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oday's digital age has sparked a new dawn for fashion labels. ey're more personal. e most well-known names in luxury which seemed larger than life are within reach. Creative, below- the-radar brands which might have previously gone unnoticed, have gained international notoriety. Social media inundated us with a palette of styles to choose from at any given moment; and this has as much to do with those platforms as it does today's influencers. Models in the industry are no longer just a face. ey've become a trusted source for style and perspective which, in many cases, has subsequently led to jet-setting lifestyles and collaborations with top brands. For 27-year-old Daniel Toni Jais, the influencer life is about much more than gaining social stardom or island-hopping. When he began, the Munich-born model and former professional soccer player used his social media soapbox to share his passion for style and fashion tips. Although he had never thought of becoming an influencer when he set out, his content and lifestyle sparked an overwhelming amount of interest from his digital community. No stranger to life on the road—having formerly played on clubs such as TSV 1860 München, Wacker Burghausen and TSV Steinbach—Toni Jais has embraced his sometimes nomadic lifestyle that allows him to do what he loves. Today, his Instagram alone (@danieltonijais) has reached a following of 430,000 and continues to grow each day. Recently, we discussed social media's collison with the fashion world as well as how he navigates a career that keeps him away from home 180 days a year. How did you begin your modeling career? What was your first Job? is story is actually quite funny: I used to be a professional soccer player at that time, but my career wasn't doing that well anymore. So, my girlfriend Nathalie sent some pictures of me to a nearby modeling agency, without me knowing about it. One day she had to tell me, since the agency was really interested and wanted to meet me in person. So, she convinced me to visit them and even though I never planned on becoming a model, I signed the contract and gave it a try. My very first job was actually super exciting for me. It was a Dior event and my job was basically welcoming famous German people to the event and opening the door for them. Have you always had an eye for style or is it something that went hand-in-hand with modeling? Even though I never considered becoming a model or influencer back in the day, I have always been super interested in fashion. To wear cool clothes and combine different looks that match perfectly, has always been one of my passions. What luxury menswear brand is catching your eye most for 2020? ere are so many cool and talented labels out there. But if I had to list up my favorites at the moment, it probably would be Louis V, ALYX, Jacquemus, Dior or Balmain. P H OTO BY N AT H A L I E L A R C H É P H OTO BY H E N D R I K G I E S L E R

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