Champagne should always be a story of excellence and a state of art. Andreas Caminada, a multi-starred chef from Graubünden and owner of the Schloss Schauenstein restaurant (3 Michelin stars and 19 Gault & Millau points), has joined Dom Pérignonas an official brand ambassador in Switzerland and a new member of the Dom Pérignon Society.
Andreas Caminada is a passionate supporter of creativity and innovation, as well as a pioneering spirit. He is always willing to push the boundaries to discover new gastronomic possibilities; his relentless pursuit of quality and perfection are qualities that bind him to Dom Pérignon and provide the ideal foundation for a long-term relationship.
Photo: Gianmarco Castelberg Photography
The Dom Pérignon Society, A Global Community Of High Gastronomy
The Dom Pérignon Society brings together well-known chefs, prominent sommeliers, and well-known restaurateurs whose haute cuisine creations have been recognized around the world. Members of the Dom Pérignon Society will meet other chefs and sommeliers who share their passion for champagne and have unique experiences with inspiring people from other fields such as music, fashion, and architecture.
In Switzerland, here are the following members part of the Dom Pérignon Society: Andreas Caminada (its most recent member), Tobias Funke (2 Michelin stars and 17 Gault & Millau points, executive chef and general manager of the Gasthaus zur Fernsicht in Heiden) and Enrico Barbieri, owner of the Balthazar restaurant in St. Moritz.
For many years, Dom Pérignon developed professional relations and true friendships with the very best chefs around the world. It is like the one with Alain Ducasse, considered one of the most renowned chefs of his generation and runs two restaurants, each awarded three Michelin stars, in Monaco (Le Louis XV-Alain Ducasse at the Hotel de Paris) and London (Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester). The famous chef is known for his taste for innovation, attention to detail, and dedication to quality and technique. He shares his desire to pass on this knowledge with Dom Pérignon and is at the heart of all common projects.
Andreas Caminada, A True Gastronomic Artist
Since 2003 Caminada has been working in Fürstenau, one of the smallest cities in the world. The native of Graubünden runs the multi-award-winning boutique hotel and restaurant Schloss Schauenstein there, and since 2018, the Casa Caminada hostel with ten rooms, a bakery, a boutique and a bar.
Photo: Gianmarco Castelberg Photography
Andreas Caminada is renowned for gastronomic and creative recipes, which he likes to make from well-known local ingredients that he uses in unique ways, making each taste a new experience. His multi-faceted cuisine and ability to prepare a single ingredient in various ways is a feast for the eyes and the senses. Whether crunchy, soft, crunchy, sour, or bitter, each ingredient intriguingly blends into the dish and stimulates the senses—a homage to the palate, to the harmony of flavours and aromas.
In 2015, Caminada broadened its portfolio and launched “IGNIV by Andreas Caminada”, a restaurant chain with Bad Ragaz, St. Moritz, Zurich and Bangkok. All four establishments celebrate gastronomy as an experience of sharing. Caminada also completes its diversified commitment with the creation of the “Uccelin Foundation”. With this project, the restaurateur’s mission is to sustainably strengthen the restaurant industry by highlighting culinary talents and ensuring exceptional gastronomic quality over the long term. Caminada’s latest project is opening its first vegetarian restaurant, “Oz”, scheduled for summer 2021.
Photo: Gianmarco Castelberg Photography
Dom Pérignon, A Unique Champagne House
Dom Pérignon can only be made from a single crop in a single year. This dedication to the vintage is unwavering. It takes at least eight years of patience to reach Dom Pérignon’s aesthetic ideal. Each vintage undergoes a slow transformation in contact with the yeasts in the darkness of the cellar, inside the bottles, to achieve the harmony that will forever mark Dom Pérignon.
A small number of bottles are set aside for each vintage, with the intention of ageing longer. The operation within the bottle continues to increase during this extra time: the yeasts pass their energy to the wine in a mysterious life transfer.
For nearly fifteen years, champagne increases its energy to reach a paroxysm of vitality. It unfolds in all dimensions to become fuller, longer, deeper, and more intense, more vital and radiant than ever before. It has a long, almost infinite lifespan. As a result, Dom Pérignon is patiently brought to a new level of vocabulary. This elevation is known as Plénitude 2: Dom Pérignon’s second life.
José Amorim Information sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. Featured photo by Gianmarco Castelberg Photography
Some stories are unbelievable, and others become legends. And when both come together, you get GOTTHARD, the biggest Swiss Rock group in history. Steve Lee and Leo Leoni formed the Swiss hard rock band Gotthard in Lugano 1992. Their last eleven albums have all charted at number one in Switzerland, making them one of the most popular Swiss bands of all time. They earned multi-platinum awards in various parts of the world after selling two million albums. The Saint-Gotthard Massif in Switzerland inspired the band’s name. Their group history is a succession of amazing facts that provides the place of the biggest Swiss rock band in history. Read for yourself:
14 no. 1
1 Diamond Award ( 1 million sold units in Switzerland)
1 Quadruple platinum album (Homerun)
2 triple platinum album (Defrosted, One Life One Soul)
6 double platinum albums (Heaven-Best of Ballads, Need to Believe, Domino Effect, Lipservice, Human Zoo & Open)
7 platinum albums (Gotthard, Dial Hard, G., One Team, One Spirit, Made in Switzerland, Homegrown, Firebirth)
7 top 10 singles
1 platinum single (Heaven)
Over 2000 concerts
SOLD UNITS WORLDWIDE: over 3 Mio. Units!
GOTTHARD, A Power-house for hits.
In 1992, the group released their eponymous debut album, Gotthard, which remained 35 weeks in the Swiss charts with 5th place as the best place2. MTV begins broadcasting music videos for the album’s two singles, Hush and All I Care for. The group toured Switzerland, highlighting Bryan Adams’ opening act at the Hallenstadion in Zurich. A European tour will follow with Magnum, and one in Germany with the German hard rock group, Victory. At this time, the group obtains its first gold record in Switzerland. In 1993, the group was nominated for the World Music Awards and won the Rete3 – Price Golden Reel Ampex Award4. He also gives several shows in open-air concerts in Switzerland.
In 1994, Gotthard released his second album, Dial Hard, which reached number one in the Swiss charts and was certified Platinum. This album also reached the German and Japanese charts, countries where the group turns headlining. The group took part in the Rock am Ring the same year, and their concert on July 7 at the Montreux Jazz Festival was broadcast on Swiss television.
In February 1997 released the single One Life One Soul, recorded in duet with the Spanish singer, Montserrat Caballé, known in the rock world for his collaboration with Freddie Mercury of Queen for the title Barcelona. In March 1997, Gotthard received the WALO Prize for the second consecutive year. They play in various Swiss festivals and record an acoustic live album D-Frosted, released in September and reaches first place in the Swiss charts. Mandy Meyer becomes the 5th member of the group definitively. Their tour is complete again in Switzerland and Germany, and they give concerts for the first time in France and Italy.
GOTTHARD, In The Heart Of The International Rock Scene
They received a prize at the International Music Award in Monaco in June 1998. They begin recording their next album, Open, in July 1998. Let It Rain, a single released in November, was a massive hit in Switzerland, reaching the top ten. The band will then open for Deep Purple in France before heading to Switzerland and Germany for a promotional tour.
In February 1999, the Open album was released. This album, which leaves the hard rock typed by Gotthard for a rock much more pop, enters the Swiss rankings directly in the first place, a place which it will occupy six consecutive weeks and be classified in the top 30 in Germany and Austria. This album is a certified double platinum disc. The group then goes on tour in Germany, Switzerland, France, and for the first time in Holland, it will also play in various festivals in Europe.
The year 2000 will be relatively calm, the group investing itself primarily in constructing its own recording studio. In November, the single, Heaven, will be the only single group to reach first place on the Swiss charts and receive a gold record16. In December 2000, the studio was finished, and the band began recording the next album titled Homerun. At the end of January 2001, the group released the Homerun album, directly ranked first in the Swiss charts and in March, released the single of the same name. In a vein quite close to Open, this album, although more rock, will be triple platinum. In June, they are the guests of Jon Bon Jovi in Zurich, Vienna and Munich. In July 2001, GOTTHARD was invited by AC / DC in Turin this time.
A Road To Rock Heaven
GOTTHARD kept going and are extremely creative and produced several albums and special recordings in the years that followed.
2002 – release of the compilation album One Life One Soul, which lists the best ballads of the group
2003 – The Human Zoo album takes first place in the Swiss rankings
2004 – They record the official song of the Swiss team for the Athens Olympic Games, One Team One Spirit. And they officially sold a million records in Switzerland.
2005 – the group releases the new single Lift U Up. The Lipservice album was released in June and is already certified platinum through pre-sales.
2006 – They receive a double-platinum record for Lipservice and a platinum record for the live album
2007- releases the Domino Effect album, which will be preceded by the release of the single Anytime, Anywhere, from the album Lipservice.
2008 – Gotthard receives the award for best Swiss rock album for Domino Effect at the first Swiss Music Awards Show. The group is the special guest in Germany of the 40th Anniversary Arena Tour of Deep Purple.
2009 – Gotthard takes part in the Deep Purple Tour as a guest.
With such a success story, nothing could stop GOTTHARD. Well, that seemed true until the terrible date of October 5th 2010. On that day, the leading vocals Steve Lee dies in a terrible accident in the US while the singer was crossing the country with friends on Harley Davidson.
On October 5, 2010, while Steve Lee was on the lane of a highway with his Harley and about twenty other bikers, his motorcycle was hit by a heavy truck trailer, which then got him. The 21 Swiss bikers started their journey on Sunday on a total of 12 motorcycles. On Tuesday, 5 October, about 50 miles from Las Vegas, the group had stopped at the roadside to put on their rain gear as it had started to rain. On the slippery road, the trailer of a passing truck began to skid. The driver attempted evasive action, but his trailer clipped five motorcycles parked at the roadside; one of them hit Steve Lee. Rescue services attempted resuscitation, but efforts were stopped after 20 minutes. At 16:13 local time, Steve Lee was pronounced dead.
We have lost one of the greatest rock voices in the world and an exceptional personality in Steve Lee. Despite his tremendous popularity, the Ticino singer maintained a keen sense of detail and often dazzled his audience with his keen observation.
GOTTHARD, Recent Years
The loss of Steve Lee was almost a hard stop for the group. The leading voice that personified the GOTTHARD style was gone and how to find the energy to keep going? It took them several months to decide, and it was in April 2011, the group announced they were looking for a new singer to replace Steve Lee. At the end of that same year, Nic Maeder joined the group as the new voice of Gotthard and has been with the group since then. He succeeded to find the right balance between honouring the group legacy and heritage and yet imposing his own style.
In 2012, the group released a new album called Firebirth. There was a lot of expectations around this album, the first one without Steve Lee. In February 2014, the group announced a second album with Nic, Bang !. On this album, we can hear more the voice of the new singer, Nic Maeder. The album includes the ballad song Maybe in duet with Melody Tibbits. In 2015, they received the prize for best album at the Swiss Music Awards.
In 2017, Gotthard released a new album, the third with Nic, titled Silver, to announce their silver 25th anniversary. During their tour, they have played in particular with the group Krokus.
2020 was a very rich year as the group released two important albums: #13 and Steve Lee – The Eyes of a Tiger – In Memory of Our Unforgotten Friend
#13 – the new Studio Album
Gotthard’s 13th studio album is by far the most diverse of the band’s entire career. In addition to the typical straight rock in the finest songwriting, “# 13” offers an astonishing tension of power opener Bad News, fast hard’n’heavy on “Every time I Die,” straightforward announcements in “Man on a Mission,” hung blues-rock on Another Last Time, widescreen ballads like “I can say I’m Sorry” and crazy 70s psychedelic on “Rescue Me”.
The first track, “Missteria”, is evidence of the passion for playing and experimenting on “# 13,” in addition to possibly the album’s greatest surprise, a reinterpretation of ABBA’s world hit “S.O.S.” The eccentric track, which was co-written by none other than Status Quo frontman Francis Rossi, combines hard rock vibes with oriental elements and serves as the lavish backdrop for the music video released earlier this year.
After 16 No.1 albums, over three million records sold and more than 2,000 live shows, “# 13” shows that even after more than 25 years of history and global honours, Gotthard is shaking up what fans around the world love about this band: extremely much Creativity and Classic Swiss Rock at its best.
Steve Lee – The Eyes of a Tiger – In Memory of Our Unforgotten Friend
It has been already 10 years of Steve Lee’s passing. How to honour a great artist, leading vocal and friend? Probably the best way to do it to pay a respectful and ambitious tribute. This should write his name forever into the rock hall of fame. A decade later, Steve Lee lives in the hearts and the minds of his friends and fans. To honour his memory, GOTTHARD delivers a special album and offers two unreleased tracks, among them the world well famous Eyes of the Tiger in two different versions, as well as eleven stripped-down versions of well-known songs. All performed by Gotthard and sung by Steve Lee. We tend to say that rock stars shine forever, and in this case, Steve Lee shines more than a thousand suns.
GOTTHARD is for sure a pillar of Swiss rock history, and their creative power challenged the years, and fans from all over the world keep following the group for new adventures. You can visit the group official website here to learn more about this fantastic rock band: https://www.gotthard.com.
José Amorim Information sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. Featured Image by Ueli Frey: https://www.uelifrey.ch
The best store you can go to is the one already in your home. Go through your closet and see if there is anything that can be customized by adding embellishments, fabric paint, bows, pockets, a monogram, zippers, lace, or slits.
Alter Them
This requires some creativity but is a lot of fun! There are so many different ways that you can alter your clothes to make them fresh. One option is to paint outlines onto jeans or other denim around the cuffs. You can either paint them a color that complements the color they already are, or one that is completely different!
Fabric paints are inexpensive and another easy way to spruce up your clothing. Fabric paints can be purchased at a local craft store and come in a variety of colors and finishes. You can even get glitter paint for adding sparkle to your embellishment.
If you are savvy with a sewing machine, then you can alter clothes and change them significantly. You can turn a skirt into a pair of shorts, or turn a pair of shorts into a skirt! You can also remove sleeves or just the shoulders of a shirt or top.
Make Custom T-Shirts
Custom T-shirts are a great way to bring communities together. At a time when people are seeking connection, wearing a T-shirt that signifies your membership amongst a group says a lot about who you are. You can get T-shirts for any number of communities that you may be a part of, whether they are in your school, religious group, athletic association, volunteerism, or whatever it is that you do! When you print t-shirts, you certainly stand out!
There are a number of reasons why printing your own custom shirts is a great way to customize your wardrobe. When you print T-shirts, you are making a statement with your own design. Another great reason to print your own T-shirts is that printing costs can be very low and allow you to develop your own income stream within 1 to 3 months. And with T-shirt printing, you can offer your services to a variety of people from men, women, to children.
Organize A Clothing Swap
Gather a couple of friends together and have a clothing swap. Now, the idea of wearing someone else’s clothes might not seem appealing at first but remember that you can always alter them to fit your style. That super long dress that your friend is giving away that you think would make a cute skirt? That could be a fun new project for you!
Get Free Clothes From Gifting
Another idea that you can try is looking online for gifting/exchange groups. These are groups on social media sites that sometimes consist of stay-at-home moms, busy parents, or people who don’t want to buy things that they will only need temporarily. Unlike in a clothing swap where you exchange clothes for clothes, in a gifting group, you can exchange clothes for garden plants, or old tools you don’t use, or anything else that a neighbor could request. Usually, someone posts what they are willing to barter in exchange for whatever it is they need, and many groups stay under 1,000 people to ensure that only local neighbors are making exchanges.
Be careful when going online to meet people, but don’t be afraid to connect with other locals. You don’t have to purchase clothing from a thrift store if you have a neighbor that you don’t know yet with a bag full of clothes to donate that they will gladly give you in exchange for something they need.
You can then take these clothes and alter them using the same suggestions above.
Carol Information sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. Featured Image by StockSnap from Pixabay.
To mark the 100th anniversary of CHANEL N°5, the world’s most famous perfume, CHANEL has convened inspiring voices from their fields to reflect on the under-explored notion of celebrity in a new short film release.
Marion Cotillard, the face of N°5, Marie-Agnès Gillot, renowned ballet dancer and choreographer Marie-Agnès Gillot, Chinese fashion media icon Hung Huang, renowned psychologist Laurie Santos, esteemed former Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter, and international dance star Lil Buck all appear in the film.
Titled: Celebrity by, the film is the latest in a series of inspiring content from the House as it reflects on “100 Years of Celebrity” as N°5 reaches its 100th anniversary.
CHANEL is using the perfume’s 100th anniversary to focus on the emerging powers of fame that will influence the next 100 years, just as N°5 did not just change the world of perfumery, but also influenced musicians, photographers, filmmakers, authors, and the general public for decades.
“The greatest kind of celebrity is that which stands the test of time. It is based on creation, the way in which we share what we create, the way in which we share who we are.”
Marion Cotillard
CHANEL has also published individual video vignettes of each speaker to explore their intimate perspectives on celebrity in more depth to accompany the main film. Representing a diverse range of disciplines and geographies worldwide, each speaker offers their unique perspective on how the notion of celebrity continues to shape and reshape culture, creativity, and society.
Marion Cotillard explores the interplay between celebrity and icons, idols, and legends, and expresses the importance of staying true to yourself and supporting causes that matter:
Lil Buck shares his experience as an international dance prodigy whose craft has been shaped by an extensive spectrum of celebrity, cultural, and creative influences, from popularizing jookin’ at just 13 years old to collaborating with Madonna and others as he moved into ballet and other forms of dance:
Graydon Carter draws from his vantage point as the former Editor of Vanity Fair to discuss the seminal influence celebrity has had on popular culture, mass media, and fashion:
Marie-Agnès Gillot shares her intimate personal journey as one of France’s most celebrated dancers and the role of celebrity as the embodiment of skill and craft:
Hung Huang explores the seismic shift that “celebrity” has undergone in China, tracing its history through the influence celebrity and fandom culture is having on today’s youth and women:
Laurie Santos, whose lecture on happiness at Yale has enjoyed unprecedented popularity in recent years, deconstructs our fascination with celebrity, how our minds are programmed to search for and follow celebrity, and how technology continues to redefine how we engage with it:
The dictionary might say that Celebrity’s word evokes a condition of fame and broad public recognition of an individual or group due to attention given to them. There are several ways for a person to attain a celebrity status. We would assume that “celebrity” usually implies a positive and favourable public image, as opposed to the neutrals “famous” or “notable”, or even the negatives “infamous” and “notorious”.
I like this new CHANEL campaign because of the iconic and beautiful aesthetics emanating from the visuals and the clever, rich and diverse angles expressed by the different personalities. They are different people, excelling in different disciplines and even in different parts of the world. This diversity plays a magnificent role by making this campaign in the “air du temps“.
Do not hesitate to connect to the brand official website to learn more about the incredible 100th anniversary of the most iconic fragrance CHANEL N°5: https://www.chanel.com.
José Amorim Information sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only and courtesy of CHANEL.
Have you ever seen a well-organized closet? Didn’t you just love it? An unorganized closet would always lead to an ultimate search for items that should have been easily picked out if the closet was well arranged. From shoeboxes to custom closet systems, closet organizers can be easily gotten from various stores.
Getting the closet organizers is the tiniest part of achieving an organized closet; creativity caps it all but do not fret! We know you want to stop making a mess of your clothes, and we have picked out several ultra-satisfying organized closets to aid you in arranging your closets. Check them out below:
Closet Organization Ideas Just For You
1. Leave No Space Behind
Spacing out your items does not necessarily promote the organization of your wardrobe. Professional recommendations from InspiredClosets.com assure that small closet sizes will not stop you from effectively organizing your closet. You can maximize your storage space as long as you have closet organizers like plastic baskets, racks, hooks, hampers, shower rings, shelf dividers, and others. You can create more space and keep adding items to your closet when you detect open spaces.
However, maximizing your space does not mean that you should choke the closet with too many items. Old clothes and accessories, for example, should be discarded to create space for the ones still in use. Screen your closets and stash items that have not been in use for at least 5 months.
2. Racks and Hanger Affairs
A closet with racks and hangers holds so much promise. There are a lot of closet organizers you can use for your racks and hangers. Items such as cloth dividers, shower rings, and pipe cleaners are simple closet hacks to make your life easier:
Cloth Dividers: You can even have these dividers printed yourself! Clothing dividers are simple to use and less time-consuming to install when organizing the closet. You can use them to sort out clothes by styles and sizes when using the rack. With these, you can increase your storage space by stacking different sets on the rack while separating them with the clothing dividers.
Shower Rings: Instead of dedicating a hanger to each scarf you have, shower rings allow you to hang more than one scarf with a hanger. Shower rings are fancier and also save you storage space while organizing your closet.
Pipe Cleaners: Using hangers for shirts can be infuriating because they keep slipping off! Luckily, someone thought of something we could use. Pipe cleaners can prevent your shirts from slipping from the hanger. An added advantage of using these is that you can make them yourself!
Most of the time, allotment of space to each group of items can be unreasonable. The spaces mapped out for the items do not have to be equal, but they should not be divided without considering other items. The frame of this closet marks out the space that each group of an item is entitled to. This process will help prevent the choking of items when organizing your closet. Arrangements could also be made by category; Clothes, shoes, bags, and accessories.
4. Better Closet Lighting
The neatness of your closet is admirable, but it will not be as functional as it could be without adequate lighting. Closets that are deeper or have a smaller doorway may not receive as much light as is necessary from your leading bedroom lights. Make sure that you illuminate the entire space so that you can find things without just relying on the fact that your items are well-organized, but also because you can see everything!
Do not settle for an outdated incandescent bulb and a pull chain for lighting in your closet. Perhaps a new energy-efficient LED light fixture will work well, or maybe some recessed overhead lighting. If you find that the closet is still a little dark, consider adding a few additional light sources, such as LED puck lights. In addition, you will have the option of choosing between battery-powered and hardwired LED task lighting. It is best to opt for the latter type of lighting, as it provides a higher level of lighting quality and does not require batteries to be changed.
Bonus tips for arranging your closet
Sort your clothes by category.
Discard old items.
Hang sturdy items.
Make your closet less boring; use color codes.
Use conventional hangers for hanging items.
Use the top shelf to store away items you don’t use frequently.
Use storage boxes for your workout clothes and pajamas.
Add a mirror nearby (When you try out clothes, you can quickly check them in the mirror and return them to the closet if you don’t like your combo)
Hang your purses and accessories
Don’t waste wall space; use them!!
Separate clothes into seasons.
Always empty and clean your closet periodically. Closet organization is a continuous exercise.
Finally, never forget that the size of your wardrobe should also guide you in picking out the suitable frame for organizing your closet. Nevertheless, arranging your space should not get you all worked up, be creative and have fun while at it!
Carol Information sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. Content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. Featured Photo by Huy Nguyen on Unsplash
Switzerland is definitely a country with hidden treasures, and the city of Basel is one of them. It is a city in northwestern Switzerland on the river Rhine. Basel is Switzerland’s third-most-populous city (after Zürich and Geneva) with about 200,000 inhabitants. The official language of Basel is German, but the main spoken language is the local Basel German dialect. Basel is considered the cultural capital of Switzerland thanks to its famous museums, foundations and institutions. The city itself was seat in the 11th century and since then, Basel has shined by its cultural aura across Switzerland, Europe and even the world.
Basel has often been the site of peace negotiations and other international meetings. The Treaty of Basel (1499) ended the Swabian War. Two years later, Basel joined the Swiss Confederation. The Peace of Basel in 1795 between the French Republic and Prussia and Spain ended the First Coalition against France during the French Revolutionary Wars. In more recent times, the World Zionist Organization held its first congress in Basel from 29 August through 31 August 1897. Because of the Balkan Wars, the (Socialist) Second International held an extraordinary congress at Basel in 1912. In 1989, the Basel Convention was opened for signature to prevent hazardous waste from wealthy to developing nations for disposal.
As a world capital, Basel is also the city of Art-Basel. In the 1970s, Basel gallerists Ernst Beyeler, Trudl Bruckner and Balz Hilt create an international art fair that proves to be a success from the start. More than 16,000 visitors attend the inaugural show to see 90 galleries and 30 publishers from 10 countries. Since then, Art-Basel extended to Miami and Hong-Kong to become one of the biggest events in contemporary art in the world.
Why Should You Visit Basel?
Basel is an amazing city to visit. Under a calm and well-organized city lives tremendous energy. There is always something happening in Basel. From the historical city-centre to more modern areas, everything is done to welcome visitors. If you are staying in a hotel in Basel, you obtain a free public transport card allowing you to take all public transports for free during your stay. The same card offers a -50% discount to many museum entrances, including the Zoo.
No matter if you are spending some good time with family, friends or lover, you will always find something interesting to do. The city is easy to access as you can get there by car, by train, fast train and there is also an airport quite well served. You can easily walk around the city and public transportation is perfect. The city has also implemented a clever service of electric-scooters that you can rent and leave wherever you want after usage.
3 Top Cultural Institutions to Visit In Basel
If you love culture, arts and history, you will be deeply in love with Basel. Even if you are just “culture-curious” you will also find a great interest in this city. Since the 17th century, Basel shines in the world of arts and became a strong player into the preservation of knowledge and the generosity of sharing art with the large public. Here are my top 3 cultural institutions you need to visit when you are in Basel.
Kunstmuseum Basel
The Kunstmuseum Basel houses the largest and most significant public art collection in Switzerland and is a heritage site of national significance. Its collection is distinguished by an impressively wide historical span, from the early 15th century up to the immediate present. Its various areas of emphasis give it international standing as one of the most significant museums of its kind. Its large collection allows the public to rediscover art history from the Renaissance to nowadays.
Renaissance: Konrad Witz, Hans Baldung (called Grien), Martin Schongauer, Lucas Cranach the Elder and Mathias Grünewald.
17th & 18th Century: Peter Paul Rubens, Rembrandt, Jan Brueghel the Elder
19th Century: Claude Monet, Paul Gauguin, Paul Cézanne, and the paintings by Vincent van Gogh and Switzerland’s Arnold Böcklin and Ferdinand Hodler.
20th Century: the focus is on works of Cubism with Pablo Picasso, Braque and Juan Gris. Expressionism is represented by such figures as Edvard Munch, Franz Marc, Oskar Kokoschka and Emil Nolde. The collection also includes works from Constructivism, Dadaism and Surrealism and American art since 1950. Further highlights are the unique compilations of works from Pablo Picasso, Fernand Léger, Paul Klee, Alberto Giacometti and Marc Chagall.
Currently, you can visit an exciting exhibition about Swiss artist Sophie Taeuber-Arp (1889–1943). She was a pioneer of abstraction. With an air of playful ease, her interdisciplinary creations dismantled longstanding barriers between art and life. Later in the year (fall), you cannot miss the Camille Pissarro exhibition called “The Studio of modernism“. The comprehensive fall exhibition at the Kunstmuseum Basel offers an overview of Pissarro’s output and focuses on his collaborative relationships with his contemporaries. As a friend and mentor, Pissarro was in close contact with artists of several generations, including Paul Cézanne, Claude Monet, Paul Gauguin, Edgar Degas, and Mary Cassatt. His sustained exchanges of ideas with his colleagues may be regarded as a vital catalyst for seminal developments in the painting of the second half of the nineteenth century.
In 1952, Ernst Beyeler and his wife Hildy renamed their antiquarian bookshop at Bäumleingasse 9 in Basel “Galerie Beyeler,” thus laying the foundation for a unique career. This led to the establishment of the Fondation Beyeler in 1982 and culminated in the opening of the Fondation Beyeler in 1997, now one of the world’s most important and beautiful art museums. Collector couple Ernst and Hildy Beyeler assembled a collection of fine works of classical modernism over fifty years, parallel to their work as successful gallery owners. The collection was converted into a foundation in 1982 and exhibited in its entirety for the first time in 1989. The collection includes approximately 400 paintings and sculptures and gives a personal view of classical modernism based above all on quality.
The permanent collection is an impressive journey into modern art with worldwide references like Francis Bacon, Georges Braque, Paul Cézanne, Marc Chagall, Edgar Degas, Max Ernst, Albert Giacometti, Jenny Holzer, Paul Klee, Henri Matisse, Joan Miro, Piet Mondrian, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Auguste Rodin, Mark Rothko, Henri Rousseau, Vincent Van Gogh, Andy Warhol and many more. It is by far the most impressive permanent collection in Switzerland and probably in Europe.
Currently, you can attend an impressive exhibition by Olafur Eliasson called LIFE. Anyone visiting the Fondation Beyeler in the next months can walk into the building at any time of day, for the exhibition is open day and night, and no doors or windows are keeping the world out. The landscape surrounding the building spills into the interior, flooding the gallery spaces with a brackish, artificially green pond in which a variety of plants thrive.
Next fall, The Fondation Beyeler will be presenting one of the most important exhibitions ever devoted to Francisco de Goya (1746–1828) outside of Spain. Goya was one of the last major court artists and the first pioneer of modern art. He was both a painter of great portraits and an inventor of mysterious, personal pictorial worlds. It is precisely in these seemingly unresolvable contradictions that we discover the magical fascination of Goya’s art. The exhibition succeeds in bringing together over seventy paintings and selecting masterful drawings and prints that invite viewers on a journey into the beautiful and the incomprehensible.
Comics, graphic novels, comics reports, cartoons, satirical drawings or animated movies have one thing in common: They are all drawings that tell us a story. The Cartoonmuseum Basel is the only museum and centre of excellence in Switzerland devoted exclusively to the art of narrative drawing. Its mission is to collect individual works, curate exhibitions and share knowledge about the genre. The museum contributes to the debate about the art of narrative drawing and about the social and political issues it addresses. The museum grew out of its substantial collection of over 10’000 original drawings by renowned national and international artists. Today, the museum’s focus lies on carefully curated exhibitions displaying the works of a single artist or illustrating a specific theme.
Every exhibition is curated professionally and geared towards an international audience. The Cartoonmuseum Basel documents promote, teaches and challenges the art of narrative drawing. Their exhibitions focus on the artistic aspects of drawing and the creative process leading to a picture or story. Visitors can explore different styles, traditions and artistic positions. All works are embedded in their historical or social context. The exhibitions cover a broad range of topics: from classical to contemporary works, from thematic exhibitions to monographic retrospectives. Related genres such as free drawing, illustration or animation are also within the scope of the museum. These contemporary genres attract younger artists and audiences.
The current exhibition is called BIG CITY LIFE. Based on Frans Masereel’s famous woodcuts, impressive testimonies to the human condition in the city during the interwar period, the exhibition “Big City Life” at Cartoonmuseum Basel presents originals comics artists – works that are either set in the city or are about it. Focusing on the diversity of form and content in contemporary auteur comics, the exhibition selected renowned artists from Europe and the USA.
This summer’s next interesting exhibition is about British cartoonist, comics artist and children’s book author Posy Simmonds (b. 1945). She has attracted attention internationally with the three graphic novels Gemma Bovery (1999), Tamara Drewe (2007) and Cassandra Darke (2018), and with their headstrong titular female characters. She fascinates with precise psychological portraits, mocks the shortcomings of the middle class and cultural scene, caricatures staidness, and criticises social developments. Cartoonmuseum Basel presents Switzerland’s first retrospective on this major British artist, with original drawings from all graphic novels, her children’s books and illustrations and cartoons for newspapers and magazines, plus unpublished preliminary work.
Basel offers a multitude of accommodations for all budgets and tastes. Most of the hotels are well placed in the city’s heart, allowing easy access from the main railway station and airport. Here are my top 3 addresses you might want to check when planning a stay in the Swiss city.
Hotel Les Trois Rois
The Hotel Les Trois Rois is one of the oldest city hotels in Europe – founded in 1681 as an inn for gentlemen, rebuilt in 1844 as a Grand Hotel – receives guests from all over the world. The guestbook of the Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois reads like a who’s who of world history. Empress Michiko of Japan, James Joyce and Pablo Picasso: were all guests for a while at this hotel. Well located, you will find the ambience of this Grand Hotel a must while staying in Basel. Kids are more than welcome and will enjoy special treatment by the friendly and professional team. 101 rooms and suites are at the disposal of the guests. They combine history with the latest comfort. From the junior rooms through to the luxurious Suite Les Trois Rois in the art deco style: you will be completely comfortable in any one of the elegantly furnished guest rooms.
Here you will meet urban art and architecture that are sure to spark animated conversations. ART HOUSE Basel is a hotel with a cosmopolitan flair for globetrotters who desire flexibility while offering high-quality designs and a unique experience. The hotel’s contemporary architecture and urban street art style focused on functionality and flexibility were conceived by Diener & Diener and the Italian designer Andrea Caputo. The Art House Basel hosts 33 designer rooms and suites, the PRIVATE ROOFTOP BAR Mirador (which can be booked for private gatherings or MICE-Location), a music room as well as our Restaurant Souvenir.
The Geyer family has been running formerly known as the Hotel St. Gotthard in Basel, since 1929; from October 1st 2015, it has been called the GAIA HOTEL. 86 charming rooms, a historic breakfast room, and two meeting rooms shine in warm colours and are decorated with local and international art objects from the family collection.
Sustainability in every area is fundamental for this beautiful hotel. The GAIA hotel is aiming to become a zero-waste hotel. They are working towards this with numerous initiatives like environmental-friendly cleaning, zero waste strategy, Stale bread goes to nourish the Basel Zoo elephants, used coffee grounds are used to grow mushrooms in Basel, etc. The Gaia Hotel has the Bio-Hotel label guaranteeing a high-standard for sustainability.
There are many options to get a good meal in Basel. You can enjoy different international food as well traditional Swiss. Even during the pandemics, the Food Market placed different food stands to help you with your meals. Here are 4 interesting addresses to visit for a snack, a drink or a full meal.
The Brötli Bar
This is a place that every Basel fan knows. The Brötli Bar, literally the “small bread bar”, is what we could call the Swiss Tapas bar. With a tremendous variety of Swiss specialities, pizzeria and a unique choice of canapés Swiss style, the Brötli bar is the perfect place for a snack, a quick lunch, an afternoon hunger or a quick diner. All products are fresh, generally coming from the surroundings and carefully handcrafted to your palate’s pleasure. It is open every day from 11:00 AM to midnight.
High above the roofs of Basel, near the sky, with a spectacular view over the exiting city life and the beautiful landscape, there is Bar Rouge at 105 meters high. In the evenings, the bar lounge tempts you with tasty snacks and delicious drinks, and at night Bar Rouge is one of the fanciest clubs in the city. At this location, art and culture meet and create a breathtaking atmosphere. For business events, delicious aperitif, an unforgettable birthday party or an exciting party night with friends, Bar Rouge fulfil your wishes and organize the perfect event for you.
The bar with salumi and cheese specialities and over 100 wines can be found in the heart of the old town of Kleinbasel on Rheingasse. The extensive offerings and lively atmosphere make the Consum an uncomplicated meeting point. Whether it’s the fresh lunch at noon, sweet temptations in the afternoon or a convivial aperitif in the evening – Consum will spoil you. As a joyful storyteller, Max Hehl lends his Italianità to the Consum and recommends you the most convenient wine he has got in the cellar for you. Are you curious about his favourite combination of wine and platter speciality? Ask him personally and he will serve you his personal highlights.
High-quality and homemade. That’s the philosophy of the Volta Bräu. All the beers and signature drinks can be perfectly paired with items from their mouth-watering menu – such as the legendary pulled pork sandwich. The freshest craft beer in town is brewed in an industrial space located at Voltaplatz in Basel. They brew Volta Bräu beer after traditional methods and with a strong passion. The brewpub combines an urban feel-good atmosphere with the attraction of the brewery – the Volta Bräu home-brewed beers are tapped and served directly at the bar. The selection reflects the love for beer and the desire for variety and change.
Basel, Switzerland, is a place of exciting contrasts. It is a city with historical buildings next to modern architecture where a young and dynamic art scene exists alongside world-renowned museums. Basel has a true Cosmopolitan ambience and yet lively traditions are pretty much alive. You just have to experience Basel for yourself. Here are three amazing experiences you do not want to miss.
The Basel Carnival is inscribed in 2017 on the Unesco Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Beginning on the Monday following Ash Wednesday and lasting exactly 72 hours, Basel Carnival is the largest carnival in Switzerland. Two parades take place on Monday and Wednesday, bringing together 11,000 costumed carnivalists in parades of fife and drum cliques, floats and carriages. Tuesday is dedicated to children, with concerts and lantern exhibitions, while other events also punctuate the festival. The carnival can be compared to a huge satirical magazine where all visual or rhetorical means are used to make fun of flaws and blunders. Around 20,000 people of any age, social status, origin and political persuasion actively participate in the festival, which attracts around 200,000 Swiss and foreign visitors.
The Basel Zoo
Photo: LuxuryActivist.com
Basel Zoo introduces visitors to the beauty of nature and offers an opportunity to kick back and relax in a natural park landscape. Animals and nature are the priority, with architecture, technology and logistics in the background. Zoo Basel is Switzerland’s oldest (1874) and largest zoo (by a total number of animals). With over 1.8 million visitors per year, it is the most visited tourist attraction in Switzerland with an entrance fee.
Zoo Basel was ranked as one of the fifteen best zoos globally by Forbes Traveler in 2008 and 2009 as the seventh-best in Europe by Anthony Sheridan from the Zoological Society of London. The zoo had the first Indian rhinoceros birth in a zoo, as well as the first greater flamingo hatch. It has had repeated breeding success with animals, including cheetahs (18 births), okapi (22), pygmy hippopotamuses (53), and flamingos (over 400 hatches). Every Somali wild ass (a donkey) in zoos worldwide is related to the population in Basel, where this species’ zoological breeding program was started.
The Basel Cathedral
The original cathedral was built between 1019 and 1500 in Romanesque and Gothic styles. The late Romanesque building, destroyed by the 1356 Basel earthquake, was rebuilt by Johannes Gmünd, who was at the same time employed for building the Freiburg Münster. Ulrich von Ensingen, architect of the towers at the Ulm Minster and the Strasbourg Cathedral, extended the building from 1421. Hans von Nußdorf completed the southern tower in 1500.
Two towers bestride the main front, which points to the west. The northern tower is called Georgsturm (64.2 m), and the southern tower is called Martinsturm (62.7 m). The towers are named after Georg and Martin, saints of the knights. Corresponding equestrian sculptures portray copies of both saints next to the main entrance upon high pilasters below the particular towers. The statue of Holy Martin originated from the year 1340; today, the archetype can be found in the Klingentalmuseum. A mechanical clock and a sundial are located above the archetype. Remarkably, the sundial of the Basler Münster shows the “wrong time” due to the Basler Zeit. Below the Georgsturm, a monumental picture (1372) can be found, which shows knight Georg fighting against a tiny dragon.
As you could read, Basel offers a diversity of choices to spend a great long weekend/week of holidays. Do not hesitate to check the city official website to learn more about the city point of interests and events: https://www.basel.com
José Amorim Information sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. Featured Image by Albrecht Fietz from Pixabay
The Family House CLAUDE MEYLAN preserves and proudly perpetuates its ancestral know-how in the heart of Jura Switzerland, more specifically in L’Abbaye, a traditional Vallée de Joux village where the harsh winters have given birth to great ideas and realizations of time measurement. This year and once again, CLAUDE MEYLAN reveals a new masterpiece called LIONNE Sheherazade.
Inspired by timeless legends
CLAUDE MEYLAN takes its inspiration from the magic of the Middle East to combine open movement and arabesques. Marrying black to white, sober and elegant, Sheherazade presents a new sculpture of time.
In the centre of the piece, the hour and minute wheels take the hands in an infinite ballet. Each bridge is sculpted, fully decorated and in very particular harmony; they set intriguing transparency and are enhanced by the arabesque décor. Such elements layered bring us to a new dimension where space and time are giving us a great opportunity to let our imagination flow.
An arabesque is a form of artistic decoration consisting of “surface decorations based on rhythmic linear patterns of scrolling and interlacing foliage, tendrils” or plain lines, often combined with other elements. Another definition is “Foliate ornament, used in the Islamic world, typically using leaves, derived from stylised half-palmettes, which were combined with spiralling stems”. It usually consists of a single design that can be ’tiled’ or seamlessly repeated as many times as desired.
Arabesque is a French term derived from the Italian word arabesco, meaning “in the Arabic style”. The term was first used in Italian, where rabeschi was used in the 16th century as a term for “pilaster ornaments featuring acanthus decoration”, specifically “running scrolls” that ran vertically up a panel or pilaster, rather than horizontally along a frieze.
CLAUDE MEYLAN as an architect of time gets inspiration from the most original references, and it was normal that arabesques inspired the perfect work of skeletonization.
Sheherazade allows us to escape and discover the fascinating various elements of its mechanics. LIONNE is fitted with either mechanical or automatic movement.
Technical Information
Movement Automatic Functions Hours, Minutes and seconds Decors Refined, fully sculpted and engraved. Caliber PESEUX 7040 or PESEUX 7001 or ETA 2892 ; Autonomy 42 hours Case Stainless steel 316L, see-through back, sapphire glasses Dimension 35 mm Waterproof 30 m Strap Black tech satin or choice of printed alligator calf, Boucle Stainless pin 316L
LIONNE is the name of the river that runs from the top of the mount, howls and rages in front of CLAUDE MEYLAN’s workshops before being let go to join the lake. LIONNE is CLAUDE MEYLAN’s river, and as its name indicates, it is at the same time a mother, a huntress and a capital element of the CLAUDE MEYLAN family.
Check the company official website to learn more about this timepiece and CLAUDE MEYLAN’s art: https://www.claudemeylan.ch. Founded in the ’80s, Claude Meylan has secured its rightful place amongst the prestigious “watchmaking families” from Vallée de Joux. The names of the collections, “Lac” (Lake), “Lionne” (Name of the river) and “l’Abbaye” (the Abbey), reflect the brand geographic roots. These unique watches showcase the Maison’s authenticity and know-how.
Arsène Wargas Information sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.
When inviting guests over to our homes, we usually go overboard and ensure everything is set and will impress the guests. Whether the guests will stay for a while or are there for one day, you will want them to have a wonderful experience at your home. If you have had guests to entertain at your home before, you have a clue of what to do.
If you are inviting guests for the first time and have no clue what to do, here are five ways to impress your guests when entertaining at home.
1. Thoroughly Clean Your Home
Take time to deep clean all areas in your house. Start cleaning the house from the ceiling. Use a paint roller to clean the ceiling and other top areas. If you have unused old clothes, damp them in water and roll them on the paint roller to clean hard-to-reach areas.
For your floor, use a vacuum cleaner to remove dirt. Ensure you vacuum the floor thoroughly to leave it spotless. A clean floor will make your guests feel secure while having fun at your home. Carefully check for any spills that may cause slips. Clean the washroom thoroughly and use an air freshener to leave it smelling nice.
When cleaning, ensure you cover all areas in the house, including the windows, bedroom, front and backyard, kitchen, and bathroom.
2. Have All Essentials at Hand
If you are hosting the guests for more than a day, it is essential to offer them all basic needs. Prepare the guest bedroom in advance. Ensure it is clean and supplied with clean blankets, pillows, and bedsheets. Stock the bathroom with all necessities like hygiene products, shampoo, and body soaps. If the guests visit during summer, ensure you turn on the air conditioner at a suitable temperature while asleep.
Lastly, guests will not stay in your house without food and drinks. Stock up enough food supplies and bottled drinks in your cottage kitchen. This ensures your guests can have snacks anytime while catching up and getting entertained.
3. Offer Entertaining Activities
While hosting guests in your home, create good times with them. Suggest fun activities you can do together. Some of these activities include going swimming, playing cards, or roasting meat in your backyard.
Photo by Ezequiel Garrido on Unsplash
These guests may either be your relatives, friends, or colleagues. Take the opportunity to bond and have fun with them. Ask for some time off work and use the time to care for and entertain your guests at home. By doing this, you will create a great experience with your guests that will be worth remembering.
4. Make Your Home Comfy
Apart from ensuring your house is clean and safe for your guests, the other thing to consider is creating a luxurious and comfortable atmosphere for your guests. Have you ever wondered why people stay in coffee shops for long hours? It is because they love its cozy atmosphere and ambiance. Try achieving the same ambiance in your home.
When thinking of making your guests cozy at home, think of how you feel when going to your favorite coffee shop. Create a similar ambiance in your home that will make your guests desire to:
Replace your curtains with warm color curtains such as purple and blue
Add a small bookshelf with magazines and books in one end of the living room
Place a bowl of sweets at the center table in the living room
Add an indoor plant in the living room, bathroom, or guest bedroom
5. Show Your Guests Around
Do not make your guests feel like they are strangers in your house. Find ways to make them feel comfortable. This is by showing them around the moment they get in your home. Show them the direction to the backyard, kitchen, and bathroom as they want to use or walk to any during their stay. Doing so will also save you the hassle of getting direction questions every moment.
Also, ensure you give the guests instructions on operating your home appliances, security systems, consoles, and showers. This way, you will make the guests feel welcomed in your home.
Being an excellent party host to your guest will not only make you feel happy, but your guest will have something to emulate. Treating your guests well will make them feel secure, create a good experience, and make them feel special for the time they will be in your home.
Liz Becker Information sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. Featured photo by Kelsey Chance on Unsplash
It’s a rare thing for a man to go out with no money in his pockets. Instead, he’ll usually be carrying a wallet. It can be light, portable, and highly functional. It may contain more than the basic credit cards and cash: some ID cards, receipts, tickets, or several other items.
It’s not just a matter of being practical, however. Many men use their wallets as fashion statements just as they do with their suits or watches. People make assumptions about others based on what they see. They can assume a person is wealthy, stylish, and fashionable (or hard up for money!) based on their choice of wallet. Perhaps you want to communicate your sense of taste and class this way. We will now go through some of the wallets you have available.
Chain Wallets
They first became popular amongst bikers who tired of losing their money as they rode along. The chain helps keep a person’s money secure in their pocket whilst they are out and about. Over time they became fashion accessories. People can buy them in all sizes and styles, including vintage and retro. Whether it’s a bifold, trifold, or checkbook wallet you are looking for, you will be able to find a chain version.
It’s wise to do plenty of research before you make your purchase. Why not read a review page on a specialist website? It might discuss the top wallets from Switzerland, Italy, Germany, and the UK. You can learn about luxury items and top craftsmanship, and even products you can personalize.
These are the ultimate minimalist item, fitting snugly into peoples’ jacket pockets or trousers. They typically store less than more classical wallets, having room primarily for credit cards and banknotes. A person who is going out for the evening may find this choice perfect as they won’t need to carry much else.
The reduction in size doesn’t mean a person won’t have room for around ten credit cards, however. They can choose a product made from top-quality leather, or one with aluminum plating for extra durability. Some fine examples are The Ridge Slim Wallet and the Bellroy Slim Sleeve.
Bifold Wallets
They provide more space for such things as loose change, coupons, and so on. You can keep ID cards and business cards there, too. Due to their bulkiness, they are less comfortable to wear in your pocket, however.
It’s possible to buy suave versions in dark leather colors. Travelers also favor bifold wallets made from long-lasting canvas. Check out the Tom Ford Textured Leather Bifold. If you’re worried about your data being stolen from your credit card, take a look at the Herschel Hank RFID Bifold.
Trifold Wallets
They store more and make it easier to categorize the contents. The overall size is usually smaller than some other wallets. Some provide windows so you can flash an ID card without taking it out and risking losing it.
Three popular examples are the Acne Studios Wallet, the Fossil Ingram Leather Trifold Wallet, and the stylish Bosca Leather Trifold Wallet.
The Long Wallet
This might be the option for you if it is to be carried in your jacket. That’s why it’s also known as the suit coat wallet, coat wallet, and breast coat wallet.
It can be carried around unfolded, leaving its contents pristine and uncrinkled.
Card Wallets
Just as some clerks like a clear desk and a paperless office, some people like to carry minimal things around with them. They may only go shopping with their credit cards and store cards, and little else. In this scenario a card wallet is ideal. Needless to say, it could be a disappointment if you suddenly needed a change for parking!
For a quality item that carries a touch of class, look at the Tumi Gusseted Card Case.
Money Clips And Metal Items
It’s possible to buy a money clipper, and some contain magnets to keep everything in place. Two excellent buys are the Maison Margiela and the Leatherology Magnetic Money Clip. For something metallic, check out the Decadent Minimalist DM1 Titanium Wallet.
At the end of the day, it will depend on your taste and budget. It may be that you will end up buying more than one, to suit different occasions. Be sure to look after it so that it remains in peak condition. Then it will serve you for many years to come, and make a lasting impression on those who see it.
Carol Information sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. Featured Photo by Georgi Dyulgerov on Unsplash
For the fourth year of collaboration, Caran d’Ache and Nespresso go a step further into Swissness by revealing a collection of two new writing instruments made from recycled Nespresso capsules, coffee grounds, and pencils of Swiss wood. When passion and sustainability meet, everything is possible.
When Design aligns with Environment
Driven by shared values of innovation, excellence and environmental protection, Nespresso and Caran d’Ache are joining forces to create two writing instruments that carry outstanding elements of design and recycling. Together, they designed the first Fixpencil made from the aluminium of recycled Nespresso capsules, with a lead made from recycled coffee grounds. A set of three graphite pencils in Swiss wood and leads composed of coffee grounds completes this exclusive collection combining audacity, elegance, and eco-responsibility.
Together, Caran d’Ache and Nespresso are writing the history of recycling. The two Swiss flagships are joining hands for a fourth unprecedented alliance that pushes the limits of creativity in recycling. The two Swiss companies are connected by shared principles of innovation, environmental conservation, and excellence. Following the success of the first three editions of Ache + Nespresso’s 849 Caran ballpoint pen, the company has released the fourth version this year.
Caran d’Ache + Nespresso Fixpencil and graphite pencils
The mechanical pencil will don the bright and glossy ochre of the World Explorations Cape Town Envivo Lungo coffee capsules for a contemporary yet elegant style. For the very first time, thanks to the ingenuity and ever-evolving expertise of Caran d’Ache’s craftsmen, the pair take their collaboration to new heights as the graphite lead of the Fixpencil will be made from recycled coffee grounds.
Created in 1929, the Fixpencil is an exceptional invention in more ways than one. Stemming from the secular know-how of Caran d´Ache, it is the first mechanical pencil in the world. By its hexagonal shape and equipped with a patented mechanism, this symbol of Swiss design has had the honour of appearing on a Swiss postage stamp.
An essential companion for designers, artists, and architects is the Fixpencil, which this year is made from recycled Nespresso capsules. The mechanical pencil is adorned with the satin and bright ocher of the World Explorations Cape Town Envivo Lungo coffee capsules for a contemporary and elegant style. But in 2021, the Caran d’Ache + Nespresso duo are going even further. Thanks to the ingenuity and constantly perfected expertise of Caran d´Ache artisans, the Fixpencil graphite lead is, for the very first time, made from recycled coffee grounds. 100% natural leads, which lovers of environmentally conscious design can also find in an exclusive set of three graphite pencils.
Pencils that Caran d’Ache chooses to produce in beech from Swiss forests, FSC certified, reinforce this edition’s ecological dimension. These three instruments are adorned respectively in pink, green and gold colours reminiscent of the capsules of the Nespresso Reviving Origins Esperanza de Colombia, Tamuka Mu Zimbabwe and Amaha Awe Uganda coffees.
A committed mission inscribed on the two instruments’ body displays the words: “A recycling story is in your hand”! Their packaging in 100% recyclable cardboard and without glue reinforces the innovative and responsible approach of the two Swiss icons.
Entirely designed and produced in the Caran d´Ache workshops in Geneva, the Fixpencil and Caran d´Ache + Nespresso graphite pencils offer an eco-responsible drawing and writing experience to all those who want to write tomorrow.
A Story Of Eternity And Excellence
The aluminium used to create Nespresso capsules is infinitely recyclable, guarantees its coffees’ freshness, flavour, and quality. Nespresso capsules can be reborn in many forms only if they are collected and recycled. For more than 30 years, as part of a global sustainable approach, Nespresso has managed its own system to collect and recycle aluminium capsules to endlessly give them a second life.
For over 100 years, Caran d’Ache has respectfully perpetuated the art of drawing and writing. The Maison flagship of Swiss manufacturing tradition develops and manufactures its products in its workshops in Geneva. Caran d’Ache instruments are recognized worldwide for their excellence and are made following the requirements of the “Swiss Made” quality label.
By working together on such an outstanding project, Caran d’Ache and Nespresso tell a story of eternity and excellence. They connected the two hearts of their own businesses to create a powerful bond between the two companies. Using the Coffee grounds into the pencils graphite leads generates a beautiful story. When you write a word, a sentence, a paragraph, it will engrave into a paper that moment of eternity.
Do not hesitate to visit the Swiss company website to discover more about this collaboration: https://www.carandache.com
José Amorim Information sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.
