SHARP x RALPH’S CLUB NEW YORK

Creativity isn’t confined by the clock. It shouldn’t be bound by convention or limited in scope. At its best, the same can be said for cologne; a signature should be as dynamic as those who wear it. That was the vision behind the historic team-up between Ralph Lauren Fragrances and Usher, a captivating collaboration that led to the launch of Ralph’s Club New York: a new scent that celebrates nightlife, boldness, and New York City.

“Ralph’s Club New York EDP smells intoxicating and enticing,” say Senior Perfumers Nadège Le Garlantezec and Shyamala Maisondieu. “It’s a bold scent that balances vertigo and magnetic attraction.” With descriptors like these, the fragrance elicits the same sense of excitement and opportunity that Usher, the new face of Ralph’s Club New York, captured with hits like Yeah! and DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love. With an impressive nine number one hits to his name, the R&B superstar’s signature songs remain on heavy rotation from dusk to dawn.

As Usher would attest, however, nightlife represents more than festivities. For artists of all stripes, inspiration often strikes outside of the typical nine to five. With longer nights on the horizon, we spoke to a slew of designers and artists to learn how the electric early-morning atmosphere allows creativity to bloom.

Kevin Chan & Samer Shaath: Co-Founders and Partners at Nivek Remas

Can you tell us a bit about your current work and what your creative practice looks like?

Our design studio’s work spans hotels, restaurants and bars, creating spaces that define nightlife culture while also extending across hospitality and residential projects. Every design project begins with a compelling story, whether it is the primal disco energy of Animl Steakhouse, the Hong Kong night market noir of Honey’s Chinese, the Spanish matador drama of Beso by Patria, or the funky eclectic nostalgia of Vinny’s, a music and record-driven bar designed for exploration. We shape those narratives through texture, light, and detail to build spaces that feel immersive and transportive. A bar or restaurant is never static, it is a performance that unfolds every night, and our creative practice is about crafting the stage for that experience.

When you think of “nightlife,” what visuals does it evoke? Does time of day play a role in your work or identity?

Nightlife evokes mood, mystery, and momentum. We picture velvet banquettes, reflective surfaces, dramatic lighting, and a room that seems to vibrate with energy. Time of day is critical; a restaurant at noon is not the same as it is at midnight, so we design spaces that transform as the day moves into night, brighter and more open during the day, more intimate and theatrical after dark.

What does “after dark” mean to you, personally or creatively?

For us, ‘after dark’ is where design transforms into atmosphere. It’s not just about lighting or finishes — it’s about creating spaces that heighten energy, mystery, and intimacy once the sun sets. In restaurants and bars, that means designing for a shift in mood: the same space that feels inviting at dinner can feel electric, seductive, or even cinematic at night. We think of ‘after dark’ as the moment when a venue takes on a second life, where design choices — lighting, texture, acoustics, layout — become part of the experience, fuelling connection, discovery, and a sense of escape.

Creatively, it is an opportunity to embrace intensity, deeper palettes, layered lighting, tactile materials that only reveal their richness in low light. After dark is when design crosses into performance, where every detail works together to heighten the guest’s sensory experience.

Do you have a ritual, soundtrack, or visual that always accompanies your night work?

Music is always part of our process. When we design nightlife spaces, we often imagine them to their own soundtrack. At night, our studio takes on the same rhythm, it could be cinematic soundscapes, deep house, or atmospheric tracks that mirror the mood of the interiors we are shaping. That sound helps us visualize how a guest might feel moving from the bar to the dining room, or how the energy should rise as the night builds.

Our moodboard for Animl Steakhouse was a rich combination of inspirations drawn from the lavish indulgence and celebration of the ‘70s and ‘80s in New York — particularly the free-spirited essence of nightlife venues like Studio 54 playing Donna Summer — “I Feel Love” and Sylvester – “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)”. At the centre of Animl is a stunning upside-down mirror-encased bull that dazzles above patrons, paying homage to the free-spirited days of Studio 54 and the extravagant lifestyle of the past.

How does working at night change the way you think, feel, or produce?

Working at night connects us directly to the environments we design. Restaurants and bars operate at their peak after dark, and designing in that context helps us refine how light, texture, and atmosphere should perform. The focus of night work is sharper, the energy is more aligned with the culture of nightlife, and it allows us to make decisions that give a restaurant its presence and a bar its character.

Jason Baerg: Fashion Designer, Artist, & Professor

Can you tell us a bit about your current work and what your creative practice looks like?

I am a busy artist making paintings, new media, and fashion as well as teaching as an associate professor in Indigenous Visual Culture at OCAD University.

I currently have exhibitions at InterAccess in Toronto and Robert Langen Art Gallery in Waterloo, and I just debuted a new collection with my brand, Ayimach Horizons, at the inaugural Indigenous Fashion Week New York last week. Coming up, I’m preparing for a new show opening at the OCAD University Graduate Gallery in Toronto, and for Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week in the fall.

When you think of “nightlife,” what visuals does it evoke? Does the time of day play a role in your work or identity?

I am definitely nocturnal! I am at my best late at night and I also do a lot of creating at night. When I think of the term nightlife, I think of outings with friends and social times taking on the city.

What does “after dark” mean to you, personally or creatively?

It conjures a creative and fun energy.

Do you have a ritual, soundtrack, or visual that always accompanies your night work?

I tend to hit playlists on YouTube. It’s not uncommon for the latest fashion collections to be serving as audio tracks in the background as I am getting down to work in the studio. I am never surprised — when the music is interesting, so are the visuals.

How does working at night change the way you think, feel, or produce?

At night, my energy is strongest and that allows me to throw my full being into making.

Michael Usling: Designer & Artist

Can you tell us a bit about your current work and what your creative practice looks like?

I’m currently working on a new collection for my handbag brand, Edte, ahead of Fashion Art Toronto this November. I’m also showing a sculpture in a group exhibition in Berlin this fall, as part of the 7th Berliner Herbstsalon. My creative practice is a bit tumultuous — I work in bursts. I’m not someone who can create every day; I need those in-between moments to recharge and gather inspiration.

When you think of “nightlife,” what visuals does it evoke? Does time of day play a role in your work or identity?

“Nightlife” takes me back to the years I lived in Germany while completing my Master’s in Public Art. Some of the best nights out of my life were there, with visuals that felt straight out of a music video. Time of day definitely shapes my identity — I’m a night owl through and through, and all my friends and family know me as such.

What does “after dark” mean to you, personally or creatively?

For me, “after dark” means peak creativity. Once the sun goes down, it feels natural to retreat inside and start making something, almost like that’s what the night is for.

Do you have a ritual, soundtrack, or visual that always accompanies your night work?

I have a playlist inspired by late nights out and the feeling of leaving a festival at sunrise. It captures the sense of freedom I try to bring with me into the studio. I also love high-energy mixes from artists like Grimes and SOPHIE — they are quintessential nighttime artists for me.

How does working at night change the way you think, feel, or produce?

I love the quiet of late nights working in my studio. I feel most like myself then; no interruptions, no one to judge or question me. It’s just me and the hours ahead that I get to fill with creativity.

Andrew Ooi: Artist

Can you tell us a bit about your current work and what your creative practice looks like?

My recent work is more installation based and is incorporating the work that I’ve been making for the last eleven years. In terms of my creative practice, I am the product of my environment. Everyday experiences, objects, and materials really inspire me. Sometimes, getting a feel for the object in my hands — and what it’s made out of — can be the start of learning a new technique or application of a material. I’m finding this method of being conscious of my environment is really affecting the kind of conceptual work and installations I’m pursuing now. I currently have an exhibition on, Andrew Ooi: In Dialogue with Paper at SSEW Project.

When you think of “nightlife,” what visuals does it evoke? Does time of day play a role in your work or identity?

Visually, “nightlife” makes me think about how much more noticeable everything is. It’s almost as if everything has to make an extra effort to stand out at night. And maybe sometimes I have to make an extra effort, too, to notice the subtlety in everything.

The night is when I do my work. There’s less noise, less stimulus, less activity at night, which gives me the chance to take in some of the things that might have happened during the day, process my thoughts, and develop some of the ideas I’m thinking about incorporating into my work. I go for a lot of walks at night: thinking and looking. You wouldn’t believe how much clearer your surroundings and thoughts are at night.

What does “after dark” mean to you, personally or creatively?

“After dark” is usually when I begin working. This is when I get to my desk and start making my work.

Do you have a ritual, soundtrack, or visual that always accompanies your night work?

Walking is key. I tend to go for a few walks at night. I find that walking sometimes reveals another way of going about my work that may be better than what I was initially thinking. This kind of flash or inspiration is especially true when the type of work I’m doing is totally new to me. Then, I get to my rocking chair and begin to research some of my ideas. Rocking helps me ease into work after walking. My studio is always set up from the night before, so — after walking, rocking and researching — it’s straight to making.

How does working at night change the way you think, feel, or produce?

Working at night really means having the space to think freely. There aren’t any distractions; I can stay focused for a long time. Much of my work is made at night — it’s when I’m the most productive.