This is a photo of me on my first day of school. I was born and grew up in Australia, next to the ocean & under the sun. My grade was the first class to go from preschool to grade 12 at our school — we were the test case for all 13 years. I loved wearing a uniform; it made everything very democratic. I have been obsessed with Nitch.com for many years. I find it so thoughtful & considered, and profiles some of the amazing minds of our time in such an intimate and digestible way. You really feel like you know the person. I found this quote recently, as I was looking for inspiration for a love letter — and it really hit home (no pun intended.) I constantly struggle with where I come from & where I am going, and feel incredibly uncomfortable in Australia. I can't explain it, but I have found my home and family as an adult; on my own terms & my own time. I am obsessed with chairs. I accidentally went on a date this summer with a "chair instagram account." It's a long story but needless to say — very odd. I have secretly always wanted to have a furniture company because I think beautifully designed objects should not be inaccessible to a younger generation who are trying to finally make their house a home, as they graduate from Ikea. My dear friend Arman Naféei's weekly podcast that profiles prominent figures in culture — as they dissect the soundtrack of their life. This episode blends my love of food & music in the most perfect way. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-27-francis-mallmann/id1509599164?i=1000490957236 I am a Francophile, and seemingly a masochistic. La Haine is one of my favorite movies and I found the script on a recent trip to Paris. This movie has a lot of connections for me around love & life and the design of this book feels very true to my aesthetic and the rebellious spirit of youth culture that I try to convey in my work. My mother always told me never to buy cheap speakers. I have grown up with an acute appreciation for sound and as I continue to make my house a home, it is important that my love of music is appropriately represented in my space. I have been on an obsessive speaker hunt, after a recent trip to Amsterdam, where I went to The Cornerstore and saw their amazing custom bar — a vessel for nature wine, good music & even better vibes. Bill Powers is a staple in New York culture below 14th street. He is an art curator and the owner of Half Gallery. I recently spent the day with him, shooting iconic locations around the city, that held strong significance to the art world that would go unnoticed or unrecognized to the average eye. This painting and anecdote are indicative of the amazing simplicity, beauty, and tragedy of what it means to be a New Yorker. The Chelsea Hotel is also a place where some of my favorite musicians & artists have lived over the years and Dash died the year I moved to New York. Happiness & heartbreak is what defines the people who call New York their home.
