Highsnobiety

Kim Kardashian loves a wildcard product. One week it's a Sculpt Face Wrap, the next it's a Faux Hair Thong - and every time, the internet says “Wait… what?” right before it sells out. Call it intuition or strategy, but it's pure Rhythm & Drop - the topic of the latest Highsnobiety Insights Newsletter. Brands confuse content with entertainment. At some point in the last 12 months, every brand declared itself an entertainer. But how many of them are actually delighting us? Most still plan for campaign output, not cultural impact: content calendars, repeatable formats, algorithmic visibility. Safe. Predictable. Ultimately forgettable. The best brands move differently. They operate in Rhythm & Drops. Rhythm is your pulse - consistent, low-stakes content that builds familiarity and trust. Drops are moments that break the pattern - unexpected, high-stakes plays that demand attention, build fandom, and actually keep us watching. Despite what the industry keeps telling itself, content isn’t entertainment (and entertainment isn’t content). They work in different ways. Brands need both. Rhythm earns your permission. Drops earn your relevance. You can’t break the mold if you haven’t made one first. But you can't rely on content alone, or you'll just become background noise. In our next newsletter, we’re breaking down our Guide to Great Storytelling. Sign up here so you don't miss it https://lnkd.in/dUQAKHtc

As a continuation of the global roadshow of our new Luxury Redefined White Paper developed in partnership with Boston Consulting Group, we landed in London’s Soho Works with a breakfast event hosted by our very own Head of Strategy EU Nina Kong, joined by a panel featuring Priya Matadeen, Shannon Edwards, Derek Morrison and Rachel Walsh. With an audience of 70+ people across a divergence of industries, Nina and the panel landed on 3 key takeaways for brands to keep in mind: “Aspiration to Relevance”: Although luxury will always be the torchbearer for aspiration, contextualizing your brand world in relatable narratives is how you close the elitism gap. “The Proof is in the Product”: As consumers at large can tell the difference between real value and brand aura, the product story needs to stand tall as the protagonist. “Legacy over Novelty”: Heritage is a flexible concept for brands that can mean identity just as much as it means lifespan. Dig deep into what makes your identity unique, how that shapes your product differentiation, then find consistently fresh ways to tell these stories. You can download the Luxury Redefined White Paper in partnership with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) here: https://lnkd.in/gsMvXGPe Huge thanks to Soho Works and Peak Moods! Photos by Saskia Kovandzich: https://lnkd.in/g8kRaHnJ https://lnkd.in/gGj9AaPE

How does Lee Pace spend a day in NYC? We followed our latest Frontpage cover star, Lee Pace, around the city for coffee, flowers (his favorite are African marigolds), and a long chat about his personal evolution. Read more about Pace’s interview at the link in bio. https://lnkd.in/eH2A43Kw

Lee Pace is too good to get typecast. “It’s very rarely, ‘We want you to play something just like you.’ It’s usually, ‘We’re going to shoot for something here,’” he tells Highsnobiety. “I recently came to think about [my roles] as growths inside of me … Some of them are pretty wonderful and kind of weird, grotesque things that you carry with you in a fun way.” Out latest Frontpage cover star has appeared in franchises spanning The Lord of the Rings, Twilight, and the Marvel-verse — while still managing to pop up in offbeat projects that quickly become cult favorites (“Pushing Daisies,” “Halt and Catch Fire,” A24’s “Bodies Bodies Bodies”). Most recently, Pace stars in the new Stephen King film, “The Running Man” and the upcoming fourth season of “Invincible,” all while maintaining his position as an internet heartthrob and fashion-favorite clotheshorse. The secret to keeping a good head on those shoulders over such range? His upstate farm, which Pace returns to again and again, even if only in his mind’s eye. Read all about Pace’s journey into the Stephen King universe, villainry, and his 40’s at the link in bio. https://lnkd.in/gKENc8yB

BOSIDENG enters a new era at 520M. In a highlight space at this year’s event, Bosideng will showcase the VERTEX 25AW series —two essential jackets reimagined through precision engineering and adaptable design. With next-gen Gore-Tex Black Label fabrics and a focus on versatility across climates, Bosideng continues to push the boundaries of performance and style. Sign up for more information here: https://www.520m-ispo.com/

Calling all cultural pioneers! Everyone’s got opinions. Few have taste. Drop your takes on what’s hot and what’s just noise - from food to beauty to lifestyle Our annual Highsnobiety survey is here - https://lnkd.in/eAd4mKJ7

Where concrete meets community, innovation and culture don’t just collide—they thrive. Powered by Highsnobiety and ISPO, this year’s 520M brings together the most forward-thinking and fastest-moving brands in a space that’s still waiting to be fully defined. And together, that’s what we plan to do. We’re calling it The Urban Outdoors. Featuring Merrell and Bosideng, along with icebreaker, On, Peak Performance, KEEN, Karma8a, Dolomite 1897, Campagnolo, Manors Golf Apparel and AlpineStandards—we’ll be opening up the floor to the people who are pushing culture, creativity, and tech-first product design forward. With multibrand spaces curated by DRYLL, ROA, Canyon and Napapijri, this year’s 520M also makes the case for a communal approach to progress, focusing on the ongoing dialogue between brands that keeps the conversation going. Expect panels, workshops, and Q&As with industry and cultural leaders, activations that revolve around a sense of shared experience, and a chance to discover the brands and products set to shape the future of the space. Join us at 520M: https://www.520m-ispo.com/

The so-called king of Colombian music, Feid knew he wanted to be a reggaeton artist since his teenage years in Medellín. Thanks to his songwriting talents, his family’s support, and that ineffable “it” factor, his dreams became a reality. Some people may recognize him from J Balvin’s 2015 smash “Ginza,” others from his Tiktok hit “Porfa,” and still others can’t see a specific shade of green without thinking of Feid and his bespoke Pantone. Now, Feid is branching out, channeling his alter ego ‘Ferxxo’ for a @salomon collab. “I’ve worn Salomons my whole life, so to see my character and the Ferxxo green come to life on the shoe…the whole thing is crazy,” he says. “Plus, my name is Salomón. The Salomón x Salomon is legendary.” Hit the link in bio or visit the Highsnobiety app to read all about the artist’s rise, his loverboy outlook, and his new shoe. https://lnkd.in/g9WZu-vK

Larry Warsh was never trying to build a car museum. But that’s exactly what happened. Tucked away in a nondescript New Jersey warehouse, Warsh’s @cartdept houses more than 60 cars reimagined by some of the biggest names in art and music — from Barbara Kruger to Quavo. Each one is a time capsule, a collaboration, a canvas on wheels. Warsh, who once bought Basquiats for the price of rent, calls himself “not a car guy.” He doesn’t even have a license. But he’s spent the past decade turning cars into cultural artifacts, redefining what it means to collect, create, and drive art forward. Head to the link in bio or to the Highsnobiety app to read about how an ‘80s downtown art obsessive built the world’s most unexpected garage. https://lnkd.in/eMCE9Tc2

You can’t build the future without looking back at the past. At this year’s 520M, Merrell will share its rich history of innovation and creativity, welcoming you to join us for a deep dive into the brand’s archive at ISPO. Merrell will spotlight its present-day products and the pioneering materials behind them, offering a vision of not only what’s new in the world of tech-first footwear but also what’s next. Sign up for more information here: https://lnkd.in/dvDDrxDQ