Smashbox and ILKA Team Up for Limited-Edition Fashion Collab

Get ready, beauty and fashion lovers! Smashbox Cosmetics has partnered with Mexico City-based fashion brand ILKA for an exciting limited-edition collection, blending Smashbox’s iconic aesthetic with ILKA’s signature style. This exclusive line, previewed at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Mexico City, marks Smashbox’s first venture into the world of fashion accessories. Both brands have infused their unique flair, bringing out the best of beauty and fashion in this creative collaboration. With designs that exude personality and style, these pieces are crafted to make a bold statement. Here’s a closer look at this unique partnership and the incredible accessories it’s bringing to the scene.

The Perfect Match: When Smashbox Meets ILKA

"When beauty and fashion meet, surprising things happen," says Rosine Kalach, co-founder of ILKA. This collaboration is the result of a shared vision between Smashbox and ILKA to create something truly special. From the very first preview at Fashion Week, the collection drew attention for its bold and seamless fusion of Smashbox’s modern branding with ILKA’s best-selling designs. The Smashbox x ILKA collection is all about striking a balance between elegance and attitude, with pieces that reflect both brands’ creative energy. Attendees at the launch event were thrilled by the bags’ unique look, showcasing how well the two brands complement each other.

Inspiration from Mexico City’s Vibrant Creative Scene

The inspiration behind this collaboration started with a visit to Mexico City by Smashbox leaders Felix Backhaus and Lauren Aja. Drawn to Mexico City’s dynamic arts and culture, they were eager to connect with local talent and build something meaningful. “We were inspired by the creativity we encountered in Mexico City and saw an opportunity to collaborate with local talent,” Aja shared. In June, Smashbox hosted a Sephora masterclass with the actress Ela Velden, which further strengthened ties with the Mexican beauty scene. For Smashbox, this partnership with ILKA isn’t just about fashion; it’s a celebration of creativity, community, and cross-border collaboration.

A Launch Event to Remember: Stars and Influencers Unite

The official launch event on October 18, 2024, turned into a star-studded affair, bringing out some of Mexico City’s most prominent names in entertainment and social media. Telenovela star Grettell Valdez and actress Ana Paula Capetillo joined influencers and style icons, all eager to see and celebrate the new collection. The event was filled with excitement as attendees got their first look at the collection’s four standout designs, each embodying a mix of form, function, and fabulousness. Smashbox’s Global Pro Lead Artist, Lori Taylor Davis, expressed her enthusiasm: "Smashbox has always used its platform to spotlight emerging talent across fashion, art, and music. This collection is no exception—it’s our way of celebrating beauty in all forms."

Final Thoughts

The Smashbox x ILKA collaboration goes beyond a simple fashion collection; it represents a shared passion for innovation, creativity, and community. With stylish shapes, bold branding, and ILKA’s unique fringe detailing, these limited-edition pieces are designed for anyone looking to elevate their style game. Each bag in this collection is more than an accessory—it’s a piece of art that reflects the collaboration between two brands dedicated to pushing creative boundaries. Whether you’re a Smashbox fan, a fashion enthusiast, or both, this collection brings something fresh and exciting. So, don’t wait! Head to ILKA’s store or website and grab your favorite piece before they’re gone.

ABOUT SMASHBOX COSMETICS:
"Everything carries out of the studio into reality." – Davis Factor

Born in a Los Angeles photo studio in 1990 by acclaimed celebrity and fashion photographer Davis Factor, Smashbox very quickly became a creative hub for world-class photographers, actors, models and musicians. The creative energy on set showed no signs of slowing down – except when the team had to stop for makeup touch ups. In 1996, Smashbox Cosmetics was officially born.

In 2000, Davis created Photo Finish Smooth & Blur, our original long-lasting primer. Now a cult-favorite, the formula helps makeup look flawless, feel better, and last longer—all day, every day, on set, and long after the shoot wraps.

Today, Smashbox carries that legacy with studio-grade, high-performance makeup that makes artistry easy—and always camera-ready.

Be Strong, Captain: Barça's Heartfelt Support for Marc ter Stegen

When the going gets tough, sometimes a simple show of support can make all the difference. That’s exactly what happened when the Barça players took to the field before their midweek clash against Getafe, proudly wearing a t-shirt that read “MOLTA FORÇA CAPITÀ” in Catalan and “BLEIB STARK KAPITÄN” in German—both translating to "BE STRONG, CAPTAIN."

This heartfelt message was directed at their injured goalkeeper, Marc ter Stegen, who recently sustained a serious knee injury during a victory over Villarreal. The crowd at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys cheered on as the players emerged, showing their solidarity with the German international.

Ter Stegen's road to recovery has already begun, following a successful surgery earlier this week. As he starts his comeback, the wave of support hasn’t been limited to the stadium. Across social media, he’s been flooded with well-wishes from teammates, rivals like Athletic Club and Real Sociedad, and even stars such as former teammate Sergi Roberto and Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois.

Barça’s message is clear: no matter the challenge, they’re standing strong with their captain.

Fan Reveals Human Mobile Devices As Global Partner Of Fc Barcelona

Flick, Romeu, Victor, Olmo, Roebuck… there have been plenty of high-profile new arrivals at FC Barcelona in recent months, and today, a new supporter is announced to join the masses of fans out there. That supporter is Human Mobile Devices (HMD), a European mobile phone innovator that prides itself on doing things differently – a trait made abundantly clear in the new partnership reveal.

Dropping on the HMD and FC Barcelona social channels, the partnership reveal video sees Lamine Yamal's hairdresser, Saul Peregrina, shave the world-famous FC Barcelona crest next to the HMD logo on the back of the culer's head to announce a three-year partnership deal, and it also gives a sneak peek of the new HMD Skyline in Blue Topaz. The intricate artwork took two hours to complete.

Saul Peregrina, hairdresser to the stars, recently cut Lamine Yamal's hair and the La Masia graduate's reaction video on TikTok has clocked up 7.5 million views. This time HMD put fan Iñigo in Saul's barber seat to recreate a stunning piece of shaved art combining the two brands' logos.

Sure to cause a stir on social media, the fan-led short film focuses on a young 20-something male Barca fan, who in true Catalonian style, steps into a traditional neighborhood Barber Shop to have his hair cut and talk all things football.

Dressed in relaxed jeans and the new FC Barcelona home shirt, the young man shows the barber - Saul Peregrina - a picture as if to say 'this is what I want,' before the barber intricately gets to work with his clippers. After a series of close-up shots, the camera pans out to reveal the finished 'do' which shows the HMD logo and FC Barcelona crest shaved into the back of the young man's head.

The barber holds up a mirror to show off his handywork and the young man gives a nod of approval before they both take out their HMD Skyline smartphones and take selfies to share with their friends.

The initial three-year deal, which sees HMD become a Global Partner of FC Barcelona and Official Mobile Phone Partner of FC Barcelona, is designed to raise awareness of HMD – a company not yet 10 years-old but already Europe's largest manufacturer of smartphones – primarily through digital advertising opportunities at the Olympic Stadium and then at the Spotify Camp Nou when it reopens later in the season. The partnership between the two brands extends beyond football as it will also cover the FC Barcelona basketball, futsal, handball and roller hockey teams.

Commenting on the announcement of the partnership, Lars Silberbauer, Global Chief Marketing Officer at Human Mobile Devices (HMD), said;

"When it comes to creativity and innovation in sport you simply cannot look past FC Barcelona. The club has always championed fresh thinking, beauty, and flair, and we have the same mindset when it comes to technology. And just like FC Barcelona brings people together – it's more than a club obviously – we're the same. Every device we make is designed to enhance people's lives and build connectivity. I've been a FC Barcelona fan for a long time, ever since Michael Laudrup joined the club back in 1989. I'm still a fan, and pleased to announce HMD as a supporter too. We can't wait to work with the club, and the culers, to do some amazing things together."

Away from the stadiums, HMD will have a significant presence across FC Barcelona's digital platforms (which at last count numbered 468 million) and over the course of the coming months and years the two brands will collaborate on a number of impressive digital-first content pieces to excite fans and keep partnership visibility levels high.

Juli Guiu, vice-president of the FC Barcelona Marketing Area, comments:

"We are very proud to take a new step forward in our commercial strategy by incorporating the HMD company as a new Global Partner. We feel very aligned with them in terms of brand values because theirs is an honest, transparent vision of technology that makes a priority of waste disposal and responsible use, with special consideration for the welfare of future generations. HMD and Barça are, from now on, two brands that go hand in hand from the present but looking to the future."

HMD Skyline in Blue Topaz – a new era of smartphone design that you can repair at home

HMD is known for its human-first, innovative and fun-packed devices; from creating dumbphones to give people a digital break, to unveiling beautiful repairable smartphones including HMD Skyline – a 5G¹ smartphone now in an all-new colorway, Blue Topaz, that stars in the FC Barcelona reveal film.

HMD Skyline is a premium handset that has been developed for the creators. It has a 108 MP camera and 50 MP selfie camera, great for capturing epic shots. It merges remarkable functionality with unrivalled repairability² and cutting-edge design, and costs just $499 USD.

The 8/128GB version of HMD Skyline will be coming to the U.S. this September, in three colors: Neon Pink, Twisted Black, and Blue Topaz.

About Human Mobile Devices
We are Human Mobile Devices, and we start by tuning into what people really want. Our consumers are passionate about the planet, often feel swamped by digital overload, and are keeping a close eye on their budget. That's why we are thrilled to be Europe's largest smartphone maker, championing repair-at-home phones, and a go-to for much needed digital time out. Coming this year, you can expect to see a new portfolio of Human Mobile Devices original mobile devices, as well as Nokia phones and exciting new partnerships.

Sobre el FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona is considered the greatest multisports club in the world and in 2024 it turns 125 years of history. It was founded in 1899 and it is owned by its members. Rooted in its city and country its outlook is global, and it has official headquarters in cities in three different continents: Barcelona, Hong Kong and New York. Barça seeks to change the world through sporting excellence. This also reaches the world of knowledge and innovation via the Barça Innovation Hub. The club is also renowned for its commitment to social causes, which it channels through the FC Barcelona Foundation, and for its work to educate boys and girls in the positive values of sport. Barça's growth in recent years means it now is one of the most beloved sport clubs in the world and one of the most followed on social media.

Source HMD

F*** T-Shirts Launches Collection, Highlighting Life's Conundrums

Irreverent New York t-shirt company, F*** T-Shirts, gives voice to the inherent contradictions of "adult-ing" in today's complicated world.

Subversive and hilarious, the Brooklyn-based company was created on the premise that honestly, 'Everyone can't love everything all the time.'

F*** T-Shirts gladly celebrates the freeing reality that cursing is commonplace, and life begs for it. People have strong feelings about everything from cilantro to pickleball to return labels to wellness trends. The ever-growing collection of t-shirts covers topics like, Work, Day to Day, Social Media, Current Events, Feelings, Finance, Bugs, Tech, Food, Illness, Places, Wellness, and Climate. Some comical, some serious and all worth a discussion.

Inspired when his ten-year-old daughter made a 'F*** Covid' bracelet during the Pandemic's virtual schooling years, Scott Valins, creator of F*** T-shirts, came to realize the power of acknowledging our feelings. "It's extraordinarily liberating to voice your true feelings, and deeply therapeutic to find community among so many others with the same feelings — even if they're about asparagus" says the founder.

The company's witty collection of ironic t-shirts continually expands with input from its opinionated customers, releasing novel shirts every month. If fans suggest a t-shirt, and it goes into production, the company sends them a free sample…

Oh yeah, and shipping? F*** Shipping…shipping is free.

Mastering Digital Marketing: A Friendly Guide to Boosting Your Business Online

In today's digital era, being visible online isn't just a plus for businesses—it's essential. From enhancing brand awareness to skyrocketing sales, leveraging digital resources can work wonders for businesses of all sizes. But how exactly do you navigate this vast digital landscape to promote your business effectively? Don't worry; we've got you covered! Let's embark on a journey through the realm of digital marketing and discover how to harness its power to propel your business to new heights.

Understanding Digital Marketing for Businesses

So, what exactly is digital Marketing? It's simple: it's the art of using online resources to showcase your products or services. This encompasses a wide array of channels, including social media, email marketing, content creation, and paid advertising. The benefits? Increased brand visibility, enhanced customer engagement, and higher conversion rates.

Harnessing Your Digital Profile for Promotion

Your digital profile serves as the gateway to your business in the online world. Whether it's your website or social media profiles, these platforms offer prime real estate for promoting your business and connecting with your audience.

Craft Compelling Content

First things first: ensure that your website and social media profiles boast top-notch, relevant content. Engage your audience and give them a taste of what your business is all about through captivating visuals and engaging videos.

Ace Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Boost your website's visibility on search engines like Google and Bing by implementing savvy SEO techniques. This ensures that potential customers can easily find your business when they go hunting online.

Embrace Calls to Action (CTAs)

Guide your website visitors and social media followers toward specific actions with compelling CTAs. Whether it's signing up for your newsletter or making a purchase, CTAs serve as powerful nudges that drive conversions.

Pro Tips for Promoting Your Online Store

If you're running a Online Store, fret not! Here are some handy tips to kickstart your promotion journey:

1. Get Creative with Designs and Collections: Utilize your creativity to craft captivating designs and collections. Leverage tools like Google Keyword Planner to ensure your designs get the visibility they deserve.

2. Leverage the Power of Social Media: Dive into social media marketing to expand your reach and connect with fellow creators. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest can serve as goldmines for promoting your Online Store.

3. Dive into Blogging: If you have a knack for writing, consider starting a blog to complement your Online Store. Share insightful articles that resonate with your audience and drive traffic to your store.

Exploring Different Avenues of Digital Marketing

Digital marketing is a vast landscape brimming with opportunities. Here are some popular avenues to explore:

1. Social Media Marketing: Tap into the vast audience pool of social media platforms to engage with your target audience.

2. Email Marketing: Nurture customer relationships and drive sales through strategic email marketing campaigns.

3. Content Marketing: Create compelling content in the form of blog posts and videos to attract and inform potential customers.

4. Paid Advertising: Invest in targeted online advertising methods like pay-per-click (PPC) and display ads to boost traffic and sales.

Pro Tips for Maximizing Digital Resources

Here are some expert tips to supercharge your digital marketing efforts:

1. Define Your Audience: Understand your target audience inside out to tailor your marketing efforts effectively.

2. Create a Content Calendar: Stay organized and consistent by planning your digital marketing efforts ahead of time.

3. Embrace Analytics: Harness the power of analytics tools to track the performance of your campaigns and make data-driven decisions.

4. Consider Outsourcing: If managing digital marketing feels overwhelming, consider outsourcing to professionals who can handle the job with finesse.

With the right strategies and a dash of creativity, digital marketing can be a game-changer for your business. So, roll up your sleeves, dive into the digital realm, and watch your business soar to new heights of success!