An ephemeral space dedicated to travel

GUCCI VALIGERIA AT THE SAVOY

The House inaugurates an ephemeral space dedicated to travel at the storied hotel, continuing an ongoing narrative that began over a century ago.

Gucci has inaugurated an ephemeral space dedicated to its world of travel entitled Gucci Valigeria inside London’s The Savoy hotel.

It is precisely in travel that Gucci finds its origins, as part of a story that began in the late 1800s when a young Guccio Gucci journeyed to London and worked as a porter at The Savoy, the go-to destination for the international jet set. There, he came into contact with the magic of travel that, at the time, was synonymous with discovery, discussion, study, and a bridge between diverse cultures.

It was a time in which traveling signified experience, displacing the certainties of one’s social environment, a pursuit of the unexpected, of a will to encounter and to know. Inspired by his observations of the guests and the beautiful items that accompanied them, Guccio returned to Florence and founded his own artisanal luggage atelier in 1921.

The Gucci Valigeria space at The Savoy showcases a curated selection from Gucci’s travel offering including trunks, trolleys, duffle bags, suitcases, garment bags, and other smaller items, many of which are part of the heritage-infused Gucci Savoy collection, featured in the recently revealed campaign featuring Ryan Gosling. Also displayed are pieces from the Gucci Lifestyle line, ranging from travel sets and stationery to pet accessories.

www.gucci.com | #GucciValigeria The Savoy, Strand, London WC2R 0EU

The space continues an ongoing collaborative narrative, which also saw the transformation of The Savoy’s Royal Suite with furniture, furnishings, and decorative items from the Gucci Décor collection in celebration of the House’s centennial in 2021, speaking to an imaginative vision that highlights the intrinsic connection between creativity and travel, and the desire to explore and to discover.

Opening Hours Monday to Saturday, 10am–7pm Sunday, 12pm– 6pm

CLASSIC LUXURY CHILDRENSWEAR

Rachel Riley is a British award-winning children’s clothing brand. We design classic luxury childrenswear & are best known for our quality & style, with prints designed in-house, traditional craftsmanship including hand embroidery, hand smocked & use of fine soft fabrics.

We pride ourselves on creating heirloom keepsakes. For us this is the very essence of sustainability. Our clothes are made with care to be worn, loved and cherished by many children, so that their days are filled with joy & optimism in comfortable clothes.

Designed for enduring quality, we use traditional craftsmanship. Our clothes are long lasting & ready for all that the day brings. We use fine fabrics & knits that are soft and gentle for your little one.

At Rachel Riley, we make clothing not fashion. Living a sustainable lifestyle for us means ‘Reduce, Re-use, Repair’. Our designs are made individually with care from natural premium fabrics & are designed to be re-worn and loved by many children.

We are dedicated to creating timeless high- quality clothing that is long-lasting so these designs can be passed from one sibling to another, to family & friends and from one generation to the next.

www.rachelriley.co.uk

This month sees the culmination of two years of hard work, from craftspeople and creatives across the globe, as hugely successful British shoe designer, revered by influential women such as The Duchess of Cambridge and Kate Moss, Freya Rose, celebrates launching her new collection, Regal 54.

BRITISH SHOE DESIGNER LAUNCHES NEW LIMITED EDITION COLLECTION, 2 YEARS IN THE MAKING,

INSPIRED BY LOCKDOWN DESIRE FOR NEW YORK GLAMOUR

The collection is already a hit with the trade, who it has been introduced to through the British Fashion Council, and pieces are already loved by celebrities, with This Morning star, TV Presenter and Singer, Rochelle Humes choosing a white knee high boot (Jade), very similar to one of the key pieces from the new collection, the Jamelia, as she celebrated her 10 year vow renewal in August.

This Couture Collection celebrates the vibrant energy of the 70s, and incorporating the signature pearl heels, with Regal 54, we see playful block heels and platforms with bold tones of deep greens and blacks alongside the classic neutral shades.

Comprised of unique and opulent designs, these sculptured elegant pieces are designed by Freya Rose in England, and handcrafted by Freya Rose’s family-run team in Bali. Each pair of the Couture Collection styles takes over 300 hours to craft and only 20 pairs per style will ever be made, supporting the local artisanal skills that have been passed down through generations, whilst simultaneously reinforcing a slower approach to fashion.

Inspired by the decadence, frivolity and glamour of 1970s New York, Freya Rose’s latest collection of accessories exudes bold femininity. Comprising 5 unique couture shoe styles and 12 statement pieces of 22ct Gold Vermeil jewellery, the new collection embodies the indulgent, glittering energy of Studio 54.

The platform shoes are inspired by Freya’s love of New York glamour and the party scene of Studio 54, something Freya found hugely uplifting to focus on during lockdown when she started the creative process. Having binge watched ‘The Deuce’ on Netflix, an American drama TV series set in New York City during the 1970s and 1980s, Freya found escapism in the contrast of the glamorous party scenes of New York society vs the restrictions and constrictions of lock down we were living in reality.

Regal 54 Couture shoes collection ranges from £645 - £1,100, with jewellery ranging from £85 to £295. Jewellery also includes elements from the Woven for Women Weaved Collection, which supports the Prince’s Trust ‘Change A Girl’s Life’ Campaign, as well as supporting Women in Bali to train in Indonesian Crafts.

Freya Rose is a British shoe and jewellery designer, whose global multi-6 figure business was kick-started with a £3000 loan from the Princes Trust. She has recently been appointed as A Prince’s Trust Ambassador alongside the likes of; Fearne Cotton, Gareth Southgate and Sir Ben Kingsley, in what has been a momentous year for her as she has celebrated a 500% growth in her business over the last 12 months, and acquired partnerships with brands such as Harvey Nichols, and Wolf & Badger where her products are now stocked. With fans including; Kate Moss, Rihanna and Olivia Palermo, as well as royalty from Duchess of Cambridge to the Princess of UAE, who personally requested Freya and flew her to Dubai to meet her to design her wedding shoes at the palace; her passion for fine craftsmanship, exceptional design and sustainability has made her a brand in demand and this also sees her winning awards and recognition across the industry. Within the last year, Freya has also made a positive change by using 100% recyclable packaging, is investing further in sustainable materials such as; the vegan leather alternative, Mylo™ and aims to be recognised at the forefront of ethical and sustainable luxury design.

To find out more, please visit: freyarose.com

As the holiday season approaches, Dior has created The Fabulous World of Dior, a spectacular presentation illuminating the hallowed halls of the legendary Harrods department store. An exceptional event combining the charm of the English spirit with French luxury and art de vivre refinement.

This story, beginning with Harrods’ earliest singular branded boutique, has continued to grow through exclusive collaborations and is now enriched by a new chapter, unique in its scope and creative daring, inspired by the magic of Christmas.

THE FABULOUS WORLD OF DIOR AT HARRODS

A fervent admirer of England, from 1953 Christian Dior developed a powerful and unbreakable bond with Harrods, London’s epicenter of British elegance.

From November 10 to January 3, 2023, the façade of the Brompton Road edifice will be adorned with a monumental installation aglow with a play of light radiantly showcasing Dior’s fundamental references as reinterpreted by artist Pietro Ruffo for the Dior cruise 2023 collection. The compass rose, lucky stars and scintillating flowers will guide visitors along the historic window displays – a captivating attraction that draws people from all over the world, transformed and brought to life by a fantastic gingerbread tableau. A journey that stretches the limits of the imagination, exploring the House’s different worlds and symbols, from fashion to beauty.

In the heart of this prestigious venue, a thousand fascinating surprises and animated decors, enhanced by gourmet treats, await customers. Two dreamlike pop-ups – an ode to Monsieur Dior’s attachment to the celebration of Christmas and the art of cherishing loved ones – along with a Café specially conceived for the occasion, and even a truly immersive exhibition that plays with proportions to enchant the senses, promise unforgettable moments of joy and sharing.

A magical invitation that combines the boldness and heritage of the two Houses, united more than ever by a quest for excellence and the desire to keep the Dior dream alive.

MAPPIN & WEBB UNVEILS THE SECOND CHAPTER OF THEIR

‘LUXURY COLLECTION’

Mappin & Webb proudly introduces the second chapter of their ‘Luxury Jewellery collection,’ a one- of-a-kind, specially curated range of unique jewellery showcasing the most precious stones with the greatest carat weight and intricate designs to date. A collection that houses over 160 pieces; the second instalment of the Luxury Collection eludes sophistication and glamour just in time for the Festive season.

Featuring a beautiful array of exquisite cut diamond eternity rings, delicate statement drop earrings, diamond cluster hoops in white gold and statement diamond cocktail rings featuring playful pops of colourful stones that create a heady mix of elevated everyday jewellery.

The curation of carefully selected shaped diamonds feature across all product categories within the range with multistone and singular elaborate stones. This latest launch encourages clients to connect with the pieces, to stack band rings, layer tennis bracelets and express their own individuality. The Tois et Mois rings explore a wonderful mix of stone styles as engagement or luxury right hand rings that are the ideal introduction to the journey of High Jewellery.

Scattered diamond pieces within the Collection provide clients with a luxury twist on a classic style with exposed metal bars separating mixed cuts for a clean statement aesthetic that create a more contemporary piece. Within the Collection there is a focus on Yellow Gold, encouraging clients to mix metals across rings, earrings, necklaces and wristwear. A current trend that has been elevated is the new Pavé chains within the Luxury Jewellery Collection. A playful mix of paperlink style chains juxtaposed with larger set diamonds, there is a timeless allure to these pieces that appeal to all ages and are a “must have” within any jewellery wardrobe. The playful pave detail weaves around pops of gemstones to create a new take on the pave trend. Whether it’s a ring, bracelet or necklace these statement designs transcend ‘trends’ with a refreshed approach to layering, combining contemporary chains and classic diamond set jewellery.

HANBOK WAVE

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister Park Bo-gyun, hereafter referred to as the MCST), together with Korea Craft and Design Foundation (President Kim Tae-hoon, hereafter referred to as KCDF) and Korean Cultural Centre UK (Minister-Counsellor Jungwoo Lee) held a fashion event to showcase the results of ‘Hanbok Wave’ at Korean Cultural Centre UK, 7:00 PM (local time) on September 27th.

The world-class sports star Yuna Kim has presented the project as Hallyu Cultural Artist and also participated in design and development process.

‘Hanbok Wave’ fashion event which was prepared as part of the ‘2022 The Hallyu Collaborative Content Planning and Development,’ will be the first to see reinterpreted Hanbok style collection inspired by the personality and image of former figure skater Yuna Kim.

‘2022 The Hallyu Collaborative Content Planning and Development – Hanbok Wave’ is a project that supports the Hanbok industry to pioneer overseas markets through collaboration with Hallyu cultural artists. This year, Yuna Kim participated in the development of hanbok design and photo shoot. The 10 selected companies are ▲MORINORI ▲LIV DAMYEON ▲LEE YOUNG-AE TRADITIONAL CLOTHES ▲HYEON ▲HEYUM HANBOK ▲HAPPLY ▲HAEMI BY SAIMDANG ▲GUIROE ▲GEUMUIJAE ▲C-ZANN E. They have newly designed a total of 60 Hanbok inspired looks that utilise Yuna Kim’s unique characteristics.

Hanbok inspired collection leads the spread of the Korean Wave from London-Paris-New York.

HYEON

The London fashion event, with the participation of major media outlets in the fashion field and officials from the fashion industry, will take a look at the charm of Hanbok, which is attracting attention from people around the world in Hallyu cultural contents. In particular, this fashion event video will be shown on V&A’s social channel related Hallyu! The Korean Wave exhibition adding a synergistic effect to the spread of the Korean Wave.

GUIROE MORINORI

C ZANN-E HEYUM HANBOK LIV DAMYEON

A photo shoot containing 10 shots of Yuna Kim in Hanbok inspired collection will be released through Marie Claire, France. This pictorial is composed of fashion content that shows the unique cultural charm with subtle atmosphere added to the beauty of hanbok styled outfits. These can also be found on Marie Claire’s website (www.marieclaire.fr). At the end of the year, Hanbok Wave’s pictorial video will be shown on the billboard on Broadway in Times Square, New York.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said, “As Hanbok and Hallyu are listed in the Oxford Dictionary, interest in Korean Hanbok is increasing abroad through popular culture. We look forward to global audience discovering the charm of Hanbok and designers in the Hanbok field to expand into the world.

GEUMUIJAE

LIFE AS ART:MARTHA

FRANCO’S TIMELESS CURATION OF HERITAGE AND ART

Martha Franco Architecture & Design (MFA&D), a firm renowned for its exceptional work with signature projects and heritage properties, is proud to unveil a reconciliation between the past, the present, and the timeless world of art in its redesign of a stunning residence built in 1912 in the City of Westmount, on the Island of Montreal.

The high-profile design project was commissioned by a senior partner in an international investment firm headquartered in New York City and his wife, a Montrealer. The couple chose Montreal as the foundation of a life of international travel while providing a stable base for their children to attend school in Montreal. As avid art collectors, the couple envisioned a curation of their worldly art aggregation – including works by Jean-Paul Riopelle, Jim dine, Damien Hirst, Francesco Vezzoli, and Canadian First Nations artist Kent Monkman, amongst many others - within the warm embrace of their home’s heritage elements.

“The clients have exquisite tastes, and they understand that the dialogue of art transcends the simplicity of just matching colors,” explains Martha Franco, founder of the firm bearing her name. “We embarked on the project with that prominently in mind, while defining a distinct character for each space in their home and designing transitions to connect them all together.”

A HISTORY OF HERITAGE - CONNECTING THE PAST AND PRESENT

MFA&D specializes in architecture and design within heritage properties, and the stunning turn-of-the-century home presented an opportunity to carry the beauty of the past into the present, while ensuring that the character and flavor of the property’s heritage would remain relevant to the current design. The undertaking addressed a trending global challenge as design firms around the world strive to find fresh new ways to strike a coherent balance between heritage and contemporary design elements.

The 11,800 sqft. home includes three main living floors, buffered between an upper attic space, and a storage cellar below. Gallery windows and vaulted ceilings provide a heritage framework for each of the home’s unique spaces. On the main floor, beginning at the entrance vestibule, a fabulous promenade serves as a natural connector between the spaces. Upon entering the home, a dining room area opens to the left, offering stunning city views through its expansive windows. The dining room is elegantly appointed with the custom-designed furnishings of MFA&D artistically anchored by a beautiful Italian marble table and a magnificent chandelier from Barlas Baylar. The room epitomizes the firm’s approach to the home, striking a demonstrative dialogue between classical design and present-day relevancy.

The living room is characterized by the elegance of custom contemporary furnishings in rich Italian velvets and silks. The adjacent breakfast nook includes a stunning chandelier by Gabriel Scott that brings to life the room and transitions into a contemporary kitchen showcasing a perfect blend of fresh materials and timeless heritage design.

“That timeless appeal of heritage design elements lies at the heart of our perspectives, principles, and values as a firm,” explains Ms. Franco. “We focus on things that will not only be durable and long-lasting but will also endure as timeless designs that correspond coherently throughout the project.”

HARMONIOUS DESTINATIONS

The main floor includes a music room, where the client couple and their kids often spend time playing music together in a space offering more intimate and secluded external views. Internally, the traditional feel of the room’s heritage elements is balanced by the customdesigned, contemporary furniture and lighting pieces carefully selected by MFA&D to highlight the couple’s art collection. Lighting design is prominent throughout the project and is epitomized by the music room’s stunning Nepenthes Cordon by Christopher Boots, characterized by its solid brass tendrils and glowing hand-blown glass. Each room is designed as a destination within a destination and the main floor office space continues that trend with its theme of old and new. Green leather upholstering connects the space to traditional heritage office design with circle pendant lighting by Roll & Hill providing a fresh and illuminating touch.

“We approached the first floor as a sequence of rooms, a promenade of spaces with the right flow throughout the project,” says Ms. Franco. “However, while each room is connected, we envisioned each as a unique destination providing a distinctive look and feel.”

CURATING THE MUSEUM DETAILS

In addition to achieving the seamless harmonization of heritage and contemporary design philosophies and elements, MFA&D’s informed selection of the most exquisite, high-quality materials for this project adds the vibrancy that brings it all to life. Minute detailing includes custom-upholstered walls throughout the home that is consistent with traditional design but infused with fresh spectacular Italian fabric with a rich texture that captures light in a variety of different ways.

Detailing continues upon ascension to the master bedroom suite and guest bedrooms and bathrooms of the upper levels. Martha Franco commissioned Canadian artist, Nicolas Ruel, to create a triptych installation for the second-floor hallway that connects the level’s rooms together. The artist, recognized worldwide for printing photographs on metals, delivered a triptych portrait of the owner, printed on bronze, as an artistic correlation between traditional design elements and modern techniques. Nicolas’s exquisite work is well known among others in Peter Marino’s projects for Bvlgari and Christian Dior.

Lighting design and contemporary comforts carry through the unique spaces of the lower-level rooms, which includes a state-of-the-art gym, and a modern cinema room. The latter features lighting designs by Kelly Wearstler, including Covet Double Box and Nouvel sconce fixtures.

www.marthafranco.ca