Curious Tribe

By Christina Ghubril

Justin Shiels, co-founder of Curious Tribe

What happens when a group of friends decide they have the power to change the world?  Curious Tribe, the movement happens. Curious Tribe is a New Orleans based company of creative friends who have made it their mission “to elevate young adults by cultivating a language of creativity through art, fashion, music and culture.”

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Justin Shiels, one of the creative minds behind Curious Tribe, and picking his brain about his vision for New Orleans and the young adult culture in our nation.

It’s easy to tell at first glance that Justin is hip.  Arriving in style and with an inviting grin, he shared about his initial journey to New Orleans as a Loyola student.  The Big Easy quickly won over his heart and, like many, Justin has caught the bug…the NoLA bug, that is.

Incredibly articulate and proud of his city, thoughts on the powerfully growing arts scene, the historical and modern music scene, the beautiful and quirky architecture and landscapes that make up New Orleans fluidly roll off his tongue.  He describes New Orleans as a city that embraces and needs it’s creative minds, a city whose young artists join forces and support each other, a city that in every nook and cranny feeds a creative spirit through visual and aural stimulation, a city that has the potential to be one of the nation’s leading hubs for artists and young professionals.  What young, creative individual would not want to make their home in such a place?

What caught my attention most was Justin’s descriptions of our generation.  A generation of individuals, many of whom long for and demand truth in all areas of life.  Who desire transparency whether in regards to relationships, community affairs or government.  A generation that is searching for sustainable ways to continue development.  And a generation of folks who value engaging creative minds in order to positively transform our world.

I ask what it would take to draw those artists and young professionals en masse to this city.  What does New Orleans need in order to sustain itself and grow into a place of flourishing development, yet again?

Fix the levees, he says.  Things won’t fully grow and sustain themselves until the levees are fixed and solid and once they are in place, the city will boom again.  And in the mean time, Justin, Curious Tribe, and the countless artists and professionals passionately living out their dreams in New Orleans will work to cultivate, develop, and support their city.  Even without the levees, their energy continues to draw partners from around the nation and world to relocate or return to their city and continue to infuse it with the magical energy it has always been known for.  From my apartment in Brooklyn, I find myself lost in visions of what life might be like in the vibrant NoLA….

Justin and Curious Tribe can be found at www.curioustribe.com, where blogs on fashion, music and culture, links to the Curious Tribe ‘zine and to Justin Shiels’ graphic design skills make their home.