Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards, being held for the 10th year, acknowledge and honour committed female entrepreneurs who have the tenacity and potential to grow in the industry. The international business plan competition is now bigger and meatier, with Cartier increasing the Awards grant from $20,000 to $100,000 (a five-fold increase), besides the winner securing a place in the INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship 6-Day Executive Programme (ISEP) along with business mentoring, media visibility and networking opportunities. Held in partnership with the INSEAD business school, Women’s Forum and global management consultancy firm McKinsey & Company, the 2017 Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards is slated to be held at Singapore’s INSEAD campus. In the first phase, 18 finalists selected globally—from any country, nationality and industry— with the best project ideas will receive coaching and media exposure in lieu of a presentation in front of an international jury at Finale Week, where six Laureates will be chosen. The jury will make their decision on the basis of innovation, financial viability and demonstrable social or environmental impact. Applications for the awards will close on August 31, 2016 10 a.m. Paris time (CET). So now’s the time to act!
Shakespeare’s 400th anniversary year is being celebrated all through the year, right from the beginning, not just in Britian but globally by myriad admirers of the bard. Montblanc is the latest to hop onto the ‘bardwagon’ with the unveiling of its special edition pens called William Shakespeare Limited Edition, created from the “most select materials and shaped by highly skilled master craftsmen with meticulous dedication”. The entire collection features three sets: William Shakespeare Writer’s Edition family, William Shakespeare Limited Edition 1597 and Montblanc William Shakespeare Cufflinks. The pens feature a resin cap in an octagonal shape reminiscent of the famous Globe Theatre’s octagonal structure. A replica of the original Elizabethan theatre, the Globe Theatre was built by Shakespeare’s company in 1598 in London’s Bankside district. At presen it showcases Shakespeare plays in the open air.
Giorgio Armani, on July 29 announced his intentions to establish a foundation in the interest of securing the future for his labours of love. Thinking ahead for a time when the brand would be without its namesake founder, Armani wants to create this foundation for protecting the brand’s autonomy. As early as 2012, Armani had hinted at the creation of this foundation. Armani founded his fashion brand in 1979, gradually branching into additional verticals including eyewear, cosmetics and fragrance, jewelry, home décor, hospitality and residential properties. After 40 years in business, Armani is one of the last independently owned fashion houses of its scale.
MINIMAL CHIC | A Dressage vanity unit by Graff design studio is an aesthetic lesson in designing bath spaces in a house
When designing and doing up a house, one factors in the best of everything available. So, while the bedroom, the living room and the kitchen take precedence and are kitted out with the latest and the extravagant, a very special section of every house is sometimes a little neglected. We are talking about the bathroom which is the most private and peaceful corner of the house which allows for some me time, and therefore deserves to be taken seriously when being furnished. To help you build a sanctuary of taste and tranqulity in your bathrooms, here are some select international brands with some very innovative offerings, all available at EtreLuxe, a lifestyle retailer for high end interiors in India.
MESTRE | The Dragon head faucet by this Spanish label embodies the highest form of artisanal finesse and promises to bring serious class to your bathroom interiors
We begin with a brilliant collection of hand-crafted, sculptural faucets from Spanish brand, Mestre. The brand has decades of experience with bringing the lovers of premium lifestyle the choicest designs that use noble metals like pure gold or silver accented with Swarovski crystal embellishments. The range of handcrafted faucet has a starting price of INR 4 lacs and as the customization increases, so does the price. The collections explore sculptural shapes inspired by natures and myths – birds, fish, dragons – and for those who like simplicity, there are also some sleek and clean designs to choose from. Available in nine rich finishes, the products use semi precious stones as well.
WATER LOUNGE | This frestanding bathtub Water Lounge from Hoesch has a rectangular bath body made of tempered glass with a bottom made of teak wood and comes fitted with cutting edge fixtures that allow one to do more than just soak in
WaterLounge by Hoesch, from Germany, is a very savvy product and has a number of stylish features which allows the user to immerse himself in a fascinating wellness experience. This bathroom concept by NOA design bureau is a luxe interpretation of bathing and living as it breaks down conventions and creates smooth combinations you can delight with. You can lie down comfortably in the transparent glass cube and let the light, water and delicate air massage regenerate your body and soul as the combination of aesthetic and functional values creates space for new visions and imaginations. The Water Lounge transcends the classic boundaries of a bathroom as you can not only relax in the water-filled glass cube but can also make yourself comfortable on your terrace, for instance. The ergonomic recliner seat on rolls consists of a high quality frame made of brushed stainless steel and relaxing supports made of teak. The control panel is conveniently integrated in the handy tray and operative via capacitive keys. The reading lamp, which can be swiveled 90degrees, creates optimum lighting wherever you want and comes equipped with a color changer which can transport you into different moods, while the reading lamp, surprisingly, also serves as a water inlet. This beauty is priced at INR 65 lacs upwards. Check out the designs at hoesch.de
OLYMPICA CERAMICA | A complete vanity that packs up into a suitcase, My Bag, is a portable washbasin for those who like being particular
My Bag by Olympia Ceramica is a beautiful washbasin that literally folds up into a bag. A multi award winner, designed by Gianluca Paludi from Italy, it is a perfect contemporary bathroom design product which is self-sufficient in its unique design and comprises of furniture for wash basin and mirror, a wall mounted mirror, a washbasin, a towel holder, a leather bag, foldable wash basin tap, a siphon and connector pipes. The product has a pure leather finish/cladding that can be customized to any color of choice for the customer, to match the exterior with any type of an interior. This quirky contraption is priced at INR 6 lacs and above with customisations. Check it out at olympiaceramica.it
DRESSAGE | Tradition meets innovation in this cutting edge bathroom solution by Graff design
From the creative hands of designers, Nespoli and Novara, Dressage by Graff is a collection of furniture with a handcrafted aesthetic and a manufacturing flair, where the warm welcome of solid wood meet the functionality of an innovative material such as DuPont Corian. The strong artisanal component represents one of the distinctive elements of a collection designed for the bathroom but inspired by the world of interior design. The main furniture piece is a free-standing unit in solid wood, compact and functional while all the elements for the water supply and discharge are housed inside, invisible from the outside. It can be equipped with a sink in solid wood and DuPont Corian and accompanied by a shelf, a towel hook, a set of drawers and a rotating mirror. The tub is made from a sheet of thermoformed DuPont Corian coupled with solid wood with its transverse cut inviting you to enter the bath as you stretch and relax. The tub’s free-standing version with head-rest and a shelf for holding cosmetics can stay put in the centre as a self-contained unit which can be added to or further simplified, and is available in the following finishes – canaletto walnut, oak, wenge, matte white. As this is a complete bathroom furniture solution, the price depends on the selection is, hence, on request. Look it up on graff-faucets.com
MINIMALIST CHIC | Complex in construction yet simple, minimal and easy to wear, the delicately crafted collection, Vertex, from Misho, draws inspiration from geometric forms
When you are looking at your day’s attire, laid out, perfectly matched and still missing something, you wonder what it could be? And without a blink of an eyelid it comes to you, accessories, or some jewellery to be more specific. Accessorizing is all the craze and gone are the days when just a pair of your mother’s subtlest earrings, or your grandma’s handed-down ring, or just a watch on the wrist with a smug smile on the face were all it took to complete your look. Now, accessorizing is an art and an expression of not just your taste and trendiness but also your mood, personality and the latest cause you might be celebrating with that pin on your lapel. For the fashionistas who turn to their jewellery boxes not for just some sparkle and bling, but for something a little more special to wear, there are many indie designers and brands which are changing the face of jewellery, as it were, and re-interpreting it as design artifacts rather than just a beautiful accessory.
While stores like Nimai, en Inde, and online portals like Isharya are devoted to the cause of exclusively designed, eclectically curated jewellery, we have some of our own designer favourites adding to the list of labels doing not just pretty baubles, a list which started with names like Eina Ahluwalia and Suhani Pittie, which has grown to include other brilliant sparks. Rummaging through our treasure troves, we bring you these brands which are further propelling the indie jewellery movement, introducing the modern divas to innovative, experimental, bold and beautiful statement jewellery. Not defined by the price, rather by the passion with which they are created, these jewellery brands offer adornments which are flaunt-worthy and yet not flashy, they are loved by the celebs and still not overtly-starry. By the time you reach the end of this story we hope have you convinced about the next-up stores and portals to haunt for adding to your cache of concept jewellery.
MISHO | Influenced by modern architecture, the pieces in the collection titled, Blue print, appear as unified constructions that unfold into a succession of chaining perspectives
Characterised by clean lines, architectural firms and simplified geometric shapes, Misho is Suhani Parekh’s structural jewellery brand that puts a twist on the regular. Drawing from the traditional art of silversmithing, Misho’s range of fine jewellery is refined yet playful, edgy yet sophisticated, with a minimalism which stands out. Handcrafted in sterling silver, the collections are quirkily names Gravity, U, Vertex, Mediated Matter, Vertex, Blue Print – names you would not typically associate with jewelry, but echoing of the architectural sensibility with which each piece in these collections is imbued. And this is no wonder because Misho’s creative director, Suhani Parekh, worked primarily on sculptures and installations during her fine art and art history years at Goldsmiths. Her designs are influenced by her interactions with contemporary art and the various architectural styles of the cities she has travelled to and lived in. So Bauhaus movement meets Japanese minimalism in Misho’s designs which play upon the versatility of silver to become the pieces that are an intellectual indulgence in accessorizing. So, you have Trajectory sterling silver earrings that are Bauhaus inspired, while the concrete and silver Elements cufflinks are very cubist, then you have density rings and those with stacked design, along with ear cuffs and earrings which are not ring-like at all, and thus goes on the story of Misho, so named after a cat in turn named after the Japanese bonsai technique of misho. Shop at mishodesigns.com
MANIFEST DESIGN | Delving into folklore and fluid beauty of sea foliage and creatures, the Sirena collection with cuff, necklace, earrings, pendants is hand sculpted and cast in luminous brass
From structural jewellery of Misho, let’s move onto sculptural jewellery of another great indie brand – Manifest Design. Siblings, Manreet and Samraat Deol, are at the helm of this enterprise which is all about everyday wearable art, handcrafted by synthesizing art, fashion, design and experience to make jewellery, which the founders hope will be “collected and shared as mementos that infuse inspirations and rekindle forgotten dreams.” Bringing together the metal smith’s craft with the sculptor’s imagination, Manifest brings forth statement jewellery whose inspirations are many and maverick, from gnarled corals, sensuous vines, bold rock sculptures, urban art, opera and street food. So, while the oceanic world of mythical mermaids and magical underwater gardens inspired their Sirena collection, folk art motifs inspired their quarry tribal pieces like bold cuffs, and the world of magical Totems inspired the goldplated hoop earrings meant to be worn as everyday talismans. Their range of ornaments also has offerings for men, like statement kadas in steel and brass along with totem pendants. But the range does not end with earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings and such, as the cutting edge offerings by Manifest Design also includes smart jewellery pieces like Alive, a handcrafted jewel specially designed for the Sunsprite sunlight tracker. Inspired by the historical sun etchings, the ornamental case for the tracker features a pierced sun motif that is hand carved, cast in solid brass with 18K goldplating and can be preordered as a set on manifestdesign.
LAI DESIGNS | Contemporary, chic gold plated detachable filigree jhumkas with round multi-colour gemstone tops are must-haves
Lai in Sanskrit means the ‘beloved one’ and in old French refers to a lyrical poem centred around themes of romance and adventure. A name well chosen for a jewellery label which promises to “appeal to the memory collectors, the wanderlust bitten, the experimenters and culture maven looking for timeless design stories in jewellery.” Emphasizing on the artisanal value of their designs, Lai’s culturally inspired collections of handcrafted sterling silver ornaments vouches to be jewellery with a story which can be passed down generations. Embodying a global flair with an Indian spirit, Lai’s collections are inspired by its founder, Puja Bhargava’s fascination for different world cultures, textiles, art and architecture. So, there’s a collection named after Spain’s masterpiece of architecture, the Alhambra palace in Granada, and another called ‘Nathdwara’ is all about the meenakari (enamel) craftsmanship of Persian descent enamellers from Nathdwara, a town in Rajasthan, and so it goes on as one finds paisley patterns, architectural motifs from Samarkand and Kutch and designs from the Mughal era informing various collections that feature exquisite hair ornaments, nose pins, pendants, neckpieces, earrings, and innovative pieces like detachable jhumkas and more. Subscribing to Fair Trade principles and all of Lai’s jewellery is handcrafted by artisans in Jaipur, while they also occasionally collaborate with craft clusters in India, like for their Bidri X MCM or Nathdwara collections. The brainchild of a trained accessory designer from NIFT, Lai has won many awards such as from DeBeers, World Gold Council and Perles de Tahiti. Shop the collection at lai-designs.com
The Peninsula Paris has created a distinct niche for itself among the most luxurious destinations in Paris—the hotel has recently been awarded the grand “Palace “distinction. Located within walking distance of Champs Elysees and some of the most famous monuments, museums and luxury boutiques, The Peninsula Paris has achieved the distinction within two years of its opening. A joint venture property between Katara Hospitality and The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Limited (HSH), this hotel is actually a grand restoration of the legendary Hausmann building, with 200 rooms including 34 suites— five of which come with a private garden space that offers a mesmerizing view of iconic Parisian monuments. Bestowed by the French Tourism Development Agency, ATOUT France, the “Palace” status was created in November 2010 to reward hotel excellence and to assist in promoting the French way of life on the international stage. ATOUT France is the official agency in charge of developing tourism and awarding the “Palace distinction”, above the 5-star ranking, to hotels with exceptional characteristics. The Peninsula Paris is the latest to join this hallowed list that includes names such as the Four Seasons Hotel George V and Hôtel Le Park Hyatt Paris Vendôme. The Peninsula Paris has earlier received awards for it’s lavish in house Spa which was voted Best French Hotel Spa in the 2015 World Spa Awards and Best European Spa in the 2015 Villegiature Awards.
Longchamp, which recently entered the Indian market with its first luxe store in New Delhi, plans to expand its presence across the country with six new stores over the next 3-4 years. The brand is looking at Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru as possible future destinations, as stated by CEO Jean Cassegrain. Longchamp carries a very Parisian luxe image, and is famous for the signature leather handbags, luggage, shoes, and fashion accessories sold at global retail stores like Selfridges and Bloomingdale’s, besides its own stores. The brand owns more than 300 exclusive stores globally and retails from another 1,500 points of sale.
Transport yourself instantly to the mysterious mazes of Egypt with Penhaligon’s new Alizarin eau de parfum, inspired by an intense red dye of the same name and tribute to the millenary tradition of fragrance in Egypt. The mysterious fragrance hints at oud, precious vetiver and rare resins and features top notes of narcissus and mandarin orange. With middle notes of tuberose, iris and mimosa, and base notes of warm leather, incense, vetiver and agarwood or oud, the Alizarin is a whiff of the exotic. Bottled in Penhaligon’s usual cylindrical bottle with a bow adorned cap, the fragrance is priced at £156 (about US$205) per 100 ml.
British luxury mobile phone manufacturer, Vertu has added three new phones to its Aster Collection, featuring an outer shell covered in a distinctive high-quality canvas material in blue, pink or black. Called the Aster Chevron, the series draws its name from a unique pattern that is woven into Italian canvas fabric. The phone runs Android 5.1 Lollipop on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 2.3 GHz Quad-core processor, with a 4.7-inch display, having 1080p resolution and 473dpi. You can opt for any one from three different models– Aster, Signature and Signature Touch, while the Audio Collection consists of the V Headphones (HP-1V) and V Speaker (SP-1V). Vertu provides 24/7 remote access technical support for its users, a 6-month subscription to iPass WiFi, 12-month subscription to Kaspersky anti-virus and anti-theft protection and a 12-month subscription to Silent Circle encrypted communications services. All Vertu phones are handmade in England, with each craftsman responsible for making a particular unit. The Astor Chevron range is available on Vertu.com for 3900 Euros.
Preferred Hotels & Resortshas launched the #FamilyTravelTruth contest, which celebrates the unpredictable and chaotic moments of family travel and puts a call out to families to share their favourite unfiltered moments on Instagram. Each week from July 26 to August 23, one participant will be chosen as the winner of a two-night stay at one of the brand’s family-friendly luxury hotels around the world and 25 Instagram photo prints from Artifact Uprising. To qualify for the weekly prize, entrants must use hashtags #FamilyTravelTruth and #contest in their photo caption, as well as tag @PreferredHotels. All winners will be announced on Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ Instagram page before August 31. Check full rules and terms at PreferredHotels.com/FamilyTravelTruth.
