Welcome Digest [12.24.25]
2025's most influential fine artists, Marc Jacobs in an Uzi video, iPod DJ hardware, and more
Welcome To December 24th
Today’s Important Headlines
🌍 2025’s most influential fine artists
As AI accelerates, U.S. arts funding shrinks, and climate disasters like the Los Angeles fires intensify, Artsy’s selection of influential artists are responding directly to crisis. Some standout names include Anne Imhof, Beeple, Kelly Akashi, and Tyler Mitchell.
🥾 Alexander Digenova drops $990 combat boots on Christmas
Military-surplus–inspired and cut in natural cowhide or dyed vintage black and grey, Digenova’s new signature combat boot lands right on Christmas Day. With co-signs from Kanye, Travis Scott, The Hellp, and many others, it’s a confident early statement from a designer many see as one to watch closely in 2025.
🎤 Lil Uzi Vert’s new cameo-filled video
Uzi’s new “What You Saying” video plays as fashion fantasy, featuring appearances from Adriana Lima, Marc Jacobs, Martin from Slushy Noobs, and Law Roach. The glossy runway myth, which blurs pop stardom and fashion-world self-parody, is made complete by the song sampling Indila’s iconic “Love Story”.
🎭 Ultra-realistic AI face swaps are fueling romance scams
A powerful AI face-swapping platform is now enabling live, hyper-realistic fake video calls. The tech is being used, of course, in romance scams. Victims have been deceived into transferring millions in crypto, raising urgent questions about regulation and parasocial trust in the AI era.
🧦 You can now make the iconic 1989 Maison Margiela holiday sock sweater at home
A viral DIY tutorial walks viewers through recreating a 1989 Margiela-style sock sweater just in time for the holidays. The DIY project captures the enduring appeal of Margiela’s early deconstructionist playfulness and is the perfect cozy Christmas activity with your family and friends.
Headline curation and words by Mikail Haroon (@mvkail)
Moodboard 011
Today’s inspiration supplement. Click through to view.
From The Archive
An extra piece of content from the Welcome Archive for Magazine subscribers only.
Numark iDJ (2004)
Released in 2004, the Numark iDJ was an early attempt to bridge portable music players and traditional DJ hardware. It allowed two Apple iPods to dock directly into the controller, using the iPods themselves as the music source rather than CDs, a USB, or a laptop.
The unit featured jog wheels, a physical crossfader, three band EQs, and cue controls, while track selection was handled through the iPod click wheel menus visible at the top.
