Lebanese retiree Edgard Chaya got into the tile-making trade by chance, after stumbling upon a suitcase belonging to a great uncle. Inside, Chaya discovered a set of curious metal shapes and moulds – castings to make traditional cement floor tiles. Monocle spent time in Beirut to watch how this small family firm has brought the art of ciment coloré back into fashion.
From a barber in Beirut’s scholarly district to a hairdresser in a Hong Kong alleyway, we get a hair cut in four cities. They might be in very different locations, but they each give customers a service that’s personal and…