Russian violin teacher's dead husband, and how all this made him the man he is today.

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place.

Produced by MITT Work, recorded at Pocket Studio in Sydney.

In this episode, I connected with Albert Tse — an adventurer and treasure hunter at heart, Albert was looking for an outlet to create something with his hands, which eventually led him to study the art of jewellery making in Florence, Italy. With a unique aesthetic that combines his love for history and travel, we discuss the journey in finding his voice in a world where mass produced goods tends to dominate the market.

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place.

In this episode, I connected with Timothy Nicol-Ford, the Fashion Programme Manager at the Sherman Centre for Culture & Ideas in Sydney and one half of demi-couture ethical fashion label Nicol & Ford. It was only a few months ago when a friend of mine shared Timothy’s Instagram profile with me, insisting I get in touch with him to feature on the blog. His love for vintage fashion was wonderfully unusual for a man living in Sydney, like a walking museum at times, full of knowledge behind every piece he wears. We could have chatted for hours more, but we restrained ourselves, focusing on the future of fashion, authenicity and finding your creative family.

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place.

In this episode, I connected with Dan Brophy — a film maker and content creator based here in Sydney. We met while working on a project together and hit it off right away. His positive lens on life and how he makes it work for him is a breathe of fresh air in a time when negativity seems to reign supreme. With creativity at his core, he seems to have found happiness in his work but how does translate in his own time, or is it all the same?

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place.

This week, we’re taking a mid-season break from the 'Portrait Session' podcast and instead presenting you with a bonus episode of 'Off the Cuff with Ali'. The event took place a couple weeks ago as part of the 'Reigning Men' exhibition at the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences in Sydney. With an audience of over 40 guests, Ali brought his column in MITT issue 9 to life, as he looked at prominent movements in art and fashion, exploring how they affected one another, and continue to shape our contemporary imagination.

In this episode, I’m chatting with Chris Low, the founder of Big Trouble Store, an independent shop in the Sydney dedicated to selling quality made menswear from Japan and the United States. We discuss the realities of being a shop opener, redefining luxury in the menswear scene and living life on your own terms — regardless of the bumps in the road.

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place.

In this episode, I’m chatting with creative entrepreneur and former collaborator of mine, Sabir Samtani. Hailing from India, Sabir made the move to Australia almost 20 years ago, with an entrepreneurial spirit influenced by his family. With a successful creative agency under his belt and a family of five, he recently joined his better half in starting a new venture, something that hits a little closer to home.

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place.

In this episode, I welcome Richard Kavanagh to the studio, a multi award winning hair stylist, turned tech entrepreneur, who epitomises the definition of rebel, in every sense of the word. Having grown up with a conservative upbringing in New Zealand during the 80's, Richard rejected the academic vision his family had for him and in doing so, threw himself into a world of self exploration through fashion, drugs, and rock n'roll. Although his creative spirit shined through, it was his lack of discipline that made him feel lost, that is until he found the art of karate to bring him back in line and prepare him for a creative career most people would die for.

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place.

Produced by MITT Work, recorded at Pocket Studio in Sydney.

In this episode, I connected with Damien Woolnough, an Australian fashion journalist originally from Melbourne who has called Sydney home for the past several years. With a career that includes helping launch Vogue.com.au and Elle magazine in the Australian market, Damien knows what it takes to bring a media brand to life. With the recent legalisation of same sex marriage in Australia, he saw an opportunity to create a new platform for gay men to celebrate their commitment to one another with his new brand, Marry the Man. We chat about launching a new website in 2018, dipping his toe back into print with the upcoming Marry the Man magazine and of course, reporting on the world of fashion.

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place.

In the season finale of Portrait Session presented by Portuguese Flannel, I invited dancer, photographer, and all-around storyteller Luke Currie-Richardson to the studio. He talks about reaching his goal of dancing professionally for Bangarra Dance Theatre, making photos through an Indigenous lens, and why he doesn’t identify as an activist or a leader.

Watch the full episode at www.meninthistown.com/podcast.

Produced by MITT Work.

In this episode, I’m chatting with theatre actor, turned director, Shaun Rennie. From early high school productions, to performing on stages around the world, Shaun’s love for the theatre runs through his veins. Although it was through the love he had for his brother that Shaun discovered directing, when he co-created Light the Night, an annual benefit concert for leukaemia research, which he produced and directed for 10 years. Now with director credits that include Australian productions of Rent, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and his upcoming play, Trevor, Shaun continues bring light to the stage with stories that hit the heart.

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place.

In the season finale episode, I welcome Minh Bui Jones to the studio, a man who made his way over to Australia as young boy, while finding refuge from Vietnam in the late 70’s with his family. To summarise his story in any way does it no justice, so I’ll leave it to you to have a listen for yourself. But to me, it's a story of compassion and perseverance, something we can all do with a little right now.

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place.

Produced by MITT Work, recorded at Pocket Studio in Sydney.

In this episode of Portrait Session presented by Portuguese Flannel, I invited Indonesian born, Sydney based, and all-round entertainer Andrian Syah to the studio. He talks about his obsession to learn new things, his disciplined work ethic and getting out of his comfort zone in order to grow.

Watch the full episode at www.meninthistown.com/podcast.

Produced by MITT Work.

In this episode, I’m chatting with Sydney based actor and creator, Edward O’Leary. Having recently studied acting at the International Screen Academy, Edward has been mesmerised by the glow of television and film since he was a kid. He always imagined himself on the screen one day, but never actually saw himself represented in Australia as a Pacific Islander or a man in LGBTQ+ community. Taking action into his own hands, he began collaborating with young filmmakers on short films and web series, hoping to tell stories that might otherwise go untold.

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place.

In this episode, I’m chatting with videographer, musician and Triple J presenter Michael Chow. A quick flick through Michael’s Instagram stories, a listen to his 80’s influenced band Froyo or a tune into his late night radio gig, and I almost guarantee you’ll walk away with a smile on your face. When we met for our portrait session in the lobby of the ABC, I was expecting a ball of energy, but instead I was pleasantly surprised to meet someone who I related to a bit more.

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place.

In this episode of Portrait Session presented by Portuguese Flannel, I invited New Zealand born, Sydney based graphic designer Dan Codyre to the studio. He talks about creating work with purpose, his support for the Black Lives Matter movement, and the love of being surrounded by good people and good food.  

Watch the full episode at www.meninthistown.com/podcast.

Produced by MITT Work.

In this episode, I’m chatting with fellow photographer and MITT magazine contributor Bryce Thomas. With credits including Newsweek, 10 Magazine and The Sydney Morning Herald, Bryce is quickly garnering a reputation for his fashion and documentary style photography — this at nearly 24 years of age. We discuss finding your niche in photography, surrounding yourself with people who inspire you and the luxury of a clear headspace.

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place.

In this episode, I connected with Stephen Grace — a graphic designer hailing from the Barossa Valley in South Australia. After a move to Adelaide for a change of pace from the sleepy town he grew up in, Stephen eventually found himself in Sydney. Starting fresh and with a goal in mind, he eventually landed a job at Christopher Doyle & Co., a boutique agency he had his eye on back in Adelaide. Call it the universes plan, good luck or hard work, it seems to be the path leading Stephen through life so far and he plans to keep going with it.

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place.

In this episode, I’m in Melbourne chatting with Jason Chongue and Nathan Smith, the duo behind The Plant Society. Longing to create a plant community based around their passion for design and plants, they saw a gap in the market; educating their generation about the simple skills and knowledge relating to gardening in small spaces. From local workshops, to their first Melbourne plant shop and now their Sydney outpost that includes a guesthouse perched above the intimate location — their growth shows no signs in slowing down — pun intended.

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place.

In this episode, I connected with Jimmy Niggles — the founder of Beard Season, an organisation that aims to raise awareness about skin cancer and specifically, melanoma. The idea behind it is to encourage men to grow a beard for three months over winter, get a skin check and then use their beard to tell others to do the same. He came up with the idea when he lost a friend to the deadly disease at just 26 years of age, and wanted to change people’s attitudes when it came to getting their skin checked. Eight seasons on and having scored Sir Richard Branson as an ambassador, Niggles reflects on this on going journey and how he manages to fit his own life into it.

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place.

In this episode, I welcome Matthew Backer to the studio, a Sydney based journalist turned actor whose recent credits include Young Frankenstein, and probably the most fun gig you can get, host of the Australian children's program, Play School! We chat about his journey in the industry, how finding his tribe helped him discover who he is and his love for 90's teen drama, Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place.

Produced by MITT Work, recorded at Pocket Studio in Sydney.

In this episode of the podcast, I welcome Jack Phillips to the studio, a journalist, turned content maker that now calls Sydney home. Having grown up in East London via Essex in the late 90's and early 2000's, football and lad culture seemed to be the only way to relate. Shaved heads and Puma tracksuits were the uniform and footballers like David Beckham were the inspiration. Like many of us, it took heading out to University for Jack to see what else was out there and work out who he wanted to be. After some experimental haircuts and the discovery of TOPSHOP, it was his first job at Monocle magazine where he saw what a life of style could truly look like, but it would take a bit of effort to get there.

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place.

Produced by MITT Work, recorded at Pocket Studio in Sydney.

In this episode of the podcast, I welcome Mark Campbell to the studio, a man whose creativity has taken him from the big screen, down to the printed page, and everywhere in between. Currently the Creative Director and Publisher at Harper Collins Australia, Mark had learned to navigate his skills by being an eager learner, always willing to try new things. Whether it was dying his hair bleach blond as teen or jumping into a major film production straight out of school, it's these questionable and amazing experiences that kept him curious about life, and wanting to find what other creative tools were out there for him to try. 

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place.

Produced by MITT Work, recorded at Pocket Studio in Sydney.

In this episode, I’m chatting with chef Jack New. Having become known relatively early in his career for using Japanese ingredients, paired with Scandinavian techniques, Jack has made a mark with his fusion cooking on a local and international level. With some failures and recent successes under his belt, we discuss the road that got him to where he is today, living a sweet life in the most literal way.

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place.

In this episode of the podcast, I welcome fellow photographer, Frederick McHenry to the studio. Originally from South Atlanta, Frederick always felt like he was being put into a box growing up. He knew there was more outside of where he was being told to stay and it took crossing the Pacific Ocean and landing himself in South Korea to see what he had been missing. Freddie XX, as he's known on the gram, takes us on a wild journey in this episode, sharing how he went from selling designer streetwear in college to make extra cash, to then modelling it, and now shooting it for the likes of Hypebeast and GQ Japan.

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place.

Produced by MITT Work, recorded at Pocket Studio in Sydney.

In this episode, I connected with Kevin Hunter — a New York expat currently calling Sydney home. His love and appreciation for fashion has led him into a world of creating beautiful images as a stylist, inspired by the magazines he use to flip through as a kid. With gigs at W magazine and most recently Esquire under his belt, he’s now looking to the other side of the world for a new source of inspiration, and in doing so, has discovered so much more about what he’s looking for in life.

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place.

In this episode of the podcast, I welcome Tirrell Cherry to the studio, an American born Sydney sider whose military kid upbringing saw him live a gypsy like life, learning to call anyplace home. A social being at heart, Tirrell’s work always gravitated towards people, from styling hair in Atlanta, to teaching spin in New York City, now in Sydney, his work focuses on the inside, as a mindset and manifestation coach. We of course chat about all of this, plus his love for music in his work, his colourful personal style, including how he brought his early surfer vibe look from tropical Hawaii to urban Atlanta and stuck to it.

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place.

Produced by MITT Work, recorded at Pocket Studio in Sydney.

In this episode, I’m back in Sydney chatting with James Stanton-Cooke aka Jimmy HalfCut. Having been an optimistic environmentalist ever since he could remember, James and is his partner Jess travelled to South America in 2011 to volunteer in the conservation work of the Amazon Rainforest. Seeing the continued destruction of the environment, wildlife and local communities, they wanted to help raise awareness and funds to support conservation efforts. With 50% of the world’s forests gone, HalfCut was created to empower people to take action on global deforestation by cutting half the forests on their face, sparking a conversation and raising money to protect our rainforests.

I know all this environmental news could leave us feeling hopeless sometimes, but this episode with James gave me hope. There are solutions out there and I’m proud to be sharing some of them with you on this podcast.

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place

In this season finale, I’m bringing it home, chatting with my partner in crime and publishing creative director, Josh Beggs. Having worked in magazine publishing for over 15 years, Josh has designed and directed for a variety of mastheads including 5 years at GQ Australia and currently as Creative Director of the country’s most read magazine, The Australian Women’s Weekly. In our chat, we look back at the road that got him where he is today and why he wouldn’t have it any other way.

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place.

In the first of a new series of Portrait Sessions presented by Portuguese Flannel, I invited Melbourne based model Nathan McGuire to the studio. He talks about growing up in Gidgegannup, Western Australia as a Wadjuk Noongar man, working as an Indigenous model in the slow yet evolving fashion industry in Australia and how we need to look in our own backyard when it comes to the Black Lives Matter movement in America.

Watch the full episode at www.meninthistown.com/podcast.

Produced by MITT Work.

In this episode, I find myself in Melbourne, chatting with Olana Janfa, a man who only first picked up a paintbrush less than a year ago, and in doing so discovered a talent he never knew he had. Born in Ethiopia, and having come of age in Norway, Olana has experienced both the hardships and joys of life but it’s his focus on the latter that brings a smile to your face when you see one of his paintings.

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place.

In this episode of the podcast, I welcome Chris Burt-Allan to the studio, a former management consultant, turned fashion influencer, turned sustainability advocate. Having spent time living overseas, jet setting around the world and working with luxury fashion brands, Chris had truly made it to the top of his game, but soon realised there was nowhere else to go once you hit the top. While questioning the ethics of the industry in which he worked, and wanting to find more meaning in it, Chris wondered if there was more he could do with his new found influence, even if it meant bitting the hand that fed him. I know I can relate. 

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place.

Produced by MITT Work, recorded at Pocket Studio in Sydney.

In a new series of profiles, I’m focusing on capturing the man on the street in a single portrait and a conversation. First up, Billy Wood, who I originally captured at the Paddington Markets last year and appeared on page 127 of the Men In This Town book. http://www.meninthistown.com/post/95673486130

This week, Dion Horstmans; a talented sculptor whose rugged exterior is the result of making beautiful things for a living. http://www.meninthistown.com/post/96299539700

This week, I’m excited to have finally met that man on the cover of the Men In This Town book. I was always a bit hesitant about putting somebody on the cover but I felt that the photo of Idris really epitomized what the state of menswear is like at this moment in time. To say the least, I’m glad he’s happy about it, listen to out conversation below. http://www.meninthistown.com/post/96910878030

This week, the fascinating life of Geoff Cresswell, a hairdresser originally from the U.K. who brought the mod movement to the eastern shores of Australia. http://www.meninthistown.com/post/97596804455

I was invited into the home of artist and model Rainer Andreesen and talked about his humble beginnings as an artist in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, modelling in Milan for Giorgio Armani and much more. http://www.meninthistown.com/post/98176852260

A couple weeks ago, a friend of mine recommended I check out a new menswear shop called Belancé. On my visit, I was lucky enough to meet one half of the brains behind the operation, Theo Ēnglish, and of course we got talking shop. http://www.meninthistown.com/post/131039421837

On the eve of my Sydney book launch for Women In This Town at Jac+ Jack, I’m happy to share with you my recent Portrait Session with the creative director and menswear designer himself, Patrick Blue. It was a true pleasure to talk to one of the brains behind the Australian label that is elevating fashion to a whole new level. http://www.meninthistown.com/post/132962699895

Giuseppe Santamaria talks with Sydney based creatives Leonard Mattis, Eric Ng and Pablo Chappelli in our second MITT Studio Talks.

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Victoria native Steve Barkla in Sydney a few weeks ago at the new Oscar Hunt Tailors post in the CBD. We of course discussed all things fashion and tailoring amongst finding your place in life.

We celebrate the opening of The MITT Mrkt. Pop-Up by talking to some of our designers about custom made goods and what the future of it looks like.

This month’s MITT Studio Talks focused on the art of collaboration. Clara Ho from Burton Metal Depository and I shared our story along with Tom Fereday and Leighton Clarke of Mister Wolf.

We launched the 5th issue of MITT magazine a couple weeks ago and to celebrate, we held a MITT Studio Talks at The MITT Mrkt. pop-up over some cocktails and bagels. We talked to the bagel man himself, Dave Young, one half of Smoking Gun Bagels, who are profiled in the issue plus a couple of our writers talked about their amazing pieces. If you haven’t picked up a copy of MITT issue 5, you can do so at www.meninthistown.com/magazine where you can order online or find a stockist near you. Hope you enjoy the talk!

In this week’s Portrait Session, I photographed Ben Juzwin, the man behind Excursion Co.; an outdoor lifestyle brand whose first product, "The Ultimate Picnic Backpack" was launched via Kickstarter a couple weeks ago. In our session at his co-working space in Surry Hills, he spoke a bit about his new venture and the path that got him to where he is now. Hope you enjoy. The Ultimate Picnic Backpack: http://kck.st/2fC16hL Music by Daddy_Scrabble

I have a new portrait session for you this week and probably the last for the year. I first met American expat Peter Leto a couple months ago. He had just moved to Australia, hailing from Florida, and made a visit to The MITT Mrkt. pop-up for our MITT Studio Talks. Peter easily stood out from the crowd and I knew right away I wanted to get to know what he was all about. Here’s a taste from our session. Music by Daddy_Scrabble

This week’s Portrait Session was with Johnny Li, founder of the Sydney based accessories line Dappertude. When it comes to hashtags, Johnny is the embodiment of the #menswear movement here in Australia. Although his personal style isn’t just for show, it’s how he leads his life, as I got to know from our time together. Have a listen and I hope you enjoy.

This portrait session coincides with launch of MITT magazine issue 6, which features a former art director of The New York Times, Richard Aloisio, as we celebrate his wonderful Instagram selfies in the illustrated form. You can pick-up a copy at www.meninthistown.com to view his feature but in the meantime, have a listen to our conversation which took place at The New York Times building, during his last days at the job he held for 35 years. We discuss his expansive career as a graphic designer; from his early days at Penthouse magazine to his last post at The Times. His infatuation with colourful clothing that brought him Instagram fame, plus his relationship with the iconic street style photographer, and personal hero of mine, Bill Cunningham. This is one of my favourite portrait sessions to date, so I hope you enjoy!

Today’s portrait session happened by chance after meeting Jé Hooper here at Fine Fellow. Him and his friends were visiting from New York City for few days and popped in to browse around the shop. His personal style caught my eye right away but it was after a couple minutes of chatting, I knew I wanted to pick his brain even more, so I pulled out my mic and got recording. Enjoy the conversation.

This podcast is the first in a new series called Off The Cuff with Ali, based off of Ali Asghar Shah’s new column in MITT magazine. A month after a new issue is released, we will host a book club of sorts at the Men In This Town HQ at Fine Fellow, where Ali will lead a discussion revolving around the topic he wrote about. In issue 7, he delved into the world of classic menswear in a ‘A Class in Classics’. During the Iive discussion, he explored what classic menswear is, their brief history, what gives them their elusive status, and whether we have exhausted them. Have a listen and if you want to read Ali’s full piece, you can pick-up a copy of MITT magazine issue 7 at menithistown.com.

In this episode, I connected with Carlo van den Broeck — a leather maker who recently setup shop in the same building as my studio. His laid back yet classic Italian style caught my eye when he moved into the building a couple months ago and the fact that he was going to be producing leather goods just two floors up, I knew I wanted to get to know him better.

Head over to meninthistown.com to view selects from our portrait session and in the meantime I hope you enjoy the conversation that took place.