Images of food on handbags are a matter of taste. Are macarons or cupcakes really always the right addition to your wardrobe? The French luxury brand Longchamp has now given its foldable and extra-light cult bag “Le Pliage” a large pretzel print, at least in the “Munich Edition”. Salty pretzels on bright blue plastic, that’s enough for connoisseurs as a clear Bavarian assignment – but the white Munich lettering across the front dispels any last doubts, even for non-locals. No Munich without pretzels, no “Le Pliage” bag without nylon, plus a handle made of black leather. Anyway, the sight makes you hungry. How good that there is plenty of storage space inside for a snack. The bag will be available exclusively in the Munich boutique from September, just in time for the long-awaited Wiesn (longchamp.com).
Alternative to mass design and disposable products: furniture unfolders in Hamburg.
(Photo: Jonas Albrecht)
A few years ago, upcycling was the sustainable design idea of the hour. If you don’t want to keep littering the planet and still want to indulge in material things from time to time, there is probably little that makes more sense. 29-year-old architect Lena Charlene Roof specializes in furniture upcycling. Two years ago she got the company furniture unfolder founded because she wanted to make a difference in society after her studies, as she writes on Instagram. Instead of designing houses, Roof saves old furniture in and around Hamburg: showcases, tables and armchairs that would otherwise gather dust in cellars or end up in bulky waste. In the workshop in Hamburger Neustadt, they are sanded down, varnished or reupholstered and resold for a fair price. According to Roof, it is not about profit, but about an alternative to mass design, disposable products, exploitation and long delivery routes. She also accepts commissioned work. On August 19, Roof starts crowdfunding start next, with which she wants to finance an area for a workshop, shop, storage area and workshops and to hire her employees. So far, the pieces are sold in a small shop in a backyard in the Schanze, everyone in the team works on a voluntary basis.
The dream of a Ferrari to build yourself: the Daytona SP3 from Lego.
(Photo: manufacturer)
Sophisticated Lego kits of classic cars have a large fan base – which, however, is usually well into adulthood, after all, a certain penchant for automobile nostalgia is a prerequisite for these building projects. The latest additions to the exclusive Lego garage are the Chevrolet Camaro Z28 and a Ferrari Daytona SP3 in 1:8 scale. With almost 4000 components and a price of 399 euros, the Ferrari in particular is one of the extreme kits, made for the first rainy week in early autumn. For Tifosi and other petrol connoisseurs, the true-to-original V12 engine with eight-speed gearbox was reproduced in a particularly complex manner. Details such as the gullwing doors and brakes should not only be fun to build, but also later when playing. Until then, you not only need time and a steady hand, but also a bit of space. With a length of almost 60 centimetres, the building block Ferrari is just as impressive on the shelf or on the desk as its big brother on the street. This time, a lavishly produced, limited illustrated book was presented for the model, in which the creation of the kit and the comparison with the original are documented in opulent pictures – the book, however, was out of print shortly after it went on sale. (lego.com)
Form follows fun: enamel sneakers by Mihara Yasuhiro.
(Photo: manufacturer)
Are these sneakers inspired by the temperature records of the new hot period? In any case, their rubber soles look as if they had melted like ice on lava-hot asphalt. Their design comes from the Japanese Mihara Yasuhiro, a big hit in the world of high fashion sneakers. As early as 1999, when people in the luxury industry tended to turn up their noses at sneakers, he collaborated with Puma to design models that looked as if the heel had stepped into a large rubber egg. His current interpretations of canvas skate shoes are also reminiscent of artist Erwin Wurm’s bulging melted “Fat” sculptures. Mihara Yasuhiro apparently works according to an abbreviation of the design principle, “form follows fun”. Because if such melting soles have a function, then yes, they make you smile (available at luisaviaroma.com).
Scent of alpine meadows: room spray from Feuerstein Essentials.
(Photo: manufacturer)
A local poet and mountain photographer with the beautiful name Domenic Feuerstein as godfather for natural cosmetics – that’s a clear plus point in terms of marketing. The granddaughter of the Engadine owns the company Flint Essentials was founded and used the family fund for the logo. Grandfather photographed rock formations, animals and plants on his forays, one of his mountain flowers is shown on the aroma sprays. They smell, what else, of alpine meadows, spruce or peppermint. All products, whether face cream or linden blossom body lotion, are made in Switzerland. And the company headquarters also has a sonorous name – St.Moritz (34 euros, feuerstein-essentials.de).