Business
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The colour of money
The world’s leading banks are behind an estimated 20 per cent of all art purchases. What’s the motivation for amassing such vast collections? Monocle finds out in Zürich, Milan and Frankfurt.
Selling souls
Christianity is big business in the US where retailers are using pop culture to shift godly goods: Jesus skateboarder sneakers anybody? *Monocle* visited the key show for owners of religious shops.
Running costs
Forefoot striking is the style of most professional runners, yet big brands emphasise the heel. A tiny Colorado trainer company is proving that the big boys need to stay on their toes.
Driving test
What rolls off students’ drawing boards today could be at the Frankfurt Motor Show tomorrow. With top design schools from Germany to India, the future of automotive design is picking up speed.
Caillou Boats
Near Tiverton, Rhode Island, John Meikle and his team handcraft small wood and fibreglass daysailers. These boats conjure up visions of more idyllic times. We join them in their halcyon daze.
Bloom town
We visit the Bloemenveiling Aalsmeer, one of the world’s biggest flower auctions, to meet the companies behind the scenes of this multi-billion-euro industry that handles 20 million cut flowers every day.
Bank of the Nile
Despite Western sanctions over its government's actions, Sudan's capital, Khartoum, is undergoing a huge transformation. With Arab cash and expertise, the city plans to become the Dubai of Africa.
Cihangir
Istanbul has long been a strategic gateway between West and East. Now, the city surprises visitors with a new open-mindedness and an attractive neighbourhood, Cihangir, at the heart of its revival.
The heat is on
Canada’s far north was once too inhospitable for most, but global warming is clearing the snows. This has lured speculators after oil and diamonds, creating a strategic nightmare for Ottawa over its sovereignty.
