5-Sense Fire

The trend I predict for 2024—Lo! It’s already here—is a full embrace of local flair.

This is nothing new-new. It’s an offshoot of humanity’s most recurrent theme of all: social exchange. But the locality of it rises and falls with our estimation of how well we can overcome singular experiences and community participation with technology, and I believe we are on the upswing of recognizing that meta-observational technologies have NOTHING on the glorious, messy, you-had-to-be-there meatspace.*

You know how some people think they have ESP or see ghosts? (I’m not judging. Maybe they do!) I don’t have ESP, but I do sense cultural shifts that are a few years away with, I think, above striking accuracy. I'm not saying I make them; I just hear them scurrying around. A few ppm in the atmosphere and I can smell it. Take me at my word. I don’t know how to prove it to you.

So get ready for a BOOM cycle, baby! Full sensory ignition! Yes, yes, there's been a pining for real connection ever since lockdown, which feeds into this phenomenon. But I think we're going to blow right past the correction. Or maybe I’m misreading the situation?

I hunger for embodiment.

But then, I always do.

I also happen to be opening a physical shop, RIGHT NOW—which is the most local and community-oriented endeavor I can imagine. And you're invited.

xo Allegra

The Raff Co. Clothing Shop (soon to have its own name), at 14 E Washington Street in downtown Champaign, IL.