1202 MAGAZINE’s 100 Forces of 2025
2025 was a wild roller coaster ride of daily global events, political unrest, economic recession, and constant change. What kept us grounded: The creative people, businesses, and platforms who didn’t stop at any cost to make an impact on society during a year of what felt like never-ending impending doom. This year, 1202 MAGAZINE selected 100 Forces that prevailed in their industries, cultivated communities, and made an unequivocal difference as a catalyst for positive change on the creative horizon. Check out the alphabetical list of our 100 Forces of 2025 below!
1. 8it
FOOD + DRINK
KNOWN FOR: Being the go-to source for New York City’s hottest food pop-ups.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: The Paella Rave.
2. A Magazine Curated By
CULTURE
KNOWN FOR: Tapping fresh faces in fashion to curate the publication.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Willy Chavarria as guest curator.
3. Andy Martinez
FASHION
KNOWN FOR: Handcrafting sneakers with cowboy boots.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: The viral Jordan 3s reimagined as heeled, pointed cowboy boots.
4. Animated People
FASHION
KNOWN FOR: Exceptional, handcrafted hats.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: LOBBY project, creatively directed by Kojo.
5. Angel Reese
SPORTS
KNOWN FOR: Being the queen of the WNBA.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Walking in the Victoria’s Secret Show.
6. Aria Hughes
CULTURE
KNOWN FOR: Being the editor-in-chief at Complex.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Iconic interviews with Law Roach, Vince Staples, Erykah Badu, and many more.
7. Bad Bunny
MUSIC
KNOWN FOR: Being today’s most popular musician in the world.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: His Puerto Rico 31-show concert residency, No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí.
8. Bayla Peña
BEAUTY
KNOWN FOR: Piercing, abstract, and blackwork tattooing.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Signature script tattoos.
9. Bktherula
MUSIC
KNOWN FOR: Being the queen of alternative rap.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Releasing her album, LUCY.
10. Brigade
FASHION
KNOWN FOR: Celebrating New York City culture through elevated streetwear.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: The pillbox hat.
11. Café Colmado
FOOD + DRINK
KNOWN FOR: Being a café with an unwavering community stemming from Latin and Caribbean roots.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Their one-year anniversary block party.
12. Cameron Polonet
BEAUTY
KNOWN FOR: Ultra-chic celebrity makeup looks.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Dolling up Rico Nasty on several occasions.
13. Chef Bruja
FOOD + DRINK
KNOWN FOR: Killing it as a private chef.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Cooking gumbo for Issa Rae.
14. Chris Smalls
CULTURE
KNOWN FOR: Founding the Amazon Labor Union
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Joining the Gaza Flotilla and successfully returning after abuse and mistreatment by the IDF.
15. Cierra Britton
ART
KNOWN FOR: Cierra Britton Gallery.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Curating Joe Freshgoods’ exhibition, A Friend Named Cousin.
16. Colorway
CULTURE
KNOWN FOR: Being a culturally-centered creative agency.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Repping Luar and Tokischa at the Dominican parade.
17. Dean Majd
VISUALS
KNOWN FOR: Timeless photography and portraits.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Photographing Mahmoud Khalil and his family for the cover of Dazed.
18. Dexter in the Newsagent
MUSIC
KNOWN FOR: Taking over the underground music scene.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Releasing her debut album, Time Flies.
19. Dijon
MUSIC
KNOWN FOR: Making music for real lovers.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Releasing sophomore album, Baby.
20. Dimithry Victor
ART
KNOWN FOR: Creating characters inspired by cartoons, portraiture, and abstraction.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Selling his painting, The Boy in Blue, to Tyler, the Creator.
21. Diotima
FASHION
KNOWN FOR: Carefully-crafted womenswear inspired by the Caribbean.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Runway debut at New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2026.
22. Doxy Magazine
CULTURE
KNOWN FOR: Empowering sex workers through storytelling.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Releasing Issue 02, featuring Kirsten Chen, Stripper News, Anal Princess, and more.
23. Dr. Ashley James
ART
KNOWN FOR: Being an art curator, cultural theorist, and writer.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Becoming a full curator of Contemporary Art at Guggenheim.
24. Elaina Lauren Bernstein
CULTURE
KNOWN FOR: Being Editor at Hypebeast.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Hypetrak’s “Shapeshifters” issue, featuring Jean Dawson, Fifi Zhang, 54 Ultra, TiaCorine, Planta Industrial, and more.
25. Emily Manwaring
ART
KNOWN FOR: Creating multimedia artworks centering Black culture and history.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Featuring paintings in Joe Freshgoods’ exhibition, A Friend Named Cousin.
26. Erika de Casier
MUSIC
KNOWN FOR: An ethereal and sultry discography.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Releasing her album, Lifetime.
27. Esmaa Mohamoud
ART
KNOWN FOR: Hyper-realistic sculptures and installations.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Sculpture, Ebony In Ivory, I, featured in Joe Freshgoods’ exhibition, A Friend Named Cousin.
28. Family Style Food Fest
FOOD + DRINK
KNOWN FOR: Merging food and culture through pop-ups, vendors, and events.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Bringing the food festival to New York City, Miami, and Los Angeles.
29. Grace Wales Bonner
FASHION
KNOWN FOR: Luxury garments blending her Jamaican and European roots.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Appointed as Hermès’ Creative Director of Menswear.
30. Guingui Pérez
BEAUTY
KNOWN FOR: Sleek, artful braiding styles.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Styling hair at the Adidas “All Original” event in Brooklyn.
31. Hamdi Osman
BEAUTY
KNOWN FOR: Intricate artwork in wigs.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Recreating Playboi Carti’s album cover, MUSIC, into a wig.
32. India Espy-Jones
BEAUTY
KNOWN FOR: Being a writer for Dazed, Dazed Beauty, and Essence.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Writing conversation-sparking think pieces on health, beauty, tattoos, and more.
33. Jae Kim
VISUALS
KNOWN FOR: Portraiture, motorcycle photography, and unique candids.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Opening his photo studio to photograph dozens of unique portraits of New Yorkers.
34. Jaeki Cho
CULTURE
KNOWN FOR: Founding Righteous Eats and Creators Lunch
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: The Taiwanese Fried Chicken Conversation and pop-up.
35. Jayla Garnett
VISUALS
KNOWN FOR: Epochal film photography and portraiture.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Photographing Jenny Ortega, A$AP Rocky, Bktherula, Dapper Dan, Julia Fox, and many more.
36. Jeff Rose King
ART
KNOWN FOR: Geometric artwork inspired by Nuyorican culture.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Solo exhibition at Café Colmado.
37. Jess Natale
CULTURE
KNOWN FOR: Founding So Informed.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Continuously speaking out against the genocide in Gaza.
38. Joe Freshgoods
CULTURE
KNOWN FOR: Founding the eponymous streetwear brand.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: The month-long interactive Joe Freshgoods Rec Center.
39. JonXGenius
FASHION
KNOWN FOR: High-quality, timeless graphic tees.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: The “First you’re crazy, then you’re genius” t-shirts.
40. Jorge Gitoo Wright
CULTURE
KNOWN FOR: Being a casting director and hosting the Everyday People parties.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Casting Telfar’s new collections.
41. Keiyaa
MUSIC
KNOWN FOR: Composing, writing, and producing her own ethereal music.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Releasing her album, hooke’s law.
42. Kenyatta Victoria
CULTURE
KNOWN FOR: Being a chronically online journalist centering Black stories.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Becoming Assistant Editor at Ebony Magazine.
43. Kids of Immigrants
FASHION
KNOWN FOR: Highlighting dreamers and hard workers through elevated streetwear.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Being a large contributor in the United for Immigrants fundraiser of Brands United to Donate.
44. Kids Take Over
MUSIC
KNOWN FOR: Interviewing trailblazing musicians.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Interviews with Daniel Caesar, Aminé, Nav, Young Nudy, Pi’erre Bourne, and more.
45. Kim Kimble
BEAUTY
KNOWN FOR: Celebrity hairstyling and hair education.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Hairstyling Beyoncé for her Sir Davis campaign.
46. Kim the Product
BEAUTY
KNOWN FOR: Intricate nail art.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Recreating countries’ different cultures on nails, such as Brazil, Cuba, Panama, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and more.
47. Lelo
MUSIC
KNOWN FOR: Blending Detroit music with his original, signature sounds.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Releasing debut album, New Detroit.
48. Liim
MUSIC
KNOWN FOR: Trailblazing a new sound for the next generation of music.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Getting name-dropped by Tyler, the Creator and releasing his debut album, Liim Lasalle Loves You.
49. Lindsey Peoples
CULTURE
KNOWN FOR: Being Editor-in-Chief at The Cut.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Cover stories of Doechii, Bad Bunny, Rama Duwaji, Ethel Cain, Jenny Ortega, and more.
50. Luigi
CULTURE
KNOWN FOR: DJing, modeling, and being an overall icon.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: DJing everywhere from Beverly’s Casa Thirteen, New York Fashion Week, and Paris Fashion Week.
51. Mahmoud Khalil
CULTURE
KNOWN FOR: Advocating for Palestine, the people, and land in Gaza.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Continuing to advocate after being detained by ICE at Columbia University.
52. Malaya
MUSIC
KNOWN FOR: Blending genres, such as jazz, hip-hop, and R&B.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Headlining SOBs and performing on On the Radar.
53. Marley Ramirez Lopez
CULTURE
KNOWN FOR: Influencer Marketing and Social Lead at Manual, and overall multidisciplinary.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Interviewing Saweetie, Sierra Rena, Smino, and more for Hypebae.
54. Malika James
BEAUTY
KNOWN FOR: Celebrity makeup for films and TV.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Doing makeup for Gabrielle Union on Blame it on Rome.
55. Martine Ali
FASHION
KNOWN FOR: Timeless jewelry that always serves as a statement piece.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Her new season collection, featuring silver rings, cross pendants, cuffs, collars, and more.
56. Matt Clarke
CULTURE
KNOWN FOR: Being the Director at Modeworld.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Helping those in the fashion industry thrive through his marketing and public relations skills.
57. Mei Kawajiri
BEAUTY
KNOWN FOR: Nail art that slays—minimalist and maximalist styles.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Doing nails for Rosalia, Dua Lipa, Balenciaga, and Miu Miu.
58. Mellow Domingo
MUSIC
KNOWN FOR: Being a stylish DJ with great taste and aura.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: DJing the Nike Tech vs. Quarter Zip Showdown.
59. Mía Lee
ART
KNOWN FOR: Acrylic paintings with signature characters.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Collaborating with Kith, Adidas, Bape, and Clot.
60. Monaleo
MUSIC
KNOWN FOR: Being the queen of lyricism and flow.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Founding the mental health awareness organization Stay One More Day.
61. Neena Roe
MUSIC
KNOWN FOR: Bring a tri-lingual artist who makes melodic music in Persian, English, and Spanish.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Her viral song, “ROSAS.”
62. Nicholas Daley
FASHION
KNOWN FOR: Creating carefully-crafted garments inspired by his Jamaican roots.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Collaborative collection with Carhartt WIP.
63. Nicolas Nuvan
FOOD + DRINK
KNOWN FOR: Visiting delicious ma and pop food spots around the world.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: The Neighbor Fest in Brooklyn.
64. Olivia Dean
MUSIC
KNOWN FOR: British pop music.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Releasing The Art of Loving album.
65. Olivier Bur
FOOD + DRINK
KNOWN FOR: His Santo Domingo restaurant, Casarré.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Recognized as the Revelation Chef by Revista Mercado and The Best of DR.
66. On the Radar
MUSIC
KNOWN FOR: Live studio performances and DJ sets in their eponymous green studio.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: The On the Radar Allstar Cypher.
67. OsamaSon
MUSIC
KNOWN FOR: Being a young musician making music for the next generation of ragers.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Releasing two albums: Jump Out and psykotic.
68. Paraíso Pati
CULTURE
KNOWN FOR: Hosting parties that bop to reggaeton, dembow, salsa, merengue, and other Latin and Caribbean sounds.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Expanding the party to Puerto Rico.
69. PARTYOF2
MUSIC
KNOWN FOR: Making their own unique music, videos, production, and more.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Their debut album, Amerika’s Next Top Party.
70. Perfectly Imperfect
CULTURE
KNOWN FOR: “A taste of someone’s taste.”
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Interviews with Little Simz, Adam DiMarco, Katseye, Christina Aguilera, and more.
71. Planta Industrial
MUSIC
KNOWN FOR: Being two Dominican punks from the Bronx.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Their debut album, Punk Wave Sin Barreras Vol. 1: Conociéndonos.
72. Rauw Alejandro
MUSIC
KNOWN FOR: Unapologetically repping Puerto Rico, its culture, history, and people.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Releasing Cosa Nuestra: Capítulo 0.
73. Ravyn Lenae
MUSIC
KNOWN FOR: Making versatile music for a decade.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE: Her singles making the charts.
74. Rene Lee Studio
FASHION
KNOWN FOR: Garments that pay homage to Puerto Rico.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: The PR Vintage Denim Hat.
75. Renell Medrano
CULTURE
KNOWN FOR: Being a renowned photographer and director.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Directing Bad Bunny’s “NUEVAYoL” video, photographing Justin Bieber, and launching ICE Magazine.
76. Rochelle Jordan
MUSIC
KNOWN FOR: Being the it-girl of new music.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Releasing album, Through The Wall.
77. Ryan Coogler
VISUALS
KNOWN FOR: Being an acclaimed filmmaker and producer.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Sinners.
78. Sea Rae Sounds
MUSIC
KNOWN FOR: Being a versatile DJ with style and aura.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: DJing on the Playgrnd Series.
79. Soundfynd
MUSIC
KNOWN FOR: Magnifying new voices in music.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: The Four Fynds series.
80. STFU
ART
KNOWN FOR: Intricate airbrush art.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Taking his work to ComplexCon.
81. Superstar Kya
FASHION
KNOWN FOR: The iconic leather scarf.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Making leather scarves for the “Thootie” video by Ice Spice and Tokischa.
82. Taller de Rafa
FASHION
KNOWN FOR: Bringing ideas to life through fashion.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Releasing Collection 002 and hosting a pop-up of all of their iconic products.
83. Tevelle Taylor
VISUALS
KNOWN FOR: Unique-styled portraiture.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Mastering his own signature photography style through color grading and scenery.
84. Thelma Golden
ART
KNOWN FOR: Being the Director and Chief Curator of The Studio Museum.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Being a part of the highly anticipated reopening of The Studio Museum.
85. The Weather Room
FOOD + DRINK
KNOWN FOR: The insane 360-degree views of New York City, 67 stories up.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: The “After Dark” event series.
86. Thư Phạm Buser
FOOD + DRINK
KNOWN FOR: Turning food into artful masterpieces and incorporating her Vietnamese culture.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Her chef residency at WSA.
87. Tia Adeola
FASHION
KNOWN FOR: Timeless garments inspired by New York City and Lagos.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Her collection, “From Lagos with Love.”
88. Tiana Randall
CULTURE
KNOWN FOR: Being a versatile journalist and style, beauty, and sports writer at Forbes.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Highlighting style in the WNBA.
89. Tiff Massey
ART
KNOWN FOR: Being an interdisciplinary artist from Detroit.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: The Detroit Institute of Arts adding her work to the museum’s permanent collection.
90. Tokischa
MUSIC
KNOWN FOR: Being the it-girl of the Dominican Republic.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: “Thootie” with Ice Spice.
91. Turnstile
MUSIC
KNOWN FOR: Being a rock band that blends multi-genre elements.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Releasing their album, NEVER ENOUGH.
92. Two Blocks Down Radio
MUSIC
KNOWN FOR: Building community through DJ sets in unique
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: The “Behind the Block” series.
93. Ursula Stephen
BEAUTY
KNOWN FOR: Salon owner and celebrity hairstylist.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Styling Zendaya’s hair for the Louis Vuitton show.
94. Vanessa’s Eats
FOOD + DRINK
KNOWN FOR: Embracing love and community through food.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: The Tiramisu Club.
95. Vuhlandes
VISUALS
KNOWN FOR: Being the 7 Mile Scorsese.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Collaborating with Fuji to shoot on the GFX.
96. WHATMORE
MUSIC
KNOWN FOR: Rebellious elements of rock, jazz, alternative, and hip-hop.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Their debut self-titled album.
97. Who Knows
FASHION
KNOWN FOR: Being one of New York City’s beloved streetwear brands.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: A capsule collection in collaboration with Fumi Exotics.
98. Willyum Beck
VISUALS
KNOWN FOR: Being a multidisciplinary stylist and art and image director.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Styling Amour Divin by Jack Waterlot for À Part Magazine.
99. Willy Chavarria
FASHION
KNOWN FOR: Incorporating Mexican culture into timeless pieces.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: The HURON runway show.
100. Zohran Mamdani
CULTURE
KNOWN FOR: Good politics, strong morals, and values.
2025 UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: Winning the New York City mayoral election.
