Contributors

Sultan Bin Rashid Al Darmaki
Writer
— affairs
uae-born writer Al Darmaki lives in Dubai. He returned to the city after almost 20 years abroad, having worked in diplomacy and fashion, as well as at a sovereign wealth fund. “In 2022 I took a trip back to Dubai and fell in love with it all over again,” he says. “The creative renaissance swept me off my feet, so I decided to stick around and launch a members’ club for the creative industry called 1833.” He wrote about fashion in the Gulf for this month’s edition. “I have always been amused by Hollywood’s take on the region’s clothing, which often doesn’t match how people actually dress here. I wanted to set the record straight.” 

A must-have piece for this season?
Fashion trends come and go but my style is like a loyal old friend; it has been the same for more than a decade. My go-to? An oversized Maison Margiela coat by John Galliano. It’s my secret weapon for layering as the temperature drops, whether I’m wearing a simple turtleneck or piling on a jumper.

Maldo Malacek
Illustrator
— the opener
Malacek was born in Bratislava but now splits his time between the Slovakian capital and Prague. In his free time, he enjoys biking, spending time in nature and immersing himself in science-fiction films. For this issue, Malacek’s illustrations in At The Front capture Bad Ischl in Austria and offer a whimsical take on avian affairs in Helsinki. 

How do you dress for cooler weather?I always rely on a durable denim jacket. However, if I had to pick just one piece of clothing, it would be a fleece-lined overshirt from The Dudes. As for accessories, I’d choose the f40 Jamie bag by Freitag.

Lucrezia Motta
Writer
— the view from
Of French and Italian heritage, Motta has lived in Mexico, Belgium, Italy, the US and France but now calls London home. “I love exploring the city; it still feels so new to me, even though I have lived here for four years,” she says. For this issue she spoke with journalist Fathia Elaouni about the enduring importance of radio reportage in the Moroccan media landscape.

Do you have any October style essentials?
A good trench coat. It’s warm yet breathable, which is perfect for this time of year when London weather can be so variable. I have had mine for many years and it somehow looks better now than when it was brand new.

Joost Stokhof
Illustrator
— fashion

Amsterdam-based illustrator Stokhof lives just 10 minutes by bike from his studio, which he shares with some of the city’s finest artists and designers. His drawings have featured in the Van Gogh Museum and on album and book covers from around the world. Among Stokhof’s favourite pastimes are running and stand-up comedy. “I’m always collecting jokes but I’d almost certainly never dare to perform them,” he says sheepishly. For this issue, we dispatched him to Paris to illustrate two of the city’s lesser-known neighbourhoods.

How do you curate your autumn style?
Amsterdam at this time of year is either full of rain or still feels like summer. In the first instance, you need a good-looking raincoat. If it’s still warm, a nice pair of loafers will do the trick.

Natty Kasambala
Writer
— culture
Kasambala hails from Malawi but is currently based in London. Having previously studied philosophy, she now works as a writer and director covering everything from music and design to politics and literature. For this issue, she shares recommendations for the TV series that she is most excited about this month. “I almost considered teaching myself entry-level Dutch so that I could better understand a show that I wanted to highlight,” she says jokingly.

What’s in your wardrobe this autumn?
A coloured-leather jacket that toes the line between timelessness and making a statement. I’m talking navy trenches, burgundy coats and beige blazers.