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Eve Sleep, The Mattress Revolution Promising A Perfect Night’s Sleep

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17 May 2018

Reading Time: 6 minutes

If you think everything was invented in terms of mattress and sleep business, wait until you meet eve Sleep. For a very long time, good mattresses have been sold through expensive stores at massively inflated prices. That is why eve was created. A simple, beautiful mattress, available to everyone at a surprisingly fair price.

Eve Sleep, A Modern Story In The Air Of Times

Eve Sleep believes that good sleep and great starts are too important to be elitist. For too long, mattresses have been sold through expensive stores at massively inflated prices. So the brand set out to create eve. We had the chance to interview Jas Bagniewski, the company Co-Founder and CEO. You can read the exclusive interview here:
https://luxuryactivist.com/Interviews/Jas-Bagniewski
The management team at eve spent 12 years between them developing mattresses and selling them all over the world. 70,000 mattresses later, they arrived at the most comfortable mattresses ever made: the signature eve mattress and the hybrid pocket sprung mattress. It is all about a new generation of memory foam. It distributes pressure evenly, resulting in an incredibly supportive and comfortable sleeping surface. However, eve Sleep learned that customers often found memory foam too hot and unresponsive. So they have used new generation foams in the eve that sleep cooler and offer more bounce. You just need to try it, which we did at LuxuryActivist.

Eve Sleep, The Product Test by LuxuryActivist.com

For the first time in my life I ordered a mattress online. Is it strange? Well for such an important item, it is… Generally you take a day off or sacrifice your Saturday afternoon to go to the store, try out different mattresses, probably in more than one day. Once you have made your mind, you generally ask for a delivery because carrying yourself the entire thing is not really an obvious thing to do. Being an experienced online business, everything is taken care of in order to help you make the choice. In any case, the brand offers to try it out at no cost. So why would you hesitate right? In any case the Customer service of the brand really listen and in case of any problem they will replace, refund or answer any question you might have. My understanding is that there are no hidden conditions, no unclear relationship. In today’s world this is exactly what we expect from an online brand. If they believe their product is good, everything should be fine. So we ordered a 140×200 mattress and some bed sheets. eve Sleep have linen sheets and I realized I never had sheets made of linen. So I was curious to try.

Eve Sleep, It All Start With The Delivery

The delivery came from Germany. Living in Switzerland it was a much easier and closer distribution center. The delivery company brought safely my mattress. The bed sheets came in a different delivery. I was not at home, so they just dropped the sheets in a distribution store 10mn away from my place. When I got the mattress, I was happily surprised to see how small the delivery packaging was. eve Sleep placed the entire mattress in a vacuum pouch, so it would take the minimal space in transportation. The package was heavy (a big mattress thought) but with the shape of the box and the strategic holes on it, I could quite easy take it. Once I opened it, the mattress started to “grow” and retrieve its original shape and size. It was quite an enjoyable moment to see it grow.

Eve Sleep, Discovering The Mattress

Getting a mattress online was a quite exciting experience. I just realized how much time I saved compared to an usual off-line buying. With the mattress installed, I got interested to its structure and how it was built. We can see it is a very technical mattress, with different layers. Each one of these layers has a specific functionality and the whole put together offers you a good sleep. So I opened the mattress to see inside. And I must confess I was impressed.

First things first: The cover. The mattress cover function is moisture-wicking and breathable, so it will keep you cool. The white top panel is removable with one easy zip, which as you may imagine is perfect as you can wash it in machine (40 degrees). According to the brand, the yellow part of the panel is not washable, which is fine as it is not in contact with your body.
Just after the cover there is the eve comfort® foam layer. It is a quite high-tech element of the mattress. It provides a better bounce to combat the sinking feeling. It is also a new generation of foam structure that ensures a long-lasting comfort. This type of foam is, according to the brand, thirty times more breathable than conventional memory foam. It is also supposed to dissipate body heat for a cooler night. Under the eve comfort® layer, there is an important layer: The memory foam layer. It is an open-cell structure that provides a cooler flow of air. It looks like a cloud-like foam that responds directly to your body. Associated to a good mattress base it occupies a role of pressure-relieving to give your body the required support. Under the memory foam layer, there is the massive supportive base. eve Sleep brought to its iconic mattress a superior quality for a long-term use. It was tested to support all body types. Then, under the top cover, last detail in the mattress structure: the anti-slip base. It might sound a detail, but there is nothing more annoying than a mattress that does not stay still. The brand guarantees a durable fabric with an anti-slip coating inherently fire retardant.

Eve Sleep, the bedding

Now that we have analyzed the mattress, we need to properly dress it up. I was really happy to being able to try for the first time linen sheets. I liked the noble look of it, the texture, the contact with the skin. It is really enjoyable to feel a different natural material, other than cotton. All the linen sheets and pillow clothe are made in Portugal, where they have a long time know-how in linen, cotton and bed clothe in general. It is quite enjoyable to being able to buy products that are made in Western Europe.

Now you know my experience in buying a mattress online for the first time. Do not hesitate to visit the brand official website here: https://www.sleepeve.ch to discover more about their products.
Sleep well!

José Amorim

Info sourced by the author in real-life testing and brand website. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

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The New Victorinox Alox 2018 Limited Edition: Iconic!

Design

José Amorim

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15 May 2018

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Reading Time: 2 minutes

Since 2015, Victorinox launches a special limited edition for the Alox range. This is pure music to fan’s ears. Each pocket knife will have the year engraved in the back, so you know which year belong each limited edition. While the traditional Swiss Army Knife has the Cellidor scales, the Alox family is about another story. The scales are made in aluminum oxide, generally called Alox. The alox scales are thinner and more resistant to chemicals and daily usage, than the cellidor scales. However, the Alox forgoes the tweezers and toothpick that the traditional cellidor version includes. What Alox fans like as well on these scales is the work done on the aluminium. The Embossing brings a technical, modern and edgy look to the Swiss Army knife. Younger as well: slim. This year, the Victorinox Alox limited edition wears red berry.

This new limited edition has Alox scales, which are punched from aluminium, embossed, anodized and at the end of the process are coated with a protective layer against corrosion and use. The first usage of Alox in a knife is not very clear but for sure the Soldier’s knife adopted the Alox s scales in 1961 for the first time. Since then Victorinox has true aficionados of the Alox and some of the fans prefer this variant than the regular one. Victorinox is definitely pleasing the fans with this annual limited edition.

According to Victorinox, the Alox Cadet is not small, not large, but right in the middle. The Cadet Alox Limited Edition 2018 is the medium-sized pocket knife in this year’s trio of Alox Limited Edition pocket knives. And, just like its siblings, it cuts a bold aesthetic. Kitted out in berry red alox scales, you can’t miss it. And with the specially processed scales that are stamped from aluminum, embossed and then anodized, you basically can’t break it either. It’s a keeper. We rediscover the Victorinox Cadet and its nine essential functionalities:

large blade
can opener
screwdriver 3 mm
bottle opener
wire stripper
screwdriver 6 mm
nail file
nail cleaner
key ring

The Victorinox Alox Cadet is the perfect companion for your everyday adventures. It perfectly fit your pocket and its nine functionalities will cover your back anytime!

José Amorim

Info sourced by the author for LuxuryActivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

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2018 Cannes Film Festival – The best looks and also the worst… oh boy!

José Amorim

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14 May 2018

0

Reading Time: 3 minutes

This 71st Cannes Film Festival will be an edition to remember. For sure the French film festival will always be a special event. With the glamorous and activist Cate Blanchett as president, we could only see great positions taken. What is not allowed: Selfies, Harvey Weinstein and avant-premières! This year it was once again a sexy year for the Cannes festival with quite daring looks. Here are our best two looks and, oh boy, the two worst ones.

Top: Julianne Moore in Givenchy Haute Couture

The lady in red(head) walking the red carpet. This was a pure glamorous moment. We would love to see more elegance like this one. Julianne Moore had a very outstanding look and she definitely made her entrance.

Top: Diane Kruger in Armani Privé

What can we say about Diane Kruger in this amazingly beautiful Armani Privé dress? She is a true princess. It remind us of her epic role as Helen in Troy. This Armani Prive asymmetrical gown whispered across the red carpet with dreamy allure. We love the weightless diaphanous layers rendered in sublime sky blue, with her Chopard jewels proving their sparkling companionship to the embellished bodice.

Bad: Kendall Jenner transparent dress during the Chopard evening

Obviously Kendall Jenner is a very beautiful woman. We know it, she knows it… everybody know it. So please Kendall: stop showing yourself with transparent dresses. There is no need to go over the top, because it becomes overrated. During the traditional Chopard evening, Kendall Jenner showed up with a 2016 Alexandre Vauthier dress. It was really awful as there was no room for imagination (as we say). The Cannes Film Festival should have a more strict dress code.

Bad: Free-the-nipple with a daring guest

A guest frees the nipple in an elaborate, sheer-topped jumpsuit. This was just a way to appear to make the news. It is ugly and cheap. Such a look should be forbidden at the Cannes Film Festival. There is no glamour in revealing “all of it”. This was for sure the worst sexy oops.

We could write loads about the best looks as well as the worst ones. Cannes Film Festival represents a special moment in the year to shine, reveal oneself and maybe experience a small moment of celebrity. We expects much better from such a high-level film festival but anyway. It has been like this since at least 1954.

Stars are revealed.

José Amorim

Info sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

How To Clean Your Jewelry Efficiently

LuxuryActivist

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13 May 2018

0

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Did you ever wonder if there are some things you could do to bring back the shine to your rings, bracelets, or earrings? There are literally a plethora of methods you can use, in actuality, and some of them cost little to nothing in the way of money. We’ve done our best at detailing some of these tips and tricks below.

Ammonia, Alka Seltzer, and baking soda

Almost everyone has one of these in the house, so the chances of you managing to clean at least part of your jewelry pieces with something you own already are very high. Alka Seltzer works with most kinds of trinkets and can be used quite effectively and easily. All you have to do is drop your rings into a glass where you have a pill sizzling. The fact is that if it needs to be at this specific moment because it’s at that time when the substance is efficient.

Baking soda is a very versatile thing you might have in your home. It can be used to scrub dirt from anything ranging from your sink to any type of cooking surface, but it can also be utilized to get the gunk and dirt off of your silver jewelry. Do not use baking soda for pearls or gemstones, and that’s because it is just too harsh for them. What you are required to do is mix two tablespoons of water with a quarter of a cup of baking soda. Use the mixture to scrub your jewelry pieces.

Ammonia works best when used on gold and silver trinkets. Make a solution of one cup of warm water and about half a cup of ammonia. Leave your jewelry pieces in this particular solution for as little as 10 minutes. Then, wipe them with a clean and mild cloth. As we were saying when we talked about the baking soda, you should avoid using ammonia on pearls and gemstones.

Use a machine for the task

Yes, these days there’s a device for practically any kind of activity, especially those that you might loathe. So maybe you’ve never heard of a thing called ultrasonic jewelry cleaner, but the fact is that it’s an affordable choice for most people. The technology used in the cleaning process might be a bit too complex to explain, but this machine works and does its job just how it is supposed to. Here’s an interesting fact. It’s even used by dentists when they clean dentures and their tools.

What about vodka and vinegar?

Apparently, you can use these two to clean your jewelry, too. Vinegar works best for silver pieces, and you’re supposed to mix one cup of white vinegar with 2 tbsp of baking soda. All you have to do next is leave your trinkets in the mixture for a couple of hours.

As for vodka, you can use it to clean your diamonds and silver necklaces, bracelets, and anything else as long as it’s made of silver.

Carol

Info sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

Margot Robbie Is The Face Of Coco Neige By Chanel

Fashion

José Amorim

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9 May 2018

0

Reading Time: 5 minutes

It is official, Margot Robbie becomes a new egerie for CHANEL. Karl Lagerfeld has chosen Academy Award nominated actress Margot Robbie, an ambassador of the House, to become the face of the campaign for CHANEL’s first Coco Neige collection, designed by the couturier for winter 2018/19.

What Is CHANEL’s Coco Neige?

It is written in the DNA of the luxury French house that innovation and creativity will always be a strong source of inspiration. Gabrielle Chanel has set the foundations of the brand and provides an endless source of guidance to Karl Lagerfeld, the in-house Creative Director. Coco Neige is a specific line dedicated to winter sports, the snow and “après-ski”. The challenge of this collection was to combine technical materials with elegance and style. Each piece explores the ski world with all the CHANEL codes. Material combinations are very interesting as well. There is a true couture work and some pieces will probably become new icons. Satin, wool, fringed tweed, velvet, denim and leather are paired with waterproof and windproof materials, with heat-sealed seams and reinforced protection to take full advantage of the slopes and the après-ski terraces.

“This shoot was one of the greatest experiences of my career. The energy and vibe on set was so wonderful and collaborative. One of the first things Karl Lagerfeld said to me was that we never need to take ourselves too seriously. He has such a creative mind and he knows exactly what he wants and the minute he captured it, we were moving onto the next shot.” – Margot Robbie

Of course the advertising campaign was shot by Karl Lagerfeld himself. The idea was to translate the joyous and invigorating spirit of the collection. There is a very nice contrast between the dynamic and urban look of Margot Robbie with the peaceful sky behind. With her hair in childlike bunches blowing in the breeze, Margot Robbie is more mischievous and cheerful than ever. Margot Robbie first became known to the public with her role in The Wolf of Wall Street by Martin Scorsese in 2013. She then went on to star in Focus, Suicide Squad and Tarzan. She was recently nominated for an Academy Award, Bafta and Golden Globe for her critically acclaimed performance in I, Tonya, a film she produced as well. She perfectly represents a certain idea of modern and young woman.

Why a winter collection like Coco Neige at CHANEL?

It might sound surprising for some of you but developing a winter collection within the CHANEL portfolio is very logical. Gabrielle Chanel had a profound love of the open air. She enjoyed long outdoor walks. She used to come often to Switzerland and enjoy the simple joys of being “out there”. This is why sportswear was always very important in the CHANEL collections. A few years ago, the House even launched its own skis and snowboards. So today Karl Lagerfeld wanted to go a step further and create an entire line devoted to winter sports, designed for the slopes and the “après-ski”. Here are some elements composing the new collection:

The camellia, the braid, the collar and pocket of the suit jacket all appear in a refined sobriety.
Slim-fit Sewaters
Gilets with mountain motifs
Ribbed knit balaclavas
Crests and medals in the shape of snowflakes
Suede mittens
Denim caps
Nylon ushankas
Wool berets
Two-tone booties in shearling
Mountain shoes with hooks and laces in tweed or in nylon
Boots with long-haired fur
Backpacks and shoppers in quilted nylon and shearling
The 11.12 bag in suede braided with wool rub shoulders

Our top Five looks from CHANEL’s Coco Neige collection

After looking at the official look-book, here are our top five best looks for next winter. It is all about comfort, technicality, elegance and allure.

#1- Mountain Wool Sweater

White, fuchsia and green wool sweater
Ecru trousers in denim embellished with buttons
Cuff bracelets in gold metal and pink leather
Bag in beige suede and ecru wool
Black acetate shield
Cap in ecru wool
Booties in ecru wool and black leather

#2- The Black & Ecru Tweed

Jacket in black canvas and black and ecru tweed
Black sweater in cashmere and silk
Dress in black and ecru tweed
Black beret in wool and cotton
Coat of arms brooch in gold metal, resin and strass
Black bag in nylon and tweed
Booties in black wool and beige leather

#3 – Multi-Colored gilet & Denim

Multicolour wool gilet
Light blue trousers in faded denim
Cuff in gold metal and black leather
Dark blue bag in quilted denim embellished with braid
Blue denim ushanka
Boots in brown fur and black leather

#4- Booties in Beige Wool

Parka in black polyester canvas and ecru wool
Black leather jacket
Black wool sweater
Black leather shorts with camellia pockets
Backpack in black leather and nylon and ecru wool
Ushanka in black polyester and ecru wool
Booties in beige wool and black leather

#5- Black is the color

Sleeveless jacket in black canvas and black and ecru tweed
Black sweater in wool and cotton embroidered with faux pearls
Black canvas trousers
Brooch in gold metal, resin and faux pearls
Black ushanka in fantasy tweed and polyamide
Black backpack in embossed nylon and tweed
Booties in black wool and beige leather

As we can see, the new CHANEL COCO NEIGE is an amazing collection, built in the true spirit of the Luxury French house. Karl Lagerfeld has incredibly succeeded to build maybe a new strong pillar for CHANEL. The new winter collection will be available in stores from July 2018 in all official Chanel point of sales. Winter has never been so stylish.

Jose Amorim

Info sourced at the official communication release by CHANEL, official look-book and press release. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

The Royal Savoy Lausanne SkyLounge Reopening: Pleasure For The Eyes And The Palate

Luxury Traveller

José Amorim

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7 May 2018

0

Reading Time: 6 minutes

There are places that are unique. In Lausanne (Switzerland) there is one place like these and it is the Royal Savoy Sky Lounge. This week I was invited to the reopening of this fantastic place. Probably one of the best views from Lausanne. You can have both the city and the Leman lake offered to your eyes. But that is not all. The place itself is charming, confidential and a marvel for your palate. A year after its inauguration and a first season that has made it the new sensation of the city, the Sky Lounge Royal Savoy Hotel & Spa Lausanne welcomes you again. Revisited menu, inventive cocktails, more user-friendly layout, everything is done to transport you to seventh heaven – literally!

The Reopening Of The SkyLounge – Great Welcome By The Royal Savoy Lausanne

In order to officially quick off the season for the SkyLounge, the Royal Savoy Lausanne prepared an evening to remember. Roll camera… action! It all started with a warm welcome at the Royal lounge, followed by a warm-hearted speech done by Alain Kropf, the General Manager. He explained what we would expect from this new season. At the SkyLounge what is new?

Two “bar” spaces on the sides
More sitting space in the terrasse thanks to new square tables
More shadow for the hot summer days
The menu was also revisited by introducing dishes like the mini veal burgers

Of course there are things that do not change. The view and the atmosphere of the place remain the same (and we are thankful for that!). The team is leaded by Mathilde Pailhes, the SkyLounge Manager, who inspires good mood and an authentic friendly welcome. Also on the menu side we are pleased to see one season more the Tuna Tataki style for example, one of the best-sellers of last season.

The evening start pursuit with a private concert of a Swiss talented artist called Bastian Baker, who before his world tour with Shania Twain, pleased the Royal Savoy guests with his velvet pop voice. We felt very privileged.

The Royal Savoy Lausanne SkyLounge in details

The new menu was developed by chef Ludovic Beltran. It is an exquisite experiment between Mediterranean notes and fusion food. Here are some of his dishes, we have definitely put them on our list:

Lake perch battered in puffed rice tempura, sweet lettuce hearts, creamy jalapeno dip
Waguy mini beef burger, candied onions, crushed tomatoes
Frayed cod with red onions, guacamole, croutons
Focaccia with candied vegetables, mozzarella di bufala, rocket
Secreto Iberico, Sicilian capponata, reduced juice

The Sky Lounge is also a bar in which you can have amazing cocktails. They are revisited in the SkyLounge style and are in tune with the summer season. The cocktail menu includes pineapple, mango, ginger or Valais apricots with the best rums – among other creations. Here are the ones well noted in our list:

MEXICAN OLD FASHION 8CL (Tequila Reposado, Mescale, bitter créole, agave syrup, chipotle)
FRAICHEUR DU VERGER 20CL (Gin Tanqueray Rangpur, Bénédictine, pear juice, peppered date syrup, fresh basil)
CHIBBY DAIQUIRY 10CL (Rum, infused Havana, lemongrass, ginger, vanilla, raspberry, sugar syrup)

With the reopening, we discovered a redeveloped space. There are more sits in the lounge terrasse thanks to the replacement of round tables by square ones. Two spaces for the bar on each side allow guests to wait until their table is ready or simple to come, enjoy the view and have a drink. What it did not change is the view. The Sky Lounge has an unique sight-seeing terrasse that will blow your mind (even if it is not the first time you visit it). No matter the weather conditions, it will always be a thrill. It is probably one of the best views of Lausanne as you can enjoy the Leman lake as well as the city view.

Who Should Go To The Royal Savoy Lausanne SkyLounge?

The SkyLounge is an unique place in Lausanne. It is definitely a place for urban hedonists who are looking for holistic experiences in their daily lives. It is a relaxing place where everything is done to help you have a fantastic casual stylish evening. It is a very special place, so you would definitely feel special by being there. It is ideal for romance, good friends laugh, casual business diner or even a late drink.

The SkyLounge at the Royal Savoy Lausanne is unique. There is no place like this one in the region. You eat very well, your eyes get refreshed with the breathtaking sightseeing and you truly enjoy a great moment thanks to the friendly personnel.

A Word About The Royal Savoy Lausanne

The Royal Savoy Lausanne philosophy brings the very best of tradition aligned with the cutting edge modernity. This Art Nouveau style five star hotel was originally built in 1909 and painstakingly restored to its pristine beauty. The Royal Savoy Lausanne is now a landmark representing luxury and style complemented by an elegant yet contemporary design. Located adjacent to the majestic Lake Geneva and one hour from Geneva airport this hotel is ideal for visitors who appreciate culture, heritage and history, whilst enjoying up to date modern facilities of a first class hotel. You can learn more about this place by visiting the official website here: http://www.royalsavoy.ch The historic building is in the “Grand Château vision” and is complemented by a newly constructed contemporary wing. The hotel’s grounds cover 5,000 sqm park, situated between the new and historical building. Since it’s re-opening end 2015 the Royal Savoy Hotel’s park has already become known as an oasis of tranquillity right in the middle of the city.

196 rooms and suites
Business facilities
Exclusive terrasse restaurant
Lobby Lounge
Cigar Lounge

The Royal Savoy Lausanne is the perfect place for all audiences. They keep innovating every year. According to Alain Kropf, the General Manager, this years guest will be able to enjoy unique experiences like:

Picnics, Brasero and petanque games in the gardens
An elegant simplicity with the Marc Haeberlin menu at the Brasserie du Royal
An exclusive 300m2 Penthouse for private and corporate events
New hair-dresser team at the spa
New Yoga teacher
Electric bikes for your pedestrian journeys

As we can see, the Royal Savoy Lausanne is more than a five star hotel. It is a place where there is always something happening. This unique place in the heart of Lausanne will surprise you in many ways. But will always be a good surprise.

José Amorim

Info sourced at the reopening evening of the Sky Lounge and Royal Savoy Lausanne official communication release. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

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Probably The Sneakers Of The Summer And A Stan Smith Killer: Axel Arigato

Fashion

José Amorim

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7 May 2018

0

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Summer is almost here and we are still wondering what we should wear. One thing that you definitely need to have it right is what shoes you should wear, especially sneakers. Stop looking, we just found the brand you need. Discover here below Axel harigato, probably one of the most refreshing sneakers brand for the past 3 years. You might want to buy them all! This brand is what we call a “Stan Smith killer“.

Axel Arigato, the story

“The idea of Axel Arigato started with us just questioning how and why you make things. The way we work is not traditional and I think that’s one of the reasons why people enter our brand.” – Max Svardh, Creative Director for Axel Arigato

Axel Arigato is a contemporary fashion brand injected with counter-cultural references. From the beginning, Axel Arigato has always been about showcasing the imagery the brand was started with and channeling it through a visual language. These references illustrate the kind of world Axel Arigato wants to project. The brand was founded in 2014 in Sweden by Max Svardh et Albin Johansson. They are two e-commerce specialists and their aim was to create a global brand with an universal resonance. For Axel Arigato, inspiration is everywhere. The style might reminds you the minimalistic approach of Lanvin or sometimes National standard. Some models would even be associated with Van’s. But what makes it unique is the incredible feeling to get the best of design right down on your feet. The design is made in Paris and many inspiring illustrations comes from Asia. Portugal was chosen as a production location thanks to a more than hundred years know-how. Axel Arigato utilizes the best quality of leather coming from Italy. This consolidation of the best know-how brings to market probably the best sneakers you can find for that price.

“When we started from a napkin we had a vision and a dream, and it was sneakers. We were both big fans but it was also where we saw a gap in the market. In terms of the business model and the price point that we have, there was actually no one offering the same kind of products at that price point but still offer premium materials.” – Albin Johansson, CEO of Axel Arigato

Two years ago, the Swedish brand opened a store in London. After a very successful online business, there was a need to materialize the hook of the brand with its customers and London seemed the perfect location to connect to a urban lifestyle clientele. Later on, Stockholm was also the perfect location for a second store.

Axel Arigato, This Summer Selection

After a quick look into the new summer collection, here is our top 3 sneakers that you definitely would need for this summer.

The Axel Arigato Clean 90 Sneakers Bee Eater Bird

The Clean 90 Sneakers is one of the best-selling items of Axel Arigato. Here, the iconic sneakers is featuring multi-coloured Bee Eater Bird embroideries. The minimalist silhouette is handmade from Italian leather and a white rubber cup-sole and features a slightly higher heel. Equipped with cushioned footbed and arch support for maximum comfort.

Handcrafted in Portugal
100 % Italian leather
Calf leather lining
Rubber cup sole measures 3 cm/1.18 inch
Sole has been stitched and glued for durability
Cushioned footbed to deliver comfort for everyday use
Completely cemented to ensure the original shape is kept
Flat cotton laces
Logo stamp in gold-tone
Fits true to size
Branded dustbag and chopsticks included

For more information: https://axelarigato.com/usd/women/shoes/clean-90/clean-90-98210

The Axel Arigato Dunk Sneakers With Red Stripe

The Dunk Sneaker, a classic athletic silhouette, is defined by its simple details. Featuring all-white colour way and contrasting side panels. Equipped with cushioned footbed and arch support for maximum comfort.

Handcrafted in Portugal
100 % Italian leather
Calf leather lining
Textured rubber cup-sole measures 3 cm / 1.18 inch
Sole has been stitched and glued for durability
Cushioned footbed to deliver comfort for everyday use
Completely cemented to ensure the original shape is kept
Logo stamp in gold-tone
Fits true to size
Branded dustbag and chopsticks included

For more information: https://axelarigato.com/usd/women/shoes/dunk-sneaker/dunk-sneaker-94103

The Axel Arigato Clean 90 Sneakers Pale Pink

Axel Arigato Clean 90 Sneakers are handmade from smooth Italian leather in pale pink with a rose gold metallic heel and a white rubber cup-sole. The minimalist silhouette features a slightly higher heel and is equipped with cushioned footbed and arch support for maximum comfort.

Handcrafted in Portugal
100 % Italian plain leather
Calf leather lining
Rubber cup sole measures 3 cm/1.18 inch
Sole has been stitched and glued for durability
Cushioned footbed to deliver comfort for everyday use
Completely cemented to ensure the original shape is kept
Flat cotton laces
Logo stamp in gold-tone
Fits true to size
Branded dustbag and chopsticks included

For more information: https://axelarigato.com/usd/clean-90-98003

For this summer, Axel Arigato is definitely a great choice. You will be able to find your perfect sneakers and have the ideal look for your summer.

José Amorim

Info sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

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Exclusive Interview with Jas Bagniewski, Co-Founder And CEO, Eve Sleep (Sleepeve.ch)

LuxuryActivist

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5 May 2018

0

Reading Time: 6 minutes

You could imagine that everything was already invented in the mattress and sleep business. Well, this was true until you meet eve Sleep. Here is an exclusive interview of Jas Bagniewski – Co-Founder and CEO of eve Sleep. The concept of eve Sleep is that everyone should be able to access good sleep. For a very long time, good mattresses have been sold through expensive stores at massively inflated prices. That is why eve was created. A simple, beautiful mattress, available to everyone at a surprisingly fair price. LuxuryActivist got in contact with them and could get the following exclusive interview.

LuxuryActivist (LA)- Mr Bagniewski, with your established career in the industry, why did you create your own company rather than working for others? Wouldn’t that be more comfortable?
Jas Bagniewski (JB)- I’m an opportunist, and when we realised there was such potential in the industry to build a viable business and brand around something as traditionally boring as a mattress, I couldn’t say no. I didn’t have grand ambitions to be a CEO per se, but I’m not afraid to take risks, and make decisions, so when I started eve with my co founders, it came about quite naturally. Working for someone else might be more comfortable, but it definitely wouldn’t be as interesting.

LA- What brought you to the “sleep business”? What was the trigger?
JB- I previously worked for Rocket Internet, Zalando and Groupon, so I had a lot of experience in e- commerce. In one day on Groupon we were amazed to sell over 6,000 mattresses – that’s when we realised there was an appetite for buying a mattress online. The bed and bathroom industry is a £26bn market in Europe and is seeing a massive shift to online, so there is huge potential for growth. We knew we could radically modernise the purchasing process for sleep and bedding products, without needing to compromise on product quality, or customer satisfaction.

LA- You decided to develop your business online. Why not selling traditionally in physical stores like most of the brands?
JB- Selling online means we can offer a far better price to our customers, because we don’t have expensive overheads – we cut out the middleman. It allows us to scale much more quickly so it’s a far more efficient way to do business. Giving our customers the chance to touch and feel our products is still important, which is why we have some retail partnerships in some of our European markets, such as Karstadt in Germany.

LA- Why “another” mattress brand? What Eve Sleep has that other brands will not be able to offer?
JB- I think I have to say here that we were the first! Until recently, there really haven’t been many, if any, brands in the mattress world or wider sleep industry, which is why building our brand is an essential pillar to our growth. Traditionally mattresses are boring, but that’s why there is so much potential to build a brand in that space – you can build a brand around anything if you’re creative enough. We wanted to create something different with eve – that’s why we’re yellow, our logo is a sunrise, we want to celebrate the way you feel in the morning after a great night’s sleep the night before. Embedded in our brand identity is our customer-first proposition, our sleep expertise, and our creativity and design.

LA- It sounds easy now, but what were the main challenges you have faced until you had your company model ready and working?
JB- At the heart of the business is the product – it took hundreds of prototypes to reach a mattress we were happy with and we didn’t want to compromise. When we were pitching for investment, we also faced a lot of investors who doubted the yellow – they didn’t want it on the product. But we know that was important – it’s what makes us stand out, it makes us memorable, and it has really been a huge driver for growth. It’s not easy to stick to your guns when it means walking away from a deal, but I’m glad we did.

LA- Eve Sleep produces its mattresses in Europe, why not producing them in Asia? Wouldn’t that be more cost effective? What should we expect from a mattress made in UK ?
JB- We want to be able to offer the best quality product at an accessible price, and we feel we can do that best with manufacturing our product in Europe. Our mattress for Switzerland is made in Germany. Then for our UK customers, we make the mattress in the UK.

LA- People might buy a mattress once every ten years. How do you manage to keep the connection with your customers in the meantime? Ten years is a very long time and a lot can happen.
JB- Whilst our mattress is our core product, we now have 15 products in the full range, including a topper, bed frame, duvet and pillow, with plenty more to come including a second mattress, which will launch in Switzerland in the next few weeks. Launching new products has meant we have lots of reasons to communicate, and we have seen lots of customers become repeat purchasers, which is great.

LA- What would you say to a potential customer who does not dare to buy his mattress online for the first time?
JB- I’d say – what are you worried about? When you have 100 nights to sleep on it, and if you don’t like it, we’ll pick it up for free, it’s a no-brainer. That’s why we started eve – because the old way of buying a mattress, where you lie awkwardly on it for two minutes in a showroom, is no indication of how well you will sleep on your mattress overnight. We offer 100 nights to sleep on it, with a no-hassle customer service.

LA- Thank you very much for your time, just one last thing: what can we wish you for the future?
JB- Our aim is to be the number one sleep brand in Europe. We’re building out our product range for various budgets, and will be launching some exciting design collaborations soon. We want even more people to be proud to say they sleep on an eve. Watch this space!

The LuxuryActivist team warmly thanks Mr Jas Bagniewski for his time and collaboration. eve Sleep is a great business, completely inline with its time. See here our product test of the eve mattress:
https://luxuryactivist.com/design/eve-sleep-the-mattress-revolution-promising-a-perfect-nights-sleep/

José Amorim

Info sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com at eve Sleep website, The Telegraph, Elite Business Magazine, Forbes and InPoland.pl. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

Fastest Ways to Build Brand Awareness via Social Media

High Tech

LuxuryActivist

-

4 May 2018

0

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Consider for just a moment that there are more than two billion active global users on Facebook alone and you will quickly understand that one of the most effective ways to build brand awareness will be via Social Media. However, Facebook isn’t alone as there is YouTube, the second largest social media site, with Instagram up there near the top as well. The social accounts you choose to create are up to you but don’t choose to build brand awareness on more than just a few. The time and effort involved would be cost and time prohibitive.

However, on the flip side of the coin, social media can offer you the quickest way to build brand awareness between all types of marketing strategies, and from there, you want to employ the fastest ways to use social media to your benefit. Here are a few ways to quickly gain followers with a snowball effect to build brand awareness on your social pages.

Give them a Perk or Two

While it may be a bit difficult to offer perks on a luxury brand website, discounts are always nice for those who refer the most visitors to your website. Or, perhaps you could offer a voucher code to the social media loyal follower who is able to refer the greatest number of friends, who then become followers. The key is to have your luxury brand become a household word, and there is no quicker way than through the grapevine that is social media.

Go with the Flow – Post a Funny Meme Daily

There is no doubt about it. Memes are now the trendiest aspects of social media and even luxury brands can benefit by posting daily memes. While they should probably be related in some way to what your brand is all about, if they are funny enough, they’ll quickly go viral. Start with an All Rage Faces Download and then put your own meme to the face. These are quick and easy to build and post, but the time-consuming part will be finding humorous bits of content to put to the face. You are in sales, after all, so listen to what your clients or customers are saying. You probably don’t see a day’s end without having heard something wonderfully funny. Put that to a face and post it. Your followers will love it!

Photo Contests with Prizes

One final thought on having your brand go literally viral overnight is to post a photo contest with prizes. Again, you might only be able to offer one bit of luxury merchandise per contest, but that can be reserved for the winner. Runners-up can be awarded voucher codes, coupons, and even cash awards if you so desire.

You might even want to have contestants submit photos of them with or wearing your products. You’d be surprised at just how quickly your followers start scrolling through your pages to see what they can order for their photo op. It’s amazing just how quickly you can launch a social media build brand awareness campaign by keeping your followers interested and active. If it takes awarding prizes, so be it. Everyone likes something for nothing, it’s just Marketing Basics 101 and the more contestants you get, the more followers you gain as well. That’s the epitome of effective brand awareness strategies.

Carol

Info sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

Mugler Alien Man – We Are All Alien!

Fragrances

José Amorim

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2 May 2018

0

Reading Time: 7 minutes

In 2005, Mugler launched Alien Eau de Parfum. More than a fragrance it was a powerful talisman, a strong message to all women and a protection at the same time. Thirteen years later, Mugler surprises everybody with a masculine version that should captivate all Mugler fans and beyond.

After The Goddess, Only A Man Could Do The Work!

As for the feminine version, Alien Man brings a strong message to those who will dare wearing it. Alien Man will bring self-confidence, optimism and allow you to have the energy and determination to fulfill your dreams. It is all about strength, confidence and positivism! The new fragrance for men will be launched in May 2018 and will extend the extraordinary world of Alien towards a more masculine scenery and olfactory signature.

“Alien Man is inspired by my Fabulous imaginary journeys” – Thierry Mugler

The new fragrance brings together the origins of the world as well as a positive future. In a world where we do not know what is going to be the future, it is a great thing to bring a positive and optimistic vision of things. Alien invites you to explore the strange and the marvelous and to break through the impenetrable. It embodies the best masculine virtues and reveals them to others. The fragrance aura is simply magnetic and all emotions are intense.

“Alien Man is a turning point in time when a male alter ego, a virtual deity yet unmistakably human, is on a quest for purity and light. Our leading man heralds an intoxicating escapade where power meets abundance.” – Thierry Mugler

The Mugler man is multiple and yet, there are clear distinguishing characteristics that will always identify them. Mugler always presented a classical masculinity, giving it a definitively modern style. A clean, precise, structured cut which outlined a highly recognizable silhouette: prominent shoulders, both “anatomical and classic”, for a dynamically slender look. Mugler provides power and charisma to those who might not have enough, procuring a modern armor for the modern hero. With Alien Man, we see a more introspective man, always seeking something meaningful and into the future. He understands where he is coming from and look ahead with trust and determination. Mugler has always pictured a powerful man, often considered half-human, half-god. There is something about the Mugler Man that does not fit the ordinary. For Alien Man, there is a inner-light that guide him to his destiny and lead him despite of surrounding darkness.

Alien Man, the Fragrance

When launching Alien EDP back in 2005, Mugler perpetuated its path with a distinctive signature. You do not choose a Mugler fragrance by chance or by default. You choose a Mugler fragrance because there is a strong feeling inside you that deserves to be expressed and highlighted. Alien EDP was built as any Mugler fragrance: with contrast and powerful ingredients. Alien Man takes inspiration in the Mugler man who causes confusion by his behavior and by the way he acts. As mentioned above, the Mugler vision of masculinity has a clean and sharp structure that highlights the body, its power and roundness. Full of contrasts, the new fragrance for men exudes a positive raw energy. The olfactory story starts with a tremendous and electrifying freshness of aromatic aniseed notes and reveals at the same time a backbone made of smoky woody notes. We can feel certain parallels with the Alien EDP, thanks to the addition of cashmeran wood and clean white ambers. These two ingredients provide a soft yet intense aura for this fragrance allowing a positive feeling of comfort and inner-confidence. Last but not least, there is a very original floral note, very leathery and fruity at the same time. The use of a Osmanthus note adds a disorientation, we loose our standard references that lead us towards an unprecedented experience. What I like in this fragrance is that you feel empowered with a new energy and at the same time it is comfortable and modern. Despite of the vibration of this fragrance, there is no olfactory violence. It is all done in a subtle way, yet we see a sharp approach where certain overdoses require a true mastery in terms of perfumery creation.

Alien Man, The Flacon

With such a strong message to all men, timeless and universal, the fragrance flacon should also be at the same level of execution as the rest. In the first seconds I saw the flacon, I immediately thought about one cinematographic reference: 2001 a Space Odyssey by Stanley Kubrick, filmed in 1968. In this film a strange monolith appears, true door to another time and space dimension.

In the film, this strange monolith appears and provide to mankind the keys to evolve. Source of unlimited knowledge and power, the monolith is also a door to other worlds and a tool to help men to evolve towards a better future. In Arthur C. Clarke’s Space Odyssey, monoliths are machines built by an unseen extraterrestrial species. In the series of novels (and the films based on these), three monoliths are discovered in the solar system by humans. It also influences the fictional history of the series, particularly by encouraging humankind to progress with technological development and space travel. With Alien Man, the flacon monolith-like shaped is a symbol or a true witness of the power that lives within.

The new flacon does resonates with the existing feminine line, still bringing a more masculine aspect of this new talisman. As we say, the Mugler man has “shoulders” and his look is defined and sculpted as a true architecture piece. Metal and glass are combined to provide a precious feeling as well as the proof of a true mastery in glass making.

Alien Man, The Product Line

As most of masculine lines at Mugler, the product line is short yet essential. With the 100ML /3.4fl.Oz flacon you can enjoy a complementary experience with two version of the deodorant (stick and spray), as well as the body and hair shower gel. As you might know, Mugler belongs to the Clarins group, so it enjoys all the cosmetic and body care know how of the group, which is a tremendous advantage for the customer. You get best in class products with a true leading beauty company development capabilities. One strong specificity of Mugler is a certain eco-responsibility. All flacons being so sophisticated and beautiful, you might have a hard time to throw it to the garbage. At Mugler all lines have refillable flacons, so you can keep it endlessly and refill it whenever needed. For Alien Man it is the same. In the line you can find a 100ML/3.4fl.Oz eco-refill which also has an interesting entry price. See here below.

Alien Man is available in all Mugler selective point of sales from May onwards. More than just a “for her and for him” story, the Alien saga continues and evolves. You can see the full story by visiting the brand official website: https://inter.mugler.com/univers-alien-man

More than ten years later after the launch of Alien Eau de Parfum, the Alien story evolves and introduces a new character, a man. He was probably already part of the initial story somehow, it was just now the right moment for him to appear. Like a film director, Mugler puts on stage its creations and tell you a story that generally hooks you in… or not. There is no half-measure with a Mugler fragrance… et c’est tant mieux!

José Amorim

Info sourced at the brand official website and product testing. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are illustration purposes only.

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