Canada’s architects know all too well that its wilds cannot be conquered; instead they’re working with the wilderness to create a new kind of structural language. We go cross-country to visit three rural retreats and meet…
Mongolia is rich in raw materials and is thought to have huge oil reserves: resources that its neighbour China – with which it shares a rocky relationship – needs. The dust-bowl capital, Ulan Bator, is already flourishing…
Whether it’s the soft lambswool of a cosy winter blanket or the seemingly delicate titanium of a premium watch, the composition of clothes and accessories matters. We profile the pieces that are sure to give your outfits…
When most European craft communities are struggling, how does the Swedish island of Gotland manage not only to survive but to thrive? A little bit of magic, according to those who work here, but also its mix of reasonably…
Climate change is prompting fruit farmers to diversify and coffee roasters to start considering areas beyond the so-called bean belt to source their raw material. In Sicily, Morettino, a forward-looking family-run roastery…
Picking a theme for a tradeshow can be a useful exercise in spotlighting a trend. That said, if the theme is too far-fetched it can feel like a label has been forced upon exhibitors too varied to be tamed. Parisian furni…
If the room you’re sitting in contains furniture made from wood, there’s a strong chance that the raw material came from Poland. More than a third of the country’s landscape is forest. These plentiful resources, combined…
When talking about building a better future, concrete is often maligned as an out-of-date material that is bad for the environment. But is it as simple as that? We recast the debate.
Disruptive fashion start-up Vollebak utilises highly durable, technologically advanced materials to make clothes that will dress many generations to come. And the brand’s low-waste, future-proof mission is winning it some…
The landscape of the furniture industry is changing: global supply chains are strained, making access to materials difficult and consumers are demanding products that enhance their wellbeing by being designed, produced and…
Tasmania is a quiet force on the design scene but government backing, a decent museum and a school saved from closure are helping to put it on the world map and attract clients from abroad. We visit the studios of five…
When luxury cosmetics brand Three decided to open a shop, spa and restaurant in central Aoyama, it needed a space that would echo its understated image yet stand out from the crowd. We meet the team behind the evolving…
Specialist scents, made by small artisanal producers, are beginning to make a big splash with retailers and consumers alike, as Monocle discovers on a visit to a Milan trade fair for the niche market.
While it’s the fanfare at the fashion industry’s front end that grabs the headlines, it’s often the smaller firms further down the manufacturing chain that are adding real value.