SS26 Menswear - Pushing Through The Lens with NOAH SAPON

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Pushing Through The Lens with Noah Sapon

written CHIDOZIE OBASI

Rising creative Noah Sapon became captivated by filmography the moment he acquired his first camera for his ninth birthday. But I cannot help but wonder: what has happened since then? “I’ve lived almost every day with one on me,” he enthuses, the moment we settle into our conversation.

Noah wears blazer by VALENTINO, shirt by CELINE, pants by PAUL SMITH, shoes by CHURCH’S and tie by FERRAGAMO

“I grew up as a big history nerd, and spent a lot of time outdoors,” he says, explaining how he spends lots of time in nature, where he draws the majority of his creative understanding and drive from. “As I’ve matured into a better understanding of myself and what I want to explore as an artist, these have been my biggest driving forces for my practice, while understanding the spiritual effect these elements have on society,” he explains. “I moved around a lot growing up and attended multiple schools, and I think this is where my adaptive nature was born.”

Sapon loves switching environments; throughout his life, he moved from the South of England’s countryside to a small mountain town in Spain, and then to a larger coastal one; since then, he’s been all over the world. Film has always been the director of his life. “No matter what it is, I see it through a lens,” he explains. “I studied film as one of my college A levels when I moved back to the UK in 2016, assuming I’d continue on to it at school or undertake a film degree of some sorts, but I hated it,” he says. Throughout the course, Sapon felt a feeling of unease and otherness from the tutors, and wasn’t allowed to experiment with a wealth of mediums. “Everything was so rigid, so it forced me to reconsider,” he says. At the time, Sapon had just been scouted as a model, and he was starting to experience the fashion industry from the other side of the camera. “I already had an interest in fashion, but I didn’t really understand how any of it worked,” he says. Below, Sapon unpacks early stints, pinch-me moments and future hopes with LE MILE’s Fashion Market Director. You’re welcome.

Noah wears a total look by VALENTINO

Chidozie Obasi
When did you begin to venture into the creative sphere, and what was the moment that made you realise you wanted to pursue this professionally?

Noah Sapon
I was scouted as a model when I was seventeen. I did one show and then signed to SUPA in London, which helped me a lot. Charlie, the founder, was always really supportive of my filmmaking, and he used to book out models to do video tests with; when I was casting, I would always tell the team that I was also a videographer and that if they wanted to book me for that instead they could. I always brought a small camera with me everywhere I went, even on set. I remember having a shoot with the late Brian Griffin for Wallpaper Magazine, and shot a behind the scene film while on set as a model. That’s how it started for me, as I’d get booked to be on both sides of the camera, but I always felt so awkward in front of the lens, and so at-home behind it. Things quite quickly progressed, and by 2019 I was shooting a few small videos a month for magazines, artists and musicians. As soon as it overtook my modelling career financially, I was able to properly dedicate myself to it. Then Covid hit, and I was pretty isolated from London, in the countryside with my family. That was when the natural world became a bigger theme in my approach. I shot an eight spread editorial series with my younger brother, Jethro, for Boys By Girls, about it being the truest constant for humans, and we worked together on another couple of films at home during that time. It wasn’t really until covid fully ended in 2022 that I felt that my career started. Before 2022 I was really just understanding how the industry worked, but then as travel opened up again that’s when things really changed, and I really felt like wow this is actually going to be my life now. I said in an interview when I was sixteen that my five-year plan was to ‘travel the world freely and work with people that inspire me,’ and it really happened.

Could you unpack why you transitioned from modeling to film?

Modelling was never for me. I never worked that much as a model, and I didn’t understand the industry well enough to set goals or intentions. I like organisation and order,and even though my life is quite chaotic, I know what’s going on. I never felt like I knew how to have any control of my own life as a model, and I actually think that is kind of part of the job. I’m so grateful that I got to do it though: I worked with some of my favourite magazines and brands, and it was my first proper, albeit naive, peek into the fashion industry. Film has been my dream for as long as I can remember. When I was really young (after wanting to be a cowboy, knight or pirate), I used to say I wanted to be an architect, and that was the first job I for some reason thought was for me. I liked the idea of creativity with a real-world objective, and something that can be ‘correct’. After that, I wanted to make films, so it was always where I wanted to transition to no matter what.

Noah wears pants and shorts by DOLCE&GABBANA and hat by LORO PIANA

Noah wears a total look by LORO PIANA

Biggest pinch-me moments?

I’ve had a lot of pinch me moments, really luckily very often. I don’t know what would be the biggest. I think the best ones are when I’m in the process of shooting something that really feels like a big checkpoint on track to where I want to be. This is one, as we’ve known each other since 2019! Quite full circle, and it was so much fun on set.

What downturns have you encountered during your path?

I’m really a very optimistic person. I don’t really register moments as ‘downturns’, I like to process these moments quite quickly and learn the lessons. However, I suppose my biggest downturns happen just when I feel conflicted about how to do well, and when an experience might go against what I believe in. But being a curious person, I always want to learn from the experience.

What’s next for you?

Well, what’s next is very exciting. 2026 has been such a great year so far. I’m equally focused on my documentaries as my fashion work which is awesome. I have two docs currently in the editing phases, one with me and one with an editor. I’ve got a few covers coming out with some really epic talent. I don’t like to overshare plans and goals, but I’m also in the process of working with an amazing friend and philanthropist, Mauro Monarris, on a lot of beautiful charity work. I turned 26 this year, and intentionality has become key. The next few years will involve a lot of large-scale positive impact on the world, be it through my personal work, or work I align with, and this makes me really happy. I’m feeling really grateful.

Noah wears overshirt by PAUL SMITH, sweater by AVANT-TOI, shirt by JACOB COHËN, pants by CANALI and RANDOM IDENTITIES by Stefano Pilati and shoes by AQVA ALTA

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seen COSIMO BUCCOLIERI via STUDIO REPOSSI
fashion market director + stylist CHIDOZIE OBASI
head of production JESSICA LOVATO
fashion coordinator EDWARD PUSCA
make up DIANA DJURDJEVSKI via STUDIO REPOSSI
hair FUJIWARA TAKAHASHI
model NOAH SAPON
photography assistant ANTONIO CROTTI
fashion assistants DAIANA EDOSA + ALICE PELATI + LUDOVICA IEMMOLO + ALESSIA GUALTIERI

credits
all Images (c) LE MILE
and Cosimo Buccolieri

SS26 Menswear - FUNCTION AND FINESSE with Umberto Villahermosa

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FUNCTION AND FINESSE
*with Umberto Villahermosa

written CHIDOZIE OBASI

For Italian talent Umberto Villahermosa, a lifestyle pundit whose affection with outdoor sports and art goes back in time, the past year has marked a transition in his path. “I started a clothing brand and I’m learning how to manage my time around working as a model, while building a solid base,” he says, cosily, as we begin to settle into our conversation.

Umberto wears a blazer and shirt by DOLCE&GABBANA, pants by QUARTO ATTO, and shoes by CANALI

Umberto wears a blazer and shirt by DOLCE&GABBANA

“It’s been a big challenge, but I’m willing to take it, and it brought a new fire of longing within me.” Since childhood, he’s always been a very creatively-driven kid, and aged fifteen he began building his own surfboards. “It’s only really when I moved over to Milano to study Economics that I understood I was drawn more towards creative disciplines like painting, photography and design,” he confesses. “I’ve always lived with the mentality of making something myself rather than buying it,” he adds. Umberto kicked off his modeling career because of his grandmother, who worked for the Italian house Fendi when she was younger. “She told me that I could work well as a model,” he says, “and took me, just like a scouter, to who’s still my current mother agency.”

Umberto wears a blazer and shirt by DOLCE&GABBANA

He wasn’t considering that becoming reality at first, but as he began to work he realised that it was interesting and unique, and that he much preferred honing such practice than working as a finance professional or in a corporate office as his life was originally meant to be. “The uprise of socials during those years also gave me a further opportunity to express myself and release a vision of who I was under my own lens, and that was such a lovely medley of accumulated experiences and sources of inspiration that once again drove me more towards the realm of creativity,” he says. “At the time, I was also motivated by the love I gained on social media, which could also be a slippery slope for obvious mental health reasons,” he reflects. As for the rest? Well, there’s more to the story, which you’ll probably read here first. You’re welcome.

Umberto wears a coat by ACT N1, a shirt by CANAKU, pants by THE NOUR, shoes by JIMMY CHOO, and an archive tie

Chidozie Obasi
Could you unpack your biggest career feats?

Umberto Villahermosa
During the past twelve years of my career, I’d say some of my proudest jobs are my first lookbook shoots for brands such as Versace, Dolce&Gabbana but also shows during fashion week, for example my first ever shows such as MSGM or Philipp Plein. I'm talking about those beginning jobs because I still remember the enthusiasm levels to this day.

How about the complex moments you’ve had?

I would refer as complex moments the fact that modelling, such as a lot of other creative jobs, is not a super stable career, there’s lots of ups and downs and those downturns can be understandably harsh if you don’t have a solid mindset that comes with understanding the idea that you cannot have control over every single facet of your path.

As a model and talent with such a broad experience and portfolio, how did you manage to stay afloat amid the system’s downturns?

I highly believe in professionality and humanity as fundamental values, no matter what the work environment is. You can have your face on all the magazine covers and on the biggest brand campaigns, but if you show up at work late and you treat others badly because you think you are superior, I would personally not hire you to represent my brand. I think I have always respected that and it definitely helped to keep me afloat.

Umberto wears a total look by LORO PIANA

Moving onto your brand, could you expand on it and specify how you are hoping to scale it further?

During my climbing years, I noticed I couldn’t find a comfortable pair of pants to practice such activity outdoors and that would protect my knees and shins from scratches that you would get from hitting granite rock. Therefore, I started climbing with karate pants that were very comfortable in terms of flexibility, but that wouldn’t protect enough from scratches. I decided to make my own climbing because I like to experiment with patterns and create destructured designs that are now the most sold, and that’s how Sasso People was born. I also give the opportunity to customers to have a custom sizing for maximum comfort, and I’m committed to having the closest possible to zero waste repurposing the fabric scraps into accessories and climbing bags. I transformed my living room into my studio, and I currently make everything by hand. It’s doable but I’m at maximum capacity. The big challenge will be to expand with production outsourcing, but in a way that I can maintain the same level of craftsmanship and low environmental impact because these, together with building a healthy and inclusive community, are the main values of the brand.

What’s next for you?

I will surely continue working as a model, keep developing the brand and find solutions to get to a broader public and grow the community. On a more personal level, I promised myself to work on my mental health and take care of myself a little more.

Umberto wears a blazer by CARUSO

Umberto wears a blazer by CARUSO and pants by THE LATEST

Umberto wears an overshirt by PAUL SMITH, a shirt and pants by LABO.ART, and shoes by CHURCH’S

Umberto wears a tank top by MICHAEL KORS, pants by DOLCE&GABBANA, and jewellery by LAG WORLD

Umberto wears a blazer by HED MAYNER, pants by THE LATEST, a hat by DOLCE&GABBANA, and jewellery by LAG WORLD and EUPHORIA NEW

Umberto wears a shirt by GRIFONI and pants by PHYSIQUE DU ROLE and MEIMEIJ

photography COSIMO BUCCOLIERI via STUDIO REPOSSI
fashion market director + stylist CHIDOZIE OBASI
head of production JESSICA LOVATO
fashion coordinators ALBERTO MICHISANTI + EDWARD PUSCA
make up CHIARA GUIZZETTI via THE GREEN APPLE ITALIA
hair FUJIWARA TAKAHASHI via MKS MILANO
model UMBERTO VILLAHERMOSA via INDEPENDENT MGMT
photography assistant ANTONIO CROTTI
fashion assistants SIMONA VERNAZZA + ANGELINA PERSIANI + SOFIA FARINA + CHARISSE ORDINARIA + LUIZA ANGELOVA + CHIARA DE BONIS

credits
all Images (c) LE MILE
and Cosimo Buccolieri