Back to the land

Europeans have flocked to cities but what remains of the villages they left behind? In Spain, we meet the folk fighting to resurrect forgotten communities.
Fork in the road

As former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva attempts to turn his lead in the polls to success in Brazil’s forthcoming elections, Jair Bolsonaro is in the line of fire. But as we find out on the campaign trail, support for the right-wing incumbent remains strong – and voters haven’t forgotten Lula’s corruption charges. Which way will Brazil turn next?
Plucky upstart

While Croatia has experienced a tourism boom, its third-largest city has forged its own unique path, building on its coastal location and can-do attitude to welcome a wave of businesses – big and small.
High fibre

Finland has unexpectedly become a world leader in sustainable textile production, with companies pioneering new and sometimes secret technologies.
Person of interest

With a CV boasting leadership positions at leading luxury brands, Chabi Nouri has made a big leap to take on a new role as a private equity partner with Mirabaud. She explains why there’s money to be made from sustainability.
Stepping up

From his new office at Nike’s HQ, the design chief of the world’s leading sports brand reveals its plans for the future of products that bear the famous swoosh.
Take cover

From aprons and kitchen whites to front-of-house outfits, the storied Spanish business providing trusty hospitality workwear is busier than ever.
Show time

It is easier than ever to see live entertainment on the small screen but nothing compares to being there. We visit three venues that add an extra sprinkle of stardust.
Reclaiming the city

Renewed and refreshed by the arrival of the Manifesta biennale, the venues in Kosovo’s capital are propelling its art scene forwards.
Catching sparks

From a historical novel about identity in a time of plague to retro-Persian electro music secretly recorded in Istanbul, we survey the brightest of the cultural highlights to come.
Great and small

For almost a century, Leica has been a pioneer in camera design. Now it’s broadening its focus.
Do come in

Lake Zürich is the alluring backdrop to an elegantly comfortable apartment, where everything – down to the smallest detail – has been carefully considered to make guests feel instantly at home.
Style directory

Autumn is all about more – more layers, more options, more fun. So embrace the impending elemental challenges with a sense of excitement, knowing that the right clothes will see you conquer them with ease. We bring you a timely update from some of our favourite menswear brands and profile makers who are exploring new materials while honouring craft traditions, pushing boundaries, championing young designers and investing in best-in-class retail. Be excited about your wardrobe again.
Trendsetting trio

These three fashion trailblazers are looking beyond established practices to bring alternative perspectives and a viable future to the business of making and selling clothes.
Due south

Ten-gallon hats and spurs might define the clothes of the Deep South but a more modern look is reimagining this glorious heritage. We meet the designers and retailers creating a new Southern style.
Power dressing

Good jackets make men stand tall, change their silhouettes and help them to stand out from the crowd.
Socks appeal

If you’re in Japan and need hosiery for any occasion, there’s only one place to shop. Tabio have shaped the market in its own image. We find out how and ask where it’s treading next.
The in-betweeners

Yes, it’s autumn but there will still be days when the sun shines. Just make sure that you have layers to add when the temperature drops – plus options for smarter occasions.

Inventory: Technology / Global

Inspect a gadget

Devices to keep your champagne bubbly and your phone charged, plus the latest Sony phone and Apple laptop.

Writer: David Phelan

Nomad
Base One MagSafe Charger

Wireless charging is extremely convenient: when your phone is juicing up, you no longer need to unplug it to check something, you can just pick it up from the charging pad. The only problem is that since Apple introduced MagSafe magnets to ensure a secure and strong connection, these pads have tended to lift up with the phone. Until Nomad’s beautifully crafted and, above all, heavy (it weighs 515g) charger came along. However quickly you grab your phone, the Nomad pad stays put. It has a metal chassis, glass charging panel and rubber base so that it doesn’t slip and you can choose between a carbide, silver or (limited edition) gold finish. Note that Nomad does not supply a charging plug and needs a 30W adapter as a minimum.
nomadgoods.com

Sony
Xperia 1 IV

In the world of smartphones, you need to stand out. Sony has leant on its Bravia TV division to create a phone with a 4K Ultra HD screen. It’s also introduced a brilliant camera system thanks to its Alpha digital-imaging section. It means that this phone has an optical zoom, something other smartphones almost universally lack. There are three 12-megapixel cameras. In point-and-shoot mode they’re fine but with manual options they really excel. The Xperia 1 IV has a longer display than rivals; the 21:9 aspect ratio makes it fit in the hand more easily than other big phones. Video playback works brilliantly for TV and movies, thanks to an OLED 4K screen that is rich and gloriously detailed. Get the picture?
sony.com

Coravin
Sparkling Wine Preservation System

You know how it is when, at the end of the evening, there’s a third of a bottle of champagne left and you decide you don’t feel like guzzling the rest of it? No, us neither. But assuming that there is a scenario where you have leftover sparkling wine, there are better options than putting a teaspoon in the bottle. Coravin’s system is ingenious. First, there’s the Sparkling Stopper which secures to the bottle with a lock. Then the Sparkling Charger automatically fills the bottle with CO2 to the right pressure. It keeps the sparkle intact for up to four weeks (though you might never put it to the test for that long). It works very well and means that the fear of wasting sparkling wine evaporates as quickly as the fizz otherwise would have. And when you’re in a restaurant that doesn’t serve champagne by the glass you can raise your eyebrows and ask, “Oh dear, don’t you have a Coravin?”
coravin.co.uk

Apple
MacBook Air

The newest Apple laptop is a MacBook Air with a completely overhauled design. Since its launch in 2008, when then CEO Steve Jobs revealed it by sliding it out of a manila envelope to show how thin it was, the Air has had tapered edges. Now, the lid is flat and the edges are sharper, making for a machine that’s thin all over. It’s lighter than the model it succeeds and has a bigger display, 13.6 inches against 13.3 inches, though the laptop is not noticeably bigger. And it has a sumptuously comfortable keyboard. This laptop also restores MagSafe charging and comes in two new colours: midnight, a near-black with blue notes (though a bit of a fingerprint magnet) and the gorgeous starlight (pictured), which is silver but glints gold in the right light.
apple.com

Still life: Tony Hay

Editor’s letter

The Opener

Decisive moments

Active elements

My cabinet

Small host cities

Affairs

Comment

Business

Culture

Urbanism

Design

Back to the land

Fork in the road

Plucky upstart

High fibre

Person of interest

Stepping up

Take cover

Show time

Reclaiming the city

Catching sparks

Great and small

Do come in

Style directory

Trendsetting trio

Due south

Power dressing

Socks appeal

The in-betweeners

Vine intervention

Bon appétit

Streets Ahead

Here to stay?

Inspect a gadget

Top of the tree

Never stop learning

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