Product design
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Inventory no.17
New guide books from Le Cool, retro Portuguese soaps, elegant Japanese disposable plates, Swiss wooden toys, plus a special round-up of chewing gum brands from around the world.
Hit the decks
Toss the MP3 player and turn your living room into a sonorific salon with the following hardware.
A bicycle made for you
Monocle has tracked down the perfect bespoke bike, with good looks and clever details, lovingly made by a family-run firm.
Inventory No. 16
A Japanese label machine, bracing Viennese shower gel, a modern take on the Lebanese nargile and Spanish nursery furniture. Plus, Tokyo's Mareesia Garden hotel and a pool near Porto.
Architecture/Design
Japanese bentwood homewares, Vicente Guallart's Spanish coastline de-clutter and Danish Mountain Dwellings.
Jacob Jensen
Jacob Jensen’s products for Bang & Olufsen made design history. His philosophy remains relevant today, reflected in his choice for an imaginary final lunch: the “incredibly well-designed” garfish from his childhood.
Fashion
Berluti gives lessons for lace-ups, a Verbal assault on the jewellery trade, and Portland bags some style.
Upwardly mobile
Milan's Salone del Mobile showed an optimistic mood despite the credit crunch, attracting a record 348,000 visitors. Many came from abroad, with a strong showing from booming South American countries.
Show time
Baselworld watch fair is where manufacturers unveil the new timepieces that often take years to craft. There are no quick sales either; brands eager to retain exclusivity don’t sell to any old oligarch.
Maverick motors
Japanese car company Subaru has always attracted a less conformist driver. Its Forester model epitomises the brand’s quirky but unflashy design, solid reliability and diverse following, from Swiss policemen to laid-back farmers.
