What is brand identity? It might seem like a simple question, but it’s actually quite complex. Brand identity is the totality of how your customers perceive your company. It comprises everything from the name and logo to the customer service experience and the way you communicate with everyone on social media. In this article, we will discuss why brand identity is so important and how you can create a strong, unshakeable brand identity for your business.
How Your Brand Identity Can Set You Apart
In a world where there are thousands of businesses all selling similar products or services, it can be hard to stand out. Your brand identity will make you unique and memorable in the minds of your customers. You will attract new customers and keep existing ones coming back for more.
Creating a strong brand identity starts with having a clear understanding of who your target audience is and what they are looking for. Once you know this, you can start to create visuals and messaging that will resonate with them. It’s also important to be consistent with your branding across all channels, from your website to your social media accounts. This will help people quickly recognize your company and what it stands for.
Why Brand Identity Matters
Your brand identity is important because it can help you build trust and credibility with your customers. Customers are likely to do business with companies that they feel good about and can easily identify. An awesome brand identity can also help you charge more for your products or services, as customers are often willing to pay a premium for brands they trust and admire. Investing in a professional branding agency or designer is one of the best ways to ensure that your brand identity is on point.
How To Build Your Brand Identity
There are a few key things to keep in mind when building your brand identity. First, you need to make sure that your branding is consistent across all channels. This means using the same colors, fonts, and overall aesthetic in everything from your website to your social media posts. Second, you need to be clear about who your target audience is and what they are looking for. Once you know this, you can create messaging and visuals that will resonate with them. Finally, always be consistent with your branding. Consistency will help people quickly recognize and remember your company.
Take your brand name, for example. It seems simple enough, but there needs to be a lot of thought that goes into it. The name you choose should be reflective of your company’s values and what you want people to think of when they hear it. It should also be available as a .com, on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and anywhere else you want to have a presence. One may ask, “what’s in a name?” and the answer is “everything.” If you can’t figure one out, there are many helpful name generators that can help you find the perfect name for whatever you’re trying to convey.
This level of thought needs to be given to every element of your brand identity, from your logo to your website design to the way you talk about your company on social media.
If you’re not sure where to start with creating or improving your brand identity, we suggest working with a professional branding agency or designer. They will be able to help you create visuals and messaging that reflect your company’s values and what you want people to think of when they hear your name. Investing in strong brand identity is one of the best ways to ensure that your business is successful.
Conclusion
A strong brand identity is essential for any business that wants to be successful. It can help you attract new customers, build trust and credibility, and charge premium prices for your products or services. Build your brand correctly, and you will be on your way to a successful future.
During these tough economic times, we’ve decided to focus on practical, affordable gifts. Thus, we wanted to try to inspire those seeking a thoughtful gift for this period of transition, by compiling a complete menu that is sure to leave a lasting impression.
<gaM 063> BY AOHSOA
An exclusive partnership between AOHSOA × 360 MAGAZINE. A high quality tennis shoe perfect for painting the town red with clients. Eclectic prints which mimic a psychedelic, athleisure era – both designed in-house. Ideal for walks, jogging and gymnastics thanks to its visco-elastic better known as memory foam technology.
Rigorously tested for durability, they’re an ultramodern alternative to NIKE, Adidas shell toe and Reebok classics.
With two distinctive colorways that pay homage to The ‘Boogie Down’ Bronx‘s grafitti art scene, these melodic masterpieces possess a modest price point to achieve the unexpected.
Finally, a chic shoe in vibrant hues, combining style and functionality, to be worn in the gym and non-traditional work environments.
<gaM 063> a new sneaker capsule created by AOHSOA and 360 MAGAZINE.
HARD ROCK HOME
From the textile manufacturers over at Sobel Westex, comes an eclectic seven piece bed set inspired by the Hard Rock marquee – a guitar. With designs which embody the essence of the greats such as Johnny Cash and Elvis, these sheets will have you leaping on a bed, strumming your stomach while lip syncing BB King. Fun yet affordable option for a guest room, dorm and/or sleeper. It’s offered in a rustic bandana blue pattern which mimics a pair of prewash. For the cost of a night stay at a modest hotel, it includes: 1 comforter, 2 Shams, 2 euro shams, and 2 decorative pillows. It’s a great purchase for that special someone in need of a slight push to began adultery. And, it makes almost any room feel harmonious. Machine wash, tumble dry, no iron.
Roborock is gearing up for this holiday season. From planning and decorating to the cluttered aftermath, Roborock has the cleaning tools to keep their homes tidy!
Dyad: Make wet and dry dirt disappear at a stroke with DyadPower this holiday season – The only dual roller motor, multi-roller wet/dry vacuum in the world! The 13000Pa suction vanishes dirty water leaving floors clean yet dry after the entire family has left. What’s more – the folding holder allows it to stand on its own, and the cordless design allows users to freely move from room to room.
Q5 Series: Driven by a 5200mAh battery to power longer cleans, the Roborock Q5+ features 2700Pa of suction power to easily suck up dirt and grime into the 2.5L dust bag of the Auto-Empty Dock Pure for hands-free cleaning while you’re busy with everything else. Runs on a PreciSense LiDAR Navigation System, unique to Roborock which creates a 3D map along with custom routines, multi-level mapping, as well as No-Go Zones & Invisible Walls. Compatible with Alexa, Google Home, and Siri, the Q5 utilizes advanced app control to create a customizable clean.
S7+ MaxV Ultra: Roborock’s smartest robot combo yet! The S7 MaxV Ultra provides an extremely convenient, totally hands-free cleaning experience. The dock even cleans itself too! The S7+ MaxV Ultra has more suction power than any previous Roborock robot vacuum, generating a maximum of 5100 Pa, picking up debris, hair, dust, and more from hard floors and carpets. Using its camera, this model can now recognize the furniture in your home and place them on the map automatically. It can also identify your floors in each room and recommend cleaning patterns and scrub intensity accordingly.
Though green watch dials are still trending, the green dial Rolex Daytona hype, thanks to John Mayer, is finally over.
It’s finally the perfect time to invest in the Green Daytona of your dreams from SwissWatchExpo!
Selling for over $125,000 at the peak of its popularity, the “John Mayer” Rolex has finally dropped in price to $81,000, making it the perfect time to buy.
While it remains out of reach for most of us, the lucky few will see this as their time to shine.
Eugene Tutunikov, CEO of pre-owned luxury watch retailer, SwissWatchExpo, has followed this watch for years and finally saw the price of this Daytona fall in the last month after 14 months of its increasing price.
A new school year is quickly approaching and what better way to get excited than designing your dream dorm with Rose Box NYC! These gorgeous bouquets are completely customizable, letting your personality be expressed through a variety of color combinations and decorative boxes. The best part? These flowers can actually live up to 3 years with the proper care and maintenance!
Whether you need ice to whip up cocktails or want to cool a bottle of wine, the TRUE Chill Modern Ice Bucket is the best ice bucket for all of your chilling endeavors.
Roomy, featherlight, and stylized, this modern ice bucket comes party-ready. It’s made of durable acrylic with cut-out handles allowing for easy mobility. Low-cut sides make it easy to swoop in and grab another bottle. Holds 4 wine bottles.
This board will ensure your spread is on point for any occasion. It’s beautifully designed, featuring gorgeous end grain wood and an acacia spreader. The knife fits conveniently in grooves between the two sections. Turn it upside down for the perfect cutting board. Cleans up easily with a damp cloth.
Celebrate the coming holidays with luxurious, fall-scented candles. Warm up your home and have it smelling fresh going into the new season with decadent fragrances.
Today, Champs Sports has launched their new, Eastbay Performance Field Day Collection. Champs Sports developed this new collection, part of the brand’s Eastbay Performance line, for the modern athlete and includes both lifestyle and performance apparel. Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts and NIL basketball superstar Jared McCain show off the versatile new products in the collection’s corresponding campaign.
Glass XTR2 + ZAGG Screen Repair Guarantee Plan for the iPhone 14 family of smartphones. U.S. customers who purchase a Screen Repair Guarantee plan ($10) may register their phone for a one-time screen repair up to $250 if their iPhone 14 screen gets damaged with the XTR2 screen protector on the device. The plan is valid for up to one year from the date of purchase per device, and customers are limited to a one-time screen repair. This plan will also cover all future OEM smartphones for which we will make Glass XTR2. For FAQ click HERE.
Definitively the choice of a player for less than fifty dollars. In fact, a lot of them compare it to $200 versions. Cloud Stinger 2 maintains the fundamentals of the original HyperX Cloud Stinger, while refining them to meet an even wider range of gamers needs. Weighing in at under 300g, the headset is designed for aquality user experience with great sound and lightweight comfort. Cloud Stinger 2 utilizes large 50mm drivers to provide clearer audio, with earcups that rotate 90 degrees for adaptive fit and comfort aroundthe neck during breaks. The headset also features easy-access audio controls on the earcup and a swivel-to-mute, noise-canceling flexible microphone for added convenience, reduced background noise and clearvoice quality.
From sourcing quality ingredients to small batch production, La Tourangelle’s products are authentic, sustainable, and crafted locally in California and France using traditional practices, and recently approved by everyone’s favorite tastemaker, Jonathan Van Ness.
NEW this year is La Tourangelle’s Black Truffle Infused Oil (250 ml – $24.99), robust and distinctive with complex earthy notes of damp forests and dried mushrooms that are characteristic of the French Périgord Truffle. This September, La Tourangelle will release two-pack gift box of Truffle Oils (price is TBD for now – let us know if you would be interested)with one White Truffle and one Black Truffle Infused Oil, the perfect gift for the home gourmand.
Or opt for is the classic stocking stuffer gift sets – the Favorites Trio ($22.99) with Walnut, Avocado, and Sesame oils, or the Infused Gift Trio ($20.99) with Garlic, Herb de Provence, and Basil oil.
And for a little something extra this festive season, La Tourangelle’s newest bold and bright launch, Extra Virgin Avocado Oil(250 ml – $11.99), or choose the classic Extra Virgin Olive Oil (500 ml – $9.99) or another new product, for the home cook in your life (or even the friend who can’t cook).
All of La Tourangelle’s products fit into the category of “Gifts that Give Back” – 2% of the company’s profits and 5% of the company’s land in Woodland, Yolo County, CA are dedicated to the La Tourangelle Foundation – founded to support edible gardens within schools, regenerative agriculture, and food banks.
Where to buy? La Tourangelle oils can be purchased at Whole Foods Market, Kroger’s, Safeway, Publix, and Walmart, its website, and on Amazon.
La Tourangelle Avocado Oil featured inside 360 MAGAZINE
Harlem’s Fashion Row (HFR) announced today that the highly anticipated 15th Anniversary Fashion Show & Style Awards will open New York Fashion Week on September 6 in partnership with LVMH in North America.
With this year’s theme “Future’s Past,” the event will showcase fashion’s future fueled by the untold history of countless contributions, sacrifices, and innovations in fashion that inspire HFR to explore groundbreaking collaborations and to elevate black-owned brands. This special anniversary event will support further progress for diversity, equality and inclusion in the fashion world.
Additionally, HFR will introduce a newly created award in honor of the late Virgil Abloh, which will be given by his wife, Shannon Abloh. Honoring Virgil’s memory and lasting impact, the award celebrates like-minded individuals who embody Virgil’s spirit, brilliance, and vision, through invaluable contributions to culture, community, and innovation. This year’s award categories and recipients include:
The Virgil Abloh Award presented by LVMH: Issa Rae – Actress, Writer and Producer
Designer of the Year: Sergio Hudson – Luxury Women’s Wear Designer
Editor of the Year: Robin Givhan – Fashion Editor and Pulitzer Prize Winning Writer
Stylist of the Year: Ade Samuel – Celebrity Stylist
ICON of the Year Award: Janet Jackson – Actress, Singer, Songwriter, Author, Businesswoman and Philanthropist
Brandice Daniel, CEO & Founder of Harlem’s Fashion Row, states: “African Americans have a rich history in fashion, although much of their contributions have been buried or unrecognized in history. However, HFR would not exist without the work of Black designers like Lois Alexander Lane, who created the Harlem Institute of Fashion and the Black Fashion Museum. We also would not exist without the work of other sartorial pioneers like Ann Lowe, Elizabeth Keckley, and Eunice Johnson. We are moving into the future by reaching back to understand, honor, and pull strength from our past.”
Through an ongoing partnership with HFR, LVMH continues its commitment to work toward a more diverse, equitable and inclusive fashion industry. Several brands from the LVMH portfolio will join in celebrating the next generation of diverse fashion talent by supporting various aspects of the Fashion Show & Style Awards throughout the evening:
Sephora will provide runway hair products from black-owned brands that are also part of the 15% Pledge program created by Aurora James.
Dior Beauty will support with sponsorship of all skincare, makeup and artistry teams.
Tiffany & Co. will present gifts to Style Award Honorees and designers during the event.
Moët Hennessy USA will provide the perfect drink of choice for cocktail hour, Chandon Garden Spritz, — providing a delicious balance between sweetness and bitterness with exceptional sparkling wine and bitter-orange liqueur, handcrafted with handpicked and ripe Valencia oranges, herbs and spices.
“As LVMH looks to the future of our Group and Maisons through the lens of diversity, equity and inclusion, we are thrilled to partner with Harlem’s Fashion Row on their 15th anniversary celebration, and to cast a spotlight on the cultural richness and creativity of the Harlem community”, said Anish Melwani, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton Inc. “The success of LVMH’s Maisons stems from their ability to reveal creative talents from across the world and we are excited to support the New York Fashion Week debut of three talented BIPOC designers from our neighboring community of Harlem.”
Three BIPOC designers will showcase their latest collections in the show:
Clarence Ruth (Menswear): Cotte D’Armes is a high-end men’s and women’s ready-to-wear denim brand in New York City. Ruth was the winner of the Tommy Hilfiger X Harlem’s Fashion Row Design Competition.
Johnathon Hayden (Sustainable Women’s Wear): Showcasing his brand Deus Ex Machina, Hayden creates ready-to-wear separates that bridge the gap between luxury and longevity.
Nicole Benefield (Women’s Wear): Self-titled responsible brand Nicole Benefield fathoms form over fast fashion trends, casual wearability over exclusivity, and eco-friendly fabrics above the latter.
New York designer and entrepreneur Jevaughn Williams, known as Mugzy McFly, is the co-founder and director of Signed By McFly.
McFly has made the Bronx his inspiration. Last June, he was interviewed by us and told us about his passion for fashion and explained what kind of design he creates for his clothing brand. Signed by McFly was created in 2013 with a single graphic t-shirt and has since increased into an extensive range of clothing pieces and accessories including joggers, sneakers, goggles and even cargo pants.
Listen to McFly talk with Vaughn Lowery about new designs lined up for the winter season and upcoming projects for 360 Magazine.
McFly confirms that this summer he has been able to see the trends that he had predicted at the beginning of summer in the streets of the Big Apple, “Quality, comfort and sustainable styles have been incorporated in bright and earth tones combined with eclectic sneakers. In addition, he adds that fabrics such as cotton have been the ones, he has seen the most. Listen to Mugzy McFly’s previous podcast with Vaughn Lowery on summer 2022 trends click HERE.
Instead, for the winter season he will incorporate designs with slightly more strange colors: mint. In addition, he wants to combine these colors in garments such as hoodies, for example he is very aware of the typical and traditional black hoodie, although he does not rule out adding more vivid colors such as yellow, pink, or purple. He foresees that the chosen material will be cotton again and something that he has in common with summer clothes is comfort. Even one of the star designs of his brand will be the bubble jackets not only for men but also for women. We can’t forget about footwear, a pedestrian accessory of Signed By McFly’s main clothing. This time it is a more functional shoe with a sporty touch. He is a basketball fan and would like to create ”those basketball player feet for next year”. For inspiration “I plan to go to the Flyers basketball tournament, which is completely decked out in my stuff.”
Accessories is one of the options that he is designing for this year. The theme: back to school. Own designs such as composition notebooks. In addition, the fanny packs are going to become a design and trend in his brand, for this he wants to design a classic PVP logo or an embroidered logo. Finally, hats will continue to be designed but this time with different textures than the previous ones.
Now, the designer is working on more graphic and higher quality clothes, ”I want to go back to looking for more graphics on things”, so he wouldn’t mind spending more money so he can design clothes that are better quality and different from what that people normally see.
Their designs are unisex with flattering silhouettes and elegant use of orange details. The style construction leans towards high-end clothing and high street.
Mugzy’s 2022 summer and winter collection are inspired by the slow and calmness of the previous years, aptly defined as “comfy elevated” with neutral earth tones and calm prints.
Despite the fact that America has many voices of color, they can seldom be heard. 360 MAGAZINE has always been a place where these people can be represented, so they’ve decided to expand on this mission by launching their own podcast: 360 MAG: A No-Nonsense Conversation. It will also cover the latest news, design and culture, as well as interviews with key industry trend makers. Hosts include Vaughn Lowery, Javier Pedroza, Armon Hayes and LaJune Grant.
Lowery called the podcast, “An evocative gallery where everyone can continue to celebrate their singularity.” Pedroza stated, “I’d like for people to feel inspired, joyful, creative and stronger after listening to 360 Mag – a No Nonsense Conversation.”
In the inaugural episode, Javier Pedroza talked with Latin pop group Piso 21, known for hits such as Me Llamas, Besándote and Déjala Que Vuelva. 360 has also chatted with other major figures: singer Carmen DeLeon, disabled TikTok influencer NotLewy, and actor/rapper Young Dylan. Stay tuned. We will also chat with people from the tech, design, and automotive industries.
360 also recently released an NFT collection called the Animal Series. Four NFTs will be for sale until May 1st. Secure yours now HERE. Find more information HERE.
Find the podcast on Apple, Amazon, Google and Spotify. Podcasts will release in both Spanish and English. In addition, Also, 360 MAG possesses a dedicated RSS feed and has launched an account on Twitch to increase reach.
360 MAGAZINE is an edgy fashion, lifestyle and culture magazine, introducing cutting-edge brands, entities and trends to taste makers within their respective communities. Founding members have over 30 years of collective experience both as notable talent and professionals within the realms of fashion, music, art, design and entertainment. 360 is more than just a magazine comprised of journalists, representing a movement of social awareness and change.
360 is a LGBTQIA-friendly publication, officially recognized by the NGLCC. The magazine is contemporary in look and appeal. Quality art content is the constant goal. It will be entertaining, newsworthy and thought-provoking, appealing to a broad entertainment readership. No publication like it is available today, constantly celebrating racial as well as sexual ambiguous talent and artists.
Listen to Monroe Alise’s full conversation with Vaughn Lowery on the 360 MAG Podcast HERE.
Monroe Alise is an actress, LGBTQIA+ advocate, model and comedienne. As a transgender woman, she has fulfilled her childhood dream of working in the entertainment industry. Her philosophy on life is described in her mantra, “If you can’t laugh at life, you will never find a reason to live it.”
Born and raised in Washington DC, Monroe grew up passionate and inspired by media and entertainment. Her admiration for her father’s successful career as a DJ ignited her insatiable desire to entertain. Thus, she began singing in church, propelling her into the world of artistic expression.
For Monroe, a great singer consists of emulating your favorite idols while taking advantage of the potential of one’s own voice. As a child, she recalls being compared to artists like John Legend and Luther Vandross because of her tonality and courage. Another favorite is Nina Simone, whom she references while belting evangelical hymns.
As a youth, Monroe was a very active and social child. She studied sports public relations but fancied theatre. These disciplines were conducive to her discovery of sexuality. Further, she began to notice a direct correlation with her mother’s maternal responsibilites, rather than her father and two brother’s machismo profile.
According to Monroe, “While they were playing games and sports, I was in the kitchen doing my mom’s hair.” In addition, her openly gay aunt was influential in her gender transformation due to her immense pride and confidence.
Monroe’s gender bender was painstakingly challenging but became easier over time. For instance, while preparing for an acting role as a Trans woman, she became comfortable in this new skin. After the audition, she gave herself permission to continue to live within this newfound reality.
A year later, Monroe made the decision to come out, “I was like, well this is who I am, so I socially reinvented myself and this is the girl you see.” Eventhough the transition embraced authenticity, it was extremely taxing on her family as well as father’s religious convictions.
Lacking legit representation and management, Monroe began to utilize social media to seek opportunities within the realms of fashion and Hollywood. As a thespian, Monroe became enthralled by the portrayal of becoming another homosepian while subsequently having an impact on the world. This year’s main objective is New York City’s Broadway. Her short-term is to star in a sci-fi like Star Trek or Star Wars as well as a fantasy film similar in type to Harry Potter and Twilight. Longterm, Monroe aspires to host a namesake talk show directed and produced by herself.
As an emerging Trans Community activist, Monroe is deeply concerned about the increasing rate of violence against her people. She hopes to alleviate the suffering of her collective, especially at the hands and ignorance of the narrow-minded.
Monroe’s Five Principles:
1.) Adequate preparation;
2.) prevention of underachievement;
3.) working while you wait without worry;
4.) preparing for your mission;
5.) and continuing to work because you know you’ve been doing the best you could.
“The love you put out in the world is never wasted. You’re just staking up on good Karma. It’s a message to me.” – Zach Zoya
The Canadian crooner proved to be an emerging global star with Start Over on his debut EP Spectrum. The smash has accumulated over two million streams, setting the bar in the legendary Montreal’s music scene.
Zach’s cinematic visual, directed by Dan LeMoyne, Upper Hand f/ Soran, depicts emotional imbalance while in a relationship. Subsequently, the anthem exhibits his musical complexity, enticing French rap record label 7ième Ciel to sign him as their first English-speaking act.
Zach confirms that being mixed race in a melting pot like Montreal has granted him the freedom to explore his sound with ‘zero’ restrictions. Further, at his NYC Ludlow House showcase, he exuded natural talent and continues to be sought-after for his extensive scope of instrumentation. Clearly, working in tandem with heavy hitters like Boi-1da, Don Mills as well as Matthew Burnett has deeply enriched his inventiveness.
Through his road to discovery, Zach has stumbled upon his wide range of vocal capabilities, largely attributed a good friend and keyboardist. Smoke & Dance, from his latest EP, was released in May 2022. It further solidifies him as a riveting griot and clover–virtuoso, rapper and singer. It’s definitely a post-COVID summer banger! “Smoke & Dance is a anthem I made at the worst time in the pandemic,” says Zach.
Lastly, after being on tour with four-time Juno award-winner Charlotte Cardin, Zach is eager to hit a stage near you.
Stay up to date with Zach Zoya by signing up to his mailing list HERE
Vice President – Head of Marketing at Lexus, Toyota Motor North America
*Listen to Vinay Shahani’s full conversation with Vaughn Lowery on the 360 MAG Podcast HERE.
As a crowded child growing up in and around Detroit, Vinay Shahani was exposed to the motor industry at a very young age. He started working at the Ford Motor Company when his father (of Sindhi descent) emigrated from India to the United States in the 1960s. Vinay became a car lover under the influence of his father: “He was in the car business, and I was also in the car business because I was his son, and I loved that.” Once he moved to Michigan, Vinay earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and Manufacturing Systems Engineering from Stanford University. Currently, Vinay lives in the Dallas area.
Vinay is Vice President of Marketing for Lexus, a Japanese high-end car brand created by Toyota Inc., a position he has held since January 2021. He is responsible for Lexus’ marketing activities, including advertising campaigns, media and digital, product marketing and lifecycle management, auto shows, incentive and experiential marketing, and motorsports. He creates a “speak up” environment to make the opinions of all members of his team visible (agency partners and internal staff). Identifying social and commercial values helps expand the brand to various groups of consumers who may not align with the preferences of the Asian population, such as Walton Isaacson (black, Hispanic, and LGBTIQ community) and the IW group.
In addition, he oversees motorsports, engagement marketing, car shows, and other consumer events throughout the United States. Vasser Sullivan is a race team, with worldwide competitors such as Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi, that Lexus empowers with some of the best drivers – “We definitely want to win, and we have a winning team.” Meanwhile, Lexus also helps improve consumers’ skills in car track by providing the opportunity to study professionally at Performance Driving School.
Since the brand is determined to treat consumers as valued guests, one of Vinay’s top initiatives iis Lexus Hospitality, as it is inspired by the Japanese spirit of hospitality and is committed to providing excellence in customer service.
Another dimension within the marketing field is monitoring and analyzing the results after experimenting with the Lexus IS 500 model and the Lexus RC F Track Edition.
Under the massive influence of the metaverse today, Vinay mentions that Lexus is creating its own Mark Netscape plus Upstream to figure out what the role of Lexus is as a brand in the metaverse. In addition, they are in talks with global partners like Lexus International to find out what is being sought out in Japan while identifying markets in the US, Canada, and Great Britain. Based on the diverse target audience of Lexus in the United States, Vinay seeks to use digital media and the National Brand Day to show brand culture and emotion, even
creating a TikTok account to get closer to younger audiences.
As a high environment-friendly brand, by 2035, Vinay plans for Lexus to be a ‘global 100% battery electric’ vehicle brand to reduce fossil fuel consumption and emissions. With these measures, it’s great to see the carbon footprint will be reduced thanks to the company’s shift.
Finally, Vinay adds that “it is important that we know who we are as a brand from a strategic perspective.” With this, they are trying to add attractive and technological accessories to their vehicles that give the driver great confidence in the handling and control of their car. “Maintaining a love for performance cars gets your heart rate up, it excites you, and that’s something we definitely want to associate with different brands.”
Alien Liberty International, more commonly known as ALI, is a renowned hip-hop/funk band that is comprised of multinational members from Japan, Europe, America, Asia, and Africa. Initially, the collective was formulated in Shibuya, a special ward in Tokyo, Japan.
In 2019, their musical journey began. Helmed by vocalist Leo Imamura, ALI offers a unique perspective to the industry today. 360 MAGAZINE’s very own Vaughn Lowery had an opportunity to sit down with Leo and chat all things about ALI.
Founded initially by a selection of four members, ALI started as a group of young people seeking a change in their everyday lives. Inspired by the connection that music creates, ALI was formed to relay the message of unity in the community.
Motivated by the legacy of Muhammad Ali, the band decided to name themselves ALI. Capturing the essence of the legend himself, ALI asserted that they would have strong energy and overall presence to embrace more union throughout the world.
Always hosting and cultivating community around his childhood home, Leo has been intrigued by different cultures all his life. Growing up listening to his parents’ favorite artists like Janet and Michael Jackson, Leo has admired funk and R&B for quite some time. Mainly inspired by the sense of harmony that funk music carries, the group began covering old songs in the genre that blended smoothly with hip-hop roots.
With such a diverse group of individuals in ALI, they made it one of their key goals to show how differing people can come together to fight for peace. It has been vital for Leo to be able to showcase the diversity that Japan encompasses, to reveal what the country indeed looks like and stands for.
Having grown up in the city of Shibuya, Leo is passionate about where it comes from and how it helped him transform into the man he is today. Caring deeply for Shibuya, Leo remembered how there were varying sides to the city that he admired. The rich fashion and cultural influences that his home was full of set it apart from the rest.
Music is what truly matters. With such a deep culture that celebrates lifting up uniqueness, ALI embodies this through and through. Utilizing music as a bridge to bring people together, ALI hopes to demonstrate to the world that they’ve never cared what people look like.
“Music is what can break the wall,” stated Leo.
In 2021, ALI went on a hiatus after controversy erupted with the band’s ex, then-drummer. When discussing the conflict, Leo and another former member of the band Alex explained how one group member having a battle would further impact the rest of the band. In the Japanese culture of some of the band members, dealing problems with authority is looked down upon and not accepted.
Enduring, too, the pandemic during this time, ALI has proved their impeccable persistence despite their struggles. Their creative outlet was forced off for a long time, with Japan shutting down everything entertainment-related.
Nonetheless, ALI is now making their come back. As such an exclusive grouping that stands alone from anything we’ve seen before, their journey is exceptionally admiring. This summer, ALI is fully immersed back into the scene, playing at upcoming festivals for the first time since the pandemic began.
Julie Lamb, the CEO, Founder, and Executive Producer of How-To with Julie Sue, is a problem solver, storyteller, digital content creator, and economy connector. She is a collector of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Ethereum and is passionate about helping brands build their identity using current tools and a highly selected network of virtual agents to develop the entrepreneurial capacity of brands. She has already collaborated with multiple popular brands such as iHome, Disney, KidDesigns, Hasbro, CES, KeaBabies, Michael Todd Beauty, and Crown Goose USA.
Listen to Julie Lamb’s full conversation with Vaughn Lowery on the 360 MAG PodcastHERE.
While studying music, Julie went to Europe and started working on fashion collections. She finally settled in New York, where Julie has 30 years of experience working as a model. By highlighting the activity with Brunello Cucinelli on Saks Fifth Avenue, Julie mentioned that her creative confidence was greatly inspired after moving from a small Southwestern town to the Big Apple, New York City.
Julie has long loved the worlds of tech, digital, and speed: ‘I like being able to share things digitally.’ At the forefront of the crypto wave in 2017, she bought Ethereum, a digital platform used to make smart contracts, allowing entrepreneurs to create decentralized applications, as in the case of Julie.
Immersed in the realm of cryptocurrencies, the trailblazer supports projects like Non-Fungible Token (NFT). As a rapidly developing industry, NFT is becoming an increasingly popular way to buy and sell digital art, spanning industries like sports, music, fashion, film, games, etc. The annual NFT conference, held in multiple cities (including New York City and Los Angeles) around the United States, attracts hundreds of guests from various fields who speak about exponential growth and future trends in different verticals and how the digital landscape can incorporate this new tradeable product.
As an NFT-VIP (in which 360 MAGAZINE will serve as one of the media sponsor), Julie’s mission is to shape the NFT industry into diverse communities made of global thought leaders who share like-minded values and beliefs. Last April, she attended the Miami NFT week and served as its Executive Producer, where she focused on igniting new dialogue amongst attendees and tastemakers on topics related to technology, creative installations, immersive art, and performance. Julie can be recognized as an economy connector for providing the space for several minority-owned businesses in this conference to discuss the present and future of the meta-universe and how it affects them.
Although the attendance was underrepresented and some representative minority-owned businesses felt left out, Julie declared her conditional support for the voice of women and the LGBTQ community. Meanwhile, this kind of offline meeting takes highly digital products further into reality, narrowing the society’s discrimination against aging. In addition, she is fascinated by using Web3.0 and its implementation with artists in the fields of music, fashion, and the token economy.
An example of this is that the international brand Gucci has started a multi-directional exploration to embrace the digital world, which associates a luxury brand with emerging technologies through a series of avatar experiences; i.e. exhibitions of Gucci art, mini-games, and digital item purchases.
Julie is now preparing a private event in New York City with NFT VIP sponsorships from June 19th-22nd at Margaritaville Resort Times Square, owned by the real estate and investment firm Soho Properties. Surprise celebrities will be attending that directly tie in with her message and bring new inspiration to the community. Sponsorship opportunities available for this four-day event.
In the field of cryptocurrencies, that features multiple sponsors, will have an additional sponsor called the crypto coin concierge. They will cover the luxury travel for the most elite global clients in the world of cryptocurrencies and with payment through these. Julie tells us that her company has also partnered with iHeartRadio on Crypto Radio in the marketing industry.
