Self-expression alert: Bella Freud SS21

In a thrilling month that has witnessed the launch of the cutely-packaged new MCM Eau de Parfum, I see Bella Freud expressing what many women are thinking.

Her SS21 collection is called Don't Ever Let Them Silence You and is a tribute to the Riot Girrls.

Pictures below from Bella Freud’s SS21 campaign, shot by Sarah Piantadosi. Stylist extraordinaire, Katy England, you have excelled yourself. Again.

Pictured top: Model Devon Ross in Mythical Bunny Jumper in Grey Marl; pictured above: Model October rocking our world in Star Jacquard St James Jacket, Star Jacquard Chrissie Waistcoat and Star Jacquard Kim Trousers in Ivory

MJ Rabbit is hopping all over the place - just in time for Easter.

MCM breaks beauty rules with new fragrance

MCM is set to rock the fragrance world with its new Eau de Parfum. 

The global luxury brand has sought to capture its DNA with cute backpack-shaped packaging and an innovative ad campaign centred on disruptive technology used by computer gaming sensation Fortnite. 

The “travel beyond” ad campaign concept is embodied by a cast of young, up-and-coming and bold talent: Anais Pouliot, Haejin Lee, Patryk Lawry, Dizzy Fae and Curtis Waters.

The one-of-a-kind design pays homage to the brand’s classic Visetos backpack. Signature coated canvas then wraps the bottle in a texture designed to be familiar to touch. The outer packaging depicts the famous golden studs found on MCM backpacks. 

Top notes feature vibrant raspberry and apricot, with middle notes of hand-picked jasmine and white peony and violet leaf, and vanilla and sandalwood at the base. 

The virtual launch event is MC’d by fashion architect and MCM Global Creative Partner Misa Hylton, who is famous for styling legendary music artists like Mary J Blige. 

DJ and sound director Michel Gaubert provides the vibes that set the mood in tandem with the aroma, while contemporary urban artist Bisco Smith reimagines the backpack in his inimitable graffiti style. 

MCM Eau de Parfum credits:

Dirk Schoenberger, MCM Creative Director

Misa Hylton, MCM Global Creative Partner

Clement Gavarry, Perfumer (Firmenich)

Bisco Smith, Graffiti Artist

Michel Gaubert, Sound Director

MJ Rabbit comments: This is the most memorable fragrance launch I've ever seen - and you can quote me on that. I've been observing the beauty industry for around 30 years as a luxury goods journalist. Never before have I seen a brand truly capture its DNA in a fragrance. MCM’s Eau de Parfum backpack presentation is fun, innovative and streetwise. Firmenich perfumer Clement Gavarry says he broke the rules. MCM has thrown down the gauntlet to other industry players. Let the beauty battle commence...

Grant’s goes boldly into 12yo whisky market

Leading Scotch supplier Grant’s is challenging rivals with its Triple Wood 12yo blend presented in an upgraded bottle worthy of the gold medal-winning liquid inside.

The showstopping bottle, pictured below, aims to breathe fresh energy into what the company calls the “staid” 12yo blended Scotch category.

Boasting a sleek, black triangular bottle design with modern iconography, Grant’s Triple Wood 12 is part of the brand’s ambitious international growth plan. 

This fresh look and feel for 2021 is supported by a multi-faceted campaign that encompasses captivating OOH and distinctive digital comms which celebrate collective, rather than individual, achievement under the banner ‘Weather the Storm Together’. This is supported by a game-changing advocacy and influencer campaign designed to "harness the power of working together to discover and share the exceptional quality behind Grant’s", the firm said. 

As part of its decision to go after a bigger slice of the premium blended Scotch whisky pie, the company is launching a marketing, sales and distribution drive over the next few months in 12 key global markets, including travel retail, Canada, Cameroon, Portugal and Poland.

Grant’s says that Triple Wood 12’s “secret sauce” is the layering of flavour provided by the three barrels used for ageing. The third - the sherry cask - is designed to dial up the quality and provides an extra layer of distinctive flavour. 

Grant’s Triple Wood 12 is produced at Grant’s Girvan Distillery, an impressive structure built against the clock in just nine months in 1963. With 400 local workers, Charles Gordon, great-grandson of William Grant, raced to complete the distillery in fervent response to another Scotch company's threats to cut off Grant’s supply of grain whisky. The result of their combined efforts was the most technologically advanced distillery of its day, according to the firm.

Today, Grant’s Girvan Distillery is home to Grant’s Girvan Patent Still, which produces its signature - and coveted - sweet, fruity and light distillate.

Grant’s Global Brand Ambassador Danny Dyer said: “It’s a well-known industry secret that our grain whisky is so sought-after it’s been used by the big boys in their blends for years. With the opening of the Ailsa Bay Distillery back in 2007, we were able to increase our production capacity so we can now share more of our award-winning aged stocks with a wider global audience.

“A gold medal-winning whisky like this needs to be bottled in something really impressive, and this bottle upgrade will stand out spectacularly on shelf or behind the bar. Grant’s Triple Wood 12 looks as good as it tastes and is testament to the fact that when the right people stand together, great things happen.”

Grant’s is the cornerstone brand from William Grant & Sons, a four-time winner of the IWSC Distiller of the Year Award, and is blended by respected master blender Brian Kinsman, who personally selected the three barrels to create the smooth, fruit-balanced flavour of Grant’s Triple Wood 12.

Speaking of the new premium bold bottling, Kinsman said: “Creating a blend at scale is one of the hardest jobs you have as a master blender, which made receiving the IWSC Award for the best blended whisky such a satisfying honour. I know this liquid was judged blind by many master distillers and industry peers in one of the most respected competitions in the business. We’ve gone the extra mile with Grant’s Triple Wood 12, ageing it for a minimum of 12 years and using a sherry cask as the third barrel to add a sweet spice to balance the vanilla and sweetness.”

MCM opens art gallery in culture hotspot Seoul

In its latest cultural move, MCM has announced a new exhibition space for contemporary art in Korea. The German luxury brand has partnered with Berlin-based art gallery Koenig Galerie to open a new art space in the Korean capital in April 2021. It is the German gallery’s debut in Korea. 

MCM and Koenig Galerie have co-operated for several years, most recently with Koenig Tokio, a gallery space that was located in MCM’s flagship store in Tokyo until the end of 2020. The collaboration continues with Koenig Seoul, opening a new chapter this spring in the MCM Haus flagship store in Seoul’s trendy Gangnam neighbourhood. 

Koenig Seoul will occupy the building’s fifth floor as well as a spacious rooftop terrace that will be transformed into a sculpture garden. (Several years ago, MJ Rabbit was lucky enough to enjoy a concert by K-pop star Rain on this very terrace, which boasts expansive views of the vibrant city.)

Soo Choi, a Seoul-based gallerist with 15 years of experience in the international art market, will serve as managing director. 

Instagram collage: Katharina Grosse, Erwin Wurm, Anselm Reyle, Claudia Comte, Monica Bonvicini, Mona Ardeleanu, Conny Maier, Friedrich Kunath, Alicja Kwade

Koenig has been involved in Korea's art scene for years as a participant of the Art Busan and KIAF art fairs. The new space will provide Koenig with a platform to further strengthen its engagement with the region’s cultural institutions, collectors and public audiences. 

Gallery owners Lena and Johann Koenig said: “Our partnership with MCM is a fundamental step to help us build the perfect bridge between Germany and Korea. Koenig and MCM are both rooted in their German origin, but we committed ourselves to actively establish our brands out in the world. Korea has a strong position in the art market, so we are excited to be presenting our programme to the Korean audience.” 

Dirk Schoenberger, Global Creative Officer at MCM, voiced his delight at the opening. “I am very happy that with the opening of the Koenig Galerie in our Seoul flagship store, we continue a successful collaboration between MCM and Johann and Lena Koenig. Beyond my strong personal interest in art, this confirms MCM as a collaborative brand that seeks to partner with other artistic voices and starting conversations between art and fashion. MCM Haus in Seoul will be increasingly a cultural, collaborative space."

Koenig Seoul will open with a group exhibition featuring exciting and emotion-driven works by Katharina Grosse, Norbert Bisky, Friedrich Kunath, Alicja Kwade, Anselm Reyle, Helen Marten and Sarah Morris. Subsequently, Koenig Seoul will present exhibitions with internationally established artists such as Jorinde Voigt, Jeppe Hein, Camille Henrot and Claudia Comte as well as up-and-coming talents such as Trey Abdella and Conny Maier. Koenig Seoul’s inaugural exhibition runs from April 3 to May 2, 2021 at MCM Haus, Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea.

Koenig Galerie is based in Berlin where it resides in spacious brutalist St Agnes church built in the 1960s. Founded in 2002, the gallery represents more than 40 emerging and established artists. The contemporary artworks focus on interdisciplinary and concept-oriented art by a younger generation and many female artists. Artists from the gallery’s roster regularly show their work in renowned institutions worldwide and participate at prestigious group exhibitions, such as the Documenta or the Venice Biennale. 

Koenig Seoul is the third branch of Koenig Galerie, following the opening of Koenig London in the UK capital’s Marylebone district in 2017. For details, see www.koeniggalerie.com.

MCM is expanding apace and is now distributed online and in 650 stores worldwide, including Munich, Berlin, Zurich, London, Paris, New York, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul, Tokyo and the Middle East. See www.mcmworldwide.com.

Lanson and Terlato Wine Group ink US deal

Champagne Lanson, one of Champagne’s oldest and most respected houses, and Terlato Wine Group, a luxury wine importer in the US market, have announced an exclusive sales and marketing agreement, effective April 1, 2021. 

Commenting on the agreement, Champagne Lanson President François Van Aal said: “Champagne Lanson and Terlato Wines are two family-owned companies sharing common values about wine quality and constant search for excellence. We are extremely pleased to sign this partnership with Terlato Wines, a well-established and renowned luxury wine importer in the US market. This long-term partnership reflects Champagne Lanson’s ambitions in the biggest Champagne market worldwide and represents a key milestone in the new brand vision.” 

Lanson Head of Travel Retail Edouard de Boissieu said the additional brand awareness Terlato would create for Champagne Lanson across the US domestic market was “sure to have a very positive knock-on effect for us in developing our duty free business in the region. It is very good news for us indeed." 

In US travel retail/duty free, Champagne Lanson is distributed via the Dufry network and onboard American Airlines.

Terlato Wine Group markets and produces wines, artisanal spirits, non-alcoholic beverages and water. Terlato Wines International is a leading fine wine importer and vintner that represents a diverse selection of global beverage brands and is a leading fine wine marketer in the US.

Commenting on the new partnership, CEO Bill Terlato said: “My father and grandfather instilled in us that we should work with integrity and focus on quality, that will always endure. We are particular about the brands and families we choose to align ourselves with. The philosophy of Champagne Lanson is deeply rooted in putting quality at the forefront and by developing sincere and lasting relationships. Both of our companies share similar values and beliefs and we are looking forward to a very long and successful partnership together.”

Founded in 1760, Champagne Lanson relies on four pillars: a meticulous attention to selecting the crus; a traditional vinification method with predominantly non-malolactic fermentation; a rich collection of reserve wines, dating back to 1998; and extended maturation in its cellars. 

Lanson is the first Champagne house to have created a collective to support its partner growers with the transition to sustainable viticulture. Lanson’s renowned Green Label is farmed exclusively according to the principles of organic and biodynamic agriculture. Today, winemaker Hervé Dantan carefully crafts elegant wines characterised by freshness and vitality.