Complex

Art Basel Miami Beach has become a cultural tentpole that attracts America’s wealthiest and an evolving art customer base that may prove key in reversing the luxury downturn.

Hip-hop fueled an explosion of brands, collaborations and merchandise, but with fashion saturated with partnerships and rapper-led labels, and signs emerging that hip-hop’s cultural power could be waning, artists and their partners are finding ways to stand out.

As traditional media continues to buckle under the pandemic, writers and media personalities are leveraging their own followings by launching subscription newsletters and podcasts.

For years, media brands have made an annual event out of their holiday gift guides. Now, they're using that influence to sell stuff through dedicated online shops, retail pop-ups, exclusive products and branded merch.

“I hate it when people say, ‘Fake it ‘til you make it,’” says Joe La Puma. “You’re not faking it. If you want to start writing and following fashion, the tools are there for you to do it.”