Are we missing the feeling of the good old good days ?

13.03.2026

If you look back 10 or even 20 years ago, what do you remember about society in the 1990s or the early 2000s? From my personal perspective, those years felt quite calm, healthy, and happy. Of course, this is only my own point of view, but the 2000s seemed fresh, creative, and somehow more carefree. Fashion felt exciting and expressive, and new technologies were emerging in a way that felt stylish and fascinating.

Even as a child, I remember my room being filled with posters, dreams, and inspiration.

There was a sense of imagination everywhere, not just by interacting with a screen. Disney wasn’t controversial, our neighborhoods, islands, secret spots weren’t exposed on social medias, modeling wasn’t so open to everyone and music lyrics had real sense. If you wanted to create something original or develop a strong personal style, you actually had to make the effort to build it. Whether it was fashion, music, or creative expression, individuality required time and dedication. The energy of people, brands, marketing, and culture had a special vibe — something that today almost feels like “the good old days.”

Today, however, the world often feels like it is constantly on fire from every direction. People seem more impatient, more anxious and these social medias really divide us in such ways. Instead of thinking independently, many simply follow trends, celebrities, and unrealistic lifestyles presented online. But what if people took the time to think outside the box and reflect more deeply about the society they live in, rather than just consuming illusions?

Personally, I believe we should cultivate curiosity and knowledge in many areas of life: history, sports, artisanal skills, geography, art, fashion, and even politics. These subjects help us understand the world, develop critical thinking, and build our own identity. Because if we are not educating ourselves and expanding our knowledge, what are we really becoming: individuals, or simply followers ?

Portrait 3: Tristan Mondola

• GateKeeper Boxing Club owner

• Coach

• Former Boxer

“Boxing gives you that space where you can practice solving a problem”

@tristanmondola by k.k

1. Could you please introduce yourself?

Born in the Philippines and raised in Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa, boxing has always been a central part of my life. I’m a former amateur boxer and now owns the GateKepper Boxing Club in Auckland. Outside the gym, I love exploring the city, discovering cool cafés and great pastries. When I’m at home, you’ll usually find me fixing bicycles or collecting vintage bikes. Inside the gym, however, my greatest passion is sharing my love for boxing with my community and the people around me.

2. Tell us about your personal and professional background (competitions, opportunities).

For Filipinos, boxing is deeply rooted in our culture. Back in the Philippines, the whole country would stop to watch Manny Pacquiao fight. Hundreds of millions of people, all supporting one man representing our nation. Even when we were living in New Zealand, my entire family would gather to watch his fights. I started boxing at 14. At the time, I was quite chubby and simply wanted to get fit, and boxing became my tool to do that. At 17, I began training seriously for fights, and by 18, I entered competitions. As an amateur boxer, I won the Golden Gloves once and was a 1st runner up twice.

My journey as a coach is very different from my journey as a boxer. As a fighter, I was aggressive and driven by emotion. As a coach, I’ve learned to step back, analyse situations first, and then find solutions. No matter how good your plan is, there will always be obstacles: you have to learn how to adapt and work through them.

3. What are you most passionate about in the boxing industry?

The amateur boxing scene is very small, but that’s also what makes it special. What I’ve noticed is the deep love people have for the sport. Coaches give their time, energy, and knowledge to boxers, often expecting nothing in return.

Now, I’ve become more attentive and empathetic—both towards fellow coaches and towards people who are striving to become the best version of themselves through boxing.

4. As a former amateur boxer, what drove you to become a boxing coach?

From the moment I started boxing, I knew I would stay in this industry. I loved the sport as an athlete, but I love it even more now as a coach—sharing my experiences, passing on what I’ve learned, and continuing to grow and evolve myself.

My main drive is simple: I love boxing. I love sharing my knowledge and helping fighters become the best version of themselves. Owning GateKeeper Boxing Club at such a young age is something I’m incredibly grateful for. I’m thankful for everyone who supports the gym and follows me on this journey. It does come with pressure and stress because I want my boxers to succeed—but it’s a healthy kind of stress that pushes us all forward.

5. How would you describe the New Zealand boxing industry?

The boxing industry in New Zealand is small, and once you’re involved, you quickly get to know a lot of people. It’s a tight-knit community built on respect and shared passion.

6. What’s the best feeling you’ve ever had as a boxer and as a coach?

As a boxer, winning always feels great, but sparring is one of my favourite experiences. It allows you to test yourself, to give and take, without the pressure of competition. As a coach, the feeling is different. It’s about overcoming challenges and barriers together as a team. It’s about watching athletes face their fears and grow from them. Fear is like fire in life: if you learn to control it, it can give you strength and power. If you don’t, it can destroy you.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/5a8f3d_3d9493e468314a58bd558390a42412a0/480p/mp4/file.mp4

7. What advice would you give to someone who wants to step into the ring one day?

Ninety percent of the work comes from you. The other ten percent is your coach, your teammates, and your club. You’re the one putting in the work and the sweat. Champions become champions because they start—and because they stay consistent.

Self-motivation and discipline are everything in boxing.

8. Your current favourite quote?

“You don’t really know who you are until you’re forced to fight for it.”

Portrait 2: Rara’ura Guyot

• Marketing Manager at Pacific Island Art

• Content Creator

“I believe traditional brands will maintain their identity while evolving, preserving their roots, but embracing modern design and innovation”

Marketing Manager for her family brand Pacific Island Art, and content creator, Rara’ura Guyot is our Portrait 2 for the December month. Between family heritage, fashion and content, Rau (for the closest ones) is a sunshine soul always outgoing to create attractive content, promoting her family business as a fashion heritage, and living the fullest.

@raraura photographed by ekabarnoviphotography

1. Could you please present yourself

Born in Tahiti and raised in the beautiful community of Arue, I am currently the Marketing Manager for PIA, a Tahitian brand close to my heart, our family legacy, which is based in Fiji. What inspires me most is a meaningful goal: to work toward creative and impactful storytelling that preserves heritage, elevates style, and strengthens our Tahitian brand’s legacy around the Pacific.

2. Tell us about your background.

I was born in Tahiti, French Polynesia, and raised in Arue, where I completed my early schooling. At 12, my family made a brave decision to move to Fiji — a turning point that shaped my perspective and creativity. I finished both primary and high school in Fiji.

After graduating, I moved to Sydney to complete a two-year Business Diploma. When I returned, I worked in our family business for four years, maintaining the website and managing online orders. Although it taught me structure and responsibility, I quickly realised the work wasn’t aligned with me. In 2024, I stepped into a completely different world — film production — leading content creation for six months. That experience unlocked my creativity and gave me clarity: I wanted to return to PIA, but this time to build our brand story through content and marketing. I shared this vision with my brother, and he trusted me to lead. Today, I’m proudly managing PIA’s content creation and marketing strategy: a role driven by passion, creativity, and purpose.

3.  Tell us about PIA, and your role in the company.

When it comes to the legacy of PIA, one thing is clear to me — if PIA had never been created, Tahiti Art might no longer exist today. This brings me back to my father’s original vision. Over the years, PIA has grown and expanded far beyond what began as handmade, heartfelt creativity in the heart of the Pacific. Our pieces have traveled across the world, but our strongest presence remains rooted in the Pacific region: including Tahiti, Hawai‘i, Japan, New Zealand, Wallis and Futuna, Vanuatu, and more. Today, as the Marketing Manager at PIA, my role is to honoured that legacy by sharing our story through meaningful marketing and creative content. Because PIA is more than fashion — it’s heritage. It’s not just clothing. It began with homemade designs, hand-painted art, and patterns created from the heart by my grand-father back in the 50’s. Every piece carries a history of passion, craftsmanship, and emotion. At PIA, we remain true to our origins: creating with love, painting with intention, and designing with soul.

4. Defined PIA in 3 words:

Uniqueness - Art - Traditional

5. Defined your personality in 3 words:

Honest - Outgoing - Kind

6. PIA owned 125K followers on IG and some videos attended the million view. What’s your strategies for marketing - branding -visibility ?

I learned by studying other brands. I became obsessed with watching every kind of clothing and fashion content I could find. Observing how successful brands communicated was the key for me. One of my strongest strategies was consistency: I made a personal rule: “I need to post at least 3 videos a week so the algorithm recognizes and pushes our content.” I also challenged myself to be creative every time. When you combine consistency, productivity, and creativity, your social media presence will naturally grow. By applying this strategy, our brand evolved from 0 to 125K followers over 10 years.

7. How do you see the fashion industry in the Pacific region in few years ?

From my personal perspective, Pacific fashion brands are exploring ways to modernize their collections. In the coming years, I believe traditional brands will maintain their identity while evolving: preserving their roots, but embracing modern design and innovation.

8. What would be a dream collection for PIA in the future ?

I truly believe every dream we have for PIA will come to life. Speaking of dream collaborations, I would choose Oprah Winfrey without hesitation. She has always inspired me: her strength, authenticity, and influence are unmatched. One of my greatest ambitions would be to see her wear a PIA creation, or even design a dress for her myself.

9. Few words for the future marketers in the fashion world ?

If I had to offer advice, it would be this: don’t be afraid to try. Experimentation is the only true way to learn. If the outcome is positive — amazing, keep moving forward. If the results are not what you expected, take the lesson, improve, and come back stronger in your next project. Marketing is constantly evolving: it never stands still. But the most important rule of all is simple: love what you do, and love your work.

10. What gives you the motivation to success in life and do you believe in the power of faith ?

My biggest source of motivation will always be my family, and my personal commitment to becoming a better version of myself, step by step, every single day. Everything I have ever manifested has come into my life, so for me, manifestation is essential when striving toward any goal. At the core of it all is faith: I believe deeply in karma and the balance of energy we give and receive.

The Guyot Family wearing @PIA