MADELINE PENDLETON
STORY AND ILLUSTRATION BY CARLY HART
In recent years, alternative fashion has become mainstream. With the interest in thrifting and buying vintage clothes in order to try to minimize the waste created by large mass production companies, smaller brands selling second-hand items have become more popular.
Madeline Pendleton, founder of the brand “Tunnel Vision,” has been ahead of the fashion curve. In 2010, Pendleton founded her online marketplace that offered a mix of vintage pieces, handmade creations, and carefully curated new designs. Through her brand, Pendleton sought slow fashion by emphasizing quality over quantity and celebrating individuality.
People may know Pendleton from TikTok, where she has gained a large following. Aside from her business, she talks online about her experience growing up in the punk scene in the 1990s, her everyday life, and fashion and financial advice.
Central to her brand’s ethos is a commitment to sustainability and ethical practices. Pendleton recognized the environmental effect of fast fashion and made a conscious effort to minimize waste and promote eco-friendly alternatives. By incorporating vintage pieces and utilizing deadstock fabrics, Pendleton gave life into forgotten fashion treasures, fostering a sense of nostalgia and reducing the brand's carbon footprint.
“Tunnel Vision” embraces body positivity, featuring models of all shapes and backgrounds and fostering a space of inclusivity and empowerment. All original designs range from sizes extra-extra small to 5X, with some ranging to 7X. With the wide variety of sizing inconsistencies between brands, Pendleton explains online how her brand creates its sizes and does fittings to create the best product it can.
Pendleton's magnetic energy has cultivated a loyal community of like-minded individuals, uniting them through shared values and creative expression. Her connection to her followers has created a personal feeling associated with the brand even as it continues to grow and expand.
Pendleton's commitment to sustainability and inclusivity has sparked a fashion revolution. “Tunnel Vision” continues to inspire change, paving the way for a more conscious and diverse industry.
FRANCE CELEBRATES THE FETE DE LA MUSIQUE FOR ITS 41ST YEAR
BY GABRIELLE CABANES
La Fête de la Musique is an important event celebrated across France in honor of the longest day of the year, the summer solstice. The holiday was originally created in 1982 by Jack Lang, the minister of culture under the president Francois Mitterand who served between 1981 to 1995. For the holiday, towns and cities big and small host concerts in the streets and in various concert locations as well as bars and restaurants. While some concerts are more official like the one held at the Palais De L`Elysee in Paris, the official residence of the president, other concerts are held in the streets with various amateur artists playing their instruments on the sidewalk or others simply holding up speakers with the playlist of their choice.
The atmosphere of the Fete De La Musique this year in Paris reflected the spirited lifestyle of the Parisien youth. My friends and I started off the night by going near the docks of the Seine by the Place de la Bastille. Even on the metro, groups of teens could be seen listening to music through speakers and chatting as they were getting ready to party for the night. When we got off the metro we decided to sit at a cafe near the place de la Bastille and have a drink since the legal age for drinking in France is 18. We watched multiple groups play instruments and DJ in many different streets. People walked from one concert to the next listening to every sort of music imaginable while enjoying their evening.
After spending time in this area the group decided to take the metro back to a bar cafe close to our apartment. The owner had hired a DJ to play different types of music, mostly Spanish, English and French. We spent the rest of the evening hanging out with the locals and the workers of the bar. They were friendly and welcoming while taking time to get to know where we were from and what we were doing here in Paris. They even started playing more American tunes upon our arrival since they knew this is what we would probably be most familiar with. We ended the night around 2 a.m. and walked back still singing the lyrics to our favorite songs.
Overall, going to la Fete de la Musique as a young adult was an incredible experience which really showed the French youth’s festive culture. Everyone was kind and wanted to enjoy their evening to the beat of their own drums. Whatever tune one may like could be found in the streets of Paris that night and everyone could listen to whatever made them happy. If one finds themselves in Paris for the summer solstice they should consider wandering the streets and getting lost in the music all around them.
ROOKIE K-POP GIRL GROUP TRI.BE MAKE THEIR MARK WITH THEIR FIRST U.S. TOUR, “TRI.BE VIDA LOCA.”
BY Mimi Calhoun
K-Pop girl group TRI.BE have been on the road in the U.S. with their tour, “TRI.BE VIDA LOCA.” With 17 stops in 17 different cities in less than one month, the seven-member group under TR Entertainment have been keeping busy. The tour started on June 6, 2023 in Orlando, FL, with stops ranging from Los Angeles, CA., Omaha, NE, and even Columbus, Ohio.
Although it may seem strange for a K-Pop group to come to the midwest, let alone Ohio, there has been a rise of concerts from the genre in the state. Though it was canceled, boy group VERIVERY scheduled a stop in Cleveland in December 2021 and girl group PIXY performed in Columbus in April 2023. As K-Pop has become increasingly popular over the years, the opportunity for artists to make their way into the Western music scene have followed.
TRI.BE performed at the KING OF CLUBS in Columbus on June 16, 2023. While the venue is relatively small, it was the right size for the up and coming group. In K-Pop, a group or artist is still considered a “rookie” for about two years after its debut. TRI.BE is on the cusp of leaving its rookie status, as the group debuted on Feb. 17, 2021.
The group’s name comes from combining the word “TRI,” as an abbreviation for the word “triangle,” which is a symbol of perfection, and “BE,” which means existence. When put together, the meaning is supposed to be “perfect existence.” TRI.BE debuted with the single album “DA LOCA,” which incorporates pop, afrobeats, funk and dancehall elements. Currently, six of the seven members are on the U.S. tour, as Jinha has been on hiatus since May 31, 2022 due to health issues.
Even though the group is still relatively new and still working its way up in both the K-Pop genre and music world, it's evident that the members love what they do and care about their fans. While waiting outside to be let into the venue, all six members along with their staff came out to take a group picture about two hours before the concert was supposed to begin. The girls greeted fans with big smiles and eager waves, as they said ‘hellos’ in English before throwing hand hearts once they finished. Although it was a brief encounter that didn’t last more than 10 minutes, it was memorable to be so close to an idol.
The actual concert itself lasted a little over an hour and a half, which included a short interruption after two fans threw some lightsticks on stage. Luckily none of the members or anyone else got hurt, but there was a moment where fans wondered if the show would continue due to the disruption happening so close to the end. Thankfully, the concert was able to conclude without any problems and left fans wanting more.
For a group that can still be considered new, TRI.BE performed 14 original songs with some quick covers of other K-Pop group songs such as, “The Real” by ATEEZ, “Shoot Out” by Monsta X and “Next Level” by AESPA. The stamina and energy of the girls was impressive and most of the concert showcased each of their intricate dances and live vocals with little breaks in between. With the dedication towards fans and passion for performing, there’s no stopping TRI.BE and what it will accomplish next.