12 Best World Whiskies To Try in 2024

No longer restricted to the whisky-making motherlands of Scotland and Ireland, it’s now possible to find a first-rate dram produced in just about all corners of the earth. Buoyed by the success of Japanese whisky, there’s a new wave of global producers taking experimentation in their stride.

Free from time-honoured tradition and strict regulations, distilleries from India to Australia are not only trialling new methods of maturation and blending but celebrating local produce (such as Tasmanian peat or Himalayan barley) to create distinctive and unique drops.

Of course, the natural environment plays its part; whisky matured in hot, humid conditions will age much more quickly than the boreal Highlands, meaning a whisky aged for three years in Bangalore can taste every bit as oaky and complex as a 15-year-old single malt.

How we test world whisky

Our panel of experts and whisky veterans tested a range of world whiskies blind, tasting them neat and then diluted with a drop of water to soften the alcohol and allow the core flavours to shine through. They were seeking memorable drams that not only challenged the status quo, but offered complex aromatic profiles, well-integrated alcohol, and the versatility to sip straight up or stir into whisky-based cocktails.

These are the 12 bottles you’ll find on their bar cart.

BEST RYE WHISKEY

WhistlePig 10 Year Old Rye Whiskey

Made by the master distiller behind Maker’s Mark’s best-selling blends, we had high hopes for this 10-year-old rye – and it delivered. The distillery scoured the globe before settling on casks from Sauternes, Porto, and Madeira; a combination that results in unparalleled complexity, with flavours of orange peel, green pepper, star anise, muscovado sugar at the fore and a hint of barrel char to finish.

70cl, 50 percent

BEST IN A MANHATTAN

Sazerac Rye

Our panel had nothing but high praise for the well-balanced aromas at play in this spicy sazerac by Buffalo Trace (think ginger, citrus oil, butterscotch and lingering smoke). The velvety mouthfeel makes this our new go-to for a Manhattan, but it’s a surprisingly good sparring partner for native oysters, too. Trust us on that.

70cl, 45 percent

BEST SWEDISH WHISKY

Agitator Single Malt Whisky

Hailing from Arboga, Sweden, this single malt impressed our experts with its unique fruit-forward flavour profile (think: bright citrus, crisp red apple, and a hint of dried fruit, thanks to the sherry cask maturation). On the palate, there’s a kiss of smoke and sea salt, making this one to savour straight-up, over ice, or with a dash of distilled water to bring out the nuttier backnotes.

75cl, 43 percent

BEST FRENCH WHISKY

Hautes Glaces Indigene Organic Whisky

The clever folk at Domaine des Hautes Glaces (which holds claim to being the oldest organic whisky distillery in the world) have created a classic single malt that pays homage to the surrounding French landscape. Barley grown in the Alps is first distilled over wood fire, before a lengthy maturation in ex-Cognac, ex-Armagnac, and ex-wine casks. On the nose, there’s sweet vanilla, almond, buttery brioche and toasted oats, followed by warming cinnamon, clove, and a hint of citrus on the palate. No self-professed whisky enthusiast should be without a bottle on their bar cart.

50cl, 44 percent

BEST IN AN OLD FASHIONED

Never Say Die Rye Whiskey

Distilled in Kentucky and matured at the White Peak Distillery in England, this rye whiskey from transatlantic brand Never Say Die is as complex on the palate as it is on the nose. The result is sweet and warming aromas of rich caramel, apple cake, coconut and warming spices. Just as rich and complex on the palate as on the nose, flavours of butterscotch, roasted vanilla pods, toasted wheat and biscuits are all paired with wonderfully rich and spicy back notes. Offering excellently balanced sweetness, this would make a delicious old fashioned.

70cl, 52.5 percent

BEST AUSTRALIAN WHISKY

Starward Left-Field Australian Single Malt Whisky

Overlooked for too long, Australian whisky is beginning to make waves in the global market, with Port Melbourne’s Starward Distillery leading the way. Matured in red wine barrels, aromas of apricot jam, sultanas and toasted praline fill the nose, before richer flavours of stem ginger, dark chocolate and stewed apple join the party on the palate. If you’re after a sweeter sipping whisky, you won’t be disappointed.

70cl, 40 percent

Stauning Host Whisky

Stauning is no stranger to experimentation, and Høst (meaning harvest) is a marriage of single malt sweetness and rye spice in one memorable dram. It’s matured in heavily-charred new American oak casks and first-fill port barriques, which results in a fruity, floral profile, with red berries, apple blossom, and honey taking centre stage, while the sultry smooth mouthfeel makes this a nightcap par excellence.

70cl, 40.50 percent

BEST CANADIAN WHISKY

Pike Creek 10 Year Old

If you gravitate towards sweeter bourbons, then get to know this Canadian whisky. Finished in rum barrels, the result is smooth and syrupy, with notes of dried orange, cooking spices, brown sugar and intense vanilla bean. Exceptionally versatile and food-friendly, we’d opt for all-out indulgence and pair it with a post-roast sticky toffee pud.

70cl, 42 percent

BEST JAPANESE WHISKY

The House of Suntory The Chita Single Grain Japanese Whisky

Grain whiskies are known for being lighter in flavour than malts, but this Japanese drop brings complexity in spades. Matured in a combination of sherry, bourbon and wine casks, you’ll find a mix of tropical fruits, caramel and vanilla with a hint of toasted rye-style grain. We’re confident you won’t find better.

70cl, 43 percent

BEST IN A MINT JULEP

Bulleit 95 Rye Bourbon Frontier Whiskey

Since its release in 2011, Bulleit 95 has earned its place on the shelves of leading bars across the globe – and it will work hard on your home bar, too. Exceptionally smooth with sweet notes of maple, oak and a light, woody finish laced with dried fruit and smoke, it’s versatile enough for all the classic cocktails, but brings something extra special to a mint julep.

70cl, 45 percent

BEST INDIAN WHISKY

Rampur Double Cask Single Malt Whisky

Another stellar single malt from Rampur, this expression is matured in ex-bourbon casks and finished in European sherry casks, which creates a harmonious blend of sweetness (raisin, honey, tropical fruit, malt) and spice (pepper, oak, cinnamon, nutmeg). Savour on the rocks with an orange twist – this whisky will see you through every season.

70cl, 45 percent

RUNNER-UP INDIAN WHISKY

Paul John Brilliance Indian Single Malt Whisky

Made using barley from the foothills of the Himalayas and distilled in Goa, this unpeated Indian single malt makes for a very special sipper. There’s a clean core of barley, malt and apple skin on the nose, which is swiftly joined by aromas of roasted walnuts, bitter orange peel, vanilla and lively festive spices. It has a memorable finish, with the rye returning for the last hurrah.

70cl, 46 percent

This article was first seen on Esquire.Sg

For more on the latest in luxury alcohol reads, click here.

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Bell & Ross Makes a Splash With the Revamped Bell & Ross BR 03 Diver

Bell & Ross, renowned for its precision in crafting professional instruments, has applied its expertise to the marine-themed Bell & Ross BR 03 Diver. Though the Franco-Swiss brand is recognised firstly for its aviation line of watches, Bell & Ross is quietly beefing up its underwater portfolio with subtle yet noteworthy upgrades while retaining its emblematic codes to its bread-and-butter range of dive watches.

Given the environments and stresses that a Bell & Ross watch and its wearer are often subjected to, Bell & Ross recognises the right tools are required. “Providing professionals with the quality of tools needed for their tasks and pushing boundaries to their furthest extent has always been part of our brand’s DNA,” affirms Carlos Rosillo, President and co-founder of Bell & Ross. As such, Bell & Ross went about aligning the Bell & Ross BR 03 Diver with the international ISO 6425 standards for dive watches. While much of the standards require the watch’s specification to meet certain criteria, perhaps the most critical of them all reads: the watch must be operationally tested underwater. Bell & Ross is slowly connecting the dots here with its core identity as a professional instrument maker.

If there’s anything Bell & Ross learnt from being an aviation watchmaker, relaying information in its simplest form is paramount in the most critical circumstances. One of the big updates under this guidance is altering the handsets of the Bell & Ross BR 03 Diver, as the previous baton-style hands ran the risk of being indistinguishable. An arrow-tipped hour hand was a straightforward but effective solution. The other tweaks include a ceramic insert instead of aluminium and an improved movement, guaranteeing increased durability and 54 hours of power reserve.

Flaunting this accomplished set of specifications are five iterations of the Bell & Ross BR 03 Diver. Three evergreen stainless steel pieces are rendered in black, blue and white dials, while a pair of black ceramic watches are distinguished by their dials: black and Full Lum. Having had a hands-on with the watches previously, our vote goes to the Full Lum version for its green-blue hued dial that glows a brilliant shade of green under darkness.

This story was first seen on MensFolio.com

For more on the latest in luxury watch news and releases, click here.

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Bluegame’s Big Multihull

The BGM75 includes a clean aft deck

Moored stern-to quayside, it’s apparent that the new 22.7m BGM75 from Bluegame isn’t your typical multihull. Sitting lower in the water and with a narrower beam than a typical catamaran, you nearly have to do a double take to confirm that, yes, she does have two hulls beneath her.

Philippe Briand of Briand Yacht Design, which handled the boat’s naval architecture, says: “This is an evolution of the monohull, rather than an evolution of a sailing catamaran.”

Case in point, BGM75’s main deck doesn’t tower over the water the way that other catamarans do. Her midsection between the two hulls hovers only 90cm above the surface. It’s just enough clearance to allow her to reap the performance benefits of a multihull platform while keeping her profile low and sleek.

The reason for the difference, Briand notes, is that some powercats have simply been sailing catamaran platforms repurposed as motoryachts; not, like the BGM series, designed from the outset to maximise the benefits of a multihull motoryacht.

“So far, there aren’t too many powercats purposefully designed as a powercat,” he says.

Philippe Briand was the naval architect for the BGM75, which has a beam of 8.15m

Briand explains that sailing cats need to sit higher in the water to afford for slight heeling while underway, but a powercat doesn’t need this same provision. As such, the Frenchman was able to lower the decks and eke out as much space as possible when designing the BGM75 from scratch.

“What I like in life is a challenge,” he adds. “I like to design something that doesn’t exist yet but, of course, makes sense.”

THE CHOSEN ONE

Luca Santella, Bluegame’s founder and Head of Product Strategy, explains why Briand was selected, going on to cite the multiple benefits of a narrow catamaran platform, from performance and comfort to exterior aesthetics and interesting layout options.

“Between the five designers, Philippe gave the strongest answer to our brief,” Santella says. “His idea to have a narrower cat was fantastic. It felt like we didn’t have to compromise, which is rare when starting a new project.”

Another reason for choosing a catamaran over a monohull is comfortable seakeeping. Two hulls mean the yacht is more stable and less susceptible to rolling, and utilising a narrower platform maximises this, says Briand. This enhanced stability can also help to quell seasickness.

“Seasickness is actually a matter of acceleration – it’s amplitude multiplied by the speed,” Briand says. “A monohull has a big amplitude but low speed of rolling, and a wider catamaran has a small amplitude and quick-rolling reaction, which can also be bad for seasickness. But the BGM75 is in-between a cat and a monohull, so it has a moderate amplitude and a limited rolling period for added comfort in any sea state.”

Foredeck tables can be lowered and covered

In addition to the naval architecture, Briand Yacht Design presented a full concept, which changed slightly in terms of style and exterior lines after longtime Sanlorenzo collaborator Zuccon International Project stepped in to help shape the exterior to look like a natural addition to the Bluegame range.

The BGM75 has bountiful outdoor living spaces for its size, and the aft main deck features an interesting seating area with a modular settee with a wooden base so can sit one way looking aft, forward or starboard. There’s also a bow lounge and expansive flybridge with a bar area, cooktop and comfortable loose furnishings.

Lissoni & Partners designed the interior, which includes a helm-free saloon

The flybridge is protected by a fixed hardtop that has a shape reminiscent of a hull of a yacht – wide at the back and narrower at front. The ceiling of the hard top is finished in a teak-like wood that mimics the teak on the deck below. Santella says that for the Asian market, they could enclose the flybridge in plexiglass windows for protection from the elements.

The flybridge is covered but open, with six-seat dining and a triple-seat helm station forward 

FULL-BEAM MASTER

Lissoni & Partners – another long-time Sanlorenzo collaborator – was called in to create the yacht’s interiors. An advantage of a multihull is, of course, enhanced volume, due to its beamier body and two hulls. While the BGM75 is narrower than other cats, at well over 8m it’s still wider than a monohull of the same length.

“Space-wise, it’s like a 30m monohull, in terms of volume and what you can offer to the clients in the layout,” Santella says.

It was important to Santella that the BGM75 have a special owner’s cabin. “Considering our level of product, we didn’t want an owner staying down in one of the hulls.”

By lowering the floor of the main deck to be close to the water, the design team was able to carve space for guest accommodation out of the space between the two hulls at the forward end of the main saloon.

An elegant dining area mixes an integrated sofa and chairs

Steps lead down from the saloon to an owner’s enclave where a cabin stretches the width of the superstructure. This nearly full-beam cabin is akin to what you might find in a monohull.

“So far in the cat market, you’ll find cabins in the hulls, but not in the space between the hulls,” says Santella. An en-suite bathroom is separated from the bedroom by tempered glass walls, which gives the illusion of space while still offering privacy.

The first unit has three cabins. In addition to the forward owner’s cabin, there are two cabins in the port hull, while the starboard hull holds a day head and galley that’s connected to the crew mess and crew cabins. 

Port view of the stunning full-beam owner’s suite, which has a sloping forward bulkhead, aft-facing bed, and bathroom and walk-in wardrobe to port

Zuccon also consulted on the general arrangement and provided a layout option that has four cabins with the galley on the main deck. Lissoni & Partners designed the cabins to have a neutral and natural feel, with walls adorned in a stone-like surface, complemented by walnut joinery. In the guest cabins, the beds sit up on elevated wooden bases.

There are already plans to expand the fleet, with a BGM65 due to launch in 2025 followed by a BGM85 in the future. With the BGM series, Bluegame is on a mission to prove that two hulls are better than one.

www.bluegame.it
www.simpsonmarine.com

Images courtesy of Bluegame

This article was first seen on YachtStyle.co.

For more on the latest in yachting news, click here.

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Transform Your Kitchen: Essential Steps for a Successful Remodel

Image courtesy of Unsplash

Embarking on a kitchen remodeling journey is an exciting endeavor that promises to transform the heart of your home into a space that reflects your personal style and enhances functionality. Whether you’re aiming for a complete overhaul or a subtle refresh, strategic planning and thoughtful execution are key to achieving your desired outcome.

Planning and Design

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Before diving into the renovation process, it’s essential to establish a clear vision for your new kitchen. Consider factors such as layout, functionality, and aesthetic preferences. Are you envisioning an open-concept space that encourages seamless flow between the kitchen and adjacent areas? Or perhaps you’re drawn to a more traditional design with distinct zones for cooking, dining, and entertaining. Utilising tools like kitchen visualizers can be incredibly beneficial during this phase, allowing you to experiment with different layouts, materials, and finishes to bring your ideas to life in a virtual setting.

Integrating Technology

As technology continues to advance, integrating smart solutions into your kitchen can elevate both convenience and efficiency. From touchless faucets to smart appliances with Wi-Fi connectivity, the possibilities are endless. Imagine being able to preheat your oven on your way home from work or receiving notifications when your groceries are running low. By incorporating cutting-edge technology, you can also improve safety.  For example, smart smoke vents can automatically activate and remove smoke and heat from your kitchen in the event of a fire, providing an extra layer of protection for your home and loved ones. By incorporating cutting-edge technology into your kitchen design, you can streamline everyday tasks, enhance the overall cooking experience, and improve safety.

Maximising Storage

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Effective storage solutions are essential for maintaining a clutter-free and organised kitchen. During the remodeling process, consider optimizing cabinet space with features such as pull-out shelves, drawer dividers, and pantry organizers. Utilize vertical space by installing tall cabinets or open shelving to store items that are used less frequently. Additionally, incorporating multi-functional furniture pieces, such as kitchen islands with built-in storage, can help maximise space while adding style and functionality to the room.

Selecting Quality Materials

When it comes to selecting materials for your kitchen remodel, prioritize quality and durability. Opt for timeless finishes that will withstand the test of time while complementing your design aesthetic. From durable quartz countertops to hardwood flooring, investing in high-quality materials can enhance the overall value and longevity of your kitchen. Consider eco-friendly options, such as reclaimed wood or recycled glass, to minimise environmental impact and create a sustainable living space.

Seeking Professional Guidance

While DIY projects can be tempting, enlisting the expertise of a professional kitchen designer or contractor can streamline the remodeling process and ensure optimal results. Experienced professionals can offer valuable insights, recommend trusted vendors, and oversee the project from conception to completion. Collaborating with a knowledgeable team can alleviate stress and provide peace of mind, allowing you to enjoy the transformation of your kitchen with confidence.

Image courtesy of Unsplash

In conclusion, embarking on a kitchen remodeling journey offers an opportunity to breathe new life into one of the most important spaces in your home. By carefully planning and executing each step of the process, from design and technology integration to material selection and professional guidance, you can create a kitchen that embodies your unique style and enhances daily living. With the help of innovative tool like kitchen visualizer, you can visualize your dream kitchen and turn it into a reality that exceeds expectations.

For more on the latest in luxury design reads, click here.

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The Snoopy B80 Limited-Edition Flaunts Eco-Friendly Style

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Bask In Pharrell’s First Collaborative Foray Into Fragrance With LVERS

The endeavour to capture sunlight in a bottle. 

With his manning as the men’s creative director at Louis Vuitton passing its one-year mark in February earlier this year, Pharrell Williams has certainly begun carving a new identity for himself — someone capable of orchestrating the legendary House into territories that the rest of the fashion industry and the world cannot help but watch with bated breath. So far his creative celebration has manifested, among others, with a reimagining of the legacy pre-monogram Damier pattern into the pixelated “Damoflage” on trunks and suitcases and the popular varicoloured Speedy Bags in buttery leather. Perhaps most memorably, his preeminent status as a music industry giant has also meant a new kind of bridging between the worlds of fashion and pop culture with the likes of Rihanna, A$AP Rocky and The Carters gracing his inaugural show.

Albeit, more impressively, his year-long tenure has, so far, displayed a penchant for thematically grounded creations aimed at expressing abstract conceptions to the consumer. So when his first foray into the world of perfumery at Louis Vuitton (and since 2014) was announced as a collaborative dialogue between himself and Master Perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud — an in-house perfumer hailing from the capital of perfume in Grasse, France — it came as no surprise that LVERS is a scent distilled with meticulous attention at capturing the notional.

In a masterful callback to his debut show on Pont Neuf in 2023, Williams and Belletrud double down on the thematic power of the sun — its vitality to Williams’ vision of the brand — and his endeavour to share the warmth and sense of opportunity that it can represent to the masses. The pair began their process of collaboration by returning first to the basis of William’s inaugural show last year and his memorably optimistic mantra that beckoned us to consider “What will you do when the sun shines on you?”. Williams, for one, likened his Creative Director appointment as being shined upon by the sun, an opportunity that he ultimately could not refuse and instead — allowed himself to bask in. But as all things in nature transform and grow, so too did Williams’ original philosophy – hand in hand with Belletrud they have honed on the idea of photosynthesis as a genesis of life.

And from this notion of photosynthesis the pair set out to capture this abstraction of life’s energy into a bottled form. Belletrud, being the Master Perfumer as he is, began his process of dissecting the olfactive properties of this concept through an alchemic analysis — identifying the scent profiles that came forth in the vitalisation of flora in the sunlight — particularly leaves in sunrays, the nectar of freshly grown grass and the earthiness of tree trunks.

In these visions, scent notes like the scarcely used Galbanum — a rich green resin from the Ferula plant once used for its medicinal purposes in Ancient Greece – were honed into the sappy and spicy heart tones in the scent. Cedarwood forms the bottom note of LVERS — its woody camphorous aroma is a transportive device to the forest and is synthesised with the crisp vivacity of ginger and the buttery smoothness of sandalwood for a grounded earthiness. Each wood too is a reflection of the therapeutic nature of the sun, with cedarwood utilised in Ancient Egypt for preservative purposes and sandalwood (and ginger) widely considered an indispensable part of Eastern medicine. The bouquet of LVERS is elevated with the scent of bergamot — a refreshing citrusy top note widely regarded across cultures as an alleviative tool for both mental and physical revitalisation.

LVERS’ construction is reminiscent of the sunlight’s reflective and refractive propensity — an aureate liquid enclosed within the signature cylindrical silhouette of Louis Vuitton’s Les Parfums. Boasting a prismatic finish upon its glass structure the entire composition of the Eau de parfum is evocative of glistening sunlight upon skin. LVERS has also been unveiled alongside a Damoflage motifed travel case and fragrance trunk, the latter of which accommodates three bottles of the fragrance. In culmination, Pharrell Williams and Jacques Cavallier Belletrud’s LVERS unveils itself to be a thorough pursuit of capturing a fleeting feeling — one which we too often seem to take for granted – and yet is like feeling the sunlight on our face.

Available in selected Louis Vuitton stores and at louisvuitton.com

This article was first seen on MensFolio.com

For more on the latest in luxury fragrance reads, click here.

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James Jannard Lists His $68M Beverly Hills Fortress: The Ultimate Luxury Escape

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Meet Melita Koulmandas, Sustainable Travel Pioneer and CEO of Song Saa Private Island

We highlight a Game Changer who inspires, educates and celebrates individuality, beauty and style. This month, meet Melita Koulmandas, a sustainable travel pioneer and CEO and founder of Song Saa Private Island, off the coast of Cambodia.

What was it about Cambodia and Song Saa in particular that you were so drawn to?

I moved to Cambodia in 2004. I have a very adventurous spirit and I love visiting remote destinations, and I was captured by the essence of Cambodia in the people, the energy and the vibrancy. But back then Cambodia was very much still waking up after the Khmer Rouge, and it is a country, even to this day, that’s in healing. 70 percent of the population were under the age of 30 back then, so it had this really young, dynamic spirit. There was so much positivity, which was something that I think that was in contradiction to what probably people felt about the country at that time.

I had just spent two weeks circumnavigating the Koh Rong archipelago, and it was pristine and the water was crystal clear. We’d stop outside of the beaches and park overnight and sleep on the fishing boat, and monkeys would come down to the water’s edge. It was just an extraordinary experience.

Why does it matter for people to experience Cambodia?

I think that Cambodia is an incredibly special place, and though it sits between its neighbours Thailand, Vietnam and Laos—three countries that have very long histories and are well defined in terms of tourism—Cambodia is still working out who it is. So anyone who visits Cambodia always walks away with a sense that they have had a real, human connection with it. It doesn’t matter if they’re visiting the temples of Angkor Wat or going through Phnom Penh or coming down to the coast—there’s always this unique experience of real connection that you get when you come to Cambodia. Cambodia has its own essence, its own sense of place, and its own history.

How is Song Saa’s approach to sustainability and community programmes unique compared to developments of a similar nature?

Because we started off with building community projects, with no vision at that point to open a hotel, we have designed and created a hotel experience for our guests where that is woven in from Day One, as opposed to designing and opening a hotel and making that fit into the hotel. which is very much what
regenerative tourism development design is all about. So we look at the living system and how we can operate within that and help to enhance these systems. The work that we do is through the nonprofit Song Saa Foundation, which is its own entity. If the hotel shut down tomorrow, the foundation would continue to operate, so the programmes that we work with aren’t there because it makes the hotel feel good. They’re there because that is what we need, so everything is community-driven.

Would you say responsibility and luxury are, by their very nature, in opposition? Can they coexist?

I believe they can coexist. To start with, I think we have to understand what the definition of luxury is in this context, and it’s really evolved in the past few years. We don’t use the word “luxury” and haven’t for a while, we talk about high-end or responsible tourism. Coming into a country like Cambodia, even if that travelling is at a high-end level, by just connecting to the people and the culture, it brings empathy and
awareness that they take home with them. Where the high-end traveller can really bring a lot of change is that they really want to understand the history and the place where they’re at, and they then often donate to the programmes that we have, so there’s that transference of awareness and support.

What are your thoughts on the changing landscape of sustainability-minded tourism in recent years, especially in Southeast Asia, and consumer expectations and how they’ve evolved?

I think they’ve evolved enormously. I think there is a greater awareness for most people, and that there is a real shift away from the tourists of 20 or 30 years ago. People now identify as travellers, and they want to have that experience and connection. Traditionally, back then people used to stay in the big hotels,
where they would step into and then they would be transported back into a cocoon. And now people want to feel, connect, learn and grow, and that’s incredibly special.

This article was first seen on Grazia.Sg

For more on the latest in leader interviews and reads, click here.

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Transforming Your Home: Statement Living Room Decor Ideas to Try

Your living room is the heart of your home, a space where style meets comfort and functionality. With the right decor, it can become a stunning showcase of your preferences and tastes. So, why not transform your living space and experiment with bold, statement-making living room decor ideas this year?

Creating a powerful impact with colour blocking & colour drenching

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Colour blocking makes a big splash in living room decor and offers a bold, modern way to create a striking visual impact. Using solid, unbroken colours in furniture, walls, and accessories, this decor trend creates a cohesive and dramatic look in your living space.

Colour blocking can transform living room decor with creative techniques to create vibrant and visually interesting spaces. You can achieve this by splitting walls into contrasting colours, creating geometric patterns, or even painting the ceiling for an unexpected twist. These great colour blocking ideas methods help add depth and character but also highlight architectural features, making your living room a lively and engaging environment.

Colour drenching can also transform your space and involves using a single colour across various room elements. From walls and ceilings to furniture and decor pieces, colour drenching creates a seamless, immersive environment that is bold and sophisticated. For example, deep emerald greens or rich navy blues create a dark and dramatic space, while lighter tones like sage green or dusty grey add a calming and tranquil vibe.

Personalise your space with a bespoke sofa

Image courtesy of Unsplash (Inside Weather)

Personalising your living space with custom-built, bespoke sofas is another excellent way to make a bold statement in your home. One of the primary benefits of bespoke sofas is the flexibility to choose furniture in the exact size and shape that fits your living room. Whether you need a large sectional to accommodate a big family or a compact loveseat for a cosy nook, a custom sofa ensures perfect proportions to suit your space.

The choice of fabric and patterns is another critical element of bespoke sofas, with endless options from luxurious velvets and durable leathers to eye-catching prints and subtle weaves. Selecting a distinctive pattern or bold colour can turn your sofa into the room’s focal point, adding character and flair. For example, a sofa upholstered in a vibrant floral print can bring a touch of nature indoors, while a sleek, monochrome design can exude modern elegance.

Bespoke sofas can also be uniquely designed to include details such as button tufting, piping, or custom legs. These finishing touches can enhance the overall aesthetic and make your sofa one-of-a-kind.

The timeless beauty of marble in your living room decor

Image courtesy of Unsplash (Inside Weather)

Incorporating marble into your living space is another surefire way to make a statement and add a touch of class and refinement to your home. Marble coffee tables, side tables, and consoles can be visually striking and incredibly durable. The natural veining of marble creates unique patterns, ensuring that each piece is distinct. A marble-topped coffee table, for instance, can serve as a stunning centrepiece that draws the eye and anchors the room’s design.

For those who prefer subtlety, marble accessories offer a way to introduce this material without overwhelming the space. Consider marble candle holders, picture frames, or decorative trays as these small touches can add a hint of luxury and tie the room together. Additionally, marble’s versatility means it can complement various design styles, from modern to traditional.

Another trend is combining marble with other materials such as wood, metal, or glass. This combination can create a balanced and harmonious look. For example, a marble coffee table with wooden legs can bring warmth and texture, while a marble and metal side table can add an industrial edge. These mixed-material pieces can help you achieve a more dynamic and layered decor.

Elevate your space with luxury living room decor ideas

Image courtesy of Unsplash (Inside Weather)

Incorporating bold and statement-making elements into your living room decor can transform your space into a stylish and inviting haven. From using block colours to styling bespoke sofas, these interior design trends offer numerous ways to make your living room stand out.

For more on the latest in interior design reads, click here.

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The Codification of Athleisure is No Longer Relevant

What is “Athleisure”?

While the notion of “athleisure” has been around during the health and fitness booms of the late 80s and early 90s, its branding and marketing may be arguably linked to Lululemon. To quote an article from Retail Dive, “Lululemon didn’t change activewear, it changed apparel. The Canadian brand introduced retail to athleisure”. Instead of producing technical athletic wear, which was already readily available on the market, Lululemon marketed itself for its lifestyle appeal and honed into the intersection of fashion and fitness. Athleisure (as exemplified by Lululemon) is not performancewear, activewear, or sportswear, but rather a take on versatile lifestyle pieces that can go from a low-intensity workout or yoga to a cafe visit without looking out of place.

By the mid-2010s, athleisure had firmly established itself as a mainstream trend. Major fashion retailers and luxury brands began incorporating athleisure elements into their collections, blurring the lines between traditional sportswear and everyday fashion. 2014 saw the rise of “athleisure”, however, towards the end of 2018, the popularity of this trend was beginning to wane. Between 2016 and 2018 athleisure reached its peak popularity with brands like Adidas, and Nike, and athleisure-specific labels seeing significant growth in sales as consumers embraced comfortable and versatile clothing options.

Streetwear Makes Luxury “Accessible”

Virgil Abloh’s Off-White showcase for men’s Fall/Winter 2019-2020 collection

During a panel with Marc Ecko and Takashi Murakami at ComplexCon, the late Virgil Abloh was quoted as saying “It’s in-between two things. So if I like high fashion and I like streetwear, Off-White is a reminder to be in the middle. I don’t have to choose between high fashion or streetwear. My brand reminds me that it doesn’t have to fit in a box”. Off-White would go on to redefine luxury through the lens of street culture with distinctive branding and strategic collaborations with contemporary brands like Nike and Levi’s.

Under the creative direction of Kim Jones, Louis Vuitton began to incorporate streetwear aesthetics into their collections with various collaborations with streetwear brands and artists. This includes Louis Vuitton’s highly successful collaboration with Supreme in 2017, which featured a blend of Louis Vuitton’s luxury craftsmanship with Supreme’s streetwear credibility.

The limited-edition Balenciaga “Paris” sneaker

At Balenciaga, Demna bridged the gap between high fashion and streetwear by embracing oversized silhouettes, graphic prints, and a contemporary edge that appealed to younger, streetwear-oriented consumers. Plus, strategic partnerships with influencers and celebrities alongside the utilisation of social media and digital marketing strategies and various high-profile (albeit controversial drops) seemed to resonate with streetwear culture. Abloh and Demna reshaped their maison’s design aesthetics to resonate with contemporary tastes and by doing so, expanded their appeal and made luxury fashion more accessible to a diverse audience.

The Democratisation of Luxury Fashion in Menswear

Zegna Couture Spring 2016

It started with the suit. The idea of the “broken suit” was first coined by fashion designer Stefano Pilati. Upon leaving Yves Saint Laurent and joining Zegna, Pilati used the term to describe a suit whereby the suit jacket is paired with a mismatched, often relaxed pair of trousers. Think of it as an early iteration of “corporate COVID attire” — business and meeting-ready from the waist up and easygoing from the waist down. This sartorial take on mismatched menswear separates on one hand symbolised the breakdown of codes of traditional menswear and on the other saw the entry of “athleisure” or the label to describe the pairing of athleticwear with conventionally non-athletic styles of dress. Runways today showcase chinos paired with sports jackets and suit jackets with jogger pants — relaxed silhouettes and loose-fitting trousers that give off the appearance of being more casual are still seen across Louis Vuitton, Dior, Burberry, and Gucci.

Gucci Pre-Fall 2019

Read More: Menswear Codes Prevails In a World of Gender-Neutral Marketing

The face of luxury fashion soon morphed as a blurring of “high and low fashion” saw traditional high fashion create pieces that resembled “everyday wear”. Luxury brands increasingly incorporating streetwear and sporty elements like sneakers and hoodies into their runway collections, democratising fashion by making pieces appear to be more accessible to a range of consumers.

Read More: The Evolution of Fashion Designers to Creative Directors

The Polarising Popularity of Sporty-Fashion Extensions

Moncler Grenoble Fall 2024 Ready-to-Wear collection

Social behaviors towards clothing conventions were changing and in 2015 Morgan Stanley Research reported that the US activewear market accounts for annual sales of USD 97 billion. Moncler was ahead of the game with their “It’s not just a trend. It’s a lifestyle” ethos, unveiling the Grenoble collection in 2010 which focused on high-performance sportswear for extreme climates, finessing the brand’s specialty for “high-altitude clothing” which they had been doing since the 1950s.

Stella McCartney & Adidas lifestyle fashion collaboration S/S 2014

Read More: Wanderlust is Luxury Fashion’s Not-So-Secret Marketing Tool

Fashion houses were soon quick to follow with the South China Morning Post reporting that Chanel, Dior, and Louis Vuitton were offering couture sneakers while Fendi, Chloé, and Hermès were launching capsule collections specially designed for skiing and cross-fitting. Luxury e-tailer Net-a-Porter launched Net-a-Porter Sports Channel designed for 11 sports including golf, yoga and dance with former Net-a-Porter’s fashion director Lisa Aiken stating “We recognised that there was a massive opportunity in designer sportswear”.

Read More: Championing Sports and Fashion: Athlete House Ambassadors in the Race to the 2024 Paris Olympics

Visuals for the Net-a-Porter Sports Channel

Shift in Industry Practices

As the normalisation of normcore, athleisure and streetwear saw its amalgamation into what has become luxury’s version of “everyday wear” so did the emergence of “See Now Buy Now”. As reported by Forbes, “See Now Buy Now” was adopted as a way of closing the gap by retailers between the time spent on clothes showcased on the runway to when they arrive in stores. To satiate consumers with “drops” and to create a true retail disruption, commercial versions of runway pieces would be made available on the shop floor. However, this business model requires an on-demand manufacturing system designed to quickly produce clothing and stood to only further exacerbate just how much runway collections were no longer inaccessible.

The Cyclical Nature of Fashion

The late 2010s to early 2020s saw the saturation and increasing criticism of athleisure. As athleisure became ubiquitous, it faced criticism for contributing to a decline in dress codes and formal attire standards. Some argued that it undermined professional appearances and lacked creativity in fashion choices. As the definition of the category of “athleisure” continues to evolve, the cyclical nature of fashion trends has seen the resurgence of athleisure-style popular between 2023 and 2024. While brands focus on sustainability, inclusivity, and innovation in materials and design, there is a growing emphasis on versatility and multifunctionality in clothing choices, catering to diverse lifestyles and preferences, highlighting a true amalgamation of tailored styles alongside continued demand for comfortable, athleisure-inspired pieces.

So where does that leave the brand that “started” it all? As of early June 2024, Lululemon’s stock was down by nearly 40 percent as reported by CNN. As more competitors like Alo and Vuori enter the market while longstanding activewear brands like Nike and Adidas continue to deliver contemporary takes on their sportswear pieces, Lululemon too had to diversify by focusing on performancewear. Lululemon’s predicament is that it can never truly compete against sportswear institutions such as Nike and Adidas.

With the popularity of streetwear, the ubiquitous nature of athletic pieces as “everyday wear” and the breaking down of codes to what is and is not considered appropriate corporate attire with the rise of “work from home culture”, the need to segregate and classify “athleisure” as a category all to its own is no longer relevant or needed.

For more on the latest in luxury fashion and style reads, click here.

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