Ruinart, more than a Champagne house, a patron in arts and culture.

José Amorim
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0
Reading Time: 4 minutes

There are 284 Champagne houses that produce around 170 million bottles every year. But some of them are iconic, unique and exceptionally on top of the game. Ruinart is definitely one of them. Ruinart is the first and the oldest Champagne Houses in the world. Its story delivers an amazing legacy providing an amazing universe of know-how, creativity and luxury. Ruinart is also a strong partner in Arts and by participating in 34 different fairs around the world, it becomes a true reference of luxury and art. Luxury Activist was at Art Geneve in Switzerland where Ruinart was present. It was the moment to deep dive into the brand story and approach of art.

Ruinart-and-Arts

Art-Geneve-2016

Ruinart-champagne-house-arts

The approach of Ruinart of arts is an authentic approach in which the Champagne house plays the holy patron in contemporary art and design. Ruinart commitment to arts reflects its engagement within 34 international art fairs around the world as well as with several regular art collaborations. Ruinart has had a long-standing relationship with the Arts. In 1895, Andre Ruinart asked Czech artist Alphonse Mucha to illustrate a poster of Ruinart. Today the brand is still closely involved with Contemporary Art and plays a role in numerous international events such as ARCO, the Foire de Bale, the Carre Rive Gauche, London Design, and Miami Art Basel.

Ruinart-Alphonse-Mucha-1896

The house utilizes talent today: India Mahdavi, created the “Champagne Spoon” bottle stopper in 2006, Christian Biecher, created the “Flower” bottle stopper in 2007, Patricia Urqiola, designed the “Fil d’Or” bottle stopper in 2010 and Maarten Baas, named “Designer of the Year” at Art Basel Miami 2009, created the “Bouquet de Champagne” in 2008 and the “Melting” ice bucket in 2010. Founded in 1729, Ruinart has always been inspired by innovation, originality and the know-how celebration. Here is the latest collaboration with the artist Hubert le Gall. An amazing story.

Hubert Le Gall, a story of radiance and glass.

Hubert-le-gall-ruinart-collaboration

When Hubert considered glass for expressing his vision of the House of Ruinart, Murano with its master glassmakers, immediately seemed the obvious place for him to work. Their ancestral expertise is as old as that of our champagne House and like ours is recognized worldwide. The choice of master glassmaker was evidently important as well, as this artisan would have to materialize Hubert’s ideas and drawings. Eventually, the Berengo Studio was chosen as it works with leading contemporary artists. Ruinart celebrates this amazing collaboration with a new limited edition bottle and outer packaging. The new limited edition of Ruinart Blanc de Blancs contains the signature of Hubert le Gall. Golden upstrokes and wide downstrokes flow over the immaculate whiteness of the coffret. It is a tribute to the radiant brillance of the chardonnay, the symbolic grape of this cuvée.

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From Art Basel, to Paris, Dubai, Hong-Kong, Geneva, Brussels or London, Ruinart is every year present among the finest art fairs around the world. For the champagne house, these art fairs represent the perfect way to reach an interesting clientele that will appreciate each drop of Ruinart champagne.

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While some brands try artificially to invest the art world, others like Ruinart have written in golden letters the arts and culture into the brand DNA. By creating new collaborations with famous artists around the world, Ruinart honors different artistic know-hows, some of them are treasures of history and culture. You can read more about the great universe of Ruinart by visiting the brand official website: http://www.ruinart.com

Ruinart loves art and we love Ruinart.

LA

Ruinart-champagne-house-arts

Info sourced at ArtGeneve thanks to Pr/ticular and Lucy Tallo, Ruinart website, wikipedia, Forbes and Artinfo. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

Mugler fashion, the exceptional heritage in a dazzling future.

José Amorim
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1
Reading Time: 5 minutes

Thierry Mugler is a legend in the fashion industry. His style and his legacy became an endless source of inspiration for fashion artist from all over the world. The Fashion and Beauty House is fully owned by Clarins since 1998. The Clarins Group has since then helped to established the French luxury brand among the iconic names of fashion design and beauty products. The creator himself developed his full talent from the end of the 70’s until 2002. In 2002, Thierry Mugler decided to leave the fashion house and fully dedicate his time to other projects like theater, music-hall and other performances. Clarins kept a caring eye on the Mugler brand in order to keep alive the heritage of sophistication, quality and originality.

2013 was an important year for the brand. Sandrine Groslier was appointed as President Clarins Fragrance Group & Mugler Mode. Sandrine has worked for the beauty brand for several years. She is a power-women but an intelligent business manager and a charismatic leader. Since she has arrived at this position, she brought more structure to the brand and definitely give a future to the amazing heritage. Following this announcement, we also got Virginie Courtin-Clarins as head of Mugler Fashion and member of the board. With this renewal, a new Artistic director arrived at the Fashion division, David Koma.

david-koma-mugler

According to the official communiqué: at only 15 years old, Georgian-born Koma created his first collection before being accepted to the prestigious Canal St Martins College of Art and Design in London two years later. There, fashion became his life and expertise soon followed. With passion and a degree in Fashion Design, David Koma pushed forward, enrolling in the Fashion masters program. After graduating with honors, he launched his label and shot to stardom at London Fashion Week, where twice a year his sculptural, ultra-feminine, figure-hugging dresses take center stage. It’s a signature perfectly in line with the Mugler heritage, as well as with the Maison’s spirit of renewal.

Clarins has a tremendous respect for the brands they hold and develop. When we see the chaotic stories we heard from other luxury and fashion groups, we can say that Clarins works for the greater good of its brands.

Thierry Mugler is on top of mind right now. The fragrance division continues the tremendous success story since Angel in 1992. With Alien, launched 10 years ago, the Fragrance division is strong, innovative and always looking for the exceptional product they could launch.

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Every year, Thierry Mugler continues to make dreams a reality. From new flacons, to limited editions that will blow your mind, the creativity and the endless possibilities of the Mugler universe are still full of surprises.

In the fashion side, the new management and the Artistic director are definitely working in the right direction. By respecting the brand DNA and translating it into a new era, Virginie Courtin Clarins and David Koma are pursuing the legend of Mugler. The Prêt-à-Porter has a solid and established business now with clever yet audacious choices from a design, fabric, colors and context point of view.

Mugler-Fall-Winter-2016

David Koma kept the essentiality of the brand: a cut that you will see nowhere else, a daring combination of materials and colors and a hell of an attitude that will leave no one indifferent. The Mugler woman is a powerful woman that do not forget her ultra-femininity. The Mugler fashion is sexy without being outrageous, modern without being minimalistic, sophisticated without being unwearable. David Koma is definitely the right scissors for the brand and we can trust him to bring still more innovative looks as seasons pass by. Mugler also relaunched their fashion accessories and handbags line in order to propose a full look.

Mugler-handbags-collection

David Koma always give several references to the Mugler heritage. The usage of metal in different ways, from chains, to pieces and all fitting the overall anatomic shape of each design. The woman’s body is highlighted, it gives you power and self-confidence. With a sharp communication driven by Virginie Courtin-Clarins, the fashion brand make specific choices that places Mugler on top of mind. This month, Mugler developed a partnership with blogger super star Kayture. According to the brand for Mugler, when it comes to embodying the brand, who better than the sharp-eyed and inspiring star blogger Kristina Bazan? For this “It Girl” with millions of social media followers, Mugler is a constant source of inspiration, even more so since David Koma was appointed Artistic Director.

The idea was to extend the Mugler territory beyond the brand boundaries. By partnering with Kristina Bazan, we see a perfect redemption of the sophistication, the sexiness and the attractive world of Mugler. An enchanting story written by both partners and brought to life across all the brand’s platforms. An exclusive soundtrack produced by the French electro label Ed Banger Records and sang by Kristina Bazan herself. With this film, she explores 3 specific emblematic fragrances: Angel, Alien and Les Exceptions. It is about fantasy, metamorphosis and luxury. We can see the revelation of a duality, from your true inner self to a better version of yourself that lives in your wildest dreams.

The power of Mugler is to source in its endless universe to reinvent the future. Every year, every decade, the Mugler brand is relevant for the l’air du temps. The brand was probably born under a lucky star but the talented people working behind of in front the scenes are definitely responsable for the success. You can visit the brand website to read more about its amazing universe:
http://www.mugler.com 

LA

Info sourced at Thierry Mugler website, Vogue UK, Fashion Daily news and wikipedia. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

Maternity Fashion – How to Look and Feel Great as Your Bump Grows!

LuxuryActivist
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0
Reading Time: 3 minutes

If you are pregnant – particularly if it’s your first time – you know you are going to need a whole new wardrobe to keep you feeling as comfortable as possible until your baby is born. Of course, comfort isn’t the only factor when it comes to choosing the things you wear. It is possible to be fashionable, stylish, and even look sexy while your bump is growing. Here are some tips to keep you looking good even on those days when you may not feel like it.

Wear Close Fits on Your Limbs

Pregnancy should only make your belly big, so there is no reason to dress like the rest of you has ballooned in size too! Loose, shapeless clothes will only add to the bulky look, so choose maternity clothing that has a slimmer fit on your arms and legs to give a good balance. Maternity leggings like these can be a great way to achieve this while remaining extremely comfortable. You can even find maternity versions of skinny jeans and other slim fitting pants you loved to wear before you were pregnant! Maternity tops specifically designed to fit normally on the arms and shoulders but accommodate a bump and perhaps a growing bust are always a better choice than simply throwing on regular sweaters and tees that are far too big, so invest in proper maternity pieces for everyday wear.

pregnancy-leggins

Dresses

Dresses allow you an easier way to remain cool and comfortable, especially in summer when carrying the extra weight of your baby bump can make you feel a bit hot and bothered! Empire line designs are perfect for pregnancy, emphasizing the bust and flowing over the bump. In contrast, you can also show off your bump if you prefer with comfortable, sexy jersey knit dresses. A wraparound style is good because you can adjust it as your bump gets bigger. It is also a good way to show off the extra cleavage pregnancy may have blessed you with!

Cover Ups

Early on in your pregnancy, you may prefer to hide your bump. Once again, rather than do this with baggy, shapeless clothes, choose styles that are fitted in places but flow loosely over the belly area. You can also choose use loose fitting clothes in very lightweight materials like chiffon and silk that won’t create bulk. Kimono cardigans or floaty shirts can be a great way to look like you haven’t gained any weight at all until you are ready for the world to know you are expecting! This is a technique often used in TV and movies where a pregnant actress is playing a character who is not pregnant!

Pregnant-fashion

Whatever your style, you should be able to find modern, attractive maternity pieces that allow you to remain as fashionable as ever as your body changes through the nine months of your pregnancy. You may even miss wearing some of these great styles when your baby is born and your old wardrobe fits again!

Carol

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

Martial Raysse by Les Editions du Griffon – Neuchâtel : An exclusive subscription

José Amorim
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0
Reading Time: 5 minutes

Les Editions du Griffon – Neuchâtel will launch a new outstanding monography about Martial Raysse and for this occasion they just launched an exclusive subscription to a lithography highlighted with oil pastel by the artist. This is an unique opportunity, a one in a kind. You can see the offer by clicking here:

Order Form Subscription offer

Martial Raysse, modernity and activism – a new era for art in Europe

Martial Raysse was born in the south of France, Nice, in 1936. At the age of 12 years old he started painting and writing poetry. In a very early stage, Martial Raysse got interested in the role of art as a reveal of the air du temps. After the Second world war he started different artistic work with Plexiglas boxes filled with different objects. At the end of the 50’s and beginning of the 60’s Martial Raysse got involved in the Pop Art movement and participated in the foundation of the Nouveau Realisme in France with artists like François Dufrêne, Raymond Hains or Yves Klein.

Martial-Raysse-oeuvres

In opposition to the new realists, Martial raysse was interested in new objects, attractive and beautiful things that represented the consumerist society he was living in. he made his rst as- semblage in 1959 and became an active member of the european avant-garde. In 1961, at the age of twenty- ve, he participated in the “Art of Assemblage” exhibition at MoMA next to Duchamp, spoerri, schwitters, Beuys, Bruce Conner and robert rauschenberg.

In 2014, the Centre Geroges Pompidou in Paris presented a tremendous retrospective on Raysse and reminded us all about the relevancy of the artist work. It was a full exhibition showing the main 4 steps of his career: the Pop years, the minimal pop, the shamanic years and the invention of a mythography. From this retrospective, Martial Raysse became on top of mind again.

In 2015, The Pinault Collection initiated a major exhibition at Palazzo Grassi, Venice – Italy. Curated by Caroline Bourgeois in close collaboration with the artist, the exhibition brought together more than 300 works from 1958 to the present day – paintings, sculptures, videos and neon works – almost half of which have never been shown to the public. In the exhibition catalog, several excepts from different art directors and researchers were completing the exercice, one of them was from Dimitri Salmon. You can read his except by clicking here.

Martial Raysse by Les Editions du Griffon – Neuchâtel, a homage to a great artist

Les Editions du Griffon – Neuchâtel is fully associated to Switzerland and to Modern art heritage. Since the Second world war, this amazing Art Edition house has continuously worked to perpetuate the passion of arts and since then it has collected an amazing catalog of monographies from the most influential post-war artists. In the good hands of Mr Julien Gonzalez-Alonso, Les Editions du Griffon – Neuchâtel are completely reborn and bringing to day-light amazing edition projects. This year, they are launching an amazing monographs about Martial Raysse. He represents a true innovator and a instigator in his country and beyond borders.

The book is called « Peindre comme toujours… » : de l’épopée picturale de Martial Raysse. The author is Dimitri Salmon. He is a scientific collaborator at the department of paintings from the Louvre Museum in Paris. He is also a poet. After working for several galleries, foundations and houses of auctions in France and abroad, he joined the Department of Paintings of the Louvre Museum in 1996 as a scientific collaborator of conservation. He was Curator’s assistant in several exhibitions and have written on several and diverse topics from Bernardo Daddi, Jean-Pierre Raynaud, The Milo’s Venus and Martial Raysse.

This book represents 266 pages with an amazing iconography – 30 x 24 cm and should be launched on March 1st 2016. The texts are from Dimitri Salmon in French. With this amazing new art book, Les Editions du Griffon decided to propose an unique experience by letting the art aficionado to acquire as well an exclusive lithography 16 colors, highlighted with oil pastel by the artist himself.

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Martial-Raysse-Editions-Griffon

Martial-Raysse-pervenche-2015

Martial-Raysse-artwork

If you wish to get this original offer you can download the order form by clicking on the link below:

Order Form Subscription offer

 

Once again, Les Editions du Griffon – Neuchâtel are launching an amazing book, associated with an unique offer. In the great tradition of art books, the Swiss Edition House will reach the heart of the art fan and collector and we all look forward to hearing from this launch. If you wish to learn more from Les Editions du Griffon or if you have a specific question about this launch offer, do not hesitate to connect to the official website here: http://editionsdugriffon.com

 

LA

Martial-Raysse-editions-du-griffon

Info sourced at Les Editions du Griffon – Neuchâtel communication release, wikipedia, www.galerie-vallois.com, artforum.com and babelio.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

What You Need to Know when Hiring a Car Abroad

LuxuryActivist
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0
Reading Time: 3 minutes

In theory, hiring a car abroad should be pretty simple, but there are many pitfalls for the inexperienced traveler to be aware of. There is usually an array of paperwork to deal with, various car insurance policies to consider, and lots of complex terms and conditions to think about. And that’s before you have even set foot behind the wheel and worked out where on earth you need to go!

Make no mistake: if you don’t plan ahead or read the paperwork correctly, hiring a car abroad could cost you dearly. So instead of wandering up to the first hire car desk you see when you arrive at your chosen destination, do a bit of forward planning to ensure your car hire experience is stress-free.

Book Car Hire in Advance

Prices for hiring a vehicle vary wildly from country to country, but in most cases it is cheaper to book a hire car before you travel. Perusing car hire websites allows you to work out the total cost more easily. If you book on the day, you may find that your car hire operator has charged you for optional extras you don’t actually need. Booking through a reputable company should make life simpler.

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Are You Licensed to Drive Abroad?

Check whether your drivers’ license allows you to drive a vehicle in country you are heading to. If you have a current drivers’ license, you should be OK to hire a car, but be aware that some companies place age restrictions on customers and anyone below or above a certain age is prohibited from hiring or driving a rental vehicle.

Hire Car Insurance

It is normal to be offered a range of ‘extra’ insurance policies when hiring a car abroad. These range from Collision Damage Waiver to Theft Protection and Additional Liability Insurance. Big brand car hire companies tend to package up various insurances into a ‘super’ insurance policy that covers everything, but if you hire a vehicle from a local company, expect to be asked if you want to take out extra policies to cover theft, accidents, and accidents involving uninsured drivers.

For this reason, it is usually better to book a hire car in advance, so you know what you are paying for and can make an educated decision about whether you actually need the extra coverage.

Car-Rental-tips

Compulsory Safety Equipment

When driving in some countries it is customary to carry certain items of safety equipment, such as first aid kits or warning triangles. Check before you travel what you are expected to carry and make sure your hire car is fully equipped.

Emergency Contact Details

Before you drive away in your hire car, check whether you have been told who to contact in the event of an incident. Reputable car hire companies should give you all the emergency contact information you need before you leave the hire company’s office.

Always check the vehicle for pre-existing damage before you set off. Otherwise you may end up being charged for something you were not responsible for.

Carol

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

3 feisty tips to help you enjoy luxury

LuxuryActivist
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0
Reading Time: 3 minutes

We’ve come to define luxury as a kind of decadence that few of us could ever afford. Yachting in diamond-encrusted waters, massages from Midas, million-dollar smoothies made from the milk of a money cow – what are the chances that any of these things will ever be in your price range? If you can lower your expectations, luxury could be well within your grasp. Whether it’s a day in the park, a beauty overhaul or a heathier diet, luxury has many definitions – here’s a few for you to enjoy.

Luxury-experiences

Wrinkle-free luxury

Wrinkles are a dull, thudding reminder of your impending old age. They’re the marks on your face that make you feel rubbish when you look in the mirror in the morning. Although there’s nothing wrong with your cracks and crevices, they undoubtedly make you feel lousy.

Most anti-ageing skin cream is, however, no better than snake oil. Grinning at you from the shelves of beauty shops, these high street derivatives are about as effective as splashing water over your face. Yet supermarkets and beauty specialists still charge a premium rate for subpar products. There are, however, some products that can be trusted. For our money, Crepe Erase is fantastic for removing “crepey” skin, those harder portions of your skin that can be a nightmare to remove. This moisturiser has proven results and will help you feel a little more special when you look in the mirror.

A breath of fresh air

The type of person who’s rich enough to trek the Andes and hike up the Alps usually looks healthier than any other kind of fitness fanatic. But the cheaper alternative can leave you with just as much cardiovascular goodness. A walk in the countryside is a fit and healthy way to spend an afternoon – and it’s absolutely free. After a sturdy day’s walking you’ll enjoy healthier limbs, improved breathing and a more positive outlook on life. This is in part thanks to the increased amount of oxygen in your body, increasing the flow in your bloodstream and giving you a healthy and revitalised glow.

Dietary opulence

You don’t have to be a millionaire to appreciate kale. Superfoods, food types that are teeming with vitamins and minerals, are the ideal source of good health in your diet, no matter what your pay packet. And your meals don’t have to be bland. For a smidge of healthy flavour, add a dash of lemon to meals or create your own tangy pasta sauce. Even a clove of garlic could make your seemingly boring meal a delight.

Combine these three tips and you’ll relax into luxury like you were landed gentry.

Daniel

Luxury-experiences

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

JM Weston homage to Yves Klein… Le Moc Klein Blue.

José Amorim
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0
Reading Time: 5 minutes

JM Weston, the French luxury shoes creator just launched a new exciting project, an homage to Yves Klein. When 2 French creators universes meet, only the sublime can be reached. When JM Weston launched Le Moc, a new franchise within the brand portfolio, he opened a new freedom that can bring JM Weston to interesting collaborations and match ups. It was already the case in the past years with creators like Maison Kitsuné or Charlie Casely-Hayford. This time, it is a matter of matching 2 amazing creators universes. The one of a French luxury shoe manufacturer and the one of Yves Klein, the French Master artist.

JM-Weston-hommage-Yves-Klein

When JM Weston launched LE MOC, their idea was to bring back to live a certain lightness, freedom and youth. The idea of getting away from the standards was always a leitmotiv for the brand. The new shoe by JM Weston is the promise of an elegant, original and stylish lifestyle. This Spring, JM Weston joins forces with the creative mind of Yves Klein heritage and most specifically the famous International Klein Blue.

As we can imagine, the challenge was to translate this amazing, extra-terrestrial blue to a shoe. Simple to say but hard to succeed a satisfactory result. It required all the know-how from the masters-Tanneurs and the creative spirit of Michel Perry to bring to life this amazing color.

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Why Blue? First of all there is nothing, then there is a profound nothing, then a profound Blue. – G.Bachelard quoted by Yves Klein.

Yves Klein, one of the major artists of the late 20th Century, was also a philosopher of a unique kind, an unusual spirit determined to push back the boundaries of art as it existed at the time. He sought to capture an invisible beauty, while also representing a new way of living as a committed artist.The unique vision of a man at the cutting edge of his time echoes the philosophy of J.M. Weston, a legendary house upholding the values of creativity, accomplishment and eternity.

Yves Klein, the master of Blue

According to science, the human eye can spot 1000 levels of light&dark, 100 levels of red&green and 100 levels of yellow&blue. This means that we can see about 10 million different colors. But in this variety of colors there is only one Yves Klein Blue. Yves Klein was born in April 28th 1928 in Nice – South of France. He was considered as an important figure in post-war European art. He is the leading member of the French artistic movement of Nouveau Réalisme founded in 1960 by art critic Pierre Restany. Yves Klein was a pioneer in the development of performance art and is seen as an inspiration to, and as a forerunner of, minimal art, as well as Pop Art.

Yves-Klein-master-of-blue

In the autumn of 1956, he began his “blue period” by working with an existing shade of bright, highly saturated blue, which was according to him “the most perfect expression of blue”. The colour was worked as monochrome canvases as well as being a medium in which to soak sponges or statues. Yves Klein became famous as “Yves the Monochrome” – in 1960, he even patented his “International Klein Blue”, a blend of pigment and a specific base which allowed the colour to develop its full density (original article here).

JM Weston Le Moc Yves Klein, state of the art.

For Summer 2014, the French shoe house introduced Le Moc’ Weston, a supple, colourful version of the legendary 180 mocassin, designed for the bare feet of a new creative generation.
The work and spirit of Yves Klein inspired the house of J.M. Weston and its artistic director Michel Perry, who chose to bring together for the first time an artist’s life work with this modern classic shoe. The depth of Klein Blue creates an in nite space into which Le Moc’ steps with its easy, free pace. Le Moc’ takes on the exact shade of the International Klein Blue to create a timeless hommage, crafted according to the nest J.M. Weston savoir-faire. A very limited edition of this exceptional Moc’ with 1500 pairs in men’s and women’s sizes will be available for sale from March 2016.

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JM-Weston-Le-Moc-Yves-Klein-celebration

Le Moc’ JM Weston Yves Klein is a limited edition of 1’500 pairs each with a certificate of authenticity. It will be available in the 9 of the JM Weston boutiques from March 2016:

  • Paris – Champs Elysées, Madeleine, Saint-Honoré and Le Bon-Marché
  • London
  • Geneva
  • NYC
  • Aoyama
  • Shanghai

According to the brand, 5% of the amount will be given to the Association Ouvrière des Compagnons du Devoir et du Tour de France.

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JM-Weston-Le-Moc-Yves-Klein-zoom-couture

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The recommended retail price for this must-have is 675€ which is a very fair price due to the beautiful object that is. You can read more about JM Weston by visiting the brand official website:

http://www.jmweston.fr

By celebrating the genius of Yves Klein, JM Weston releases an amazing creation. 1’500 pairs in the world means that only happy few will be able to wear this outstanding shoe. Le Moc is an amazing addition to the brand collection.

LA

JM-Weston-Le-Moc-Yves-Klein-celebration

Info sourced in JM Weston official communication release. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

Yves Klein, the ultimate blue. 

José Amorim
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2
Reading Time: 5 minutes

According to science, the human eye can spot 1000 levels of light&dark, 100 levels of red&green and 100 levels of yellow&blue. This means that we can see about 10 million different colors. But in this variety of colors there is only one Yves Klein Blue
yves-klein 

Yves Klein, the master of Post-war pictural art and the genius behind his blue.

Yves Klein was born in April 28th 1928 in Nice – South of France. He was considered as an important figure in post-war European art. He is the leading member of the French artistic movement of Nouveau Réalisme founded in 1960 by art critic Pierre Restany. Yves Klein was a pioneer in the development of performance art and is seen as an inspiration to, and as a forerunner of, minimal art, as well as Pop Art.
yves-klein-sculptures
yves-klein-art

The Nouveau Realism is often considered as the French version of the american pop art.
Yves Klein started exploring monochrome art already in 1949 but it was with the invention of the International Klein Blue that his artwork became something much bigger.

Post war art, abstraction was the golden rule.

The abstract painting that dominated French art in the 1950s was invariably premised on the notion that an artist could communicate with the viewer through the power of abstract form. But skeptics of modern, abstract art have always alleged that the viewers, like the faithful devotees of a false god, do more of the work than the artist, investing the forms with their own feelings rather than discovering the artist’s. Viewed in this light, Klein’s monochrome blue paintings might be read as a satire on abstract art, for not only do the pictures carry no motif, but Klein insisted there was nothing there at all, only “the void.”
yves-klein-abstraction
yves-klein-post-war

The International Klein Blue, one of a kind.

Yves Klein had a genius idea when he decided to create a specific and unique color. This specific blue is also called International Klein Blue (IKB). Its visual impact comes from its heavy reliance on ultramarine as well as Klein’s often thick and textured application of paint to canvas. This specific color was developed by the French artist in collaboration with Edouard Adam, a Parisian art paint supplier. Yves Klein was looking for an idea of absolutism.
international-klein-blue
klein-blue-bleu-klein

He was obsessed by the intensity of pigments and how poor they would be restituted into the canvas. He wanted to create the ultimate color, the absolute unicity and a perfect serenity. His base was the Ultramarine blue n. 1311 which in pigment has this deep intensity whereas used in painting got quite vanished. This was because of the optic transformation due to the solvent or water used.

The uniqueness of IKB does not derive from the ultramarine pigment, but rather from the matte, synthetic resin binder in which the color is suspended, and which allows the pigment to maintain as much of its original qualities and intensity of color as possible. The synthetic resin used in the binder is a polyvinyl acetate developed and marketed at the time under the name Rhodopas M or M60A by the French pharmaceutical company Rhône-Poulenc. Edouard Adam’s company still sells the binder under the name Médium Adam 25.
medium-adam-25

The influence of Yves Klein nowadays

The monochromatic work of Yves Klein is more relevant than never. In a world where we lost complete faith into social institutions, religion or even politics, there no more references. The old icons are dead and we end up in a world where we do not have any guidance. We also loose faith on how things are done, created, manufactured, built. There is no clarity into the processes. More than never, the world is exposed to darkness and emptiness.
The work of Yves Klein and especially his deep, vibrant, intense and over-rated blue becomes the ray of light in the tunnel of our lives. The extra-terrestrial blue by Yves Klein brings happiness, warmth and a sense of extreme purity. This purity is above everything an anchor and a promise of a greater life.
During 2016, several art exhibitions will display Yves Klein works. From London Tate Modern in the UK, to Turkey or Sweden, this Klein Blue will be present across the year. Certain brands get also inspired by the genius of Yves Klein. This month the luxury French shoe maker JM Weston has just revealed a new project related to Yves Klein. So far here is the teaser they released on Facebook with the hashtag #KleinBlueByJMWeston :
jm-weston-homage-to-yves-klein
Check the artist official website for more information here:
http://www.yveskleinarchives.org

Yves Klein is an universal reference for the search of an absolute beauty and by all means the world need more beauty to rebalance the ugliness of certain things.
Be blue, think blue and let’s get into the blue.

LA

yves-klein-homage
Info sourced on Yves Klein official website, wikipedia, Euronews and the artist biography. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available.

Top Tech and Gadgets for Home Safety and Security

LuxuryActivist
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0
Reading Time: 3 minutes

Hundreds of years ago when kings lived in castles, moats, drawbridges and all manner of unpleasant defences protected those who resided within their stone walls. Today we don’t normally throw hot oil down on intruders and if we have a go with a bow and arrow, we would probably be arrested for attempted murder. Luckily there are lots of useful tech gadgets available to make our homes a safer place and protect our family from harm. So if you are concerned about home safety and security, here are a few gadgets you might like to consider investing in.

Remote Video Monitoring

The Nest Cam is a nice piece of kit from Google. At first glance it looks like a small webcam, but although it is a camera, the device is a lot more intelligent than a webcam. A Nest Cam can be placed anywhere in the home, either on a table or mounted on the wall, and thanks to a continuous ‘live feed’ you can log in to see what’s happening at home from anywhere in the world. The device is intelligent enough to tell whether it’s looking at a cat in the garden or a burglar, but if it does see anything suspicious, it will send an alert to your smartphone.

nest-cam

Two-Way Audio and Video Feed

The Piper camera performs a similar service. You can position the camera in your home and use it to keep an eye on who is doing what while you are not at home. So if your teenagers are home alone and you are concerned that Project X is about to unfold, tune in and catch them out. The great thing about Piper is that it offers a two-way audio, which allows you to chat to pets left home alone – your cats need never be lonely again!

piper-smart-home

Smart Smoke Alarm

Cheap smoke alarms can be seriously annoying at times. The moment you burn a slice of toast, you have to put up with a shrill beeping for ages (or until you disconnect the battery). The same thing happens if the battery needs replacing – a shrill beeping continues until you pop a new battery in. Not surprisingly, some people disconnect their smoke alarm rather than fix the problem, which then means they are vulnerable.

A smart Nest Protect is a combined smoke and CO alarm. It protects the home, but is not too annoying. If a pan boils dry and begins to burn, Nest Protect alerts you with a human voice command. And if a fire breaks out, it gives you useful information to help you act quickly. This device should be adequate for most homes, but if you want a more sophisticated smoke protection system, look at tealproducts.com.

Smart Light Bulbs

There is now a new breed of light bulbs that can be controlled with a simple app, so you can change the colour of lights to give the impression someone is at home even when they are not.

belkin-wemo-led-lighting-bulbs-review

Thanks to the wonders of technology, it has never been so easy to keep our homes safe. So keep an eye on the latest tech developments and invest in your family’s health and safety. They’re worth it!

Carol

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

Etyka, a sustainable beauty and lifestyle subscription box – a 100% Swiss initiative

José Amorim
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0
Reading Time: 6 minutes

There are projects that deserve to be known. And Etyka is definitely one of them. Etyka Luxury is an original concept in which Luxury meets sustainability.  The company represents the Slow Lifestyle and now offers a “Swiss Made” monthly subscription box with 6 – 8 products which are produced sustainably and with respect for the planet and animals. Stylish, positive and sustainable, Etyka represents a way of life, a philosophy even that is very much the trend of our times: ethical and healthy. Find your way to greater serenity, listening to nature and yourself. Eco-Chic is the new Black!

Etyka-beauty-box-swiss-made

Etyka, passion for doing the right thing.

The dream of Laetitia Berthoud became a reality. She has worked in the past years in the luxury and beauty industry. Her know-how joined her passion for a sustainable life and this motivated her to create Etyka. Based in Geneva, Laetitia Berthoud gathered a small yet highly professional team that together helped to create one of the very first ethical beauty boxes in Europe. Before we look closer at the box, let’s have a look at the concept: dedicated to personal development, good nutrition, wellbeing, travel, culture and art, Etyka stands for natural beauty and respect – for yourself and the planet – and chooses, very selectively, only brands that share the same values. Only brands that are organic, natural, eco-friendly and cruelty-free find their place in the Etyka box.

Etyka-box-subscribe

The Etyka Box is for people, mainly women, living with their time, educated and who wish simply to be responsible and active consumers in their choices and purchases. In a way, it associates a luxury lifestyle with an Eco-Responsibility. Today, more than never, consumers wish to give a meaning to their lives and to their actions, that is why Etyka speaks to people sharing the same ethical values and at the same time cherish a luxury life in which they take care of themselves.

Etyka, a closer look inside the box

The box is available from CHF 69. – per month, and inside you will find products ranging from cosmetics, lifestyle, culture, wellness, nutrition and an inspiring magazine! Each product is full size. Generally most of beauty boxes represent a selection of sample-size products which sometimes might be frustrating if you really want to be able to use the product in the short run. Etyka proposes true full-sizes and this is much more qualitative as for most of the customers, it will be the first time they will be exposed to these brands.

Etyka is a combination of cult products and must haves with irresistible attraction, the box keeps all its promises and when it arrives at your home, it most certainly makes for a pleasant surprise! With its values ​​and its positive vibe, the name Etyka perfectly fits this box. And as a member of the Etyka community you can also benefit from special offers of high-end brands, that Etyka is a partner with.

Etyka-box-subscription

In terms of brands, by subscribing to the box, you will discover Patyka, la vie devant soie, Audacity, Ren, Kjaer Weiss, Matt&Nat and many others.  There is a very original aspect in terms of products selection, is the presence of lifestyle, cultural and fooding products. This means that you will be able to find beautiful ethical stoles, tablet pochettes, books, CDs, Chocolate, spices or even tea.

Another advantage with Etyka is that by subscribing to the box, you become part of a community of people. This community enjoys exclusive services from Etyka’s partners like the prestigious Geneva hotel The Richemont. One special treat is the Etyka magazine as well as some of the partners magazines that you will be able to find inside the box. Qualitative topics around well-being, personal development, nutrition or lifestyle themes are covered and hopefully will inspire you to get a better and healthier life.

Etyka-Magazine

Etyka is convincing more and more people to its values and proposition. It is the case for Lauriane Gilliéron (former Miss Switzerland 2005) who is already enthusiastic and devoted to the concept!

The beauty box subscription, more than a simple trend

Created in the US in 2010, the beauty box subscription commerce answered a need of consumers for a more customizable offer. With so many brands in the beauty and fashion industry, it becomes almost impossible to discover all of them. Generally we end up buying the same products, not necessary thanks to loyalty but more because of not knowing what to buy. The beauty box trend started in the U.S. with Birchbox, which was dubbed the “Netflix of beauty” for its monthly subscriptions. Launched in 2010 by two Harvard Business School grads, it now boasts 100,000 subscribers. The success of Birchbox inspired dozens of similar beauty start-ups and sparked a series of other themed subscription boxes containing samples of such things as gourmet food, eco-conscious bath products, children’s toys and even vegan gum.

Consumers want to be able to choose the brands they engage with. They also wish to feel connected to a network of people who also share the same values. New customers are desperately looking for guidance and a customizable offer that fit their needs. People are also giving more and more importance to the origins of the products and services they buy and want to make sure everything is coherent to the sustainable and ethical values they would like to follow.

Etyka-Lauriane-Gillieron

With more than 50 important beauty box brands in Europe, we could have a hard time to imagine why a new brand would bring something more into the market and convince you to purchase its offer. Well, with Etyka you have a Swiss Made project that offer real size products, all ethical and respectful. By doing some good to you, you end up doing some good to the world.

You can discover more about Etyka by visiting the official website: http://www.etyka-luxury.com

When you treat yourself in a luxury way and still do some good to the world, everybody wins.

LA

Etyka-box-subscribe

Info sourced at Etyka official communication. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

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