Artist and clothing designer Greg Lauren is known for his wabi-sabi garments combining vintage Carhartt with cozy jersey knitwear, his penchant for old-school militaria, and collaborations with everyone from KITH's Ronnie Fieg to storied swimwear company Birdwell Beach Britches.

But he's also done plenty of time as a fine artist, honing his illustration skills to portray superheroes like Batman and Superman (he's a staunch DC guy) in a different light, usually through dramatic charcoal on Japanese paper. These days, he's toggling between designer life and #dadlife, helping his son with fractions (1:20) while coming to terms with his kid's love for Marvel heroes.

Speaking of heroes, he's also doing his part to help those on the frontline of Covid-19. A medical professional recommended ways to make masks out of air conditioning filters (8:34), which led to several Greg Lauren-designed masks. At the end of the day though, Lauren's glad to be in a place where he can continue to hone his creativity, and appreciates the return-to-roots perspective this time has given him (18:57), and he hopes others can find a similar sense of introspection.

That was something that I've been exploring for 10 years. I would destroy luxury fabrics, put them through processes that were normally used on rugged, rough fabrics because I was trying to tear down some of the things that were put on such a pedestal, cashmeres and fabrics that were so expensive and so excessive. It's really strengthened what was already the beginning of a commitment to doing things differently, and not just for the aesthetic, but to have a more responsible approach to making things. I know that for my next collection, I'm committed to doing as much of that collection using our scraps or deadstock and vintage materials as possible. We're going to continue making things out of what we have, and not trying to create more waste.

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Working from home is a relatively new concept for Kris Van Assche, the Belgian designer who once helmed his eponymous menswear label, Dior Homme, and is currently the creative director of luxurious leather house Berluti. As someone who already had access to different offices, having a workspace at home seemed superfluous, although obviously circumstances have changed.Still, he draws a distinction between the type of introspective work he’d do in the sanctity of his home (a big library is involved) and the hands-on work he now does remotely with his design teams. But at least he gets to spend more time with his cat Frieda (6:50).

Van Assche recently feted a new line of upscale housewares from Berluti, including boiled leather vases and silver bowls. He talks about the design process (7:27) and how much of an inspiration Pierre Jeanneret is. He also shares his thoughts on the future of the fashion industry after Covid-19 (16:02).

Kendrick Sampson is an actor and activist known for his roles on The Flash, The Vampire Diaries, How to Get Away With Murder, and more recently, as Nathan “Ghost Bae” Campbell on Insecure. On this episode, Sampson talks about his nonprofit organization BLD PWR (2:07) that promotes a spirit of liberation culture.

Sampson is also raising awareness for mental health awareness month, and shares a few tips that help him decompress (15:55). He’s also a strong advocate of the Cancel Rent movement (9:55) and has been working with Housing Justice For All in order to fight for the housing rights of underserved and marginalized communities.

Stay tuned for new episodes of ‘Vibe Check’ every Tuesday and Thursday.

For Kevin Poon, co-founder of Hong Kong-based label CLOT and boutique retailer JUICE, the Covid-19 pandemic is long past lockdown and at the very early stages of getting back to normal. “It feels like we’re watching the same movie, but we’re 40 minutes ahead,” he says in today’s episode of Vibe Check.

He’s in a very fortunate position as a small business owner, where he’s had the opportunity to actually open a new location instead of shuttering several during this weird time in history. He recently opened a branch of his Elephant Grounds Cafe in Chengdu, albeit with strong social distancing measures in place and a business model that primarily revolves around to-go orders.

But he’s also experiencing a bit of what economists have called “revenge spending” in Asian countries where malls and clothing stores are reopening, cautiously welcoming consumers who are more than eager to cop up fresh gear. Listen to the full episode to hear what it’s looking like on the other side of the pandemic.

Stay tuned for new episodes of ‘Vibe Check’ released every Tuesday and Thursday.

Aleali May is a model, stylist, and creative who’s designed her fair share of Jordans including a pair that makes a nod to her home city of Los Angeles. Aleali catches up with host Jian DeLeon on this episode, sharing what she’s been up to in quarantine which has often involved rewatching some of her favorite fashion documentaries.

Aleali joins her fellow Cancers as a homebody who’s appreciating the stay-at-home life as an opportunity to relax and recover from her past fashion week run. She’s finding tasks to keep herself busy, including cooking regularly and spring cleaning her closet. While doing so, Aleali has come across some forgotten pieces, styled them in outfits, and took pictures for documentation. Still, she can’t help but feel disappointed about the cancellation of men’s fashion week, which she feels always brings out the best atmosphere (3:45).

Aleali has been taking time out to rerun some of her go-to documentaries and enjoy the discoveries she finds with each new watch. She shares her lineup along with the takeaways for each film in hopes that the younger generation will be inspired by some of the most key players in the game (10:32).

Stay tuned for new episodes of ‘Vibe Check’ released every Tuesday and Thursday.

Team Epiphany, a marketing and creative agency that’s been around for 15 years, is responsible for conceptualizing the idea of an “influencer” before the social media we know today even existed. They’re also the creative force behind collaborative projects like the Heineken 100 and Coca-Cola Energy x Camp High’s campaign, a brand that was featured in the latest issue of the Highsnobiety magazine. Coltrane Curtis and Lisa Chu, the agency’s managing partners, work, commute, and live together, now even more than ever. Pretty much the only thing they’re fighting about is sharing office space within their NYC apartment. The duo joins host Jian DeLeon to talk about recent projects and the steps they’re taking to keep small businesses up and running.

Lisa Chu: In addition to running the agency’s event production, I’m also chief financial officer at Team Epiphany. Which means I’m reading anything and everything that has to do with the stimulus package because this pandemic is having a huge impact on culture and community. We’re an independent, small business that employs over 70 employees so I’m doing everything I can to ensure their financial security as well as the agency’s. I’m on the phone with our friends that own companies like Vosges, Cosabella, LEDE PR and our network of influencer friends to share stimulus information that may help keep our NYC community of small businesses afloat.

The agency’s accomplishments from their Coca-Cola and Camp High collaboration is up on Coltrane’s list as one of Team Epiphany’s top five collaborations (5:22). Jian picks his brain on the project’s execution and how brands can speak to an audience during a time when people are increasingly in tune to what’s happening in the product landscape (7:26).

Stay tuned for new episodes of ‘Vibe Check’ releasing every Tuesday and Thursday.

Host Jian DeLeon chats with Shane Lindstrom, better known as Murda Beatz, a multi-platinum record producer who’s created hit singles with Travis Scott, Gucci Mane, Drake, Migos, and many more award-winning artists. To keep the momentum going this month, he released two new records and his first drum kit sample pack.

Quarantine life has been the same work from home routine as usual for Shane, just heightened to a daily basis. Without outside distractions, artists have either been uninspired or motivated. Shane identifies with the latter, focusing on all things music including his upcoming singles. His latest project is what he refers to as the “MTV of gaming”: Players Ntwrk, a group of artists, producers, and athletes who stream their gameplay while connecting with fans. Shane shares some of his favorite games at the moment that are more than likely to make an appearance on Players Ntwrk (4:30).

Jian introduces Shane to the world of Animal Crossing where players have been designing clothing and reimagining real world merch and apparel in a 2D universe. This certainly speaks to Shane who enjoys the sense of community that comes with being both a producer and a gamer. The pandemic has also provided Shane an opportunity to work with a greater variety of artists while revisiting old practices. While working at home, Shane just might release some new gaming beats (6:50).

Recently, he released a Quarantine Pack with music production platform Splice, consisting of a drum kit that’s perfect for newly initiated beat makers (9:00).

Stay tuned for new episodes of ‘Vibe Check’ dropping every Tuesday and Thursday.

Host Jian DeLeon checks in with Dao-Yi Chow, co-founder of New York-based label Public School, who was named the creative director of heritage sportswear brand Sergio Tacchini last year. Dao-Yi reflects on recent changes in his life including the new role, sustainability in fashion, running for a cause, and pulling off a proper Asian household quarantine fit.

Dao-Yi has collaborated with Jordan Brand multiple times, and he’s now bringing his affinity for basketball and fashion into styling outfits on collectible ENTERBAY Jordan figures during quarantine. Dao-Yi’s been busy with work as well, steadily moving towards Sergio Tacchini’s target launch date in Fall 2020. To him, the important question is asking how the fashion industry is going to come out of the current Covid-19 situation (5:02).

Stay tuned for new episodes of ‘Vibe Check’ dropping every Tuesday and Thursday.

On this episode of ‘Vibe Check,’ host Jian DeLeon speaks with two guests who live and breathe New York City. Nicolas Heller, known as New York Nico, produces work that can best be described as that which belongs to a cultural anthropologist in the country’s largest city. His recent New York Accent Challenge scouted for contenders of the city’s best accent, attracting anyone and everyone who uses the internet. Now, Nico has partnered up with Jaeki Cho, creative director of streetwear and sneaker boutique Alumni of NY, to introduce the Best NY Shirt Contest. The deadline for submissions is April 29, after which the top three designs will be made into T-shirts and sold for charity.

The Accent Challenge exceeded Nico’s expectations, with Jaeki himself participating and making it to the top 16. Jian speaks on the elements that constitute a distinctive New York state of mind both on and offline as exemplified by Nico’s and Jaeki’s work. As individuals who lived through 9/11, the duo acknowledges an unparalleled sense of community that surfaces in times of strife. (3:02).

On this episode of Vibe Check, we delve into how people’s dating lives have changed while self-quarantining. Host Jian DeLeon talks to Karley Sciortino, a writer, host, and founder of Slutever. The two discuss how dating apps have evolved in an age of social distancing, with a special focus on Bumble, which empowers women.

Sciortino recounts a story of friends meeting on Bumble, offers advice on keeping the momentum of online dating going, how to rethink sex, and more. Hit play above to listen to the full episode and read on for an excerpt from the conversation.