Fashion
From luggage that will leave you longing to get back on a plane to elegant Japanese skincare prodcuts that will keep you looking fresh.
Built for travel
Germany
“The idea of the bag is personal to me because I have spent most of my life travelling,” says acclaimed architect David Chipperfield, whose latest project is a bit more compact than the museums and residences he’s known for designing. “Instead of complaining that every bag I buy does not work, it has been an opportunity to design a bag that suits my lifestyle.” The result, Suit-case, is made for a lifestyle on the road and the short-hauler. Created by German luxury bag specialists Tsatsas from a biodegradable wood fibre and calfskin leather, it’s a fine thing to behold.
“It was a long-term project,” says Esther Tsatsas, who founded Tsatsas in 2012 alongside partner Dimitrios (pictured, on right, with Chipperfield and Esther), whose father runs a leather bag workshop in Offenbach, where Suit-case is produced. “About four years ago we went to Berlin and got to know David and soon learned he travels a lot, that’s part of the reason why this took so long,” says Esther, laughing. “He doesn’t like to check in luggage, so this was really about creating for him the perfect cabin bag that can hold a suit and shoes.” The result is the hand-luggage-sized, streamlined black case, which – while masculine in style – suits both men and women.
Chipperfield notes that, for regular travellers, a bag’s importance is often exaggerated. “It becomes part of your discipline of packing,” he says. “I like the way the Japanese arrange flowers, because it starts with the vase and then you put flowers into the vase,” he adds, noting that in the West we tend to buy flowers then frantically search for the right vase. “I think the relationship between the container and the contained is the same for packing. If I know which suitcase I am using, then I know how to pack.”
tsatsas.com
Earth-friendly spoils
Japan
Juice is a new skincare brand from Japanese fashion powerhouse United Arrows (UA). Extracted from camellia japonica, a rare plant species available on Kakarajima Island in Japan, the multipurpose oil is crystal- and chemical-free and can be applied to the face, body and hair. UA has partnered with the small island, which has a population of just 100, where locals handpick camellia fruits, sun-dry them and reuse any waste as compost. Where’s the rub?
juice-skincare.jp
Easy on the eye
Italy
Looking to the place of its namesake, Port Tanger draws inspiration from the Moroccan city of Tangier’s rich and vibrant history. The “Made in Italy” eyewear label, formed by Daniël Sumarna and Bilal Fellah (the latter’s Algerian roots led his desire to re-engage with North Africa) is available in select boutiques across the world and online.
porttanger.com
Just like leather
Italy
“We wanted to show that a vegan material can have an Italian soul,” says Giacomo Cortesi, CEO of Serapian, the Milanese label that has just unveiled its first non-leather collection of wallets, bags and pouches to the world. Crafted from grape skins salvaged from the finest Italian wineries, the fibre has been designed to look, feel and smell just like leather. “Sustainability is important to our clients,” says Cortesi.
serapian.com
Still life: Trisha Ward
Images: Alexander Kilian, Gerhardt Kellermann
