GROW! by Movisi: Meet the German Modular Furniture Brand Light as Air

Hanna-Amanda P. G. May 15, 2017

What is it that the world's lightest furniture actually entails? Innovation, sustainability and being exactly light as air - these are the exact parameters Movisi originates in, being gravitated toward its innovative use of 'modularity' . As our interiors and workspaces are getting only tinier - Movisi's unique compact solutions, designed in Paris by Marine Peyre, have helped even big names, such as Google, Ferrari and The United Nations New York, declutter savvily. Although Movisi journey began already back in 2013, pioneering in the field of lightweight furniture made out of high performance plastic foam, Movisi has recently launched their new line of modular furniture - GROW!, recognised for its incredibly lightweight, multifunctional design language and endless configurations, helping to change the dynamics of every imaginable interior. I caught Natascha Stojanovic for a chat about directing our favourite space-saving, organic furniture brand since its inception.

What spurred the idea of using modularity in furniture design? Was it precisely a functional issue that brought you closer to the realisation of Movisi?

It reflects in our slogan: MODULARITY – we’re crazy about it. I think that most of the furniture is boring and static and doesn’t really fit with modern lives anymore. Functionality doesn’t have to compromise on style and aesthetics. We love to combine both.

What is the new GROW! line release inspired by? What innovative solutions are brought together in the new range?

We wanted to create the world’s most flexible furniture system that fits in any interior: various areas in the home (as it is waterproof and anti-bacterial, it is also perfect for kitchens or bathrooms), office, retail store or even at a trade fair booth. It's an innovative solution to the way we live now - the connector system lets you create furniture in all 3 dimensions: vertically, horizontally and into the 3rd dimension (depth).

In terms of design, we wanted to keep the 'cube' as the basic element, as it is very functional for storing. With the material we use (no wooden planks), the designer Marine Peyre was able to create a shape which is organic and elegant.

Movisi pioneered the use of one single sustainable material to make furniture products. What should we know about the material? Can we be sure that all pieces are free of toxic compounds?

Our furniture is basically air. Made from ARPRO EPP (Expanded Polypropylene): this is a lightweight, high performance plastic foam, which is 100% recyclable, toxic free, emission free, allergy friendly, energy absorbing, easy to clean. The material is 95% air and 5% PP (which is basically 95% air and 5% Tupperware, which is food-approved. Having a product, which is made from one single material, means that it is really easy to recycle.

"Most of the furniture is boring and static and doesn’t really fit with modern lives anymore."

To what degree is sustainability represented elsewhere within your brand's value system? Even the realm of production and logistics.

Movisi wants to secure good quality as well as take on social responsibility. This is why our products are 100% manufactured in Germany and adhere to strict ecological and socially-responsible production methods. We try to use as little resources as possible (5% PP material only). Also, as most of our designs are based on one main element, this means that you can change and replace damaged units easily instead of tossing away the whole furniture.

As ARPRO EPP is a shock absorbing material, all we need to package and ship the furniture is a cardboard box. No additional packaging materials are needed, that usually immediately and up in the bin when unpacked. Lighter furniture reduces fuel consumption and exhaust emissions during shipping.

"Our lives change all the time and so should our interiors adapt to our changing needs."

Regarding the design aspect of your solutions, what do you keep in mind when creating new lines?

Flexibility, simplicity and sustainability: we want to offer maximum flexibility to the users. Our lives change all the time and so should our interiors adapt to our changing needs. Also, we like to keep our products as simple as possible. This is why also for the GROW! system, everything is based on one main component, which lets you create endless configurations.

What are the most unique and characteristic spaces you can recall that have benefitted from using Movisi solutions? Which spaces and industry sectors could benefit in the future?

Offices can benefit - they can use our modular furniture as a partition to create, for example, a meeting area. When exhibiting at a fair, or when creating a special event, the modules can easily and quickly be rearranged in minutes and without any tools or special expertise. Afterwards, they can be placed back in the office.

"Own only what you really need and what you really love."

If you could choose any artist / designer in the world to create their limited edition Movisi collection, who would it be?

I personally love the work of London based design studio 'Raw-Edges'. Their work often surprises and inspires me. Plus Shay and Yael, who run the studio, are great characters.

In London, we often have a problem with storage space - apartments are quite cramped and there's a lack of storage / shelves / cupboards. How can Movisi wall solutions help to minimise clutter and store things away in a more compact way?

GROW! is designed to be flexible. You can create shelves storage, partition or seats/benches with the units you have. Also, you can create the shelves in any depth you want, as GROW! can be extended in all dimensions (height, width and depth). The system can always adapt to your needs, also when you move home.

Share your personal tips on how to make our interiors look better even without necessarily using expert help.

- Own only what you really need and what you really love.

- Use different, warm light sources instead of only one light source in a room. This let’s you create different atmospheres and makes a space cosy and warm.

- Decorate your home with accessories that tell a story. Something you got from a special place or which reminds of something special.

- A space needs time to grow. Slowly.

GROW! will internationally go live on May 16th on crowdfunding platform Indiegogo. Find here.

PHLUR's Cruelty-Free, Gender-Neutral Fragrance Brings Identity in a Bottle

Hanna-Amanda P. G. May 10, 2017

Looking for a perfume label that is as luxurious and detailed in telling a story as it is earth-friendly? Phlur’s responsible, gender-neutral fragrances take you to the world of subtle luxury and present you with 6 surprising, carefully curated scents — Hanami, Olmsted & Vaux, Moab, Greylocke, Hepcat and Siano. Founded by Eric Korman as a reaction to his personal fatigue with boring, traditional fragrance-making, Phlur’s ideology is more than just making you smell better than your peers — it stands for carrying your entire lifestyle, aspirations and dreams in a single bottle, whilst boycotting all the nasties.

*Selection of sustainable fragrances by PHLUR.*

Phlur’s select skilled, appointed perfumers proudly deliver their mission to enhance your best traits, whilst remaining true to nature’s miracles, using the most mindful and caring approach to crafting perfumes. A variety of 6 fragrances, boasting fresh, citrusy notes, from white ginger, orange flower and ylang ylang, to carrying more dignified, succulent notes, from sandalwood and bergamot to silver vetiver, each lavish combination aims to capture and complement the personality of the wearer and day-by-day, with each wear, reveal more surprising note affairs.

With each perfume meticulously blended together with artisanal know-how by a skilled perfumer from ethically resourced plants, including incorporating a degree of fair-trade principles and a social mission, their essence is described by the brand as “Something that’s luxurious but isn’t about a celebrity or a fashion designer. Something you can try without enduring a department store fragrance counter. Something you look forward to wearing each and every day”. Phlur highlights the importance of trying out your favourite fragrances on your body rather than on paper — each time the handcrafted natural bouquet of notes melt with your skin’s own brings you closer to discovering your most loved combination — be it as earthy, idyllic and tradition-made-new as New England’s heritage inspired Greylocke, or as decadent and dynamic as Siano, helping you capture your feminine enigma — a blend of green peppers and cognac, this captivating, suave scent calls for wild, exotic moves on a midnight dance floor and is all about reviving your inner diva.

By no means is Phlur restricted to one aspect of doing fragrance responsibly — more detailed thought and focus has been injected into the ways of production, craftsmanship and therefore utmost care is taken when giving back to the community. This means Phlur has excluded all plants listed on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's Red List of threatened plants, and proudly supports IUCN in furthering its important work. They don’t use animal products and other ugly nasties, such as stabilisers, parabens and phthalates, and are certified by Leaping Bunny for being cruelty-free. Phlur’ssocial mission projects include donating to the Central Park Conservancy, a nonprofit organization that works tirelessly to preserve and protect the Park to boosting vetiver farming in Madagascar. All their eau de perfum carries a Made In USA trademark.

In addition to social responsibility, even packaging has been reimagined in the light of eco — as light damages fragrance and to protect from potential harm done (yes, there is a more mindful way of bottling fragrance), Phlur has designed an opaque bottle made of an industry-leading 20% recycled glass to specifically protect the scent from light damage.

Have you ever thought that smelling the perfume is simply not enough to get to the core of its DNA? Fun fact: each Phlur scent comes accompanied by a Spotify track list that describes the essence of the perfume more than words ever could, making it easier to identify with. After all, choosing your go-to cologne is a very personal matter, telling a hundred stories of our identity, hopes and dreams — Phlur is here to make sure you don’t get lost in translation.

That’s no news all brands from beauty and lifestyle sector need to be more transparent, creative and multi-faceted than ever before to cope with competition in the more fragmented, global industry, so going bold on promoting lavish lifestyle is well encouraged, yet shouldn't be approached with leaving ethics floating as an afterthought on a discarded post-it note. Yet, a beautiful, responsible story is simply not enough. Another beautifully presented story-telling brand may seem more like transparency greenwashed — a marketing ploy per se will not deliver in the long run. Phlur has put extra thought into digging deeper into every single nuance of our lifestyles — even the vague in-betweens of our mundane 9 to 5s, proving that perfume can be made ethically, yet marketed very simply, playing delicately with our search for our own matching, individual identity. Phlur is working only with leading perfumers, qualified labs and experts in the industry, making it a cutting-edge sustainable product. Phlur is more than just a conscious story behind a brand made to convince and sell — it’s a whole institution of conscious fragrance, encompassing the scope of an aspiring brand with a heritage. As newcomer in the industry, Phlur exceptionally contributes towards a lasting holistic experience — with all shades of sustainability, from social mission to storytelling to choice of resources and environmental effect carefully covered and revealed to the end customer. In the end, sometimes all we need is to smell good and feel beautiful. Sometimes our identity comes in a neatly-packaged white matte glass bottle, paired with good ethics — the true cost.

Find PHLUR's sustainable, cruelty-free collection of scents here:

PS! Team Savant favourites were Hepcat and Hanami.

'The Oscars of Sustainable Fashion': Green Carpet Fashion Awards by Livia Firth are Pairing Ethics with Aesthetics

Hanna-Amanda P. G. May 3, 2017

What kind of an image appears in your mind when someone mentions sustainable fashion? I bet glamorous would not be ranking first in your list. However, the times when clothes made out of recycled plastic and cotton waste were exclusively for spiritual hippies have passed. The global fashion industry is reshaping the image of sustainable fashion - bringing a piece of the glitz and glamour to the eco-friendly clothing industry.

Words: Katrin Kaurov

Italy announced the Green Carpet Fashion Awards created by Livia Firth’s initiative Eco-Age and the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, which will take place in the famous Milan’s Teatro alla Scala on 24 September 2017, during Fashion Week. The aim is to bring focus to the ethics and sustainability of to the Made in Italy brand, therefore leading the path for other major fashion capitals. The Green Carpet Fashion Awards will feature major brands, including Fendi, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Prada and Valentino, whereas each of the haute couture fashion houses will create a unique look according to the strict criteria of the Green Carpet Challenge.

The president of the Camera Nazionale della Moda, Carlo Capasa, describes the event as “The Oscars of sustainable fashion”. He has the intention to make Milan the cornerstone of eco-friendly fashion, as it pairs well with the Italian conscious lifestyle and biological food production, which are an essential part of the Italian heritage to date.

*Carlo Capasa, Livia Firth and Michele Scannavini.*

"Italian unique design heritage must be developed and built on the values of environmental protection and social justice in our supply chains, which will uniquely allow Italy to be the added-value designer and manufacturer on the global fashion stage."

Livia Firth, the ambassador of the project, hopes to bring attention to sustainable lifestyle with the Green Carpet Awards, as Italy has always been more about slow, hand-made approach to fashion, with a high focus on quality and uniqueness, in contrast with the general trend of mass-scale fast fashion. She claims that Italian unique design heritage must be developed and built on the values of environmental protection and social justice in our supply chains, which will uniquely allow Italy to be the added-value designer and manufacturer on the global fashion stage.

It is definite that haute couture brands won’t turn back to the 19th-century exclusive, tailor-made ateliers, as a more fast-paced, contemporary mass production is needed to keep up with the global pace of fashion. However, the Green Carpet Awards Challenge lets designers explore new ways of combining the glamour of high-end fashion with environmentally friendly production methods and the large-scale global demand for clothing.

From Absent Friends to This is Home: Your Culture Guide to May

Sophie Breitsameter April 30, 2017

Do - Howard Hodgkin: Absent Friends | National Portrait Gallery. Absent Friends is the first exhibition of portraits by Howard Hodgkin (1932-2017), one of Britain’s greatest artists. Hodgkin’s paintings are characterised by rich colour, complex illusionistic space and sensuous brushwork. The role of memory, the expression of emotion, and the exploration of relationships between people and places are all fixations. The exhibition surveys Hodgkin’s development of a personal visual language of portraiture, which challenges conventional forms of representation. Until 18th June 2017.

Howard Hodgkin - Going for a Walk with Andrew. — **Howard Hodgkin** - *Going for a Walk with Andrew.*

See - Loewe Exhibition | Liberty. To coincide with London Craft Week, Liberty will host a pop-up showcasing LOEWE: This is Home, direct from Salone de Mobile, Milan’s International Furniture Fair. Curated by LOEWE’s creative director Jonathan Anderson, the exhibition will house a category spanning collection of inimitably designed products, each obscuring the lines between decorative and functional. Coalescing inspiration from various art disciplines, the display offers an exploration of novel forms for the interior, articulated through a mix of materials, hands, techniques and cultural references. 2nd - 21st May 2017.

Eat – Clarette | Marylebone, London - The heiress of the renowned Chateaux Margaux estate has just opened Clarette, the ultra-chic three-storey wine bar in Marylebone. The wine list in predominantly French, though there are wines from around the world so there is certainly something for everyone. There is also a selection of sharing plates available to complement the wines. 44 Blandford Street, London, W1U 7HS.

Read - Ibiza Bohemia | Assouline. From roaring nightlife to peaceful yoga retreats, Ibiza’s hippie-chic atmosphere is its hallmark. This quintessential Mediterranean hot spot has served as an escape for artists, creatives, and musicians alike for decades. It is a place to reinvent oneself, to walk the fine line between civilization and wilderness, and to discover bliss. Ibiza Bohemia explores the island’s scenic Balearic cliffs, its legendary cast of characters, and the archetypal interiors that define its signature style.

Visit - London Craft Week | London. This annual event showcases exceptional craftsmanship through a journey-of-discovery programme featuring hidden workshops and unknown makers alongside celebrated masters, famous studios, galleries, shops and luxury brands. 3-7 May 2017. Full programme at: http://www.londoncraftweek.com

What to Expect from a Cuddle Workshop? We Experience the Ultimate Intimacy of Human Touch

Hanna-Amanda P. G. April 29, 2017

Cuddle Workshops offer attendees a space to explore the importance of touch in a non-sexual environment. They are designed to “which explores affection, intimacy, boundaries and verbal/non-verbal communication” and are open to all. I attended a ‘Cuddling for Beginners’ class, to better understand how these events helped a group of strangers to literally embrace one another.

Words: L.Gilbert

I arrived fifteen minutes early to the workshop, but hesitated before I enter the door labeled 'Room 1'. I have to admit, I was feeling nervous. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but I knew I was about to engage in four hours of intimacy with absolute strangers.

When I finally plucked up the courage and entered the room, I found a trio of smiling women. One sat behind a table laden with biscuits, hot drinks and a large jar of mints, and offered me my name tag (punctuated with a little heart). Another gave me a laminated piece of paper with an ice breaker question. I dutifully went and asked the next person who entered the room "when was the last time you had a really amazing meal?" After a chat about the merits of London-based fish and chips, we discussed our reasons for attending a cuddle workshop.

For my part, I was intrigued by the idea of a space to explore platonic touch. As a teenager, I had been quite tactile, but became increasingly less so in recent years. I wanted to explore the idea of physical connection without worrying that my hugs would be misinterpreted. My companion told me she loves cuddling, and signed up to the workshop just this morning. She too had no idea what to expect.

What followed was an afternoon of sharing. We were asked to share our names, and how we were feeling. We asked one another if we could "share a hug". We shared the emotions stirred up by the exercises. Throughout the session, there was a real emphasis on being generous with ourselves, and one another.

"The experience of a cuddle workshop is subjective. Some participants would cry after an exercise, as the intimacy of the moment allowed for a great emotional release."

The workshop was made up of a series of exercises. The nature of these was varied: one exercise involved lying with your head in a partner's lap, while he or she stroked your head, arm, shoulders and back. Another played with the idea of presence, asking us to feel the difference between touching someone when distracted, touching someone when he or she is distracted, and touching someone when both of you are focused on the moment. There was an exercise involving an embrace known as a "melting hug". There was another where we practiced saying "no" to a proffered cuddle, and explored what it felt like to both reject and be rejected. This focus on consent, and accepting one another’s boundaries, was key: our leaders, Anna and Andrew, created an environment of communal respect. People were able to opt out of exercises, and we were told to ask our partner's permission before we reached out and touched them. We were also told to thank everyone we shared a physical connection with, and to thank those who didn't want to be touched. At the end of the workshop, many of the attendees told the group that they felt "grateful", and no wonder: we were constantly encouraged to engage with this warm emotion.

The experience of a cuddle workshop is subjective. Some participants would cry after an exercise, as the intimacy of the moment allowed for a great emotional release. Two men both explained how stroking another man's arms reminded them of their fathers, and how this memory helped reconfigure their preconception about male-male touch. One attendee announced at the end of the session that he felt energised; many others that they felt calm. Some, no doubt, left that afternoon feeling that they would stay on their oxytocin high for a while yet. Some, no doubt, felt their initial anxiety completely subside shortly into the session. Others may have felt the occasional stirring of nerves, but were able to accept this, and still engage with others.

"I wanted to explore the idea of physical connection without worrying that my hugs would be misinterpreted."

I entered the workshop intrigued, but sceptical. I left with an appreciation of how open people can be, and an acute awareness of how quickly two individuals can connect. I feel that every embrace I shared today told me so much about the person I shared with, and I wonder how much they now know of me.

I also left having experienced some jolly lovely hugs indeed.

#WomenWhoWork Behind the Beauty Industry: Interview with Product Developer of Turbliss

Hanna-Amanda P. G. April 27, 2017

It’s not just the founders that pave the way for ethical and natural cosmetics, but the people behind the scenes, although often understated, play a crucial role as well. I had the amazing opportunity to share a cuppa with Triin Truu, a product developer and lab enthusiast from Estonia. Triin works as a product developer for Turbliss, an Estonian beauty brand drawing its power from peat, offering a range of bioactive products for your hair and skin for daily use. A natural beauty herself, she’s a true inspiration for finding your way into vegan cosmetics. At a quaint café in Tartu, Estonia, we delved into the behind the scenes of beauty industry.

Words: Johanna Raudsepp

*Triin Truu, Product Developer of Turbliss.*

Let’s start with you. How did you find your way to genetics?

Well, I was born in Viljandi [Estonia]. I had always enjoyed biology. I remember seeing some documentary about genome therapy, and then I thought to myself, “Wow, this is really game-changing – I want to do that!”. That’s when I knew I would be studying genome technology at the University of Tartu. I was convinced that this was my true calling.

What brought the big change? I feel that sometimes university programmes can really disappoint. How did it go with you?

In high-school I used to be rather quiet and shy. But I feel like I completely changed during university years. They always try to make students more active and make them take part in different social activities. So, I ended up in the group of people who organised all the parties and events. The experience I gained made me open up.

To be honest, I was a bit disappointed. I had this huge dream of working with people and learning about the human body. But it ended up being more focused on bacteria! That’s when I really had to re-think my choices.

From there, losing your interest in studying genetics, you ended up working for Turbliss, a brand that focuses on a range of natural peat skincare and haircare products. Seems like quite a big U-turn.

In a way, it was, because it wasn’t anything I had ever considered before. However, I realised that I love make-up and I love beauty, so why not use my skills for that? I started to focus more on microbiology and learn more about the skin structure and how it functions. A good thing about my programme was that I got a lot of laboratory experience, which is what I essentially do today – I work in a lab and stir up new things from natural ingredients.

Now that you work in a natural cosmetics company, has your beauty routine changed at all?

I use less make-up now for sure [laughs]. I definitely value sleep more. When I do use make-up, I try to go for naturally-made products. I like Ontic Minerals, which is an Estonian brand and they don’t add anything extra – it’s clean and exactly what you need for everyday. I used to use regular cosmetics brands when going out, but just that one night caused my skin to lash out and look terrible.

"I had this huge dream of working with people and learning about the human body. But it ended up being more focused on bacteria!"

Where does the difference come from? We often try to compare 'natural' with ‘regular’, but what is that determing factor in, for example, face creams?

The pH level is really important. For me, it’s important that the pH level is similar to our skin's own – around 5.5. Turbliss has a peat tonic that has quite a low pH level. It helps strengthen the skin and bring down the pH level, if you use other [chemical] products. Now, what happens when the pH is too high in a product is that your skin becomes dry and the wrong bacteria feel more at home – and that’s not good for your skin. More itchiness, redness – the unpleasant things.

"What happens when the pH is too high in a product is that your skin becomes dry and the wrong bacteria feel more at home – and that’s not good for your skin."

I think it’s really important nowadays to know what you are buying and where it comes from. What’s your take on sustainable consumption and lifestyle choices, and how do you apply it in your life?

That’s an interesting topic, actually. I was just discussing the new plastic bag campaign with my granddad yesterday. They stopped giving out those small plastic bags in supermarkets in Estonia. But we realised that, surely, it does reduce the amount of plastic bags in circulation, but a lot of our food is still packaged and stored in plastic. There’s two sides to every coin. I try to use canvas bags when I go shopping. I think that if we want to call for change, we need to start the change from ourselves.

Like in those zero-waste stores in Germany and Denmark, and there are a few here in Estonia, too. They have a package-free concept.

Exactly. At first I thought I was weird when I put unpacked fruit and veggies on the counter, but it’s a tiny way to help the environment. That’s one thing I really like about Turbliss products as well – we use glass packaging, which can later be easily recycled.

Another aspect of appreciating slow living is spending more time with yourself and not rushing everywhere. How do you like to unwind?

I enjoy hiking in the forest on weekends or taking the dog out to the seaside. My dog loves it so much! I like travelling, too, especially in Estonia. There are so many strange places to discover here. I know I work with peat, but I really love our bogs. Time just stands still there. It’s just you, the silence, and the fresh air.

If you could explore a place anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Probably somewhere in the Carribbean. You know, the first thought that popped into my head was that I’d go to my summer home in the country. Build a summer kitchen, make a herb garden and grow herbs. My boyfriend and I really enjoy cooking. It’s a great way to spend time together.

Finally, what advice would you give on cosmetics to our readers?

It’s not all about the brands – sometimes small and less known brands make products just as great, only that it won’t cost you an arm and a leg to buy it. Don’t hesitate to read the ingredients and ask for assistance. Usually, ingredients with very complicated chemical names are actually some very basic compound, like coconut oil. Less is more. With a lot of ethical natural cosmetics brands you get what you need – no bullshit. And that’s what I love about it.

#SustainableCities May 2017 Guide: Keeping on the Pulse of Milan's Treasures

Hanna-Amanda P. G. April 26, 2017

Curated by Katrin Kaurov

In our modern world of chaotic, fast-paced rhythms, there is one nation that still embraces il dolce far niente - the sweetness of doing nothing. Italians have mastered the art of slow lifestyle even in a business-oriented fashion and design capital, Milan. A true Milanese knows when to disconnect from the virtual, fast-paced world and embrace being fully present with all senses attuned to the moment. Whether it embodies zipping an ice-cold Spritz at an aperitivo in the bohemian district of Navigli, or an unhurried window-shopping stroll in the luxury district of via Montenapoleone, it's all about taking in the beauty of the city's cherished treasures. Running out of unique ways to wind down in Milan? Grasp the beauty of on-the-spot meaningful moments with our Culture Guide to May.

ART BOOST FOR THE SENSES — The highly anticipated “LOVE.Contemporary Art Meets Love” which travelled from Rome to Milan’s Museo della Permanente is curated by Danilo Eccher. It features 39 masterpieces dedicated to the expression of love, taking you on a deeply emotional journey. The contemporary art exhibition spotlights Andy Warhol, Tom Wesselmann and Francesco Vezzoli among others, enabling you to compare and contrast different visions of love’s fairytale.

GOOD ENERGY SPOT - Missing the edge in the elegant and sophisticated capital of Lombardy? There is an alternative East London vibe in Lambrate Design District. Situated in the hipster district nearby artists’ lofts, exhibitions and installations, East Market Milano brings together indie music, vintage designer clothes, old vinyls, multicultural street food and extravagantly dressed people. Taking place on the third Sunday of each month on 600 sq., the Brooklyn-type creative energy of the avant-garde market will leave you spiritually nourished.

FOR RECHARGING THE TASTEBUDS - Considered as the most “instagrammable” café in Milan, Macha Café, situated just a few steps away from Corso Garibaldi, offers a Japanese-Scandinavian fusion with a twist. Everything in the menu includes green macha - the Japanese superpowder notorious for unbelievable health benefits. The healthy menu ranges from filling (and incredibly photogenic) macha-avocado burgers to sushi bowls and delicate green chia puddings topped with macha for good. Be ready for a buzzing live queue to secure a spot in the new it-place!

SHOP FOR A GOOD CAUSE - An exclusive shopping marathon will take place nearby Moscova from 13-16 May, with a mission to fundraise for underprivileged children. The event called ‘Profit No Profit’ Haute Couture Shopping features more than 90 high-end brands donating their current season’s collection of clothing, bags and other accessories for charity. The items will be sold at discounted prices up to 80% and all the profit will be granted to “Associazione per il Bambino Nefropatico Onlus” and “Panda Onlus.”

STROLL AWAY THE WEEKEND - One of Milan’s best-kept secrets is via Lincoln, just a few steps away from the business district of Porta Nuova known for its skyscrapers and futuristic buildings. The picturesque neighbourhood via Lincoln, which grew out of the idea of having a garden city with small colourful houses, resembles an extraordinary fairy tale. Take a long stroll in the tranquility of the Rainbow District with its tiny gardens full of fruit trees and flowerbeds.

AGUSTAV Furniture: Finding Innovation in Functionality

Hanna-Amanda P. G. April 23, 2017

Sustainability and innovation don’t always stem from new materials, but from clever solutions used in design process. Icelandic furniture manufacturer AGUSTAV is a fantastic example of how design meets innovation, with their timeless interior pieces using wood as their main material. AGUSTAV has also gone big on an environmentally conscious approach - for every item they sell, they plant trees to help boost the growth of a new forest. You give what you take - one of the main principles of circular economy model. Ágústa Magnúsdóttir, one of the founders of the brand, offered us a glimpse into AGUSTAV's world of subtle innovation paired with sustainability.

Words: Johanna Raudsepp

What do you value most about interior design?

Interior design as we see it is the art of establishing a deeply-rooted connection with your surroundings and habitat. It’s sort of like nesting. It’s nesting that we sometimes do for other people.

We like to keep our lines clean and we value interior design with a solid base. As furniture makers, what we most cherish are spaces designed with a natural calm sense to them; spaces that are grounded with natural materials and allow the furniture to shake up the centre of attention.

Iceland is a place of great natural beauty. How does that come into play in your design process?

Design is just something we do, it comes naturally to us and the creation process is where we focus most of our energy. It is likely that our foundations are rooted in Icelandic nature, but it’s not something that we identify with specifically. The Icelandic hardness is embedded in our DNA and it’s probably something that moves within us and influences us, without us attempting it per se. We use the nature to get away more than we do [use nature] during the process itself. It’s our safe haven where we catch our breaths and regain our stamina after busy periods at the workshop.

"We don’t see beauty in buying one thing today and replacing it with whatever comes out in the next seasonal catalogue. We buy once and hold on to [it] forever."

People are looking for new, innovative ways of creating staple furnishing pieces. What is your approach to innovation and how do you apply innovative methods?

We have always been more interested in the innovation element of creation than the actual 'design' part. To us every thing is designed. In one way or another, intentionally or not, everything is designed. Whether it’s innovative, functional or even useful, is another element and those elements happen to attract our interest even more. We strive to make our items functional and useful; yet we would like them to be innovative and we ground all these things in our perception of aesthetic appeal.

I have to ask about your infamous book rack - what inspired you when creating it?

The book rack came to be when we still lived in Copenhagen. Initially, when we moved in together, we lived in a very small and crooked apartment. We desperately needed space and a place to put our things away (whatever that thing was). The book rack sprung from our original design of the coat rack. We were looking at ways to utilise the same rack system in more ways and the book rack jumped right at us from that process.

"We strive to make our items functional and useful; yet we would like them to be innovative and we ground all these things in our perception of aesthetic appeal."

Finally, how does AGUSTAV follow principles of sustainability? Why is it important to you and the consumer?

The environmental issues the world is facing today are very scary and very real. It’s extremely important that everyone does what they can to contribute to the environment, to reduce their waste and think wisely about their purchases. These elements are key to our process, our creations are centred around the fact that we want our items to last. We create high-end quality furniture and encourage our customers to choose wisely before buying, we create our furniture to last and hope that they will be passed down to generations to come. We don’t see beauty in buying one thing today and replacing it with whatever comes out in the next seasonal catalogue. We buy once and hold on to [it] forever.

As to sustainability, we use every piece of wood we get hold of in the workshop and do our best to minimise waste. If we can’t see use for the cut-offs, we’ll give them away to projects that can make use of them. Additionally, we strive to give a little back by planting a tree for each item we sell.

Find AGUSTAV furniture here.

Fashion Revolution Week: All You Need To Know About Who Made My Clothes? Campaign

Hanna-Amanda P. G. April 22, 2017

Words: Anna Victoria Eihenbauma
Photos: Fashion Revolution

This year marks the 4th anniversary of the Rana Plaza disaster in Bangladesh where over 1,000 people were killed and over 2,500 were injured. An eight-storey commercial building near Dhaka collapsed after garment factory owners ordered their workers to return to work despite warnings to avoid the building due to cracks in its structure. The Rana Plaza garment workers were producing clothing for European and North American high street brands when their workplace became life-threatening.

The tragedy caught international media attention and revealed the need for a reformed fashion industry. As a result of this disaster, the Fashion Revolution Movement was created.

Fashion Revolution is a non-profit organisation focused on campaigning towards greater transparency in the supply chains of the fashion industry. The international movement urges consumers to ask brands this seemingly simple question: Who made my clothes?

“The global fashion industry is opaque, exploitative and environmentally damaging and desperately needs revolutionary change. We love fashion, but we don’t want our clothes to come at the cost of people or our planet.”

- Fashion Revolution

Whilst working with multiple factories, suppliers and subcontractors at the same time, clothing brands are often unaware of how their products are actually being produced. Transparency in fashion would lead to improved monitoring and controlling of working conditions through all stages of the supply chain.

Asking brands to become more transparent means asking them to become more accountable. This way, companies can ensure that human rights are respected and that environmental guidelines are adhered to.

What started out as Fashion Revolution Day, observed every year on 24th April, has now become Fashion Revolution Week. Hundreds of events take place all over the world during this week, all aimed at raising awareness of the true cost of fashion. Individuals and organisations unite in their shared interest of designing a more sustainable future. This year the movement takes place from Monday 24th to Friday 30th April worldwide.

“We believe in fashion – an industry which values people, the environment, creativity and profits in equal measure, and it’s everyone’s responsibility to ensure that this happens.”

- Fashion Revolution

Getting involved can be as simple as taking a photo. Fashion Revolution is calling on all of us to show our clothing labels and ask brands #whomademyclothes on social media.

Together we can make a positive difference in the world.

Find out about any potential events near you here.

From ‘Bottle to Boot’: How Timberland’s New Spring Collection is Helping to Reduce Plastic Waste

Hanna-Amanda P. G. April 19, 2017

Words: Kyra Hanson

Imagine unfolding your towel, spreading your body out in the searing sun, listening to the sea waves lapping against the shoreline, sinking your toes into the silky sand – only to find the grains beneath your feet aren’t silky or the colour of sand, but sharp, angular, brightly coloured bits of plastic. These days, a barefoot walk along a beach such as Newquay’s Tregantle Cove is more like hot-footing it through a football pitch-sized box of Lego. Plastic beaches are a common sight around the world, due to the eight million (at least!) tonnes of plastic, which end up in our oceans every year. But in Haiti and Honduras, Thread International is diverting this waste from the waterways, by turning it into wearable fabric. This spring, the sustainable fabric manufacturer has collaborated with outdoors fashion brand Timberland to launch ThreadX, a menswear collection made from recycled plastic.

Savant caught up with Ian Rosenberger, founder and CEO of Thread and Margaret Morey-Reuner, Director of strategic partnerships, business development and values marketing with Timberland to trace the origins of the ThreadX collection.

Photography: Taylor Free Solo

How did the idea for Thread come about?

IR: I went to Haiti in 2010. My original mission was to document the aftermath of the devastating earthquake. While looking through the 3,000+ photos I took, I noticed they all had two elements in common: piles of trash and poverty in abundance. I remember writing in my journal: “if Haiti could turn trash into money = good.” Once home, I quite literally Googled: “What can you make out of trash?”. I discovered you can make fabric out of plastic waste, and the idea for Thread was born.

Collector picking up a bottle of the streets of Les Cayes.

Can you describe your first impressions of Haiti?

IR: I fell in love with Haiti and its people. After talking to Haitians and asking them what they really needed, I found the answer to be what we all fundamentally want – a roof over our heads and a way to give our kids a better life than we had. I was convinced an effective solution would require not just charity, but a money-making enterprise, creating real jobs for the Haitian people, returning the dignity, autonomy and purpose, which the earthquake had stripped away.

Can you talk us through the manufacturing process of the new Timberland collection?

IR: The process of going from ‘bottle to boot’ begins in Haiti, where more than 1,300 locals collect the plastic bottles that are ultimately developed into Thread fabric. The collectors sell these bottles to 50 Haitian-owned and operated collection centres. The centre owners and individual collectors transport and sell the sorted plastic to Haiti Recycling and Environmental Cleaning Solutions S.A. in Port-au-Prince. At Haiti Recycling, the production line washes and shreds the bottles into a raw material called ‘flake’, which is then sent to US-based factories that melt and shape the flake into a fibre, which is then woven into fabric.

"Once home, I quite literally Googled: “What can you make out of trash?”"

Timberland purchases the high-quality fabric from us and turns it into durable bags and boots – culminating in the Timberland X Thread collection. Every yard of Thread’s Ground to Good™ fabric supports a network of dignified jobs in the developing world, creating income opportunities, and cleaning up Haiti’s neighbourhoods. It’s one thing to recycle but it’s another to have a lasting impact on people’s lives while you’re creating beautiful products.

Andre Benoit Dulisson and Marie Josette Alexis.

Can you describe the thinking behind the design and look of the collection and who would wear it?

MM: The Timberland X Thread collection utilizes lived-in fabrics for a comfortable look that our consumers enjoy. The city blazer, for example, speaks to a few current trends. Its natural earth tones and deconstructed silhouette are inspired by military uniforms and time-honoured suiting. Our boots are reimagined for year-round appeal and to suit today’s city lifestyle. In this collection the rugged canvas textures, washed leather touches and relaxed tailoring convey the perfect combination of tough-yet-lightweight durability that is unmistakably Timberland.

Our brand – from classics to newer collections – has gained popularity among a diverse cross-section of men and women. The commonality is that they all appreciate our heritage, style and versatility. Most often, that person is someone who is connected to the outdoors, but in a more casual, everyday way. They care about the outdoors, but they also care about style. In other words, this person is a city dweller who goes for a casual afternoon hike or someone who leaves their house in the morning not knowing if they’re going to spend their afternoon at the park or at the movies. Timberland allows consumers to look and feel their best, from head-to-toe, for any adventure ahead.

It has been highlighted how plastic fibres (recycled or not) still ultimately end up in our oceans as they break away from our garments when put through a washing machine. What is Thread doing to solve this issue?

IR: We are keenly aware of the issue of microfibers being released back into our oceans and believe more research and inter-organisational collaboration is needed to develop long-term global solutions. Thread chooses to partner with companies, like Timberland, that are committed to finding sustainable solutions to issues like this.

Uncollected plastic - particularly in coastal areas - is most likely to be washed out to sea. That’s an estimated eight million tons of plastic entering the ocean every year. In Haiti and Honduras, the lack of proper trash disposal and an abundance of waste are the root of many health and environmental problems. In Haiti, most plastics that are collected are eventually burned, releasing harmful toxins into the atmosphere. Thread continues to work to clean the streets of Haiti and Honduras by collecting and recycling trash. And, more importantly, we are creating dignified jobs for the people who live there, enabling them to improve their quality of life and provide for their families.

"I was convinced an effective solution would require not just charity, but a money-making enterprise, creating real jobs for the Haitian people, returning the dignity, autonomy and purpose, which the earthquake had stripped away."

Delivery truck with super sacks of plastic.

Both Will.I.AM’s ‘Ekocycle’ collection at Harrods and Pharrell Williams ‘Raw for the Oceans’ campaign with Adidas are steps in the right direction, but one barrier to the democratisation of sustainable fashion practices always seems to be price. Buying sustainably will never beat Primark prices so can we ever envisage a time when sustainable, transparent fashion is the norm?

MM: I dream of the day when that becomes the case! But there certainly are some challenges the industry as a whole will need to address, including scalability to help bring pricing down, before it can become a reality. It’s exciting to see so many different companies, brands and organisations coming up with innovative solutions to tackle both environmental and social issues. In fact, since 2009, Timberland has given more than 270 million plastic bottles new life in its footwear. And it’s exciting to see the consumer demanding more transparency and accountability in the products they are buying.

Positive role models, such as the pop singers above are one way of encouraging people, and men in particular, into buying sustainably. When did you personally start thinking about where your clothes came from?

IR: Haha. If you saw my own wardrobe you'd laugh. Since I was a kid, I've taken the ‘less is more’ approach. I grew up on a farm in Pennsylvania, so clothes were worn for pure function. As an adult, that translates into the things I like: classic lines and patterns. I don't chase trends, but originally this wasn't because I was trying to be responsible, it was because I'd only own maybe six shirts at a time (which is definitely still the case). I really love thinking about how this idea might translate into the next apparel economy. What if we could have access to all the clothes we needed, and all we needed was six shirts?

What has been the most challenging aspect of Thread’s journey so far?

IR: The biggest challenge for Thread right now is making sure that our end-product is cost competitive with the fabrics or yarns that these brands are already using.

"What if we could have access to all the clothes we needed, and all we needed was six shirts?"

How do you envision the future of sustainable fashion and Thread’s place within it?

IR: Thread aims to be the catalyst for positive change in the fashion industry, improving the economic, social and environmental impacts of making clothes to end poverty. Consumers don’t identify with a bottle, but they do empathise with the people who make the clothes they wear.

When Thread succeeds, it changes the way the apparel industry buys the materials it needs to make clothes. By focusing on goods rather than convenience, brands understand that there’s intrinsic value to the product they are making and the consumer is buying. This is the future of fashion. Thread’s goal is to work with 25 of the largest apparel and footwear brands in the world within the next two years. Timberland has been an excellent inaugural brand partner; stay tuned for future collaborations!

Shop the collection here.