Los Angeles, bathed in sunlight year-round, exudes a distinct charm with its crisp air, expansive skies, and the effortless harmony of sun-kissed skin paired with washed-out shirts and denim. The city’s temperament, shaped profoundly by its climate, stands in stark contrast to the cool sophistication of Gotham-like New York.

Andy, who graciously welcomed us into his Silver Lake home, is a curator deeply embedded in the art and fashion scenes. His shelves, lined with Kerouac’s works and an array of photography collections, revealed a kindred spirit almost immediately. From the living room speakers, the voice of a young Ryuichi Sakamoto flowed — soft, rounded tones accompanied by a gentle crackle of static, enveloping the space in a serene auditory nostalgia.

NICENESS has been creating collections inspired by counterculture over the past few seasons. The brand’s debut season drew from the style of hipsters, and the most recent SS24 season took inspiration from Eastern philosophy as interpreted by Beat poets. For the AW24 season, the collection is titled “Access to Crafts,” referencing the subtitle of the Whole Earth Catalogue, first published in 1968, which offered practical information for communal living.

Last season, we journeyed to Varanasi, India, with photographer Yuto Kudo, who accompanied Beat poets on their travels. This time, we hopped on a location bus from the heart of New York City and set off for the sacred Catskills with three young people.