Monocle Weekend
Edition: Saturday

The recently opened €270m Krasnodar Stadium would not look out of place among those hosting Fifa’s flagship event. But there’s one thing missing: football. While Krasnodar was originally on the World Cup’s host-city long-list, it didn’t make the final cut. That’s despite the metropolis in southwest Russia having a larger population than several host cities, as well as a team in the Russian Premier League, unlike Kaliningrad, Nizhny Novgorod, Saransk, Sochi and Volgograd. Many think that politics has played a part; FC Krasnodar is owned by billionaire Sergey Galitsky, one of the rare self-made oligarchs with few connections to the Russian state. Krasnodar’s only link to the World Cup, meanwhile, ended prematurely when Spain, who were based in the city, were eliminated by Russia. Locals were not complaining about that result.

When it comes to fashion weeks throughout the world, the biggest shows work best for the biggest brands. Paris, Milan, London and New York seem best suited for blockbuster collections in increasingly outlandish runway spectacles. The downside is that amid the fanfare, smaller but no less interesting collections don’t get the attention they deserve. This year, the intimate setting of the Schinkel Pavillon in Berlin Mitte played host to Odeeh’s newest collection. While the German brand is no stranger to the larger fairs, Berlin felt the most apt this year. “Berlin is a city that gives us opportunities,” says Odeeh co-founder Jörg Ehrlich. “Showing here is something different and we like to give a pro-Berlin statement.” The stir that Berlin Fashion Week has caused in its domestic market is a reminder that small can be beautiful.

Yesterday the first warning shots were fired between the US and China in what some are fearing might shape up to be the biggest trade war in economic history. While the imposed tariffs on both sides are expected to impact just about everything from soya beans to silicon chips, one cultural corner has been overlooked by analysts: the film industry. Last year, Washington and Beijing announced a five-year treaty to increase the distribution of Hollywood productions in China from 20 to 35 films per year – but the conversation has stalled amid rising trade tensions. It’s likely that the impact of the trade war will invoke ire from Hollywood’s studio executives at being denied a bigger slice of a market that last year eclipsed North America as the world’s biggest box office.

In recent years the real-world positives of terms such as “hot-desking” and “co-working” have been zealously overstated by idealistic millennials and start-up founders. These new buzzwords have done little to halt the rise of workplace loneliness, nor is there much evidence to show that they increase productivity. Ennismore, which owns and operates Shoreditch hotel The Hoxton, unveiled its new HQ in London last week and the company’s in-house designer Charlie North had a bright idea: make your office like a hotel. “Our office entrance resembles a hotel lobby, we’ve got a roof terrace and two all-day bars,” says North. “We wanted to create clusters of different spaces where staff can perch and work, breaking the stereotype of people sitting at their desks all day.” Making cocktails available to staff will undoubtedly serve as a reminder of what good hospitality is all about – so long as they aren’t taken too early in the day.

How a concept store and space that celebrates the enjoyment of food, community and sharing, has become one of Melbourne’s greatest institutions.

Loved by its loyal passengers, Zürich’s trams are not only punctual but also contribute to the city’s identity. Hop on board as we introduce you to the fleet that makes this Swiss city tick.