NO.LIFE 007
Welcome to issue 7 of NTW’s weekly newsletter, straight from the minds of our founders, Cal & Rocky.
Cal’s 717 day Whoop streak, Skepta vs Joyner diss tracks, and Bieber’s sky-high brand drop, are all fighting for top spot in the group chat.
Let’s get into it.
CALLUX UP FIRST >
My Ride-or-Die Apps
Whenever I post a screenshot of an app on my stories, I get 100’s people asking ‘what is thattttt?!’ - So it’s your lucky day, lemme put you on. Unfortunately, none of these are sponsored, but if the head of marketing is reading this, hiiii!
Whoop - I'm on a 717-day streak, but I’ve had the device since October '19 (lost the original streak to a beach-bar mojito, still hurts). Every day, my sleep, temperature, and stress are constantly monitored, showing historical feedback all the way back to when I first got it. One of the best health monitoring systems there is imo. Head to TikTok or YouTube for a complete run-through.
Eight Sleep - My girlfriend is the portable sun, my side is the penguin enclosure. The mattress chills me to Antarctic bliss and then gently vibrates me awake before a lil doom-scroll. Relationship saver, sweat reducer. One of the best purchases I have ever made, but be warned, it is expensive. It also comes with some decent health statistics.
Flighty - A game changer. The app notifies me of my gate, delays, and baggage belt information all before the airport itself knows the details. Bought me an extra latte and avoided a three-hour lounge purgatory last week.
Honourable mentions to TradingView, Are.na, ChatGPT and Notes app. My daily grinders.
Skepta vs Joyner Lucas - Diss-Track season!?
Is Diss season back? Will Harry from the Sidemen get involved? Will lyrical genius Chip get involved? Whenever UK grime and US rapid-fire bars collide, the group chats start popping off.
Here’s the play-by-play:
Skepta debuts “Friendly Fire” - calling Joyner a “bast*rd” - Performed it at Wireless, the crowd lost their minds.
Yesterday, Joyner claps back with “Nobody Cares,” really good, 1-0 Joyner IMO. Then Drake pokes the bear on IG with “UK still runs pen game” - so expect Round 3, bring popcorn.
Microplastics Mutate Your Lungs, shock...
Vienna researchers recently sprinkled healthy lung cells with 0.25-micron polystyrene dust and observed the DNA snap - cells morphed into pre-cancerous troublemakers while established tumour cells barely reacted.
Translation: fresh tissue is the soft target, and city air is basically glitter that primes your lungs for cancer. Time to price up an industrial-grade HEPA fortress.
Co-op’s CEO finally admitted April’s cyber-raid stole names, emails and postcodes for every Co-op loyalty holder - but no card numbers, allegedly, phishing season opens now.
The NCA has already cuffed four DragonForce-linked teens, and Co-op’s grand fix is a partnership with “The Hacking Games” to turn script-kids into white-hats. Enjoy that 25% apology voucher while you freeze your credit file.
With the number of data breaches every few months, I just assume now that all of my details are now out there, but luckily, I’ve got some 007 security in my house.
NEXT UP, ROCKY >
Bieber’s Back, After 4 Years: SWAG and SKYLRK Era
My playlist this week has been JB’s new album ‘SWAG’ on repeat - not my usual vibe, but surprisingly therapeutic. ‘Yukon’ especially hits different.
Plus, Bieber finally launched his brand, SKYLRK, after teasing sketches and concepts for months. The debut collection, with striking visuals from design studio Serifa feels true to him - wavy, confident, different and unmistakably modern Bieber.
I especially have huge respect for their product designer Finn Rush-Taylor, who brought it all to life. And to stand out in such a saturated market - I'm so here for it.
ps. The sunnies are my hero piece.
Mind the Seat: Transport Patterns Reimagined
I hit up the Transport Museum for my little brother’s birthday on Monday and ended up obsessed with something I never saw coming: a whole line of accessories decked out in the same tapestry from London’s bus and Tube seats. What?!
It’s a pattern I’d tuned out on my daily commute - but seeing it on totes, laptop sleeves, and even furniture was weirdly euphoric. It’s niche, sure, but I need that sofa in my life! Nothing screams London quite like turning everyday grit into design gold.
Heron Preston: Free at Last
Who doesn’t know Heron Preston? A visionary who in my view, alongside the late Virgil Abloh, has reshaped streetwear with a fresh, contemporary edge.
Last week, I paused on a post: a blank tee stating “free at last.” Marking Preston’s triumphant return to full ownership of his brand after years of legal back-and-forth. A rare feat in today’s fashion industry.
For emerging designers, this is a powerful lesson. Scaling a brand isn’t just about chasing growth or investor capital. In the scramble for expansion, it’s easy to lose your identity to someone else’s vision. Fashion moves fast, and big players will always be steps ahead - but your creative integrity is yours alone. Never lose sight of that.
When you’re starting out, partnering with bigger entities can be necessary. They bring supply chains, funding, and expertise you might lack. But in the end, if you do fight to regain control like he did, you could walk away with more than just your name - you keep the connections too.
Now, Heron Preston begins again, armed with experience. I’m excited, and I can't wait to see what this next chapter holds. My advice: Stay true to yourself and your audience. Build a legacy that’s yours - no matter what.
Flop or Fire: My Hat Wishlist
I’m a sneakerhead, but hats? I’m equally obsessed. And when I'm designing them, balancing personal taste, community hype, and genuine fun in a saturated market is no small feat.
But this week, two hats are living in my head rent-free:
First up, a Labubu-inspired LA Dodgers cap. It’s the perfect time capsule - Dodger’s legendary Shohei Ohtani meets the current Labubu craze. Instant classic.
Then there’s Pablo Rochat’s post: a snapback strapped to the nose of a skateboard. So dumb it’s genius. And the best part? He’s skating in Timbs. Iconic.
South Korea is taking over (my mind)
Lately, I’ve been fully fed by South Korean influence - and for good reason. From stacked Fashion Week guests and Squid Game’s final season hitting the mainstream to Heung-min Son finally lifting his first trophy with Spurs - it’s sparked global buzz. Today, Spurs even announced a bespoke 2025/26 away kit co-designed with K-pop group Stray Kids, blending football with SKZ’s bold, expressive style.
Add giants like Alo and Anti Social Social Club opening new Seoul flagships this month, the new K-pop Demon Hunter soundtracks blasting everywhere, Blackpink’s comeback, Katseye climbing the charts and BTS’ Jungkook relaunching his Instagram yesterday - all going instantly viral. It’s wild how much is happening right now.
Just look at Jennie - starring in Samuel L. Jackson’s x Adidas’ recent ‘Pyramid & Clocks’ campaign, dropping another hit Gentle Monster collab, and her Solo debut at Coachella. It’s nonstop, and I’m only now joining the dots…
It remains my favourite place I’ve ever been - the fashion, the food, the culture, the people. It’s incredible. With these South Korean artists’ massive reach, it’s impossible to ignore. They don’t just set trends - it’s now shaping the West like never before. Here’s my hot take: South Korean brands like thisisneverthat, ADER Error, Low Classic, Covernat, Gentle Monster, Worksout, Wooyoungmi and G-Dragon’s Peaceminusone are about to push fashion to new heights globally. You heard it here first.
