PHOTOGRAPHY Hidhir Badaruddin
This week, BRICKS hosted an intimate dinner at Park Village to celebrate British retailer schuh’s “Who Lets You Be You” AW24 campaign.
In keeping with BRICKS’s community-focused ethos, the British footwear retailer’s most recent campaign spotlights the bonds between besties and how they uplift each other’s individuality. The purest friendships allow you to be your authentic self without judgement or pretence, offering a sense of unbreakable comfort and belonging that should be cherished.
In honour of the campaign message – who lets you be you? – each guest was encouraged to bring their sibling, romantic partner or creative collaborator to the dinner. Attendees included Lamisa and Hafsa of art collective Muslim Sisterhood, Influencer Abigail Masters and her boyfriend Josh Silerio, and iconic influencer duo Sophie Butler and Dominic Lawrence. Model Maya Shabs brought her friend Nile. “We basically met on a schuh campaign, and that’s now the actual reason why we’re besties,” she shares. Touchingly, that wasn’t the only schuh-related connection that resurfaced during the evening.
Even though I handed in my job notice to you around ten years ago, I’m deeply thankful for schuh’s ongoing commitment to support me throughout my career journey.
Tori West, the founder of BRICKS magazine, gave a speech honouring schuh’s long-standing support over the past decade. As one of the brand’s former sales assistants, Tori expressed her gratitude for the company’s commitment to fostering long-term relationships. “Even though I handed in my job notice to you around ten years ago, I’m deeply thankful for schuh’s ongoing commitment to support me throughout my career journey.” She described this as a “phenomenal 360 moment.”
Tori also took a moment to thank her friend and deputy editor, Madeline Reid, who she has worked with at BRICKS for the past five years. Madeline originally met Tori while interning for the magazine, and the pair have continued to develop their business and alternative education network, The Learner Platform. “She believed in my crazy ideas so she came on board to help me run it, and now it really feels real,” Tori explained. “This campaign is really meaningful to me in particular because, to thrive, I realised you really need a partner in crime.”
This campaign is really meaningful to me in particular because, to thrive, I realised you really need a partner in crime.
Other guests included creative Jacques La Sode and their partner Gio, and TikToker Tyff and their partner Asia, both from BRICKS Collective. Guests were ready for the wet weather thanks to schuh, who provided attendees with the latest styles from footwear favourites including Dr Martens, Birkenstocks and Vagabond.
As part of BRICKS’ ongoing commitment to supporting emerging creatives, Learner Platform member Lauren and her best friend Julia attended the supper club. The dynamic duo recently launched their own social media agency together, APRIIL and both schuh and BRICKS were eager to provide them with valuable networking opportunities to grow their burgeoning business. In addition to facilitating connections with the other guests, the BRICKS team will now offer Lauren and Julia personalised mentoring sessions as they navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship and scale their small business to new heights.
Dinner Ladies, the planet-friendly catering company founded on the long-standing friendship between its co-owners, Lily Cai and Emily Plunket, provided the event’s catering. The vegan menu included “superstraccia” with peach and heirloom tomatoes, delicious roasted delica pumpkin, and mouthwatering maple roasted plums. Dinner Ladies’ success further highlights the triumphs and successes that can emerge from close-knit bonds, as the duo leveraged their deep personal connection to build a thriving business venture. It’s true what they say – two minds are, in fact, better than one.
Shop online or visit schuh in-store now to explore the collection that celebrates individuality.
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