Holiday Club, the talent incubator founded by Bisoye Babalola BEM, is a place where the next generation of creative talents are given the tools to allow them to flourish. The programme, which is aimed at young people aged between 16 and 25 who may be at risk of criminal activity, gang culture or social exclusion, was set up with the aim of empowering and inspiring those who, traditionally, wouldn’t have had access to the means of exploring their talents. “We work with so many talented young people,” founder Bisoye Babalola says. “All from very varied backgrounds and disciplines. I’m incredibly proud of our 2023 cohort, they were committed, respectful, collaborative and hard-working.”

As part of Holiday Club’s creative programme, the group works on a yearly zine that displays all of their talents as a whole. The zine’s second issue, titled Origins, is set to be released at the end of the month and will feature an in-depth interview with Charaf Tajer and Stevie Grimes of luxury fashion house Casablanca as the cover story, alongside interviews with designers Saul Nash and Priya Ahluwalia.

“They worked tirelessly on our annual zine,” Babalola says. “And I hope it further helps them in fulfilling or propelling their creative aspirations. We’ve been able to offer a selection of them paid freelance jobs and we hope to further support them in the years to come.” Each edition of the zine provides an intimate and detailed perspective into the processes of creative professionals across design, art, photography, fashion, music and film, showcasing the production of ideas from beginning, middle and end.

Mentored by people such as Lulu Kennedy, The Flag Twins, Elgar Johnson and Hasani Offspring, the Holiday Club has been instrumental in fostering young talent. “Holiday Club has helped me explore not only the industry but myself,” says Tilly, one of the club’s members. Another member, Vanda says “Holiday Club was a life-changing experience for me. Not only did it boost my confidence, but it also provided me with multiple opportunities that I didn’t know were out there for me.”

“Holiday Club is giving young people information, access, ideas and confidence that I wish someone had shown me,” says one of the mentors, producer Sara Tambly Lim. Another mentor, fashion stylist Jake Hunte says, “Holiday Club for me was a no-brainer, it was the opening that I would have looked for as a young adult trying to gain experience, within an industry that has so many doors and hurdles to get into.”

The second Holiday Club zine, titled Origins, will launch at the end of the month and will be available at H-Town, The Standard and 100 Shoreditch.