All The 007 Merch That’s Coming In Light Of No Time To Die

Since the first James Bond film Dr. No was released in 1962, 007’s sleek attire and shiny weaponry emitted a top-tier sense of luxury. And with each new film, viewers are enthralled by the high-tech gadgets and superb fashion statements the spy sports. James Bond is more than a franchise — it’s a cultural phenomenon, rediscovered and beloved by generations of people since the character’s creation by author Ian Fleming. The latest, 25th film in the franchise, No Time To Die, is especially meaningful, as it marks Daniel Craig’s fifth and final performance as the leading man, and the introduction of the first Black woman to play 007, with actor Lashana Lynch tapped for the celebrated role.

The return of James Bond reminds us of the extravagance we all feel while ogling over the luxury aesthetics that have become synonymous with the series. So, it’s only fitting that an arsenal of fashion brands have teamed up with the 007 film series to drop some No Time To Die-inspired products. Sit back, grab yourself a shaken (not stirred) martini, and read on about all the products released in collaboration with the James Bond franchise.

Omega

Photography courtesy of Omega

No Time To Die marks 26 years of collaboration between James Bond and the Swiss luxury watchmaker. Having worked closely with both Craig and filmmakers, Omega presents its Seamaster Diver 300m 007 Edition, available to the public after being test run by James Bond himself in the film.

Swatch

Photography courtesy of Swatch

Swatch launched its second special edition watch, called ²Q, inspired and worn by the Switzerland-based brand’s favourite character in No Time To Die, Q, played by English actor Ben Whishaw.

Michael Michael Kors

Photography courtesy of MICHAEL Michael KORS

MMK teamed up with 007 film franchise to release an 11-piece capsule collection, featuring a to-die-for campaign (get it?) with models Bella Hadid and Cindy Bruna. The collection highlights a sleek black and metallic colour palette inspired by the Bond world. Products range from handbags and luggage to swimwear and footwear, and will be available October 19.

Adidas

 

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Inspired by characters and scenes from the latest film, the new Adidas x 007 collection channels the action-packed world of Bond with four No Time To Die Ultraboost running shoes and both men’s and women’s sports apparel.

Chopard

 

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The Maison Chopard has collaborated with the franchise on a limited-edition jewelery collection titled Golden Hearts. Consisting of rings, necklaces and earrings, the collaboration is the brand’s take on the James Bond Woman, who is often depicted as determined and courageous. In No Time To Die, the collection can be seen on Paloma, a CIA agent played by Knives Out star Ana de Armas.

Bella Freud

 

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British designer Bella Freud teamed up with 007 to give us some cozy James Bond merch. From gold mugs and tea towels to tote bags and T-shirts, the capsule collection features Freud’s iconic hand drawn lettering with outtakes from the films throughout the years.

Connolly

 

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The Connolly x No Time To Die capsule collection features classic 007 attire, namely button-up collared shirts, jackets and zip-up vests. It even includes driving gloves and goggles so you can really channel your inner Bond. The collection includes two items featured in the film: the Guibbino jacket and Finamore shirt.

Crockett & Jones

 

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The footwear brand has released the ideal dress shoe to accompany the iconic Bond tuxedo. The shoe, appropriately named James, comes with a chrome shoe horn, shoe brush and a pair of hand-made shoe trees, all adorned with the 007 logo. In the film, James Bond wears two Crockett & Jones designs: Highbury and Molton.

N. Peal

 

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To celebrate the last 50 years of James Bond, N. Peal released a 007 cashmere collection with thirteen separate looks, each a nod to the six actors who have played the famous spy. In No Time To Die, the brand’s Navy Army sweater is worn by Bond.

Orlebar Brown

 

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The swimwear company walked us down memory lane with a relaunch of The 007 Heritage Collection. Products include retro swimwear (think the baby blue swim trunks Bond famously sports), as well as polo shirts and suits inspired by scenes from the franchise.

Danner

 

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The brand released a durable boot, the 007 Tanicus, which was designed for military use. The limited-edition shoe was featured in the movie, and is being sold with the No Time To Die logo, custom hangtag and exclusive 007 keychain.

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Did Apple Watch’s Fitness+ Meditation Classes Cure My Insomnia?

I’ve tried a lot of things in my life to help me sleep. I’ve tried herbal tinctures, weighted blankets and many meds. I’ve tried quitting caffeine, taking cannabis, doing cognitive behavioural therapy, getting acupuncture and paying a nice lady to hypnotize me into a stupor. While all of these things help some of the time, I’ve basically spent countless hours of my adult life lying awake at night or worrying that I will soon be lying awake at night. While my sleep battles have been going on forever, these days I can also add sudden nonsensical fits of blinding perimenopausal rage that leave anyone who dares move my coffee cup — WHO DOES THAT?! — quivering in their wake, plus the exciting development of brain-scrambling panic when I get overwhelmed by deadlines, to my high-strung repertoire. So when I’m asked to test out the new meditation content on the Apple Watch Fitness+ program, I’m too tired and aggravated to say no. When I tell my friend about my assignment she just laughs.

“Oh sure,” she says. “A decade of yoga didn’t help but this will. Good luck, watch!”

Photography courtesy of Apple

My Apple Watch arrives and I’m instantly suspicious of it. I don’t track my fitness (or lack thereof) like all those hard-bodied types that skip around my gym like some sort of possessed Lululemon ad, and the last time I wore a watch was when I got a Swatch for my Bat Mitzvah in 1987. There’s a mindfulness app built into the watch itself that prompts you to do short minute-long meditations, but to get the new full suite of meditation classes you need a subscription to Fitness+ ($12.99 a month or $99/year), which you can then access on your watch, an iPhone, iPad or Apple TV. The new meditation and Pilates classes join a suite of other workouts like yoga, HITT, core and dance. I’m into the all-inclusive model — it’s like having 1000 Jane Fonda workout tapes at your fingertips! But I’m not here to exercise — I’m here to meditate, motherf**ker!

I start small just with the app on my watch. I set a bunch of times throughout the day for it to prompt me to take a minute for a “Breathe” session (where, yes, all you do is breathe, timed to trippy visuals and vibrations) or a “Reflect” session, where the watch suggests something you can reflect on for a minute, like a time when someone was kind to you and how that made you feel. You can accept or decline the prompt, so if you’re in the middle of a conference call or whipping up a paella (me, every day!) you don’t have to do it. Fortunately, I’m a writer so I spend most of my time locked alone in my basement banging my head on a keyboard, so I’m usually available when Watchie tells me it’s mindfulness-o-clock.

At first, a minute feels painfully long. I keep opening my eyes to peek at the clock. “God, only 37 seconds,” I think. “Am I still reflecting?!” But after a couple of days I feel like a one-minute pro, so I level up to the meditation classes on the Apple Watch Fitness+ service. Those come in five-, 10- and 20-minute sessions, and use three basic techniques: Focusing on your breath, the sounds around you or the sensations in your body — and sometimes all three — to help still your mind. There are nine themes, including Purpose, Gratitude, Creativity and Focus, but since I’m mostly interested in improving my ability to chill out and sleep I focus on the Calm classes.

Photography courtesy of Apple

Now, if you’re doing a dance class, then you’ll obviously want visuals, but I actually find watching the instructors meditate on my iPad a little disturbing. “Is he a gargoyle?” I start to wonder. “Is he dead?” Thankfully, you can opt for audio-only, which I quickly select. Apple added two new teachers who specialize in meditation, and the yoga instructors guide some of these practices, too. I like them all, which surprises me, because I hate everything.

JoAnna croons matter-of-factly into my ear against a backdrop of music by Moby about nurturing my ability to feel calm. “We can do this by letting go of what we think we need to get done right now,” she says. “You can think of this like carrying a heavy bag. If we hold it for too long we get tired. After a while we might need to put it down…give our body a rest…take a break. You can pick the bag up again later if necessary. In this meditation we will practice resting our bodies and minds by letting go and being still. Being still can often feel like we’re not productive. Being productive is necessary at times, and so is rest.” Preach JoAnna, preach!

While the meditation classes and the mindfulness app didn’t turn me into a mental master or a champion sleeper, I did notice a few interesting changes after just one week. The first is about my heart.

The watch constantly monitors your heart rate, so now I actually know what my resting heart rate is — a respectable-but-not-great 85 beats per minute (a healthy resting heart rate for an adult is 60-100 BPM). One night I’m getting ready for a work trip and I start flipping out about everything I need to do before I go. As I feel my stress rising, I watch that little heart rate monitor click steadily upwards even though I’m not moving a muscle. It’s an eerily familiar feeling, and I realize that it’s also the cycle I go through when I can’t fall asleep. Do you know what the worst thing to do is when you can’t fall asleep? Panic about not being able to fall asleep! Turns out that my freaking-out heart rate can climb as much as 30 BPM a minute higher than normal. Terrifying? I don’t know. But what I do know is that when I pull out my handy new breathing skills, I’m able to bring my heart rate right back down in under a minute.

The much more unexpected change is my improved ability to just…be. My 10-year-old son Ben calls this “vibing,” and usually I suck at it.

Ben and I don’t share a lot of hobbies, and I often find myself listening jealously as he talks to or plays with his dad for hours. One night Ben and I are about to watch a TV show together. Usually I multitask while doing this — I stretch, I putter, I take off my makeup — but the New More Mindful Me decides that I’m just going to watch TV with my kid. I’m going to be with him and do nothing else for 40 minutes (weird!). I’m not going to check Instagram, I’m not going to pop up to put on the kettle, I’m not even going to have a snack.

And then a magical thing happens. After a while Ben rests his head on my shoulder, then on my lap. When the show is over he actually wants me and not his dad (winning!) to keep him company as he gets ready for bed. I didn’t understand what the Apple people were talking about when they said meditation can lead to feeling more connected, but now I do. Goddamnit, this stuff…works? Ben is certainly a fan because if I get too aggravated with him he just says, “Mommy, relaaaaax. Go do your meditation.”

Ugh, ok, fine.

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Brooke Lynn Hytes: “Expect Some Legendary Looks From Canada’s Drag Race Season Two.”

Brooke Lynn Hytes is very Canadian — almost to a fault.

As the host and judge on Canada’s Drag Race season two  — which premieres October 14 on Crave — being judgemental is quite literally her job. While many in and out of drag already read people for free (see: all of social media), being paid to critique contestants seems like a dream job. And don’t get her wrong, it is Brooke Lynn’s dream job, but sometimes her “Canadian-ness” gets in the way.

“We’re not naturally judgemental people,” she says over the phone. “Well, we actually are, but we have this politeness in us that thinks, ‘How do I say this nicely?'”

 

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The runner-up on season 11 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, the “Queen of the North,” is in the unique position where she understands both sides of the Main Stage. As she quickly became a front-runner for her fashion (hello, glittery Mountie uniforms!) and runway walk (thank you, National Ballet School of Canada), the L.A.-based, Toronto-born queen was never one to shy away from her Great White North roots. So when the Canadian edition of the series was announced in 2019, fans knew only one performer could sash-eh (get it?) into the spotlight.

“I can say being a contestant and a judge are both very stressful,” Brooke Lynn says of her Drag Race history. “I know how much these queens want it and how much they put into it.  It’s hard because drag is such a deeply personal art form, so having to critique that can be difficult. I think I find it more emotionally challenging to be a judge.”

We kiki’d with the Canadian queen to untuck a few Canada’s Drag Race season two secrets and get her thoughts on LGBTQ2S+ History Month.

What have you learned from the first season that you are applying to Canada’s Drag Race season two?

I think the biggest lesson that I learned was how to give good critiques in small sentences. Michelle Visage has really mastered it because she’s been doing this for so long. I have a tendency to ramble and go on these tangents about things, but you have to stop yourself and be like, “No one’s going to hear any of that because this is an hour-long TV show, and they have to edit all of it down.” So, learning to say what I needed to say in smaller sentences, I think, was my biggest takeaway.

There are a lot of new faces on the judging panel. How do you think this group differs from last season?

 

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Our judges were so great in season one, and I think this season has more of the same — we have a really well-rounded group of people! This year we have Brad Goreski, a bonafide fashion expert, and he used to be a drag queen himself, way back in the day. Then there’s Amanda Brugel, an incredible actor on Handmaid’s Tale, Kim’s Convenience and many other things. And we have the wonderful Traci Melchor, who has 20 years of broadcast experience under her belt. And then we have an actual drag queen — me! I think we really have all of the bases covered, and everyone comes together really well. I can’t say enough how much fun we had!

From a viewer’s perspective, the vibe of Drag Race is delightful chaos. Is that the way it feels on set?

Chaos is the perfect word [laughs]. Like it’s obviously chaos, but it’s beautiful, and it’s wonderful too. I always say we’re making a TV show, and the whole point of a TV show is to entertain people. And I think that’s what we did — we put out a very entertaining season, and I can’t help but be proud of that.

What do you think would surprise viewers to learn about the show?

It takes a really long time to film. I have to be in drag for about 14 hours a day. I think people think you show up; everything’s ready, bam, bam, done. But no, it’s not: I wish it were that simple. I am not a patient person, so it was a real test for me.

From the previews, it looks like an amazing group of queens. Can you tease anything about what we can expect from Canada’s Drag Race season two?

 

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You can expect some legendary iconic looks, for sure!

Through Drag Race, Canada is finally getting the drag recognition it deserves. How do you think the Canadian drag scene has evolved over the years?

It’s changed so much, and I think that’s really due to RuPaul’s Drag Race. Before that, there wasn’t much to do for queens. You could have your shows at the bars and maybe get a corporate gig here or there, but there was nothing to do in terms of taking your career to the next level. Then suddenly, there was this platform, and it pushed drag queens and inspired them to work harder and be more creative. And I think that’s exactly what happened in Canada. We had season one, and then for season two, we’re seeing all of these blossoming, fabulous queens coming out of the woodwork and being inspired to get on the show.

How does it feel to be premiering during LGBTQ2S+ History Month?

I think it’s amazing! I love that we’re premiering during this time, and I think it provides an opportunity for people (and me) to learn more about our history — there’s just so much that we don’t know.

How will you be celebrating?

I am going to read a book [laughs].

Congrats on your other hosting gig for 1 Queen 5 Queers. What can you tell us about the new show?

 

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We’ve had so much fun making it! It’s basically a revamp of [the 2009 show] 1 Girl 5 Gays, and I just wanted to make something more inclusive and that had more representation where it wasn’t just gay men. So trans people, non-binary, two-spirited, masc, femme, you name it. We tried to get as much diversity in there as possible.

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Canadian Outerwear Brand Nobis Taps Simu Liu as Global Brand Ambassador

Canadian actor Simu Liu is taking on a new starring role: that of the Global Brand Ambassador for luxury outerwear outfit Nobis.

The Canadian brand’s partnership with the Shang Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings leading man and Kim’s Convenience star — in celebration of its 15 year anniversary — includes the introduction of a new collection.

 

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Described as boundary-pushing and timeless, the line features functional silhouettes and incorporates a modern twist that channel’s Liu’s own style.

Nobis (available in more than 35 countries across North America, Europe and Asia) and the Marvel Studios superhero created a series of vignettes throughout the campaign that correspond with different elements of Liu’s personal journey and professional career. From music to sports and writing, these components of his life signify the obstacles he has overcome based on “preconceived misconceptions due to his ethnicity,” Nobis stated in a release.

“To me, this new adventure with Nobis is personal — it has provided me with the chance to help continue to pave the way for those who are denied opportunity based on their ethnicity, in ways that bring their voices and stories to the forefront,” Liu said in a statement. “I truly stand behind Nobis and the notion of defying society’s parameters through fashion.”

The brand — its name derived from the Latin word “us” — also noted Liu’s support of Asian creators and entrepreneurs, and his efforts to challenge the status quo in film and television, as being aligned with its own vision.

“Over the last 15 years, Nobis has pushed the boundaries of excellence with it’s innovative approach to highly adaptable, fashion forward performance apparel, as such we are extremely honoured to be partnering with a beacon of excellence, change and diversity Simu Liu,” Nobis founders Kevin Au-Yeung and Robin Yates jointly stated. “His determination for diversification and influential strength is inspiring and embodies the Nobis ethos authentically and naturally for this incredibly special milestone.”

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Here’s What We Know About Ariana Grande’s R.E.M. Beauty Line

When you’re Ariana Grande, nothing you do goes unnoticed. Just this past summer, some skilled fan-sleuthing led to the discovery of the Instagram account and website for R.E.M. Beauty, the singer’s soon-to-be launched cosmetics brand.

Though it had no posts and was not following anyone, the account quickly gained thousands of followers as fans awaited details about the line. Now, months later, we’re finally getting a taste of what’s to come. Starting September 10, the brand, along with Grande herself, began teasing the launch, which has reportedly been in the works for two years. On October 11, R.E.M. Beauty posted a behind-the-scenes picture of Grande sporting a shimmery face of purple-hued makeup, getting fans (aka us) extremely excited.

And while product details are still mostly under wraps, the highly-anticipated beauty line confirmed it will be available this fall, and with its consistent promotional posting, the release could truly be any day. Read on for everything we know about R.E.M. Beauty ahead of its virtual launch.

behind the scenes pic.twitter.com/sj6JH9Hiaa

— r.e.m. beauty (@rembeauty) October 11, 2021

The brand is inspired by Ariana Grande’s dreams, duh

REM is a sleep stage — specifically, it is the lightest stage of sleep, when a person may wake easily. Grande seems to like this concept, as the name R.E.M. is consistent with her current fragrance line and one of the singles from her 2018 album Sweetener, where she sings about meeting the boy of her dreams in her sleep. The minimalist R.E.M. Beauty website features the phrase, “Where your dreams become reality” — a beauty line inspired by bringing our dreams to life? Tell us more.

R.E.M. Beauty is coming to us in “chapters”

The R.E.M. Beauty products will be released in a series of drops, Grande confirmed in an interview with Allure. R.E.M. Beauty recently posted a snap of virtual folders, titled chapters one to four, on its social media pages, and hinted that chapter one — “ultraviolet” — is coming soon.

chapter 1: ultraviolet pic.twitter.com/Dwhy5Ck77a

— r.e.m. beauty (@rembeauty) September 30, 2021

In promotional shots for chapter one, Grande can be seen sporting a dewy 1960s-inspired look. Visuals evoke an intergalactic aesthetic, something that fans can likely expect throughout the line. In developing the brand, Grande reportedly drew inspiration from the glam of the ‘50s and ‘60s, as well as space-inspired aesthetics. The first drop will focus primarily on the eyes, as reported by Allure, with fine-point eyeliner markers, liquid matte eye shadows, glittering toppers, and at least one mascara. Plus, there will be lipsticks and tingly, lip-plumping glosses included.

__loading__ ch.1 pic.twitter.com/wq8RCGHKKz

— r.e.m. beauty (@rembeauty) September 23, 2021

The line is reportedly licensed by beauty incubator Forma Brands, known for its support of other celebrity-led beauty shingles, like YouTube star Emma Chamberlain’s Bad Habit skincare line, as well as Morphe 2 from TikTok stars Charli and Dixie D’Amelio.

Grande is not fazed by the ever-growing celebrity beauty brand club

It’s no secret that celebrity-founded beauty brands are taking over. Ariana Grande is set to join a slew of other celebs — like Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner — who’ve used their stardom to create makeup and skincare products. But despite entering what some would call an over-saturated market, Grande maintains that one can never have enough makeup. Moreover, a beauty line from the singer will no doubt be of interest to fans seeking to channel her signature cat eye and glossy lip look.

don’t touch that dial … 📺
r.e.m. beauty coming this fall pic.twitter.com/H8k1JcBzGc

— r.e.m. beauty (@rembeauty) September 10, 2021

There could be a lot in store for R.E.M. Beauty

The brand has shared some hints about what fans can expect from the upcoming launch, but trademarked filings show an even wider range of products. Future R.E.M. Beauty products could include a broad spectrum of essentials, including concealer, lash serum, highlighter and even hair extensions — so we can all sport the famous Ari ponytail.

It will be available… soon?

Grande and R.E.M. Beauty have been teasing the brand on social media for nearly a month now, but no specific products or dates have been revealed. Fans are understandably getting antsy, but with the consistent social media presence the brand has maintained since September, and the reassurance that the line will be dropping this season, it’s likely products will be available very soon. Luckily, the site has a sign-up option so that you can be notified when the products become available.

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Hermès Nail Polish Drops This Week and You’ll Definitely Want It

Photography Courtesy of Hermès

Attention nail polish lovers: Hermès has entered the chat. Following the launch of its own beauty line in March 2020, the brand is once again expanding its offering with Le Mains Hermès, a nail polish collection guaranteed to upgrade your mani game this fall.

The collection comprises 24 stunning nail lacquers (inspired by Hermès’s iconic Parisian address, 24 Faubourg Saint-Honoré) in an assortment of shades from vibrant fuchsia pinks, such as Rouge Exotique, to Violet Byzantin, a moody dark plum. A best-seller is sure to be the luxury house’s signature orange hue, Orange Boîte. The made-in-France formulas promise high concentrations of ultra-fine pigments, and are based on existing lipstick shades, so you can match your tips to your lips.

That’s not all, though. Le Main Hermès offers up a full manicure experience, elevating the at-home beauty ritual with a high-gloss transparent gel top coat, protective enamel base coat, an all-natural nail and cuticle oil, branded poplar wood nail files and an incredibly lush hand cream (the scent — a beautiful blend of sandalwood, arnica, rosewater and patchouli — was dreamed up by in-house perfumer Christine Nagel).

Of course, it wouldn’t be Hermès without meticulous attention to design and detail. The nail enamels are dressed up with an elegant white and gold cap created in collaboration with Pierre Hardy (the weighty toppers are a unifying thread in the entire beauty line). No Birkin, no problem — consider these it-polishes a more attainable but equally chic option.

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Getting to Know Bilal Baig, the Lead of CBC’s New Series Sort Of

^{Photography By Keri Anderson/Courtesy of CBC}

Growing up in Mississauga, Sort Of co-creator and star Bilal Baig always had one weapon they could wield against their bullies: their sense of humour. “I discovered in middle school that I could make people laugh, and that helped them to stop laughing at me, and, rather, laugh at the thing I was impersonating or trying to poke fun at,” they say. “That was powerful in terms of trying to survive middle school, which can be a very difficult place to survive.”

Performing may not have come easily, but the writing always flowed. They were 23 when their first play, Acha Bacha, premiered in 2018, which Baig describes as “a beautiful love letter to queer and trans brown folk.” Soon after, Baig met Queer As Folk alumnus Fab Filippo while working on a play together. The two bandied about the idea of collaborating: what about a TV show centred on a gender-fluid South Asian character? Before diving in, Baig asked Filippo: “Why you? Why should I do this with you?” They were disappointed by the transphobic, racist micro-aggressions rife in theatre and was determined to ensure that Filippo, a cis-het white man, was the right collaborator and someone who wasn’t going to let them down further. “I needed to know where his heart was going to live in the storytelling and what vulnerabilities he was bringing so that I’m not the only one pouring everything out,” they remember. It turned out that Filippo was going through a transition of his own as he navigated the end of his 15-year marriage.

“That led us to really look into the characters as they moved through transition, and even though those transitions were quite different, it was an exciting thing,” Baig says. “If we start to apply that word transition to every person, it becomes less of a scary word. It’s not a bad word. It’s a beautiful word.”

Together, the pair created Sort Of, a CBC and HBO Max original series debuting in Canada beginning October 5 on CBC Gem (CBC’s streaming service) that focuses on Sabi Mehboob, a reserved, stylish nanny-slash-bartender juggling cheating boyfriends, problematic bosses, concerned Pakistani parents, and a potential move to Berlin—all delivered with the same deadpan humour that saved Baig in the schoolyard. The show revels in the everyday lives of Sabi and friends, a real pleasure in a media landscape filled with trans and BIPOC trauma.

“It’s not their brownness that keeps them up at night or their transness. It’s: are the kids good? Is the bar I work at going to make it to next month? Am I being good to my friends?” Baig says. “[That’s] the spirit of the show. Who are we, actually?”

The bits are brought beautifully to life by a cast stacked with trans, queer and non-binary performers. Whether it’s Sabi crashing into a fence door after an awkward break-up or their bestie condemning their ex’s “stupid cis-normie boners” and reflecting on “how small-minded we were in high school, like GO-Training to the Eaton Centre was expanding our horizons?”—the humour is lived-in, warm, real, both refreshingly local and universal. Give Baig the Emmy already for their delivery of the post-break-up line: “I’m gonna steal the baby they’re hoping will give them purpose and sell it on the black market.”

“We rarely get to see trans and non-binary people being funny, being themselves, not the butt of a joke,” Baig says.

Sort Of will air on HBO Max in the United States and has been picked up internationally as well; it’ll grace screens in the UK, Australia, and France, along with Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Poland and the Baltics. The series will also broadcast on CBC TV beginning November 9 at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT).

Filippo hopes this show can help spark real change. “Everything’s shifting and changing. The instinct for some is to harden” he says. “I hope that this show might soften people a little.” Baig is keen to continue Sabi’s story in a second season, but, even if they don’t score a renewal, producing this work has been full of wonderment.

“What I really wanted was to be in service of a story that was going to be told truthfully and capture experiences that [are] familiar [to me], but I feel like the media hasn’t made the space for it yet,” Baig says. They smile. “So that feels noble enough to latch onto.”

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Montreal-based Tattoo Artist on Coming Out — for the Second Time — During the Pandemic

In the summer of 2020, right in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic, tattoo artist Salad (@sadbabysalad on Instagram) publicly came out as non-binary; changed their name on social media; packed up their life in Toronto and moved to Montreal all in the span of a couple weeks. This, however, was not the first time Salad had moved across the country, nor was it the first time they had come out. And while Salad describes their two coming out stories as very different experiences, the fluidity of their identity means they can’t always give concrete answers when others attempt to pin down their sexuality or gender.

“Coming out is something that is constantly changing and evolving. I feel like every week is different,” they say, “but that’s just part of being fluid — there are lots of layers to it.”

In honour of National Coming Out Day, Salad shared their coming out story and how they went from an only child who loved picking berries and hunting in the Yukon to a renowned tattoo artist working in some of Canada’s largest cities:

Photography by Salad

Photography by Salad

Photography by Salad

Photography by Salad

In reference to Yeha Leung (@creepyyeha on Instagram). Photography by Salad

Photography by Salad

Salad in their Montreal tattoo studio. Photography by Salad

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Salad: “I grew up in Whitehorse, Yukon, and I lived just out of town. I was an only child, and I didn’t grow up with a TV, so I didn’t have much exposure to what life was like outside of my province. I also went to a Christian elementary school, but I switched to public school in grade nine because I threw an absolute fit. It’s not like I was super outspoken as a kid, but the way I dressed and the music I listened to and what I was drawing were the only things I felt in control of. It was the one thing that I was like, ‘No, you can’t take that away from me.’

“In elementary school, one of my uncle’s friends owned one of the only skate shops in the Yukon, and he gave me this Playboy Bunny hat, and I wore it to my 6th-grade class. My teacher was going to take it away, but my mom was like, ‘No, this is expensive,’ she was like ‘expel us, we don’t care,’ and I was like, ‘Wow, my mom is so cool.’

“I told my parents I was bisexual when I was 15 or 16, and they were cool with it, but I think they kind of pushed it to the side because I had a boyfriend in high school. It took me leaving the Yukon and moving to Vancouver to start exploring who I was, and I felt like I could actually introduce myself as who I was. My family wasn’t physically there, so they didn’t see me grow into my sexuality. There’s still a lot of things that I’ve tried to explain to my parents, and they don’t really understand, but I just have to be patient with that. I have a tight-knit group of friends from the Yukon, and they all already knew. So when I told them, they were like, ‘Yeah, I know. Cool,’ and we just moved on.

“I remember back when I left the Yukon and moved to Vancouver in 2013, I went to this clothing swap, and I only knew one person there. We all took photos of each other dressed up with this Polaroid camera and wrote something nice on the photos. This random person wrote on my Polaroid, ‘Looks good as f— dressed as a boy or a girl,’ and I don’t tie fashion or looks to gender, but I felt very seen; it felt good to read. After Vancouver I moved to Toronto and went into tattooing.

“I came out publicly as non-binary during the pandemic, so I went from @sadgirlsalad to @sadbabysalad on Instagram. A lot was going on; I quit my job in Toronto and moved back to the Yukon for a bit; I spent a lot of time alone in nature; I deactivated all of my social media. I felt like I had been conditioned to see myself in a certain way that wasn’t actually authentic. It felt like I was putting on a show for a long time, but I never really questioned it because I was just so busy working. With esthetician school and then tattooing, I had associated success and love with hyper-femininity for so long. But then, after seeing people living their lives without labels, it inspired me to stop putting so much pressure on myself to feel super feminine or masculine.

“I came out in stages, in environments where I felt safe and accepted. I came as non-binary out to my roommate, and once she was okay with that, I was like, ‘Okay, now I can tell my best friend.’ Once I was comfortable with that and knew that I was moving to Montreal, I came out publicly.

“I think moving to Montreal made it easier in a way — I did feel safe around the people [I worked with in Toronto], but they’d known me a certain way for so long. I just felt like I would have to keep showing them who I was to reinforce that, and it was a lot easier going to a new group of people and introducing myself like, ‘Hi! I’m non-binary.’

“The biggest thing in the past year that I’ve had fun with is just dressing myself and just letting go of any shame that I have tied to clothing. And it’s okay if something feels right one day and then doesn’t the next.

“I felt a lot of pressure and anxiety coming out later in life as non-binary, especially because I felt as if it’s something I should have known as a child. I had to really see past that and realize that there is no time stamp on coming out or becoming who you are — it’ll happen when it’s supposed to.”

The post Montreal-based Tattoo Artist on Coming Out — for the Second Time — During the Pandemic appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

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