Blog & Inspiration

HAPPY GIRL
Food is as hip as it ever was. Around the world on social media platforms people share what they are cooking or are being served in restaurants. Frisian food lover Rens Kroes – supermodel Doutzen’s sister – is not only pretty, she is also a wonderful cook. The cheerful blogger and author of several cookbooks talks about her lifestyle and reveals the healthiest food hotspots.
THE JOURNEYMAN
In a few weeks, Christian Watson will be driving – on some deserted road undulating through the foggy, rain-swept forests of Oregon – along the northern part of the American west coast in a 1987 Jeep Grand Wagoneer. In September, he is planning to travel from Oregon to Alaska; without a phone, without sat-nav and without a road map. He will be publishing his experiences in his new book ‘Forth goes the road’ in January 2017.
WELCOME TO PARADISE
History teaches us that the first Franciscan monks arrived in Mexico with the first conquistadors. From the lush abundance of native flowers, plants, herbs and tropical forests they soon started to distill their very own perfumes. For over three centuries the Spanish Empire smelled of these expensive essences as entire generations fell in love with the exclusive perfumes from the Yucatán Peninsula. However, hundreds of years later the perfume legacy of the monks lay dormant and forgotten until under the name of Coqui Coqui it was kissed back to life by Argentinian landscape architect and model Nicolas Malleville.
EVERYTHING BUT THE DRESS
Whether vintage, unique or displayed with plenty of British coolness: London fashion is always truly eye-catching. Hardly surprising, considering the British capital is one of the most fashion-forward cities in the world, home to such labels as Burberry, Cartier, Escada, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Prada. And the well-established Kurt Geiger, with its numerous designer brands, has been a fixture of the city for decades now.
OCEAN GIANT
They are the mesmerising focal points of every port and marina across the globe: super-yachts. They supposedly represent strength, power and wealth. But if we look around international yacht shows, it quickly becomes clear that it is no longer just about size – it is above all boat-building design that has become the success factor. To this end, there is ever-greater competition as a result of rising demand. Correspondingly, there is an increasing number of ships being placed on the market at ever-shorter intervals. Add to this the fact that the owners are fulfilling life dreams with their yachts, which makes the appearance of the ships and customised fixtures and fittings incredibly important. Currently, new niche products, new styles and new trends are being created. Modernity, innovation and unusual design are also on the rise.
DEATH-DEFYING FEATS
He is a visionary climber of the kind that comes along only once in a generation. A thirty-year-old climbing phenomenon, Alex Honnold pushes the limits of free soloing beyond anything previously attempted, as he climbs without a rope, without a partner and without any gear to attach himself to the wall. If he falls, he dies. At the moment, Honnold is one of the most famous adventurers in the world. His extraordinary life has much to teach us about risk, reward and the ability to maintain focus even in the face of extreme danger. In his book “Alone on the Wall”, he recounts the seven most astonishing achievements thus far in his meteoric career, including free-soloing Sendero Luminoso in Mexico and climbing the Fitz Traverse in Patagonia. Each chapter narrates the drama of one climb, along with reflective and introspective passages that get at what makes Honnold tick.
WAKE ME UP
BY NADINE PELZER (Published in The Produktkulturmagazin issue 3 2016) Feeling energised when just waking up — every day. A dream. What sounds like fantasy is now to become a reality. At least in the world of two founders from...
SOUL FOOD
The days are becoming ever shorter, the evenings already feel cool and the sun has to try hard dispersing the morning mist. Autumn is around the corner and we look forward to cosy hours at home and cooking with friends and family. This is the best time for soul food — it tastes good and does well.
RAINBOW GIRL
Colours and fabrics affect our well-being. In many cases they influence whether we like a particular product or not. For this reason, industry acknowledges its power in the manufacturing process. Dutch designer Hella Jongerius has made her mark internationally for her typical style, craftsmanship and industrial design. Her furniture, textiles and tableware creations may be characterised as a fusion of past and present, and combine traditional and novel materials. The lady explains her subtle hues and multi-faceted textures in the follwing interview.
BACK TO THE ROOTS
They might very well be modern hippies, beatnik heirs or following the footsteps of Lost Generation artists, Victorian explorers and romantic poets. Just like all those distinct groups from the past, so-called gypsetters let go of the limitations that social conventions impose on them and search for places where blue waters run deep, the land is untouched and the beaches are still deserted. They rather base their lives upon creativity and art than upon money and luxury. You will not find members of this breed lounging in pompous five-star hotels, but you may see them on a surfboard of the coast of Montauk, in a small village on the cliffs of Cornwall or in a tipi in Ibiza.
AS FAR AS FEET WILL CARRY
Luxury shoemaker John Lobb dates back 150 years. The business moved from making boots for Australian gold diggers to making bespoke shoes that remain classics to this day. Since 1976, the brand belongs to Hermès group and now includes ready-to-wear shoe collections that are handmade in England.
SET IN STONE
Wadi Rum in southern Jordan is one of the world’s most impressive deserts. Rugged, steep rock faces open onto far-reaching desert valleys, the view disappearing on the seemingly endless horizon. Even Lawrence of Arabia had been mesmerised by the Wadi Rum and its breathtaking landscape. This is where he wrote his renowned autobiographical work “Seven Pillars of Wisdom”, which made Jordan’s largest wadi world-famous.
THE PORSCHE 911
There are countless sports cars on the market, although for many people there is just one – the legendary Porsche 911. More than five decades have passed since the first model of the series was unveiled at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt. But the hype surrounding this car continues unabated.
JUMP INTO ADVENTURE
It’s about adrenaline, freedom, speed and testing your limits. Far away from civilisation, mountain bikers are exploring extraordinary and unspoiled places. Adventure athlete Joey Schusler told us how he combines his physical abilities, on a mountain bike as well as on skis, with his creativity as a photographer and filmmaker.
THE BUGABOO EFFECT
Wer in Sachen Gepäck schon länger auf der Suche ist nach der perfekten Verbindung von Reise und Beruf und dabei auch noch mit Style glänzen möchte, kommt an ihm definitiv nicht vorbei – dem „Boxer“ von Bugaboo. Die Philosophie des Herstellers: Was man für unterwegs mitnehmen möchte, ist nicht wichtig, sondern wie man das tut.
RETRO PERSPECTIVE
Bluetooth speakers generally sound pretty well and are easy to use. In terms of style however, they rarely blend in with, shall we say, more carefully orchestrated surroundings. Not so the Caruso, a rather hip example which cleverly combines acoustics with storage space and sports a gramophone mimicking speaker made of ceramic.
KOBE BEEF
No other foodstuff invokes our basic instincts like a juicy steak being grilled on the barbecue and we catch the spicy aroma of caramelising meat. Meat is pure pleasure, and it is also healthy, in view of the fact that it has been one of our most important sources of food since approximately 5000 before Christ due to its high protein content and its special nutrition-physiological significance.
HANDICRAFT
Functional, practical and easy to carry - that is what the Italian label Piquadro stands for. Marco Palmieri is the boss of this bags and briefcases brand. Former engineering student and IT entrepreneur, he discovered his love of leather at an early age and eventually came to the decision of making a career of it. Starting as an unknown supplier of leather goods for Italian labels such as Gucci and Valentino, his company is now listed on the Milan Stock Exchange with stores in New York City, Milan and Hong Kong. He explains to us how technology, IT and online business can be allied to something as traditional a trade as leatherwork.
BORN TO RIDE
Every man dreams of fingering his own oily motorbike in order to make it his own custom machine. Imagine a cool garage somewhere at a beach where the sun shines and waves crash on the sand, and where the surfboard leans against the wall as it only waits to be attached to the motorbike to drive off to the next ideal surf spot.
MAR ADENTRO
Dazzling light reflecting on the ocean, with nothing but endless blue all the way to the horizon. A gentle swell subtly hints at the power of the currents – a crass contrast to the rigid desert landscape of the coast. Here, the sun bears down on the radiantly-white building structures that appear to be floating on the water as they are surrounded by large pools that merge into the ocean.
WORLDS OF WONDER
The ability to tell stories through images is a rare gift. A gift that Mark Fisher is lucky enough to possess. With great passion and dedication, he captures human emotions on a background of alpine landscapes. As a result, he produces breathtaking images of extreme situations in a nature mostly untouched by men. He shares with us the fascinating life he lives.