We made many wonderful retail discoveries in New York, some made an immediate impact and then evaporated, others linger with us long after our return. Le Labo is one of those places that has stayed front of mind. Most importantly this precious fragrance shop in Soho evokes emotion the moment you walk through the door. There is of course the gorgeous smell, the Victorian laboratory meets New York loft styling and the to-die-for Parisian staff. Choose a fragrance you like, decide how much you want and they mix it in front of you, label it with your name and the date, then package it in a understated, chic box and bag. A simple interactive concept presented in a beautiful way, using gorgeous fragrances you want and that won’t find anywhere else.
Design guru Murray Moss recently opened Centovini, a small Italian wine bar, restaurant and wine shop on West Houston Street in Soho, New York. He cleverly fuses the best in design (there is a Swarovski chandelier by Solange Azagury Partridge in the wine shop, and hand blown Murano glass lights and white leather bar stools in the bar), with simple Italian food, and a carefully edited collection of 100 Italian wines. It was the experience that we remember most. Restauranteur Nicola Marzovilla, who has collaborated with Murray Moss on the project, treated us to his favourite red wines and Italian antipasti, whist talking to us about the wines he had chosen, the background behind Centovini and his favourite places to visit in New York.
Fantastic news, Poke and Camron have been short listed for a BIMA (British Interactive Media Association). The BIMAs™ aim to recognise and reward creative excellence in interactive design.
We are up against some pretty stiff competition including Orange, 02 and Vodafone in the B2B category so fingers crossed that we win!
We visited Spitalfields Fine Food Market on a Thursday morning. This whole area is undergoing a renaissance and there is still obviously a lot of redevelopment work going on so definitely a space to be watched. Spitalfields offers twenty different food stalls, all offering really high quality foods ranging from Flour Power City Bakery which sells amazing breads, some using spelt flour – and the most delicious chocolate brownies, to a butchers selling a selection of organic meat and poultry. There’s also stalls offering olive oils, vinegars, cheeses, salamis and air dried ham, organic fruit and vegetables and home made confectionery. The market also boasts a great Leon and Canteen, while serious foodies must visit A Gold’s – a brilliant retro grocery cum delicatessen – and Verde’s which are both just opposite the entrance to the market.
Since we have our own dog, Barney at Camron – we track dog boutiques and this is one of the best we have come across. <a href =“http://www.themutznutz.com”>The Mutznutz, is located at 221 Westbourne Park Road, W11 and it has only been open 5 weeks. Andrew Cooper founded it with his girlfriend Jane because they felt there was nothing like it in the UK and both were inspired by their travels to LA, New York and Miami. Andrew, who has two dogs (Duke and Missy) has done a huge amount of research and buying culminating is this emporium.
The view from the Punkt. office in Lugano, Swizerland
prima by zaha hadid for swarovski at vitra campus
Royal Academy Summer Exhibition Party
18 Greek St
Swarovski Foundation and John Pawson - Perspectives - at the San Giorgio Maggiore Venice