MCM is captivated by K-pop in Milan

German luxury brand MCM revealed its Spring/Summer 2025 collection with a K-pop extravaganza in Duomo Square during Milan Fashion Week.

Inspired by the beauty and mystery of the ocean, the Under The Sea collection debuted during “Dancing Duomo”, a K-pop flashmob presented by the Sungjoo Foundation, a philanthropic organisation founded by MCM Chairperson Sung-Joo Kim. The event featured dynamic performances by major K-pop stars GoToe, Jinusean, Harry-June and SUI.

MCM's K-pop flashmob in Duomo Square

With seasonless designs that transcend trends, the ocean-inspired SS25 collection embraces MCM’s SMART luxury ethos: Seasonless, Made for Movement, Ageless, Responsible and Transformative.

MCM Spring/Summer 25

In other news from Milan, the Sungjoo Foundation organised the opening event of the KIFT (Korea Italy Fashion Tech) Alliance Forum in Milan to celebrate 140 years of diplomatic relations between Korea and Italy.

The forum brought together leaders from the fashion tech sector, academics and institutional representatives to discuss the future of fashion with digital technologies, AI and the metaverse, promoting sustainability and innovation.

“MCM and the Sungjoo Foundation are committed to building a sustainable and innovative future,” said the company.

Lanson creates a new Rosé Champagne

A year after the launch of Maison Lanson’s new multi-vintage brut Champagne Le Black Création, Cellar Master Hervé Dantan has reinterpreted Le Rosé with Le Rosé Création.

This light, crisp and floral Champagne can be seen on Champagne Lanson’s stand at TFWA World Exhibition (Blue Village C8).

Le Rosé Création is unveiled in a new bottle shape with elegant curves. It has a subtle pink salmon colour with fine, light bubbles and scents of raspberry, pomegranate and blood orange. On the palate, a mineral crispness is accompanied by subtle floral and fruity notes of strawberry, redcurrant and pomelo.

Le Rosé Création launched in May in travel retail exclusively with Lagardère-Extime, supported by a HPP in Terminal 1 (LTA) at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. A second HPP will take place from 24 September to 21 October. Next year sees the launch of Le Rosé Création to all Lanson’s key retail partners, supported by further activations.

Le Rosé Création complements Lanson’s Le Black Réserve and Le Rosé – both of which continue to be highlighted in travel retail. This month sees activations for both at London Heathrow T2 with World Duty Free Group (Avolta) followed by Hamburg Plaza Shop (Gebr Heinemann) from 1 November to the end of the year.

Lanson Global Travel Retail Account Manager Albane Lussat said: “Le Rosé Création is the perfect addition to Lanson’s offer for travel retail. We have received enthusiastic feedback from the launch in Paris and expect that to continue with the global roll-out in 2025. We look forward to introducing Le Rosé Création to our retail partners and the media in Cannes this year – it truly is a delicious Champagne."

MCM sparkles with new Diamond fragrance

German luxury fashion house MCM has expanded its fragrance range with a new unisex line called MCM Diamond.

Dubbed “bold, luxurious and captivating”, the fragrance has notes of Italian cappuccino, lavender and sandalwood. The perfumer was Frank Voelkl of Firmenich.

Diamond, which was developed by MCM’s fragrance licensee Inter Parfums, is presented in a black and gold Stark backpack bottle with the brand’s signature Visetos motif.

MCM Diamond 75ml eau de parfum

In other news, MCM’s Wearable Casa exhibition is on the move.

Following its success at the Salone del Mobile furniture fair in Milan, visitors to the MCM HAUS flagship store in Seoul can explore the collection as part of Frieze Week until 6 October.

MCM invited a few friends of the HAUS to the Seoul launch, including Young Hoon, Noor Stars, Mew Suppasit, Jeon So-Yeon, Caelan Moriarty, Yoghurt Nattasha, Jeon Chang-Ha, Kim Hye-Yoon, My Q and Chailee Son.

Wearable Casa blends MCM codes and materials into transformable objects and furniture, from a modular daybed and armchair to a convertible lantern and gilet, without forgetting multifunctional global Space Cabinets and a pet carrier.

The range is designed by Atelier Biagetti, curated by Maria Cristina Didero and organised by SUUM Project.

Bowmore bets on a brand transformation

Suntory Global Spirits-owned single malt Scotch whisky brand Bowmore is introducing two new boutique collections in a fresh brand livery.

Bowmore Appellations is a travel retail exclusive series, a collaboration with some of the world’s finest wine-producing regions, from the vineyards and wineries of Burgundy and Bordeaux to the exclusive port houses of the Douro Valley.

Bowmore 22yo Sauternes Cask Finish whisky

The collection comprises: Bowmore 14yo, matured in American oak ex-Bourbon casks and finished in Bordeaux barriques; Bowmore 16yo, matured in American oak ex-Bourbon casks and European oak sherry casks, and finished in ruby port casks from the Douro Valley; Bowmore 19yo, matured in American oak ex-Bourbon casks and finished in Pinot Noir casks from Burgundy; and Bowmore 22yo, matured in American oak ex-Bourbon casks and finished in Sauternes casks.

Bowmore Appellations Collection will be available in key travel retail hubs, beginning with exclusive launches at London Heathrow and Singapore Changi airports, from October 2024.

Meanwhile, the Bowmore Sherry Oak Collection showcases four whiskies: 12yo, 15yo, 18yo and 21yo. Bowmore Sherry Oak range will begin to roll out to key global cities including London, Paris, Toronto and Munich from September 2024, via domestic whisky specialists and luxury retailers.

The permanent portfolio of Bowmore whiskies will take on the new livery and start to make itself known from early 2025, Suntory said.

The fresh design aims to express the brand’s spirit story in a clear and authentic way. Inspired by the expressive and layered nature of Bowmore’s character, the morphic linework design reflects this. The dominant use of the colour black, part of the brand livery for decades, pays homage to one of the most iconic whiskies – Black Bowmore, distilled in 1964.

Deeper, richer experiences

Bowmore Marketing Director Kirsteen Beeston said: “We have a duty of care as custodians of this incredible distillery to best reflect and capture the true essence of Bowmore, out of both respect to all that has been achieved so far but equally out of a desire to ensure we honour the spirit as we know it today. As such, we made the decision to evolve the world which surrounds the brand, across brand creative, experience and innovation.

“This is exemplified by the upcoming launch of two new whisky ranges: Sherry Oak Cask and Bowmore Appellations which, along with the existing range of Bowmore whiskies, will be offered to our customers and consumers in a new brand livery. As we look to the future, we aim to redefine what it means to enjoy a glass of Bowmore, transforming each moment into a captivating experience.”

Suntory Global Spirits Brand Marketing Director Global Travel Retail Manuel Gonzalez noted: “Travel retail is a key showroom for our iconic global brands, and I am very proud that we are able to offer our retail partners such an exceptional new channel-exclusive collection. Bowmore Appellations is a very special series, a showcase for the multi-dimensional Bowmore spirit, and the different terroirs celebrated through these expressions.”

He added: “We know that our travelling consumers expect high-quality product innovation and authenticity, enhanced with deeper, richer experiences. This new collection embodies our commitment to deliver a best-in-class premium brand portfolio, to truly elevate the airport shopping experience, and to help us achieve our ambition to become the world’s most admired premium spirits company."

The Dalmore unveils an artistic exclusive for travellers

The Dalmore Portfolio Series has introduced three limited-edition single malt whiskies which make their worldwide debut exclusively with travel retailer Avolta, retailing at between £500 and £1,000 per bottle. 

The series debuts at World Duty Free stores at London Heathrow Airport in September, before launching at other international hub airports in October.

The Dalmore Portfolio Series 2024 release

The trio of bottlings is dubbed “a toast to creative talent” and celebrates a young artist. In this first year, Scottish artist Fraser Gray of Edinburgh has created a striking interpretation of The Dalmore Distillery, operated by Whyte & Mackay.

The Dalmore Portfolio Series is the latest initiative under the creative partnership between The Dalmore and Scottish design institution V&A Dundee.

For The Portfolio Series, V&A Dundee paired The Dalmore with artists, the first of whom is Fraser Gray, who grew up in the area. The Portfolio Series seeks to shine a light on contemporary art and design talent through creative works evoking what makes The Dalmore special.

Fraser Gray’s Portfolio Series will also be available to purchase in Scotland, exclusively at V&A Dundee.

The 2024 Portfolio Series comprises:

The Dalmore Portfolio Series No.1 (£500/$635): Bottled at 46.8%abv, this Dalmore expression is limited to 5,000 bottles, aged in Bordeaux wine casks.

The Dalmore Portfolio Series No.2 (£750/$950): Bottled at 46.0%abv, this Dalmore expression is limited to 2,000 bottles. The whisky is finished in selected casks from the Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine region.

The Dalmore Portfolio Series No.3 (£1,000/$1,250): Bottled at 49.7%abv, this Dalmore expression is limited to 1,000 bottles. "An iconic vineyard, classified as Premier Grand Cru, granted The Dalmore access to finish this whisky, imparting exceptional character," the company said.

Heathrow Airport Retail Director Fraser Brown said of the new release: “As the UK’s international gateway, Heathrow has a unique platform on which to introduce an international audience to the best of British craftsmanship. We are proud to host the global debut of The Portfolio Series, a limited-edition range which brings together the exciting work of emerging young artists and The Dalmore’s expert Scotch whisky makers.”

Paul Martin, Avolta’s Category Manager for Liquor in the UK, added: “We are extremely proud to be able to offer this exceptional Dalmore Portfolio Series in our Heathrow World Duty Free stores, as a one-month exclusive in travel retail, ahead of its roll-out across the sector. We’re always looking for innovative and unique products for our customers and it’s exciting to be able to offer exceptional whiskies such as these.

“The creative partnership between The Dalmore and the V&A Dundee showcasing the work of talented local Scottish artists, all takes this collection of whiskies to another level, whilst delivering that all-important sense of heritage and place. We’re confident it will be extremely well received by our customers.”

Joanne Morris, Whyte & Mackay’s Commercial Controller, commented: “The Dalmore is enjoying continued consumer demand, especially in global travel retail. We are particularly proud to unveil this exceptional trio of whiskies, with the beautiful creativity of Fraser Gray.

“The partnership with Avolta and London Heathrow is of strategic importance to us, as we seek to push the boundaries of the channel. The Dalmore Portfolio Series is set to offer global travellers another truly memorable experience, for which The Dalmore has become known."