Design
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Fresh start
Austria is reinvigorating its brand and stealing some of Switzerland’s reputation for being the home of Alpine modernity and great healthcare. Nowhere epitomises the trend more than the Lanserhof.
Roots finder
Provenance is key as we turn our backs on mass-produced products. Consumers want authenticity and, as many companies have found, they’re happy to pay for it.
Off the rails
Victor La Fleur’s unique approach to sourcing brands has enabled him to build a clothing empire in his home town of Verbania – and to predict what is going to sell.
Skill set
Our design talents to watch for 2008 and beyond run the gamut from creators of a new regional jet to the designer of great office-cum-daywear, united by a passion for simple, pared-down looks.
Natural by design
Yoshifumi Nakamura's weekend haven in the hills of Japan’s Nagano region is a perfect example of the growing global trend for simple, ecologically sound living.
Gift guide
Amanda phones, Tretorn shoes, Leica cameras, iPod Touch, must-have books and magazines, plus wooden skis - our holiday gift guide has it all.
Arte & Craft
High-definition TV is forcing a return to old-fashioned craft. Monocle visits Arte, the polished Franco-German channel that has never let its standards drop, to learn the art behind its high-quality broadcasting.
Time is everything
In Honshu's forested mountains, Seiko's craftsmen hand-build the Grand Seiko with monastic precision, proving Japan's mechanical watchmaking rivals Switzerland's finest — one meticulous, unhurried component at a time.
Architecture/Design
Mexico's chocolate museum, Vitsoe's Australian encounter, and a Q&A with Scott Fellows of BassamFellows.
Printed matters
The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung’s conservative design is a hallmark. But falling sales and modern reader expectations have prompted a complete redesign. *Monocle* gains exclusive access to witness the historic relaunch.
