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By Robert White , Editor-In-Chief Art has long been a vessel for healing, but for Franck De Las Mercedes , the transformation from devastation to creative rebirth is more than symbolic—it’s literal. His latest body of work, Contil, named after the Nicaraguan word for soot, is a powerful testament to what remains after destruction, and how those remains can be transformed into beauty. On February 18, 2014, a massive five-alarm fire tore through De Las Mercedes’ home and studio. In a matter of hours, years of work—paintings, journals, studies, sketches—were reduced to ash. “I walked out with just the clothes on my back,” he recalls. “Everything was gone.” But memory, like soot, lingers. A decade later, the artist found himself revisiting a digital archive of what had been preserved: scans, photographs, journal fragments, and street photography dating back to the early 2000s. Rather than grieve the loss once more, he began to experiment—layering, painting, and digitally reworking the remnants into something entirely new. Contil was born from this process: a hybrid of photography, digital collage, abstract painting, and written language that tells both personal and collective stories. “Soot is this black, greasy residue you can never fully clean,” De Las Mercedes explains. “I saw it as a metaphor for memory, for the work that remained with me even after it was physically gone. It was still there—needing to be resolved.” The Contil series is an emotional and deeply textured collection, exploring themes of loss, identity, resilience, and reinvention. Each piece is a layered experience—visually complex, intimate, and abstract yet unmistakably human. “People connect with the figures, even if they don’t know who they are,” says the artist. “The series has evoked something very personal in others, which tells me it’s doing what art should do—it’s making people feel.” Born in Masaya, Nicaragua, and raised in New York City after immigrating during the civil conflict of the 1980s, De Las Mercedes brings a unique blend of cultural influences to his work. From ancient Nicaraguan petroglyphs to the electric graffiti of New York’s streets, his visual language is both global and personal. Abstract expressionism, street photography, and digital art all coexist in a vibrant conversation. While Contil marks a new chapter in De Las Mercedes’ practice, it’s also a culmination. “This series brings everything together—my past, my heritage, my love of textures, language, and experimentation,” he says. “It’s a kind of rebirth. A phoenix rising from the ashes—but digitally rendered and painted in layers.” Currently working from a studio in New York’s East Village, provided by Art on the Ave NYC, De Las Mercedes invites visitors to experience the evolution of Contil firsthand. The space doubles as a gallery and creative lab, where the public can see works in progress and even participate in immersive installations like a collaborative coloring room. Beyond technique and trauma, Contil is a story about artistic perseverance. “You don’t wait for inspiration,” he explains. “Inspiration is fleeting. Discipline—that’s what carries you through. That’s what allowed me to turn loss into something meaningful.” Franck De Las Mercedes’ Contil is more than a return to form—it’s a redefinition of it. It’s proof that even in the aftermath of ruin, beauty can rise, transformed by fire, memory, and the indelible will to create. Visit fdlmstudio.com or follow @FDLMstudio on Instagram to explore Contil and schedule a studio visit. Listen to the full interview with Franck De Las Mercedes on The Savoir Faire Audio Experience.

By Robert White , Editor-In-Chief In a world where customer engagement is often reduced to algorithms and automation, Morana Bakula is rewriting the script. As President & CEO of Bond Brand Loyalty, a global customer engagement powerhouse, Bakula brings both empathy and strategy to a role that demands vision, innovation, and heart. Her journey—from war-torn Croatia to the top ranks of one of the most respected firms in loyalty marketing—is not only remarkable, it's deeply instructive. “Life has always been full of change, and in many cases, challenges,” Bakula shared. “I think those early experiences, especially coming to Canada as a first-generation immigrant, have really fortified me. They've made me incredibly comfortable navigating uncertainty—and that resilience has carried me through my entire career.” Her professional story began in a perhaps unexpected place: with a degree in philosophy. But it’s that foundation in critical thinking and perspective that Bakula credits with giving her the tools to tackle some of the most pressing challenges in marketing today. “The problems we face aren’t necessarily new,” she said. “What’s new is the lens we bring to them.” Bond’s success under Bakula’s leadership is rooted in a uniquely human approach to customer engagement. It’s not about blasting out generic ads or tracking clicks; it’s about building a real emotional connection between brands and consumers. “We don’t just look at personas—we look at people,” she explained. “What motivates them, what their fears are, what truly drives behavior.” That depth of insight is what sets Bond apart in an industry saturated with buzzwords. The company takes a rigorous, data-informed approach to understanding consumer behavior—but stops short of letting the numbers tell the whole story. “Data alone doesn’t create loyalty,” Bakula said. “It’s when you combine that data with emotional intelligence and human-centered design that you really start to see results.” Bond’s clients range across industries, but they all share a common goal: to connect meaningfully with their customers. Whether it’s an RV company selling freedom and lifestyle over horsepower, or a consumer goods brand using emotional triggers to elevate product appeal, Bond ensures every touchpoint feels personal. “We focus on what we call the last mile,” Bakula said. “That final, human moment that often gets overlooked—but it’s where trust is built.” Of course, in the modern marketing world, no conversation is complete without AI. Bakula is bullish on its potential—not as a replacement for human creativity, but as a catalyst for deeper personalization. “AI allows us to do the work faster and more efficiently,” she said. “But the context, the imagination—that still belongs to people.” Internally, Bond uses AI to streamline processes, freeing up teams to focus on higher-value tasks. Externally, it’s a key player in the company’s ambition to deliver one-to-one marketing at scale. “Imagine a brand knowing not just that I’m a 40-something mom,” she said, “but that I’m also a CEO and a traveler, and using that insight to create truly bespoke experiences. That’s where we’re heading.” Her approach to leadership is just as layered. A working mother of twins and a fierce advocate for mental health, Bakula brings an authenticity that resonates throughout Bond’s culture. “I believe in candid leadership,” she said. “When people feel seen and valued, they rise.” As Bond continues to evolve, Bakula’s presence at the helm promises more than just strategic growth—it signals a future where brands move beyond transactions and into real relationships. “We’re here to create bonds,” she said. “Not just between businesses and their customers, but between purpose and impact.” For anyone watching the intersection of leadership, technology, and emotional intelligence, Morana Bakula isn’t just a case study—she’s setting the standard.

By Robert White , Editor-In-Chief Brad Kearns spent nearly a decade as a professional triathlete, pushing the limits of physical endurance and reaching as high as #3 in the world rankings. But today, the man once defined by his speed is advocating something radically slower: walking. Yes, walking. In his new book, Born to Walk: My Evolutionary Path to Health, Energy, and Slower Aging , co-authored with longtime collaborator and primal health pioneer Mark Sisson, Kearns presents a compelling case for stepping off the treadmill of chronic cardio and into a lifestyle rooted in gentle, sustained movement. “For the vast majority of people, endurance running is not healthy,” Kearns told Savoir Faire . “It’s too hard on the body. The stress, the hormonal imbalance, the fatigue—it can end up doing more harm than good.” That message might surprise readers familiar with Kearns’ elite athletic background. But it’s that same background—marked by extreme training, professional wins, and eventual burnout—that inspired the shift in perspective. After retiring from competition, Kearns spent years exploring primal health, ancestral living, and metabolic science. What he discovered upended much of what we assume about fitness. “Walking is the most natural, primal movement we have,” he said. “It’s not just exercise—it’s how the human body is meant to function. And the benefits are staggering: fat burning, better brain function, lower cortisol, even slower aging.” In Born to Walk , Kearns and Sisson dismantle long-held myths—like the 10,000 steps rule, which they reveal began as a 1960s Japanese pedometer marketing gimmick. The truth? “You don’t need 10,000 steps a day to get health benefits,” Kearns noted. “Even a few thousand done consistently, especially in sunlight and with good posture, can have huge payoffs.” The book arrives as more people—especially high-performing athletes—are rethinking their relationship with exercise. Burnout, hormonal crashes, chronic injuries, and fatigue are pushing even the fittest to search for a more sustainable path. Kearns’ prescription is simple: Walk more, run less, move often. “Most people don’t realize that running, especially at high intensities, can actually prompt the body to store fat,” Kearns explained. “The stress signals are so intense, your metabolism slows, your appetite skyrockets, and you end up tired, inflamed, and reaching for sugar.” Instead, Kearns suggests walking as a cornerstone of daily life, particularly in minimalist or barefoot-inspired footwear like the Peluva line he and Sisson recently co-launched. “Shoes matter,” he said. “We’ve trained our feet into dysfunction. Going back to natural movement starts from the ground up.” This isn’t just a casual wellness trend. Kearns points to evolutionary biology and exercise science to back it up. “Our ancestors didn’t run marathons,” he said. “They walked—constantly. Movement was part of every hour of the day. That’s what we’ve lost in modern life. Now we sit at desks and expect a 60-minute HIIT class to undo it all. It doesn’t work that way.” As with his earlier bestselling book Two Meals a Day, which questioned the norms of frequent eating and advocated for metabolic flexibility, Kearns is once again challenging conventional wisdom—with enthusiasm and evidence to match. “This isn’t about being lazy,” he said. “It’s about being smart. Walking is the gateway to better health, better energy, better aging.” And for Kearns, it’s personal. “I’ve run my body into the ground before,” he admitted. “Now I walk every day. I lift. I sprint once in a while. But walking is my baseline. It’s made me fitter, leaner, and sharper than I was in my racing days. And I’m enjoying life a lot more.” In a world obsessed with fast results and harder workouts, Brad Kearns’ message is refreshingly simple—and possibly revolutionary: Slow down, step outside, and just walk. For more, visit borntowalkbook.com  and follow Brad on Instagram @bradkearns1.

Who Will Be The Next Savoir Faire Cover Model? COTESTANTS GRAND PRIZE A TRIP TO NYC + A Cover Shoot With Savoir Faire! THE 2025 SAVOIR FAIRE MODEL SEARCH Earn your spot on the cover of Savoir Faire Magazine. The grand prize winner will receive an exclusive cover shoot, a trip to New York City, and the opportunity to attend New York Fashion Week with Savoir Faire. The top prize includes round-trip travel to New York City with all expenses paid, a professional photoshoot and appearance on the cover of Savoir Faire Magazine, and a press pass to attend New York Fashion Week. Once approved, contestants will receive a unique voting link to share with friends, family, and fans to collect votes. Those with the most votes will advance to the next round, and the final winner will be determined based on votes. Don’t miss your chance to be featured on the cover of Savoir Faire—apply now! CONTESTANTS WHAT CHARITY? THE WINNER CHOOSES! The Savoir Faire Model Search stands as a beacon of both fashion and philanthropy, embodying the essence of elegance with a heart. By allocating a percentage of all proceeds to the charity chosen by the winning model, Savoir Faire exemplifies its unwavering commitment to making a positive impact beyond the runway. This unique approach not only celebrates beauty and talent but also extends a helping hand to those in need, reflecting Savoir Faire's deeply rooted belief in the power of giving back. With each stride down the catwalk, Savoir Faire models not only showcase style and grace but also embody the spirit of compassion and altruism, fostering a community where fashion and charity intertwine seamlessly for a greater cause. CONTESTANTS

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