Facts&Dreams

17/04/2023

Two from the past week that caught my attention.💡

🔘 To begin with, some really sad news. Designer Mary Quant passed away at the age of 93. She's considered to be the creator of the miniskirt. We often include landmarks associated with in our London fashion tours, especially King’s Road.

As a vintage collector, I'm the proud owner of some Mary Quant’s designs. For instance, the very lovely silver gloves from 80s.

🔘 Luxury brands from Gucci to Prada court Middle East with collections. This proves that brands are aware of the growing muslim population.

This year, some brands have done an amazing job trying to avoid clichés and stereotypes. Pastel bags, dresses, sunglasses, floral and embroidered prints are among the key trends. 🌙

What news story has caught your attention recently?

Moodboard: Georgia Sheehan

07/04/2023

Do you believe in genies?

I do! That's why I liked George Miller's «Three Thousand Years of Longing» starring Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton so much.

But unfortunately the beautiful costumes created by an Australian costume designer Kim Barrett did not get much media attention. I especially love the costumes she created for Tilda Swinton's character, the British intellectual Alithea Binnie.

Let's see how Kim highlighted «the Britishness» of this heroine.

✔️ Trench coats — Alithea has an amazing collection of trench coats and changes them numerous times throughout the film.

✔️ Alithea prefers classic eyeglass frames. Sometimes you can see her wearing several glasses at the same time!

✔️ Cardigans and knitted vests. These are very important items in Alithea's wardrobe. Cardigans add cosiness and create a sense of vulnerability when the heroine wears them at home.

✔️ Scarves and snoods are perfect for the London weather and add a bohemian touch.

✔️ Alitea also wears flats and is not afraid to combine bright colours, such as raspberry and red. The latter is a nod to a slight British eccentricity.

Have you watched «Three Thousand Years of Longing» yet?

09/03/2023

HOW WE MET OUR FOLLOWER

Last June we received a sweet message with a sketch of Elle and Valeriya from our follower in Turkey. Since then, we have been in touch.

It turned out that Sevgi is a designer who works for . So when she found out we were going to Turkey, she invited us for a cup of delicious Turkish coffee and to see her workplace!

is located in Antalya and produces lightweight dreamy pastel dresses for parties and weddings.

Later Sevgi and her friend Özge invited us for a quick tour of the near Belek. It is a massive mall that is home to both premium and mass-market brands. It can be best described as a fashion town with restaurants, hotels, and even a river that unites all its parts. Interestingly, the locals love this place just as much as tourists do. 

Thank you Sevgi and Özge for this amazing experience!

09/03/2023

HOW WE MET OUR FOLLOWER

Last June we received a sweet message with a sketch of Elle and Valeriya from our follower in Turkey. Since then, we have been in touch.

It turned out that Sevgi is a designer who works for TheElsa® 🦢] . So when she found out we were going to Turkey, she invited us for a cup of delicious Turkish coffee and to see her workplace!

TheElsa® 🦢] is located in Antalya and produces lightweight dreamy pastel dresses for parties and weddings.

Later Sevgi and her friend Özge invited us for a quick tour of the near Belek. It is a massive mall that is home to both premium and mass-market brands. It can be best described as a fashion town with restaurants, hotels, and even a river that unites all its parts. Interestingly, the locals love this place just as much as tourists do. 

Thank you Sevgi and Özge for this amazing experience!

01/03/2023

Would you like to travel to Turkey with F&D experts?

01/03/2023

OUR JOURNEY TO TURKEY

F&D’s major destinations are Paris, London and Amsterdam. However, this time we visited Turkey to see some of its incredible sights.

Turkey is typically associated with beach holidays. Yet it’s remarkably rich in history and culture.

Throughout centuries, the Antalya Province alone belonged to Hittites, Greeks, and Persians, and then became part of the Roman Empire. One can still enjoy visiting numerous ancient monuments that have been preserved in the region, from Hadrian's Gate in Antalya to the ancient city of Side.

You can also visit the Museum of Archeology in Antalya if you are interested in clothing, jewellery and the style of ancient times.

Would you like to travel to Turkey with F&D experts?

21/02/2023

F&D AT PARIS FASHION WEEK

Are you interested in Trend Forecasting? 

F&D founder will give a short introduction to the history of Trend Forecasting, and methods plus cover some of the key 2023 fashion trends at event

▪️Distinguishing trends before they become everyday fashion is essential for modern professionals such as marketers, fashion designers, brand founders, stylists and buyers.
◽️Recognising trends means understanding the global context and agenda, and working with trends helps to stand out in the oversaturated market and connect better with consumers.

WHEN
4 March 2023, 13:00

WHERE
20 rue Pierre Lescot 75001 Paris
EXPANSION .place

We look forward to seeing you! 🤍

20/02/2023

MEET OUR EXPERT FROM PARIS - LIDIA AGEEVA

Journalist, fashion editor, creative consultant, and an insider in the world of high fashion and contemporary art. Meet our multitalented friend and expert Lidia Ageeva.

Lidia worked at Condé Nast in Vogue magazine, participated in the launch of the men's version of Grazia magazine and came up with a content strategy for the French resale platform Vestiaire Collective.

Lidia writes about fashion, culture and social events for Elle, Grazia, Harper's Bazaar, GQ, Tatler, and many other magazines. The list of Lidia’s interviews includes Woody Allen, Marion Cotillard, Lou Doyon, Daphne Guinness, Tina Kunaki, Dries Van Noten, Tom Pesho, Eric Bulatov and many others.

Stay tuned to hear about an upcoming event with F&D experts including Lidia ♥️

16/02/2023

F&D TOURS

Do you like travelling as much as we do?

Then you should join us on our F&D tours! They are transformative journeys that bring new emotions, experiences and people into your lives.

We connect creative travellers with the best fashion and art professionals in the world in their native environments.

Soon we’ll announce a new tour🥳

Stay tuned 🤍

13/02/2023

AFRICA FASHION at

DM to visit this exhibition with our expert 🤍

From the 1950s to the 1990s, African fashion and arts exhibited a lot of creativity and freedom as countries looked towards self-rule. This included African fabrics that played an important role in the African self-identity.

Politics, marital status, and a passion for knowledge were shown through the fabrics Africans chose to wear.

1. Àdire
This fabric is made with a resist agent like tied raffia or cotton. It translates as «tie & dye». Stencils are used to make àdire. To prevent specific parts from becoming stained when the fabric is dipped in indigo, starch is painted on it.

2. Khanga
Printed cotton fabric, often with a border along all four sides, and a central part which differs in design from the borders.

3. Ankara
This is a 100% cotton fabric renowned for its vibrant patterns on both the front and back sides. The wax-resist dyeing technique of producing the fabric is called batik.

4. Kente
It is a type of silk and cotton fabric made of interwoven cloth strips and is native to the Akan tribe in Ghana.

09/02/2023

ARE YOU THE IMPOSSIBLE?

You are a bit confused, aren’t you? Check this out ⤵️

Who are the impossibles?

The leading trend forecasting company WGSN define 4 consumer profiles in 2023:

1. The Predictors
2. The New Romantics
3. The Conductors
4. The Impossibles

The impossibles are predominantly young people who suffered from a lack of institutional assistance during the pandemic.

Yet they continue to believe in the bright future mainly due to the development of technology and well-functioning communities.

As a brand, you can catch their attention by introducing transcultural products or employing an ethical supply chain.

Nike has been working with this cohort for a long time. In its 2020 Air Max 90 City Pack collection, Nike paid tribute to London’s post workers, Paris’ bakers, Tokyo’s construction workers and Shanghai’s couriers who «moved the city» during the lockdown.

What do you think about this collection?

06/02/2023

WHAT IS TREND FORECASTING?

Trend forecasting is about detecting signs of change and understanding how they point to the future. It’s a vital part of the work of any designer, marketer or creative.

This week I’ll be lecturing on trend forecasting at the British Higher School of Art & Design and CSVPA. Trends change fast and each lecture requires additional research.
Below are my 6 go-to media to get updates on science, politics, tech and fashion.

1. The Business of Fashion News, analysis and advice on the global fashion Industry.

2. FashionUnited Fashion news, including the latest trends and business intelligence.

3. The World Ahead by The Economist
Future-gazing analysis and global predictions to help experts survive in a competitive world.

4. WGSN
Expert trend forecasting reports combined with data science. They focus on consumer insights, product design direction and trading strategies.

5.Monocle
This magazine provides a briefing on global affairs, business, culture, design and urban communities.

6. New Scientist
The world’s most popular science and technology magazine that asks the big-picture questions about life, the universe and what it means to be human.

21/01/2023

Emily in Paris features several real cafés and restaurants throughout the city. Check out these 3 locations Facts&Dreams would genuinely recommend for a lovely atmosphere.

🍽️ The Café de Flore
The Café de Flore in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district is where Emily meets a professor of philosophy. One of the oldest cafés in Paris is known for its famous clientele including high-profile writers.

🍝Terra Nera
This is the restaurant where Gabriel works. In real life, this restaurant is located on rue des Fossés Saint-Jacques and offers italian cuisine.

☕️ La Maison Rose
This Montmartre cafe where Emily hangs out with her friend Mindy has been serving up coffee for over a century. Picasso and Camus were just a few of its regular customers. The name translates literally to The Pink House.

29/09/2022

Happy birthday to our lovely colleague Valeriya! We hope your special day will bring you lots of happiness, love, and fun. You deserve them. 💐

13/09/2022

While one part of the world is mourning the death of Elizabeth II, the British longest-running monarch, and the other part questions the monarchy, there is no doubt that the Queen had an immense influence on fashion. ⠀
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It’s a tradition now that one day of the Facts&Dreams tours in London is fully dedicated to the Royals: where they shop in London and their fashion choices. ⠀
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We often speak about Queen’s elegance and functional style over trends. Her style reflected the challenges Britain was facing. For instance, during the war, she was a driver and mechanic wearing then common comfortable yet nipped-in waist outfits. After WW2 Elizabeth used ration coupons she saved to purchase fabrics for her wedding dress: chiffon, silk and tulle. ⠀
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Here are the three quintessential facts about the Queen’s style that we always mention during the tours.⠀
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■ Fashion diplomacy speaks volumes ⠀
The Queen shaped the 20th-century power dressing. She paved the way for Margaret Thatcher, Raisa Gorbacheva, Michelle Obama, Brigitte Macron, Kate Middleton (the Duchess of Cambridge) and many other First Ladies and ladies in charge.⠀
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In her later years, strong monochrome or colour-blocking looks served the purpose of being visible in the crowd. The Queen once said: “I have to be seen to be believed”. ⠀
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■ Accessorised uniform⠀
The Queen was serving her country by attending sometimes more than 300 events per year. When you do that, you need a proper uniform. Most of the Queen’s styles look similar as she uses classical pieces that made her look timeless. However, if you pay attention to her accessories they always changed whether a different broche, gloves or of course a hat.
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■ Quintessentially British ⠀
The Queen loved spending leisure time in her estates outside of London. She would often wear wellies, earthy-coloured quilted outerwear, all types of plaid, and headscarves.⠀
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What Queen’s look do you remember best?⠀
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Photo credits: ⠀
1. Time Cover by Cecil Beaton 2. Tim Graham Photo Library/Getty Images 3. Anwar Hussein/Getty Images 4. Yui Mok/WPA Pool/Getty Images 5. Imperial War Museum collection 6. .andriichuk_artist

13/07/2022

Visit the exhibition of Tiffany&Co. at Saatchi Gallery London with one of our jewellery experts

■ The Exhibition «Vision&Virtuosity» is on until August 19, 2022

For nearly two centuries Tiffany&Co has been defined by expert craftsmanship, innovative designs, the world’s most exceptional diamonds & gemstones, as well as its inexhaustible allure & influence on popular culture.

Sports trophies, engagement rings, blue boxes… Tiffany&Co. is so many things. Here are just a few objects you can see in the exhibition.

🎁 One prominent object in the exhibition is the original blue box from the late 1800s. It gained iconic status after Tiffany&Co. Introduced the Tiffany setting engagement ring.

💍 You can also see a range of Tiffany&Co. engagement rings, a symbol of the greatest love stories for over 100 years. A true design masterpiece, the diamond floats above the bend so the light can hit it from every angle.

💎 The 128.54-carat yellow diamond is the cornerstone of the House. It was found in the Kimberley diamond mines in South Africa in 1877. It remains one of the most spectacular yellow diamonds in the world today. Beyoncé and Lady Gaga are among four women who have worn the Tiffany Diamond. The piece was first worn in 1957 by socialite Mary Whitehouse, and then it was most famously worn by actress Audrey Hepburn in 1961 when she did publicity for her film, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”

👗 You can also see Truman Capote’s annotated ’60s scripts and the figure-hugging Givenchy dress that Hepburn accessorised with a croissant and tiara.

DM for details if you want to see the exhibition with one of our experts!

07/07/2022

Visit HOCKNEY’S EYE at the Fitzwilliam Museum with Our Art Expert
• Until 29 August 2022

Hockney is the most intellectually restless of the great contemporary artists. He has continuously explored how the surface of a flat picture can convey what we actually see, radically questioning traditional ways of depicting space.

Naturalistic techniques familiar in works by earlier painters, including the optical rules of perspective, have been displaced in his art by more dynamic ways of seeing — what Hockney calls ‘eyeballing’.

Hockney’s revolution has been conducted against the background of his intense dialogue with the Old Masters.

Hockney’s quest is underpinned by hands-on experimentation with the pre-photographic devices that are a focus of this exhibition: the camera obscura, the camera lucida and concave mirrors.

The remarkable results lie behind his controversial claim that ‘western art’ from the Renaissance to the late 19th century was dominated by a ‘camera culture’, even before the invention of photography itself.

He argues that artists routinely made use of optical tools and that art historians have largely missed this pervasive aspect of their work.

Hockney, however, rejects photography as corresponding precisely to the way we see the world.

He knows we are mobile and emotional viewers, our eyes connected to our brains — and to our hearts.

— The Fitzwilliams Museum

05/07/2022

Happy 4th of July to all our friends and guests from the USA! Guess where these images were taken ? 😉

13/06/2022

When we started our travel project, we knew that we wanted to work with the best insiders in the world of fashion, the most influential Fashion Weeks and the most iconic retailers.

This year has been remarkable. We have become the official partners of the legendary in Paris, which was founded over a century ago.

During our private partner tour, we have explored the endless rooms and historic spaces of this incredible building, the numerous activities one can do (including the cooking classes!) and learnt about its other secrets 😉.

So now it’s official. If you find yourself in Paris, do contact us to organise your visit to this very special place.

06/06/2022

Happy Monday! Our week starts with a surprise: we were drawn by our lovely subscriber

Thank you, we are so pleased that our project inspires creativity 👩‍🎨

08/05/2022

Hi all, today we are doing a sustainable fashion tour in London. We will be posting stories throughout the day so you too can travel with us.

05/05/2022

BRUSSELS TOUCH⁣⁣⠀
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The Brussels Fashion & Lace Museum houses a collection of over 10,000 pieces of clothing and accessories, covering the history of fashion from the 16th century to the present day. We always visit this incredible place during our tours to Belgium.⁣⁣⠀
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Have a look at our video from the current exhibition “Brussels touch” dedicated to the role of Belgium in fashion since the 1980s. ⁣⁣⠀
It takes a look at the “Spirit of Brussels”, through the talent of 33 fashion designers.⁣⁣⠀
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Which Belgian designers do you know? ⁣⁣⠀
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01/05/2022

MAYDAY BEAUTY⁣⁣⠀
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On the first of May 1561, King Charles of France was presented with a fragrant bunch of muguet: the delicate green sprigs capped with tiny white bells that we know as lily of the valley. ⁣⁣⠀
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It was a gesture signifying luck and prosperity, which so touched the king, he continued the tradition by giving the sweet-smelling blossoms to the ladies of his court each year on the same day. ⁣⁣⠀
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La Fête du Muguet continues in France today.⁣⁣⠀
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Did you know that Lilly of the valley happened⠀to be Christian⠀Dior’s favourite flower? He gave its name to the Spring-Summer collection of 1954, “MUGUET”. ⁣⁣⠀
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Did you offer flowers to someone special today?

28/04/2022

21/04/2022

MEET OUR EXPERT — BECKY SEAGER ⁣⁣⠀
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We would like to introduce you to our friend and expert Becky. She is fashion and celebrity stylist.⁣⁣⠀
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Becky is famous for her fork with Dazed, i-D, Confused, Grazia, The Observer, Volt Mag, Awkward magazines. Her celebrity clients include Beyonce, Pink, Kylie Minogue, Thom York. She also styled campaigns for ASOS, Coca Cola, Adidas, Nike.⁣⁣⠀

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⁣⁣Would you like to learn more about fashion styling? ⁣⁣⠀⁣⁣⠀
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17/04/2022

OUR PRINCIPLES ⁣⁣⠀
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Theory and practice are equally important. All tours offer a healthy mix of diverse activities: lectures, visits to museums, shops, studios and specialized events, discussions, networking events and, of course, entertainment.⁣⁣⠀
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● Personal experience. The project brings together unique experts, leaders in their field, and offers master classes in the context of the city, which makes it possible to understand how the features of the environment affect the industry and vice versa.⁣⁣⠀
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● Learning takes place as part of a trip, which allows you not to choose a vacation to the detriment of self-development.⁣⁣⠀
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Would you like to join us for a tour ?

13/04/2022

MEET OUR EXPERT — IVA KSENEVICH⁣⁣⠀⁣⁣⠀
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We would like to introduce you to our friend and expert Iva Ksenevich. Iva is a recognised Hat and Accessories Designer whose two pieces are never the same. ⁣⁣Her works were highlighted by such magazines as Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, L’Officielle, Elle, and many others. ⁣⁣⠀⁣⁣⠀
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Iva studied millinery in both London and Paris. In London, she learned the classic English Royal Ascot style with Rose Cory (Her Majesty Queen Mother and Elizabeth II hatmaker), while in Paris she learned about French haute couture.⁣⁣⠀⁣⁣⠀
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Iva worked for the biggest Parisian fashion houses and launched her high fashion brand Iva Ksenevich Millinery as well as her new project . ⁣⁣⠀⁣⁣⠀
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Do not miss Iva’s exhibition ‘Shining & Crystals’ which she has done in collaboration with Régis Mathieu, a Chandelier designer and collector. It will place in Paris at Gallerie⠀until May 30th.⁣⁣⠀
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Would you like to learn more about the millinery and its secrets? ⁣⁣⠀⁣⁣⠀
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11/04/2022

TRENCH SEASON⁣⁣⠀
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Trench coat is a desirable classic that has endured through the decades. Interestingly, the trench coat's first leading role was in World War One. ⁣⁣⠀
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Trench coat was named after trench – a long narrow ditch from battle fields of WWI. The trench coat was used by the British officers and saved them from rains, mud and dust.⁣⁣⠀
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From Humphrey Bogart to Audrey Hepburn and Kate Moss, the trench coat is now synonymous with elegance and sophistication. It it presented by the iconic British companies such as Burberry and Aquascutum.⁣⁣⠀
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Do you love trenches? Which one is your favorite brand ?

11/04/2022

MEET OUR EXPERTS⠀⁣⁣⠀
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Today we will introduce you to some of our amazing speakers. Let’s begin with the Celebrity Stylists whom you can meet in our London tours.⁣⁣⠀
The profession of a celebrity stylist is relatively new. Can you imagine that at the end of the XX century many famous actors and musicians styled themselves for the red carpets? Only in the late 1990s luxury brands started offering their outfits to fashion stylists to create the iconic looks.⁣⁣⠀
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Celebrity stylists are traditionally backstage professionals, whose role is to make sure that celebrities get to the top lists of the most stylish guests at events like the Oscars or Bafta, or Grammy Awards and get an exclusive contract with a luxury brand.⁣⁣⠀
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Our guest speakers Laura Lightbody, Becky Seager and Emily Evans worked with celebrities like Beyonce, Kate Moss, Fergie, George Michael and many others. During our tours and lectures, they are happy to share their professional experience with you. ⠀⁣⁣⠀
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In our next posts, we will introduce you more of our fascinating experts.⁣⁣⠀
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Stay tuned! ⁣⁣⠀

11/04/2022

OUR CITIES : PARIS⁣⁣⠀
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Paris is the capital of haute couture, where you can have business lunches with oysters and champagne. It is also a hub for designers and artists, architects and creators, whose interest in ecology and innovations is as strong as in traditional crafts and of course art de vivre. ⁣⁣⠀
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At Facts&Dreams we live and work between London, Paris and Amsterdam. There more we discover there,the more we want to share our love to these cities with guests on our tours and visits.⁣⁣⠀
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Have you ever been to Paris?⁣⁣⠀
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