James Chambers
The Opener
Monocle has a network of correspondents in cities around the world. Our brief dispatches include good news for pedestrians in Bangkok, a smart hotel in Tokyo and transformed spaces in Los Angeles.
Local heroes
Independent shops from Hong Kong to Madrid prove that knowing customers by name and fostering genuine community connections remains the foundation of thriving neighbourhood businesses.
Roll with it
Jirawat Benchakarn’s JBB has built a loyal following by adapting elegant clothes for Thailand’s balmy climate.
The balance of shine and grime: A snapshot of life in Jiangjin
Must-read stories and ones you may have missed. James Chambers on Shenzhen's clean surface and the grit underneath.
District nursing
Chadchart Sittipunt, Bangkok’s visionary governor, is using his position to root out corruption and clean up the Thai capital.
The Opener
Tyler Brûlé ponders the absence of North American cities in this year’s Quality of Life Survey.
The Opener
Musical trams in Zürich and a new race to the moon. Plus: where to stay for Art Basel.
Better together
Amid rising global tensions, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is – quietly –becoming more influential than ever before.
Business
A growing desire to “belong” is driving a private members’ club boom in cities around the world, including London.
The Opener
Pablo Escobar’s hippos, manhole-cover designs and a fake cemetery in Egypt.
