Ganni in Berlin

October 12, 2022 | Design & Culture by Ed

Last weekend I was invited to Ganni‘s store opening in Berlin on Rochstraße (the heart of super-lively Mitte district), and well, the Berliners are now super lucky to have such a gorgeous space for shopping! The interior perfectly captures the Scandi-chic spirit of Ganni through so-odd-it’s-cool textures, matchy-matchy colours and of course the amazing painting created for the shop by the Berlin-based artist, Isis Maria. And the brand brought some spring energy to the autumnish city with its joyful carnation bouquets coming from a local flower shop…

Rochtraße 1 / Berlin

Photos by Edward Kanarecki.
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Saunders Studio

November 1, 2021 | Design & Culture by Ed

After closing his London-based fashion brand a couple of years ago, Jonathan Saunders, the acclaimed Scottish designer, had the time to rethink how the industry works and whether he still wants to play along its rules. Now based in Brooklyn, Saunders focuses on his other big passion – design. Saunders Studio was founded in 2019 with the objective of creating a brand that blurred lines between genres of design, with an emphasis on color, innovative materials and a graphic sensibility. The designer has recently introduced a line of homeware, producing artful and emotive pieces to add a characterful touch to interiors. The collection draws on Saunders’ distinctive use of vibrant tones and geometric motifs, honed through his study of printed textiles at London’s Central Saint Martins. Innovatively crafted pieces, from fringed cushions and colour-contrast blankets to twisted candles, are the first items available to buy in his on-line shop and on Matches Fashion. Of course, there is also the incredible, fluffy-like-marshmallow knitwear – something I always adored the most in his eponymous fashion label days. All sweaters are knitted in New York from chunky merino yarns, occasionally set with contrasting tasselled patch pockets. Can’t wait to see what’s coming next from Saunders!

Collage by Edward Kanarecki.

Berlin: MDC Cosmetic Goes Next Door

August 29, 2021August 29, 2021 | Design & Culture by Ed

MDC Cosmetic is the local Berliners’ heaven of all things skincare and beauty. And now, the store has expanded in its Prenzlauer Berg location to a “next door” space. Through constant personal contact with its chic clientele, MDC Cosmetic has grown with the times we live in. The key lesson from 2020 is that in the course of the newly discovered domesticity, a growing demand for beautiful objects, small furnishings, precious accessories and unique jewellery has sprung. MDC Next Door is therefore designed and run as a cabinet of curiosities for objects of everyday use. “At MDC, well-being is at the centre. There are other doors to take in beauty: eyes and touch are equally important to me as the sense of smell or the sensitivity of the skin to touch“, Melanie dal Canton says about her concept for MDC Next Door. Oloid II.2.a, a perfume developed by MDC’s owner in collaboration with Geza Schön, has its own sphere at MDC Next Door, just as the matching bar of soap in the shape of the eponymous oloid. New collaborations by Melanie dal Canton with illustrator Kitty Kahane (fabulous, hand-painted porcelain) and Sabrina Dehoff (off-kilter hair accessories) are presented for the first time at MDC Next Door, too. Another novelty the refined coffee space serving great espresso made from coffee beans from a Mexican plantation that is, to a certain extent, family-owned – but in the sense of the extended family concept cultivated at MDC.

Knaackstraße 26 / Berlin

Photos by Edward Kanarecki.

Papier x Rosie Assoulin

December 9, 2020 | Design & Culture by Ed

I looooove beautiful stationery! Papier teams up with brilliant creatives, artists and illustrators to deliver the most gorgeous designs. New York-based designer Rosie Assoulin knows whimsy and color. She’s an expert at creating both – exuberant eveningwear and versatile, everyday pieces imbued with emotion and energy. For her first ever stationery collection, exclusive to Papier, the designer shares favorite watercolor prints from her fashion collections (all hand-painted by Rosie herself!). Vibrant paisley patterns, fluid brushstrokes, picnic plaids, fresh florals – so many reasons to relax, be free and smile at your desk. “There’s such a romance that comes from writing notes to your loved ones (or yourself) on paper and I’m excited to be able to foster and invigorate the meaningful connections that stationery helps facilitate. The colors and organic prints bring me such joy – something I think we can all use a little more of these days!” So, if you’re looking for the perfect gift for your a family member or a friend, there’s still some time to pick from the prettiest notebooks, 2021 planners and notecard sets! And yes, to make it even more personal, you can easily customize them with the name of your loved one.

Discover the collection here! And for more of Rosie, click here to look back at some of my past posts.

Junya Watanabe’s Techno Couture

May 19, 2020 | Design & Culture by Ed

Pre-Instagram times, a collection worth thousands of posts (and unforgettable, eye-catchy content…). Back in 2000, Junya Watanabe presented one of his most ethereal collections ever. At first glance, the honeycomb ruffs Watanabe showed in his “Techno Couture” line-up called to mind those seen in Rembrandt portraits. Well, not exactly: those starched confections couldn’t fold and be stored in an envelope, like Watanabe’s ground-breaking designs. They certainly weren’t made of a “techno” fabric like polyester chiffon, from which the designer created his exaggerated take on the ruff, transforming it from an accessory to a garment with an organic-meets-space-age aesthetic. The material might have been unknown in Rembrandt’s time, but its method of production – hand sewing – certainly was. In the above collage, some of my favourites looks from the collection interact with Malwina Konopacka‘s “Forms” collection of ceramic tableware.