Fresheye Magazine. May Edition 2023

fresh eye

l Ferrari

l Charles III

l Ginaissance

l Converse

l Renault

l Swatch

When kindness is the

AThe new dawn evokes a new awareness for kindness.

‘If you can be anything, be kind’ – A sentence that has been prominent throughout the last 12 months for reasons close to our hearts and also presented to us from around the world. It's been a tough time for many, but kindness has become the key.

The quote ‘If you can be anything, be kind’ originates from the last social media post that Caroline Flack made before her death. It was simple but significant. It was a cry for help due to the tabloid war she found herself in regarding her relationship and TV career. She tragically took her own life on the 15th of February 2020 after leaving the world with a strong message. As a result, it has become the mantra within the social media world to remind people that their words do hold meaning and do have consequences. No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.

The world has changed a lot, and so have we. The things people used to consider little are now the big things that make a

difference. Political conflict in the UK and around the world, topics of saving our natural environments for ourselves and the animals and ecosystems we live alongside; followed by the social unrest of race relations, and the tragic deaths of many people from George Floyd to Sarah Everard have sparked a new awareness of kindness and its importance.

The list of unfortunate events goes on, however. They have all triggered a response in kindness. It's a tragedy in itself that incidents have to occur for kindness to be highlighted globally in this way. Kindness is a positive

Be kind to yourselves and others.

Sophie says.....

by Sophie Fitzjohn.

and must be used to learn from as well as for comfort.

When the pandemic put the world on pause, it's been a time of reflection. We have come to notice the effects our everyday lives have on the planet, from CO2 emissions to the importance of becoming more eco-friendly and sustainable. Environmental activists such as Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg, have captured the importance of these issues and have actively spoken about how the importance of kindness towards our planet needs to be a priority as it also contributes to our overall wellbeing.

Throughout the turbulent year of 2020, we also stood up and took note when it came to race relations, due to many deaths and the heavily documented unlawful death of George Floyd. The incident which occurred in Minneapolis, Minnesota, made headlines around the world. It was only taken seriously due to mobile video footage taken by a teenager at the time of the scene. There was a huge uproar regarding the death of an innocent black American man and people globally protested in their millions for justice

Quotes

and police reform. Due to the continued support, justice was made and changes within police departments and society have become prevalent. ‘The death of George Floyds will not be in vain.

The same stance was taken when the tragic news of Sarah Everard's awful death was made public. Women in their thousands gathered for a vigil in commemoration of Sarah and to show support for women everywhere and their right to feel and be safe wherever they may be. The phrase, ‘text me when you’re home’ trended as women around the world resonated with the very real risks of being a woman on their own. There is a fine line when it comes to all of these topics. As people often want to show their support, however, this can easily turn into passion and sometimes anger; which in turn depicts the aim to show solidarity and kindness. This has been noticeable throughout many protests which people relate to as it's important to them. However, there does seem to be a turning of the tide, which suggests that people are actually being understood and not just heard.

The hope is that all negative aspects that occur within the world encourage a fresh beginning for engaging a new relationship with the world and each other. Most importantly, that kindness is considered a key trait that we should all be compelled to portray in our lives whenever and wherever we are..

Be

The

- You cannot do kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

kind whenevr possible. It is always possible

14th Dalai Lama.

Empathylet it be our future guide.

Insane level of Ferrari

The car’s name encapsulates the true significance of all that has been achieved in terms of performance. The reference to the 90th anniversary of the foundation of Scuderia Ferrari underscores the strong link that has always existed between Ferrari’s track and road cars. A brilliant encapsulation of the most advanced technologies developed in Maranello, the SF90 Stradale is also the perfect demonstration of how Ferrari immediately transitions the knowledge and skills it acquires in competition with its production cars.

Dynamics in view

Depending on how you see Ferrari, the SF90 is potentially controversial. It’s the firm’s new flagship, but isn’t powered by a seminal V12. Nor is it an only-available-to-collectors limited edition. It’s 4wd. There are three electric motors. You can plug it in. It starts silently, and it can drive silently. There’s never been a

Ferrari that can do that before. Nor has there been one where the brake pedal isn’t directly connected to the callipers. Or one without a mechanical rev counter behind the steering wheel. There isn’t even a reverse gear in the gearbox – but relax, there is one elsewhere. And yet this is Ferrari’s fastest, most powerful road car ever. Quicker around the Fiorano home circuit than the LaFerrari, delivering 986bhp (that’s a metric 1,000hp) to the road – the same as a Bugatti Veyron, but with basically half the engine capacity and turbos, and weighing several hundred kilos less. So yes, it’s fast – 0-62mph in 2.5secs, 124mph in 6.7secs.

Designed for sensory performance.

The SF90 Stradale is the first ever Ferrari to feature PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) architecture which sees the internal combustion engine integrated with three electric motors, two of which are independent and located on the front axle, with the third at the rear between the engine and the gearbox.

For the first time on a Ferrari, clients can choose between the standard car and a version with a more sports-oriented specification.

Interior:

A 16-inch curved display located behind the steering wheel displays various vital statistics of the car to the driver. The car also employs a new head-up display that would reconfigure itself according to the selected driving mode. The steering wheel is carried over from the 488 but now features multiple capacitive touch interfaces to control the various functions of the car. Other conventional levers and buttons are retained. The interior will also channel sound of the engine to the driver according to the manufacturer

Ferrari SF90

Smart cooling flow management.

The internal combustion engine, gearbox, turbo-charged air, battery pack and electric motors, the inverters and charging systems and brakes all need cooling. Meticulous attention was paid to the design of the engine bay which houses both the usual internal combustion engine systems that generate temperatures of nearly 900°C, and highly temperature-sensitive electronic components.

Handling:

The SF90 Stradale employs eSSC (electric Side Slip Control) which controls the torque distribution to all four wheels of the car. The eSSC is combined with eTC (electric Tractional Control), a new brake-by-wire system which combines the traditional hydraulic braking system and electric motors to provide optimal regenerative braking and torque vectoring.

Ferrari SF90

Performance feels every bit as towering as Ferrari’s claimed 6.7sec 0-124mph time suggests it should.

The brand’s new hypercar comes standard with all-wheel drive and is capable of traveling for up to 16 miles using only electric power. The SF90 Stradale is motivated by three electric motors and a potent V-8, and they combine to produce a staggering 986 horsepower.

Performance:

Ferrari states that the SF90 Stradale is capable of accelerating from a standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 2.5 seconds, 0–200 km/h (124 mph) in 6.7 seconds and can attain a top speed of 340 km/h (211 mph).[13] It is the fastest Ferrari road car on their Fiorano Circuit as of 2020, seven tenths of a second faster than the LaFerrari.

Ferrari SF90

Contemporary vehicle aesthetic and vision.

Despite their stratospheric performance, the SF90 models don’t skimp on driver-and-passenger comfort, and both provide an impressive list of standard features including a reconfigurable digital gauge display, automatic climate control, and a leather-lined cabin.

This plug-in hybrid Ferrari hypercar’s uncompromising performance gives us both a taste of the storied Italian automaker’s future and a tantalizing car for the present.

It’s a crossover, bridging the gap between supercar and hypercar. Hypercar performance, supercar price.

Image

King

Unlike his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, Charles always knew he would one day become King. Becoming heir apparent at just three years old, Charles has become the oldest and longest serving heir apparent in British history.

fresh eye

Symbolism

The Royal Mint Making the coins of monarchs for over 1,100 years.

Destination Crown King Charles III, formerly known as The Prince of Wales, became King on the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022.

In a statement released on Sept. 8, 2022, the new king said, “During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held.”

Offspring

In 1981, King Charles III married Lady Diana Spencer, with whom he has two sons: William and Harry, who are second and sixth in line to the throne.

First meet

Charles proposed to Diana in February 1981, and they married in St Paul’s Cathedral on July 29.

Charles became the first royal father to be present at his children’s births.

Titles

As the monarch’s eldest son, he automatically took the titles Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland.

Polo years

Charles, who had enjoyed the game for more than 40 years, decided to retire from polo playing at 57.

After going public with their relationship in the late 1990s, Charles and Camilla married in 2005. Charles was the only member of the royal family to have a civil wedding rather than a church wedding in England.

Modernity

While royalists continue to question King Charles III’s newer, more modern monarchy, his state visit with President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa would have put the royal family in good standing.

Net worth King Charles has an estimated net worth of around $400 million, according to The Richest.

The Ginaissance Period

Uncovering the fascination - Mandy Willson Telford.

Approximately 300 years ago Gin made its first appearance (in a primitive form) here in England. In 1714 it made it into the Oxford dictionary.

Since its humble beginnings, it has enjoyed a chequered history and conjures up many images. For some, it will forever be synonymous with the debauched Hogarth painting. Others see the glamour of Martinis in the Savoy. It has dipped in and out of fashion with reliable frequency.

Up until just before the start of this century, there were just 3 main brands. Beefeater, at the time the only gin distillery within the City of London, Gordons and Bombay Sapphire. During the 80s and 90s Gin was down on its luck and Vodka was calling all the shots (pardon the pun). Then, in 1999, along came Hendricks with its soft rose and green notes. Served with cucumber and not the obligatory lemon wedge. Martin Millers with its secret ingredient (cucumber) and distilled using pure Icelandic water followed

soon after. Hendricks with its apothecarystyle bottle was popular with bartenders but it was not until 2008 that it took off with the general public. At this time, Gin had not yet experienced its renaissance period. This was to come in 2009, when a small relatively unknown micro-distillery challenged the current law of not allowing the use of a still that had a capacity lower than 1800lts. This law had been in place for nearly 200 years, created because British tax officials were fed up with illegal distillers who would use small portable stills to make a quick getaway if needed. Sipsmith’s, a 3-man band, decided this should change, and in 2009, after 2 years of lobbying HMRC they were granted a licence to create their gin using the 300lt copper pot still that they named Prudence. The rest is history and the reason here in the UK we are now littered with micro-distilleries and have hundreds of gins to choose from.

I first became interested in Gin back in 2007 when I began working as a taster for the

fresh eye Gin

u

Gin note:

Gin is English, not Dutch. Genever, a malted spirit that is essentially light whisky with juniper, is the juniper distillate of the Netherlands. Gin was developed in London and is a unique and much purer spirit.

Our gin connoisseur speaks...

In 1714 ‘Gin’ it made it into the Oxford dictionary.

multinational beverage company, Diageo. During the 7 years I worked for them, I saw the gin market explode from literally a handful of brands, to the 100s we can buy today. It is hard to believe how quickly things changed. Gin itself has evolved beyond recognition. I watched with amusement when marketing experts, on an episode of The Apprentice, stated coloured gin was an absolute non-starter, it would never catch on. Magellan Gin is blue, naturally coloured with iris flowers. Some years ago, the distillers decided to omit the colour and sales dropped dramatically. Unsurprisingly it was reintroduced quickly. You can now buy Yellow, Pink, Green, Violet and, even colour changing Gin. Some, gimmicky but others, delectable. I am a sucker for a delicately coloured Gin in a beautiful glass bottle.

At the end of the day, for me, Juniper should always be the dominant flavour with supporting botanicals like Coriander, Angelica Liquorice, Orris root, and Citrus just behind and then, a hint of the more unique or unusual additions. Hendricks and Millers have got this right, as have Brockmans (berry), Tanqueray Rangpur (lime), Malfy Rosa (grapefruit), and Opihr (spice). Sacred Spirits also have a range of spotlight gins. They are also superb. The Cardamom variant, my particular favourite. One, that in my opinion has got it wrong, is Hoxton. Its heavy coconut and vanilla profile has more in common with a bottle of Malibu. This is, I must emphasize, just my opinion. It

is very drinkable as a stand-alone spirit, but the juniper is hard to find. It does not have the expected aroma or flavour of a Gin. Many of the fruity pink Gins have also gone down this route, almost evolving from the alcopops of the 90s. They have their place, but they are not for me. Tanqueray No Ten will always be in my top 3 ‘real’ Gins. The vibrant green Art Deco bottle is simply stunning. It would look right at home in an episode of Agatha Christie’s Poirot. It makes the absolute best Martinis. Distilled 4 times with a Juniper lead, Coriander, Liquorice, earthy Angelica, Citrus, and Chamomile. So much going on; all in perfect harmony. Multiaward-winning No.3 London Gin is up there too. A beautifully designed turquoise bottle, with the iconic key, smooth enough to drink on its own. Finally, the one that challenged the law and paved the way for all the craft/micro-distilleries we have now, Sipsmith. Like Tanqueray Ten and No.3 London Gin, it is another multi-awardwinning, classic Gin, with its almost unique ‘One Shot’ distillation method. Dominant, dry Juniper closely followed by bold citrus, then spice. What more could you wish for?

This current Gin craze shows no signs of slowing and in 2019 sales were predicted to increase by 37% by the start of this year. I think we will see Gins with more unusual flavour profiles arriving from faraway lands, and, maybe some of the less popular or Gimmicky Gins disappearing altogether as distilleries decide which to keep and which to cull. I can’t wait to see what surprises this year will bring.

fresh eye Gin

Gin note: You may be an eager gin and tonic drinker, but do you know your gin facts?

From the origin of the spirit to its most famous imbibers, there’s much to know about this beguiling beverage.

www.sipsmith.com

This current Gin craze shows no signs of slowing.

Converse Evolved

Founded in 1908 by Mr Marquis Mills

Converse in Malden, Massachusetts, the Converse Rubber Company spent its formative years doing what most of the industry were doing at the time - Really anything you could make out of rubber. An American classic with no limits.

fresh eye

Sneaker

Run Star Hike Platform

A chunky platform and jagged rubber sole put an unexpected twist on your everyday Chucks. Details like a canvas build, rubber toe cap and Chuck Taylor ankle patch stay true to the original, while a molded platform, two-tone outsole and rounded heel give off futuristic vibes.

Chuck Taylor All Star Classic

The most iconic, ever – now available in wide width. The OG basketball shoe, created over 100 years ago. Converse’s Chuck Taylor All Star is the original basketball sneaker, adored by players and punks, style savants and street urchins alike. It’s also a silhouette that has branched out into many different models, all of which share classic Chuck DNA but add their own performance features.

The line up

Currently, there are three touchstone models in the Chuck lineup: The original Chuck Taylor All Star, the upgraded Chuck 70, and the ultra-modern Chuck CX.

The Pokémon x Converse collaboration

These Chuck Taylor All Star Easy-On for toddlers come in Pikachu and Jigglypuff options.

Bride Custom Wedding Converse

To create the ultimate pair of Wedding Converse, add Swarovski jewels to the toes. Each jewel to applied by hand to the Converse to create your perfect wedding Converse!

Converse Run Star Motion Platform

ULTIMATE UTILITY. An evolution of the most popular platform ever, the Run Star Hike, the new Run Star Motion takes your style even further. Extra durable fabrics like ballistic nylon and ripstop come together with a bold, exaggerated midsole and wavy midsole detailing for a truly unique look.

Why you should be down

Ultra-comfortable CX foam cushioning provides premium comfort and support, while heritage elements like the unmistakable All Star ankle patch nod to the Converse legacy.

Real Talk

The art of conversation, like any art, combines practiced skill, style, and a certain elegance of delivery. Thirty years after the invention of the world wide web, it is evident that this art has but a tenuous online presence.

The digital age of texting has not ushered in a renaissance of brilliant conversation. Instead, social media has created a stupefying disconnect resulting in a poverty of nuance and decorum.

While some connoisseurs of conversation have adapted, as seen with cleverly crafted tweets, scroll to the comment section, and find swarms of frightfully ill-thought-out replies. It is as if “thinking before you speak” has not made it into the texting sphere.

Social media has become a world where shorthand shock value is valued over meaning. Elegant conversation has been reduced to a meme to be laughed over. Even more concerning, digital natives aren’t cognizant of the conversational skills they lack.

Return to Reality

Without practice, the art of conversation is lost

Philosphical Cummunications

by dancer Hillary Sukhonos.

Generation Z and Millenials are boldly building our world, inviting an epidemic of one-sided conversations trapped in a vacuumous echo chamber. A strong case can be made for digital natives to return to real life interactions, preferably with those fluent in body language, gesture, tone, timing. With time, perhaps, dignified conversation can make a comeback or at least bleed into the digital sphere. Otherwise, technology will continue to be a poor substitute. For example, texting while useful for speedy notifications, is a disastrous main conversation medium. How I would trade in a good conversation over texting anyday!

Although new audio-discussion platforms like Clubhouse are fast appearing on the digital landscape. The opportunity to converse with others is again eclipsed by the middle man of a screen, microphones, and delay. I fear users will be so far removed from real life interactions that the art of conversation could be lost on an entire generation.

So, in the name of preservation of all things artful and pleasing, have a real life conversation today.

‘I fear users will be so far removed from real life interactions that the art of conversation could be lost on an entire generation.’

The art of conversation isn’t online...

Renault Morphoz

Imagine a city with smaller traffic jams, where users share the roads intelligently and life is quieter and more eco-friendly. Now imagine there is a modular car in this city. It gives you a warm welcome to its spacious interior. This is a car that can take you beyond the city, and even far beyond… This is 2025, and you’ve just climbed into MORPHOZ.

fresh eye

Electric SUV Concept Car

Getting around isn’t all about high-tech gadgets, it’s about being efficient, quieter and cleaner. It’s about cities becoming gradually less congested, with better air quality, and smarter management of the planet’s energy.

Above: With the MORPHOZ concept car, Renault have captured the mobility of the world 5 years hence. It’s a clean, modular vehicle. It’s bespoke and adapts just as well to everyday journeys as it does to long-distance trips. It’s a passenger car that you share when you’re not using it. You can drive it, or it can drive you.

Electric SUV Concept Car

Practical note: Mobility isn’t all about high-tech gadgets, it’s about being efficient, quieter and cleaner. It’s about cities becoming gradually less congested, better air quality, and smarter management of the planet’s energy. When the vehicle isn’t in motion, its batteries can power equipment in the house or local area (using Vehicle to Grid technology).

A family vehicle, where the word ‘family’ extends to the community.

Travel Extender: MORPHOZ outlines the vision and business, design and product orientation of the Renault of the future. It’s a modular car which can physically transform according to your needs, either as a short City version or a long Travel version, with the appropriate battery capacity. MORPHOZ might set you daydreaming, but that’s not its main aim. Concept cars are first and foremost innovation labs where we can test technologies and steer the design of our future models. MORPHOZ is another perfect illustration of this.

In its long version, MORPHOZ offers more legroom for passengers and space for additional luggage. On board, everything is centered on the occupants and their interactions.

Electric SUV Concept Car

Energize: The car batteries can also be stored in a charging station for use in other vehicles, or else supply equipment such as self-service cycle recharging stations and street lighting. The more batteries are shared, leads to less production and reduced carbon footprint.

This concept anticipates the disappearance of car keys and key cards, as well as legislation which could one day gradually enforce car sharing on all private vehicles.

fresh eye

Bioceramic Bio what?

Swatch presents its latest innovation: BIOCERAMIC. Only few months after the first bio-sourced Swatch launched in September 2020, here comes a new and unique mix of ceramic and bio-sourced plasticmade by Swatch.

Two-thirds ceramic, one-third bio-sourced plastic, BIOCERAMIC is both resilient and resistant with a silk-like touch - uniting the best of both worlds. What better watch to showcase the brand’s newest material than the BIG BOLD? The 47 mm diameter case, deep and architecturally structured, provides plenty of room to appreciate the pure and refined BIOCERAMIC characteristics to the fullest.

There are five colors to choose from: the classic design statements black and white, the “color of the year” grey, optimistic sky-blue and new power-pink. BIG BOLD in BIOCERAMIC is a smooth, pure and substantial design piece, reduced to the max to allow the new material to be fully enjoyed thanks to the signature “see-through” Swatch attitude. The bracelet, glass and loops are made from biosourced plastic. www.swatch.com

Swatch

An entirely new material, mixing ceramic with bio-sourced plastic.