CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

Acqua di Parma have launched a new Limited Edition fragrance for the Summer, Bergamotto di Calabria La Spugnatura. As with all the fragrances in the Blu Mediterraneo Collection, they each take inspiration from a specific part of the Italian Mediterranean, the origin for this fragrance being the beautiful bergamot fields of Calabria. It is here where a special and rare process of juice extraction by hand is used; “La Spugnatura”. Practiced by only a few artisans in the world, the bergamot essence is manually extracted in this fascinating traditional process, a true art which requires time and skilful, precise gestures.

The new fragrance of Bergamotto di Calabria La Spugnatura by Acqua di Parma revolves around the artisanship, the human touch, and the fullness of nature. A limited edition born from using a unique essential oil extracted using a time-honoured artisan technique, which makes the world of the Blu Mediterraneo fragrances even more special.

A project long nurtured by the Maison which has always loved to preserve the oldest and most valuable artisanal processes of the Italian micro-territories. The origin of this new fragrance is deeply rooted to the bergamot fields of Calabria, where very few artisans in the world still practise the old sponging technique. A fascinating traditional process, which results in the complete manual extraction of the bergamot essence.

A true art which requires time and skilful, precise, delicate gestures. The artisan cuts each fruit in two equal halves with a well-sharpened knife. Then, using a utensil in the shape of a spoon called “cavatore”, he separates the skin from the pulp. Immediately after, the bergamot rinds are manually rubbed on sea sponges which thus absorb all the essence. In the final phase, the artisan squeezes the sponges full of essential oil with precise movements inside a terracotta container, in order to collect the precious scented liquid.

The limitedness and therefore the uniqueness of the essence depend on the human production capacity. Two artisans manage to go through between 75 to 100 kg of fruit in an hour and at least 200 kg are required to obtain one kilogram of essential oil. In one day of hard work, around 4 kg of essential oil are collected, but the result is inimitable. The sponge, malleable and soft in contact with the rind, preserves all the facets of the fruit and it is this unique sillage which distinguishes the Bergamotto di Calabria La Spugnatura.

Designed exclusively in the 100ml format, Bergamotto di Calabria La Spugnatura is made with care up to the very last detail. The pump can be separated from the bottle thanks to a screw top, obtained with a special grinding technique specially developed for Acqua di Parma. It is this screw pump which allows refills of the fragrance, exclusively available from Acqua di Parma Boutiques due to the rarity of the essence.

A masterpiece of craftsmanship, the bottle is such a particular and refined object that it feels only natural to preserve it to embellish the interior of one’s own house.

The iconic cylindrical box is wrapped in PSC certified paper set in a special blue tone, in perfect harmony with the blue tone of the porcelain bottle. The label is also produced with waste powder from marble quarries. Finally, to stamp the uniqueness of the fragrance, the small golden seal which portrays the Bergamot fruit and carries the engraved words “Limited Edition – La Spugnatura”.

A fragrance of inimitable charm, which rises from the human and natural history which it recounts.

Elgen creates exceptional quality clothes for the modern man. Built to represent today’s lifestyle, Elgen’s clothes are made to last and designed to be lived in. 

Founders Jamie and Ian built Elgen on a number of core principles; made to last, affordability, sustainable sourcing and ethical manufacturing. A collection that is without seasonality and always available. With a focus on quality and conscious design, the collection consists of authentic and essential pieces with a consistent fit across products – meaning that if you are a medium in a T-shirt, you are also medium in a jumper, sweater or jacket. 

From cashmere jumpers to white T-shirts, each piece invokes innovative craftmanship with superior attention to detail. With T-shirts priced at £35, the collection aims to deliver affordability without compromising on quality.

Co-founder, Jamie Smithson, commented:“Why was it so hard to simply find the clothes we and our friends wanted? Either they were over our budget or constantly changing due to an obsession with seasonality, but mostly the quality just wasn’t there, and garments would wear out after a few washes. Mainly we didn’t feel connected to the brands. So, we decided to scratch our own itch, and Elgen was born.”

Sustainability and ethical manufacturing are at the core of Elgen. Partnering with some of the world’s best factories and finest ateliers to source sustainable fabrics and manufacture clothing to the highest ethical standard is the first step on the journey. Elgen clothing is created to last well beyond the standard wear times, which is effective in reducing the carbon footprint by a significant amount. Supima cotton is used instead of regular cotton in T-Shirts which is extremely resilient, washes better and keeps its shape. Additionally, where possible, factories are checked to ensure workers’ hours and pay are ethical and fair.

From getting rid of single-use plastics in the supply chain to making sure packaging is made from recycled materials, Elgen are constantly looking for ways to improve and make the operation, production and business more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

Millican’s iconic Maverick collection of sustainable rucksacks and bags has been redeveloped to work harder and travel longer with the introduction of their new Dalton Canvas fabric.

Hardwearing, lightweight, and waterproof, the new Dalton Canvas is made for these times – a 100% recycled textile created from post-consumer waste with a classic canvas feel and texture. With research, learning, and adapting an integral part of their brand culture, the Dalton Canvas fabric has been developed exclusively by Millican to provide added weatherproofing and durability, evolving their collection of sustainable travel bags to be geared up for a lifetime of adventure.

With the Dalton Canvas, Millican have created a recycled plastic fabric finished with a C0 DWR outer treatment and PU coating on the inside

Recycled polyester is made from recycled PET material (polyethylene terephthalate). It’s widely used in plastic bottles and other food packaging all over the world.

Using recycled polyester, rather than virgin polyester, cuts energy by 50%, saves 20% on water and reduces air pollution by 60%.

Millican’s iconic Maverick collection of sustainable rucksacks and bags has been redeveloped to work harder and travel longer with the introduction of their new Dalton Canvas fabric.

Hardwearing, lightweight, and waterproof, the new Dalton Canvas is made for these times – a 100% recycled textile created from post-consumer waste with a classic canvas feel and texture. With research, learning, and adapting an integral part of their brand culture, the Dalton Canvas fabric has been developed exclusively by Millican to provide added weatherproofing and durability, evolving their collection of sustainable travel bags to be geared up for a lifetime of adventure.

Millican’s Mavericks are a collection of travel bags and accessories made to take you anywhere – from a mountain trail to city commute, built to last and designed to age well.  From Smith the Roll Pack to Miles the Duffle Bag, each bag is created for outside living, stirring up the maverick spirit of adventure on which Millican is founded. Woven into Millican’s fabrics are solutions that meet the needs of backpacks that are used every day, and that align with reducing environmental, global impact. With the move to the newly engineered Dalton Canvas fabric, the best-selling Smith 25L Rollpack is now made from the equivalent of 44 single-use, discarded plastic bottles.

“We wanted to create a fabric from 100% recycled plastic that still gives the same look and feel of the waxed cotton canvas blend we have been using for The Maverick Collection. Most of our energy went into developing a like-for-like fabric. We were able to recreate the same weave pattern to retain the same aesthetics as our previous fabric and match the performance expectations for the Dalton Canvas.

Our bags are used every day, day-in-day-out, so the Dalton Canvas has to stand up to the city and outside landscapes. Our philosophy is to design and create one bag to be used for every aspect of your life, for a lifetime, and the Dalton Canvas is central to that. “ Jeffrey Bowman, Brand Director for Millican

Always ready to learn, curious and sensitive to a changing world, for Millican, sustainability is an ongoing journey, making decisions for the planet and people, and reducing impact integral to the brand – for design, product development, production, and supply chains as well as social impact.  ‘Re-Home Your Bag’ is a community initiative, where Millican takes in old or unused bags (from any brand), fixing them up, and finding them a new home with one of their social project partners so pre-loved bag gets a welcome new home rather than ending up in landfills.

Based in the heart of the Lake District National Park, Millican is a collective of conscious travellers, finding meaning in every journey. The brand’s namesake, Millican Dalton, chose to leave London and an existence centred around material gain to live a simple life in a cave in Borrowdale Valley, the Lake District in the early 1900’s. Making his own lightweight clothing and bags and living outdoors, exploring the mountains he had made his home, this sense of freedom and tuning into the natural landscape guides Millican in everything they do.

As we all know Burt’s Bees has been offering distinctive earth-friendly, natural health and beauty care products for over 35 years. From a beekeeper’s backyard in Maine, USA, to the leading edge of natural, Burt’s Bees knows natural body care solutions from head-to-toe. No phthalates, parabens, petrolatum or SLS and no animal testing.

The ever-changing weather, central heating, pollution and everyday life can all take its toll on your skin. When you need a helping hand, reach for the healing power of nature with Burt’s Bees NEW Res-Q range. An update on the classic Res-Q Ointment, the new formula contains responsibly sourced Cica extract. Also, known as ‘Tiger Grass’, this botanical saviour is packed with anti-oxidants to restore dry and rough skin whilst replenishing the skin’s moisture barrier. The new range also features a rich, replenishing cream to further soothe and protect hard working hands and extremely dry skin.

Cica is known to help calm and soothe irritated skin, it’s packed full of amino acids, beta-carotene, fatty acids, and phytochemicals, including vitamins C, A, B1, and B2. This wonder botanical is also referred to as Gotu Kola, Indian Pennywort, and more commonly tiger grass. This is because tigers in Asia are known to rub the plant it into their wounds.

The Cica that Burt’s Bees use in their products is responsibly sourced from Madagascar by women collector groups. Burt’s Bees help support these communities through investments, helping to expand schools and services for children and provide access to safe water and toilets.

Burt’s Bees NEW Res-Q Replenish cream is the ultimate skin saviour that intensely moisturises and helps soothe and restore dry skin. With antioxidant rich Cica and nutrient rich botanicals, this lotion protects skin from drying whilst helping to replenish skins protective moisture barrier. Use on dry patches on your body, feet, hands and face.

For some 40 years now GUESS have been disrupting the luxury fashion Denim market, either through their innovative marketing campaigns or their product themselves. GUESS began as a jeans company and has since successfully grown into a global lifestyle brand. Guess?, Inc. designs, markets, distributes and licenses a lifestyle collection of contemporary apparel, denim, handbags, watches, eyewear, footwear and other related consumer products.

For This season, the Denim giant have created a fun loving, playful collaboration using the unmistakable designs of FriendsWithYou. In partnership since 2002, Samuel Borkson and Arturo Sandoval III’s FriendsWithYou designs are created for the sole purpose of spreading the positive message of Magic, Luck, and Friendship and are influenced by the simple perspective that happiness is found in everyday life.  During the last eighteen years, FriendsWithYou has gained international recognition as a pioneer in the field of experiential art, actively working to spread the message of connectivity around the world, with a simple mission to become ‘Friends With You’!

The GUESS x FriendsWithYou capsule features an assortment of statement pieces, crafted with cool embellishments including embroidery and logos in vibrant colours. Cloud graphics are splashed throughout the collection and are a nod to light and serenity.

GUESS admires the FriendsWithYou message of spreading positivity and happiness through its artwork and shares a like-minded approach by creative exploration through colour and having fun with collections. FriendWithYou’s anime aesthetic from the lens of a high-end artist puts a unique twist on this capsule collection.

“At GUESS, we’re always looking to inspire our customers,” says Brand Partnerships Director, Nicolai Marciano. “We want our clothes to provoke a sense of celebration. We aim to get people excited not just about the product, but about their own creative expression and the fresh new perspectives of artists worldwide. This collection is a celebration of FriendsWithYou and the art they bring to the world.”

The 81-piece capsule features an assortment of statement pieces for men and women, crafted with cool embellishments including embroidery and logos in vibrant colours. Cloud graphics are splashed throughout the collection and are a nod to light and serenity. The collection has a big emphasis on diversifying techniques and was designed to provide each piece a unique feel.
The women’s assortment features a selection of tees, a polo shirt and short sets with a textured terry cloth and cloud print as well as cropped hooded sweatshirts, puffer jackets with cloud hoods, tracksuits and a matching denim set. The colour palette consists of rainbow colours in the form of red, orange, yellow, green and blue. The men’s collection mirrors the women’s bright colour palette and features shirts, logo tees, hoodies and a matching denim set. Accessories including watches and backpacks are also part of the collection.