JD SPORTS FOREVER FORWARD: AN EVENING WITH ILIA TOPURIA
It was a surprise to receive the email from LEXA last week with the invitation for this intimate event where JD Sports was going to present their partnership with Ilia Topuria. The day has come and before going to the date I was circling around Madrid with a coffee in hand ready to discover what the city has to offer. In this case, I was fascinated by the exhibitions of Fundación Mapfre and I needed to check it before my date with mister MMA world champion. That was the reason to discover the artworks of Anders Zorn and Helen Lewitt.
Both were compilations of portraits that shape a certain time and place. In the case of Anders Zorn, he is considered Sweden’s most internationally renowned painter thanks to his network of contacts in high spheres and the ability to capture and promote the traditional life of his home region. For Helen Lewitt, we can say that she was shocked by the work of Henri Cartier-Bresson and decided to focus on the interactions between ordinary people in the streets of mainly New York, but she did some trips around the world as well. It was enticing to see exhibited in the same building such contrasting artists, with a common thread, the sensibility and humanity of two creatives that center their work in the lives of others and the definition of their personas.
Coming back to what we were talking about earlier and the reason for this article, the time for the event has come and I can see in my walk there that the sun is setting. The location was Le Clab, an intimate venue that is known to offer exclusive experiences as a gastronomic club. An oniric and timeless place that was redone by the production people at LEXA to feel as comfortable as ever, where cute sofas and hand-picked books with tons of carpets covering the industrial environment that was there before. An incredible vibe that inspired trust between the guests, relying on soft lighting to accompany an evening where sport, music and fashion come together. An embracement of talent thanks to the work of community that JD Sports has been doing for quite a time now, the international retailer has positioned itself in Spain as a unifying force between disciplines with the aim of giving value to urban culture.
Once everyone has arrived, faces that we know from previous events, Instagram posts and even relevant cultural movements. From Samuel López, Paula Cendejas or Joaquín Ruiz to Vampi, G La Sosita or Boggi. A curated selection that represents the Spanish youth, a relevancy testament of what is trending in the city and the country. By the way, Madrid was the city selected to host the event due to his effervescent bubble that is suffering thanks to the festivities of Holy Week and the little residency that Rosalía is hosting in the Movistar Arena (I am excited to see here on saturday and talking with Joaquín, one of the dancer of the tour, got me hype so bad).
Next in the timeline of the event, we could enjoy some emotional songs by the flamenco artist Israel Fernández (a dream of mine finally come true, having the possibility of hearing him in this small venue was magical) where he navigate through different palos of flamenco to inject different moods in the ambient. Seeing all up-close, we saw Ilia Topuria along Omar Montes and Nyno Vargas enjoying the evening. All very documented by the different media outlets that were present, imposibilating the view for lots of guest? Nah, but it was so fab. To conclude the event we were invited to taste some typical Spanish dishes reimagined by Ángela Giménez like gazpacho’s water or pickled mussel foam in the form of a croqueta. It was delightful to be there and cannot wait for the next! Let’s give it up for Ilia Topuria and the Forever Forward mantra of JD Sports! Thanks LEXA for all, love you Joi!
Words by @alraco43