With a career in PR built on the success of young and independent brands, Robin Meason understands the complex nature of today’s industry. The Texas native, who moved to Paris in the early 1990s, largely contributed to the global rise and fame of Glenn Martens and Demna Gvasalia, two designers who have – in their own respective ways – defined the Zeitgeist. Meason is a great communicator and a woman who loves storytelling, but she’s more instinctive than calculating. She also values craft and authenticity, two key notions that may influence her choice when it comes to collaborating with new brands. By Philippe Pourhashemi

Every once in a while, an interdisciplinary talent shakes the industry with visionary flair and a unique insight into the future of luxury and how it’s consumed. Enter Ben Gorham, who despite being Swedish and Stockholm-based, fully qualifies as “citizen of the world”. Ever since launching Byredo in 2006 – an innovative and now iconic perfume line – Gorham has managed to make us rethink what a luxury product is, challenging the corporations and their monopolies as well as preconceived ideas around the use of perfume. He also loves collaborating and involving other creative types in his projects, such as his friend Virgil Abloh who recently created a fragrance and line of accessories with the brand. Interview by Philippe Pourhashemi. Photography by Magnus Magnusson

The spectacle of fashion masses in and around our clothing, constituting a unique space in itself. Fashion space can be found in urban cityscapes and built environments, but also on digital platforms and in virtual worlds. As the spaces of fashion extend beyond their physical confines, they take shape at precisely the point where traditional definitions of public space – as urban sites, democratic arenas and open-access areas – break down. By Bradley Quinn

Katherine Waterston has become a reliable source for a variety of directors looking to infuse their characters with a visceral complexity, a nuanced humanity, that’s difficult to find elsewhere. It’s the reason why an astounding list of filmmakers have chosen her for their projects — cinematic powerhouses like Ridley Scott, Paul Thomas Anderson, Steven Soderbergh, and Danny Boyle. Interview by Max Berlinger, photography by Magnus Magnusson and styling by Martina Nilsson.

Visionaries know that the cutting-edge in architecture is not sharp, but sensuous and soft. At a time when architects are pioneering tactile surfaces, fluid façades and mobile structures, fashion is revealing new potentials for building design. By Bradley Quinn

Seen from the outside, fashion isn’t exactly a warm and welcoming place. Riddled with preconceptions, snobbery and nepotism, it’s a field of intense power and competition, where egos rule and democratic thinking fades. Strangely enough, that is not the story of French designer Christelle Kocher, whose Paris-based brand KOCHÉ has challenged the status quo since its launch in 2014. Interview with Head Designer of Koché, Christelle Kocher by Philippe Pourhashemi. Photography by Magnus Magnusson

If Italy is globally famous for its intricate manufacturing of luxury goods, leather holds an important place within the country’s heart, renowned for its eye-catching bags and striking footwear. Several major fashion players have built their fortune on accessories as opposed to clothing. This is rather different with DROMe, the label headed by Italian designer Marianna Rosati who lives and works in Tuscany. Interview with Marianna Rosati by Philippe Pourhashemi. Photography by Magnus Magnusson

The action of covering up does not simply hide but it may also reveal. The contrast between the making of evident and veiling is rooted in an approach to what we know and the ways in which we know. The artist Jeannette Slütter speaks about this dispute, creating environments of oxymoronic displacement. In her work, surfaces and practices of veiling may not simply be an obstacle but it often becomes a method of questioning. In this sense, the surface becomes not only a space of superficiality and corruption but also a space for disputing the superficial and its meanings. Not simply a manner to dispute what the Real is but – most importantly – what makes the Real and when we encounter the Real.

Johanna Senyk is the Paris-based mastermind behind womenswear brand Wanda Nylon. Her concept was simple at first: she wanted directional and stylish waterproof clothes that could complement a trendy wardrobe. Capitalizing on her own singularity and tapping into the fashion world’s ongoing obsession with fetishism and anything kinky, Wanda Nylon has quickly become a desirable brand, attracting press and buyers. Now, Senyk shows her collections in Paris seasonally and has stockists worldwide. Interview by Philippe Pourhashemi

Pushing the boundaries of fashion is something Zana Bayne clearly excels at. Founded by herself and Co-Creative Director Todd Pendu, Zana’s eponymous brand quickly gained attention with its fetish-inspired accessories, highlighting the key relationship between sex, leather and skin. Since its launch in 2010, the brand has attracted famous musicians, actors, artists and private clients alike, who quickly became fans of Zana’s handcrafted harnesses, belts, chokers and bags. I caught up with her and Todd to discuss the evolution of their brand, why fashion still loves fetish and how being copied is ultimately unavoidable. Interview by Philippe Pourhashemi