Going Unc Mode
Logging On - July 15
Logging On is a weekly sprint through the timeline — Raeland Mendoza filters the noise into his takes on fashion, media, music, and whatever is moving the needle.
Expect the weekly titular column, sharp personal essays, and guest features with industry friends.
Explore our latest columns, features and posts here.
I turned 30 this past weekend, which meant I’ve officially activated my lifelong membership into the certified Unc union. My knees hurt already.
More on that later in this weeks feature.
THIS WEEK ON THE TIMELINE
LINKS AND READS:
Anthropologists You Should Know - David Graeber BS Jobs, TikTok
”People don’t go to work to produce value, but to often times perform labour”
Post-Millennial Brand Trends: Fluid Brand Identities, TikTok
The ”I sell you an identity that can be expressed by my product” marketing ethos is now long gone. Instead, consumers approach brands and products like eras - or like Eug aptly describes: like lizard skins we inhabit for a moment and shed just as fast. So how do we build something that lasts?
FASHION:
SALOMON x AMA: XT-WHISPER VOID
Ironic, I think I’ve written about a pair of sneakers almost every week on Logging On despite really not being much of a sneaker guy. That said, British R&B singer Ama (who’s song Northside is one of my favourites) just partnered up with Salamon for her own iteration of XT-Whisper Void’s - complete with a campaign featuring a remote Korean fishing town. Having appeared in ALD and Loewe campaigns alike, it’s really cool to see her get her namesake collab moment.
The colour way is also fire. Maybe I am a sneaker guy after all?
SKYLRK IS BORING
In other celebrity news, Bieber’s brand SKYLRK is out and it’s very boring. No hate to beebs as we have some **very** tangential garm overlap, but this feels like IG-reels streetwear 101, rejected Yeezy design concepts, and a chatgpt lookbook. At least the album wasn’t bad.
MUSIC:
SINGLE: Is It, Tyla
ALBUM: Swag, Justin Beiber
As mentioned, at least the music is better than the streetwear. You can feel the Mk.Gee and Dijion influence all over this record, with their collab track Devotion being a highpoint for me.
ALBUM: Let God Sort Em Out, Clipse
I’ve never sold c*caine. But god damn it felt like it while this plays on my speakers repeat while checking my emails.
FEATURE: UNC MODE ACTIVATED
As mentioned up top - I turned 30 this past weekend.
Last year I celebrated my birthday with a night at ICYT:SPACE featuring the Toronto/fellow Edmonton ex-pat homie Sungjoon before he left for Paris. At the time, ICYT:SPACE was a hybrid night club / community event space / showroom concept the team and I were trying very hard to make work in Edmonton. I was beyond burnt out, had just recovered from health issues, and Erykah was in town to visit.
It was a great night. I was with the people I loved, in my bar no less, but I also remember thinking: something needs to change. Operationally, we knew the writing was on the wall. Our best case scenario was always going to be a daunting up-hill fight. And I knew I had too much on my plate. If I wanted any semblance of furthering my design career as well as keeping my personal relationships in tact, I knew my next birthday was going to be very different.
This time around, I’ve been in Vancouver for almost a year now. Erykah and I are in an Uber, en-route to the Korean bar I’ve reserved a Karaoke room in. I disclose that I’m a little nervous. “You’re so dramatic”, she responds with a smile. Having gone from producing 50+ events a year, this was the closest thing I’ve done to a soundcheck all 2025.
She’s right though. 10 minutes later I’m up at the front mid “Nice and Slow” choreo routine. I am Filipino after all. Ethan from Human Pursuits remembers my one true vice in life, and brings me a pack of cookies (no slang here, literal fucking cookies) to the function.
The night transitions to the second location, and Fredy meets us as we walk up to the second location. It’s really been almost a year since we’ve seen each other. The club security greets us and wishes me happy birthday as we approach.
The next day, Erykah’s work is coincidentally hosting a BBQ at the beach. Ric (who was also present for last nights festivities) and I are recapping his angelic singing voice while showing Chris Maradiaga the videos from the night prior. After, Fredy hits me to go link back up for some wine.
Despite all the newness as of late, this feels familiar.
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BONUS - Rae’s Karaoke Playlist:
Hold on We’re Going Home - Drake
Amongst other things, Raeland is a Creative Director and Designer in Vancouver.
Explore his work at TOMORROW WORKS.
30s have been the best so far, happy belated and welcome to it!