18 East is less of a brand and more of an extended family of creatives led by founder Antonio Ciongoli, though it retains a core team that helps design and issue seasonal drops from its Chinatown flagship. When the coronavirus pandemic hit, the 18 East team was scattered across the country as each member headed back home to weather the epidemic, but the power of technology has kept everyone in contact.

A variety of team members and friends — sans Ciongoli — have offered a look at their own survival techniques, across the Atlantic and back. “I’d like to give the young guys and the people keeping me inspired at the moment some shine,” Ciongoli explained. “I think it’s important that people know 18 East is bigger than me.”

Cameron Booth – designer, copywriter and social media (Claremont, CA)

What is your daily routine?

Rise promptly at 7 a.m., if it’s a weekday I hop on a Zoom class because knowledge is power. Go outside, stretch, go for a run then prepare breakfast. Hop on a call or two, draw some flowers, chat with Toni about upcoming 18 East goods then try and convince him to make vertical striped pants. Prep dinner or dessert for the family which is oftentimes when I come up with the 18 East product descriptions and Instagram captions.

Where in your home do you like to work?

I took over my mom’s desk because she loves me and I love her, otherwise I’m outside on the patio drinking fresh OJ.

What do you wear while working from home?

I always get dressed before settling into work. It’s about to reach 90 degrees where I’m at so often one of the 10 pairs of pants I brought home and a white tank (optional). Otherwise, I’ve been living in an old L.L. Bean denim shirt and the new ALL CAPS STUDIO gear.

What are you eating now?

I pick oranges off my neighbor’s tree to make fresh orange juice and the occasional orange sponge cake. Been honing my skills baking about a year now so on any given day there’s a medley of gluten-heavy dishes for the family (shoutout Mel the Bakery for the sourdough reviews).

How do you stay in a good headspace in isolation?

Always try and keep my mind occupied which has been no issue. Running allows me time alone to think and has served as a form of meditation as I’ve recently opted out of any music or podcasts. Also, I don’t consume any news outside of what I’m told which has undoubtedly helped me remain sane.

What are you listening to and watching?

My brother’s been showing me films, most recently Nashville from Robert Altman, Dog Day Afternoon with Pacino, and I can’t forget about the classic Don’t Let The Riverbeast Get You! As far as music is concerned, depends on the activity. Anything from Crosby Still and Nash to Philadelphia Freeway to Herb Alpert to Rick Ross Radio while in the kitchen.

Saeed Ferguson – photographer and designer for ALL CAPS STUDIO (Philadelphia, PA)

What’s your daily routine?

Wake up, get ready for the day, get a coffee, make breakfast, walk to the studio that I work out of, which is only a few blocks from my house, and just vibe and try to create things.

Where in your home do you like to work?

Love working in my office/studio space. It’s large room and gets great natural light which is essential for me. It’s also just far enough from my bed where I can’t just lay down and do nothing, but close enough that I don’t have to drag myself to get there.

What do you wear while working from home?

I’ve been dressing super relaxed and cozy, big baggy vibes on this side! A lot of flow-y pants and sweats for bottoms, mostly sweatshirts and tees for tops. Some days I dress like I’m going into the city and have meetings to pretend like everything is normal but I think I’m over that.

What are you eating now?

Green pancakes!

How do you stay in a good headspace in isolation?

A loose daily routine and working on creating things really helps. Also speaking to friends/family, listening to talks or podcasts, and reading has been huge for me. The occasional COD match is nice too.

What are you listening to and watching?

Been listening to a weird mix of rap, house, techno, and indie rock. I’ve been getting into all these livestream sets that are going on – Mall Grab and Peggy Gou played some sets that I’m really into. Honestly there’s been so much new and good music – Everything from Uzi is a go! That new Maxo and Earl is a go!

Yaeji, Jacob Rochester, Computer Data, Orion Sun, Soccer Mommy, Theo Martins, Knxwledge, Young Nudy, Playboi Carti and Channel Tres all have new heat. I’ve been trying to catch up on my movies too! Just watched Uncut Gems and what a ride that was. The Lighthouse, Waves and Queen & Slim are next up!

Leon Xu – Artist and Studio Associate (Brooklyn, NY)

What’s your daily routine?

I’ve been taking advantage of this opportunity to catch up on my beauty sleep, so I sleep in a little. I check on my villagers on Animal Crossing and make sure they’re doing good. Then I work, either on 18 East stuff or on my art. Eat. Chillout. Sleep.

Where in your home do you like to work?

In my living room because it gets the most sunlight. Or in my little studio area.

What do you wear while working from home?

I dress how I usually do: always a piece of 18 East on me. Or I’ll wear my ALL CAPS STUDIO sweatsuit.

What are you eating now?

Today I treated myself and made a lil’ salmon bowl. Usually I just eat hella veggies with rice.

How do you stay in a good headspace in isolation?

Killing it on Animal Crossing, smoking CBD and staying physically and mentally active.

What are you listening to and doing for fun?

Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield on repeat. Full Clip by Gang Starr when I’m missing the 18 East studio. And the score from the film The Last Black Man In San Francisco when I’m working.

Phil Panza – artist and graphic designer (Lisbon, Portugal)

What’s your daily routine?

I wake up, shower, start a pot of coffee, do a bit of yoga (which I’ve never done til now), sip my cafe and start my day.

Where in your home do you like to work?

I enjoy my room honestly, It’s a big enough space and gets nice light. Also enjoy on top of the washing machine with my feet out the window on our lil’ balcony when I’m tryna get a tan.

What do you wear while working from home?

I probably wear cargos and camp shirts every day, the birthday suit always suits as well.

What are you eating now?

My beautiful leftovers because I became a chef during quarantine.

How do you stay in a good headspace in isolation?

Just trying to stay creative. I tuft rugs and make jewelry so luckily I’ve been able to keep a bit busy with the material I have. Other than that just cooking, research, skating a bit, and connecting more with the self.

What are you listening to and watching?

Goes with the days but a lot of jazz and funk. I’m also in Lisbon, Portugal currently so a good dose of samba as well. Also listen to a lot of NPR podcasts. For the eyes – Skate vids, Tiger King and just random stuff to pass out to.

Jimmy Gorecki – skater and founder of Standard Issue and JSP (Los Angeles, CA)

What’s your daily routine?

Try to wake up 7 or 7:30-ish. Coffee. Emails. The dog out. Check social media. Wait for my lady and daughter to wake up.

Where in your home do you like to work?

On the Eames, which sits right between our living room and dining room space, or on the porch in the morning or night when the anxiety of the pandemic isn’t so high.

What do you wear while working from home?

My lady gets mad at me because I change a lot. A lot of comfy 18 east, Standard Issue, and JSP combinations.

What are you eating now?

Today we’re doing pasta and Italian sausage. Majority of stay at home has been in the back on the grill. Just to be outside as a family together.

How do you stay in a good headspace in isolation?

Staying away from the news. Out shredding on my skateboard at the local school a couple times of weeks. Playing the yard with my daughter and wife. Trying to limit those couple hours of the day that feels like my whole world is caving in on me because other than time period every day feels equally as blessed.

What are you listening to and watching?

Emory Jones and Rza Premo Tidal playlists.

Jonathan Herrera – studio associate (Philadelphia, PA)

What’s your daily routine?

Wake up before 8 a.m. on the days I have meetings or work to do, if not I’m sleeping in. Next, I’m thinking of what to eat. After I make myself some food, I’m right into the office where I’ve been working on a personal project, after putting a few hours into that I relax and vibe out with some light reading or put the office on again.

Where in your home do you like to work?

Whichever room has the best lighting at the time I’m trying to get work done. I’ve been hanging on my roof on the nicer days if not I work in either my office or the living room.

What do you wear while working from home?

Anything cozy and comfortable, so mainly sweaters, sweats and slippers. If I have a video call or Zoom meeting it’s business on the top, leisure on the bottom.

What are you eating now?

Hella fruit and tea. Homie at the bodega stopped selling yerba mate; I’m kinda tight about that. I’m trying my best to stay away from the baking bread craze, Cam’s all over that though I’m waiting for him to send me a rosemary focaccia, other than that I attempt a new recipe every other night.

How do you stay in a good headspace in isolation?

The first thing I did was leave NY and come back home to Philly, things were getting too crazy there and being crammed in all those small spaces were driving me nuts.

Limited the amount of COVID-19 news I was taking in, it’s hella stressful. Keeping up with homies, it helps things seem and feel a little more normal. Blasting music and getting down, letting that energy out is mad helpful. I stayyyy in the kitchen cooking now, it eats up a lot of time and is mad therapeutic. I find it hard to sit and plays videos games for a while but my friends made me download that new COD so I’ve been on that and watching all the new anime that my little brother recommends

What are you listening to and watching?

I’ve rewatched The Office for like the fifth time and my younger brother has me watching mad anime at the same time so I can “be on his level.” Just subscribed to Disney+ so I’m finna dive into all of that soon. As per music, I’ve been listening to Knxwledge, Thundercat, Larry June, Isaiah Rashad, Jarami to name a few.

Tone – inventor, photographer, maker and founder of Tone-Customs (Jersey City, NJ)

What is your daily routine?

When I’m not feeling like I’m living in an Alex Jones science fiction movie… Drink a glass of room temp water with a pinch of sea salt, take some quick deep breaths, rinse face with cold water, a five minute stretch and 100 jumping jacks, make my bed, clean up the apartment for five minutes, say “whats up dudes,” to my plants, pet my dog, Benny, maybe take a cool shower, coffee: (recipe: 40g/640ml – 45s bloom @ 100g – medium/course – target time: 4:30 mins), eat some raw fruit or make a fruit shake, small dose of magic mushrooms to help me focus, log into Habitica and check off any accomplishments, compliment someone, listen to someone, thank someone, remind myself to “stay on target” and then “get the f*ck to work, you mental case.”

Where in your home do you like to work?

I live in a railroad apartment with three rooms. My main workspace is the first room you see when you enter my apartment. That’s where I make all the rope stuff that’s on my website and IG. My landlord – thanks Christine – also let me use the basement, which I am slowly converting into a woodshop because I want to start making more things from wood.

What do you wear while working from home?

If I am not making a video, I’m usually in my boxers and socks, otherwise I’m in BDUs, a t-shirt or hoodie and Vans.

What are you eating now?

I eat a lot of eggs and salads. Since COVID, we’ve been baking a lot of fresh bread. I’m still avoiding processed sugar because it makes me fat, f*cks with my moods and messes with the immune system. As far as meats, my go-tos are arctic char, chicken thighs, Boston pork butt or shoulder and chuck steaks. Other than the char, these are really tasty and fatty cuts of meat that won’t break the bank. They are amazing when cooked on a grill over some good American oak or Japanese binchotan.

How do you stay in a good headspace in isolation?

What’s difficult for me about isolation has to do with the world outside, not isolation itself; I like being alone. During COVID, I find myself infuriated by our media and leadership both Republican and Democrat. I have moments of rage when I want to hit the streets rioting and breaking sh*t but I hold it in, get my work done, try to invent new things and then feel like a coward for doing nothing to change the world. I will fix that. I will be part of a positive change, I just haven’t connected all the dots yet.

What are you listening to and watching?

I didn’t realize until I read this question that I am not listening to any music and I don’t know why. But, I finished Ozark, installed Ubuntu Budgie 20.04 LTS and started watching The Sopranos for the first time ever. “Well, dip me in sh*t”