MCM delves into its rich history

German luxury brand MCM is celebrating two interesting openings at its flagship MCM Haus store in Seoul, South Korea. 

The first is the MCM Museum, full of iconic products and visual imagery marking the brand’s 45-year history. Archive items include MCM’s signature backpacks, crafted in the brand's Cognac-coloured Visetos monogram material. See picture below:

Covering 185sq m, the space is divided into six different zones. The MCM Hotel Zone features Visetos fixtures and trunks, designed to create the relaxing mood of an imaginary MCM hotel room. In the Photo Zone, visitors can take selfies in front of a wall image of Munich, the brand’s hometown. Visetos carry-ons are provided as a photo accessory. 

The Heritage Gallery is a walk-through gallery showcasing MCM’s historical items. The Collaboration Zone contains some of the brand’s most innovative, fun and eye-catching collabs. For example, an MCM x Bape trunk co-created with the Japanese streetwear brand is presented alongside a lounge chair. Meanwhile, in the Library and Study Zone, design books are on display, along with pencils and paper so that visitors can read and draw. Finally, a Relaxing Zone is described as a cosy space with seating and magazines. 

The second opening at the MCM Haus flagship is the Pink Butter x MCM Café, pictured above. Pink Butter is a super-trendy bakery in the Korean capital, frequented by fashion lovers - and presumably lovers of all things pink. Now it has an outpost at MCM Haus, located in Seoul’s upscale Cheongdam-dong shopping area. 

The MCM Museum opened on October 30 and the 145sq m Pink Butter x MCM Cafe celebrated its grand opening on November 2.

Tech innovations take centre stage in Monaco

More than 20 companies showcased their environmental technologies in a two-day forum co-founded by Prince Albert II of Monaco.

An innovative Dutch company called GoodHout was among the start-ups vying for funding at the CleanEquity Monaco 2020 event, held both physically and virtually via EarthX, from October 22 to 23.

GoodHout uses sustainably sourced coconut waste to make an alternative to tropical hardwoods. Its dynamic CEO Silvia ten Houten, who founded the company in 2014, calls the 100% composite material “the new bamboo”. This bio-based material has a luxurious finish with “endless applications” for flooring, interiors, etc, and is twice as hard as ebony. It is naturally fire-retardant and scratch-resistant and will be 3D-moldable.

The launch customer is a fashion accessories producer in Italy which has turned this natural material into handbag clasps and eyelets, presenting the results at the recent Lineapelle trade fair in Milan. 

Photo: CleanEquity Monaco 2020 

GoodHout also aims to enter the green building industry, supplying global decorative laminates. “Our coconut husk material exudes luxury and design. We use no added chemicals; we’re not a greenwashed product at all,” she told the CleanEquity audience. 

ten Houten is half-Indonesian and set up GoodHout (Hout means wood in Dutch) after she saw piles of unused coconut husk waste attracting snakes during her visits to the country. With this in mind, she also seeks to “make the world a better place” by establishing a fair trade supply chain with local farmers. “We believe in giving back to the community. We want to set up a charity for kids, set up micro-financing for the local women, and offer micro-insurance. We aim to promote gender equality in Southeast Asia. We want to be the most successful social enterprise ever – saving the world, one coconut at a time,” she enthused. 

Expect to hear much more of GoodHout, within the design industry and beyond.

On the final day of the event, the CleanEquity Monaco 2020 awards were presented by Prince Albert, Chairman of the judging panel. The trophies were designed by French artist Samuel de Gunzburg, who lives and works in London.

The environmental tech research award went to Olombria, for its crop pollination innovations, with GoodHout the runner-up. Metron, an energy management firm, took the development award, with polystyrene recycling specialist Polystyvert in second place. The commercialisation accolade went to OrganoClick, which produces bio-based binders for nonwoven and technical textiles. Envelio, the provider of an Intelligent Grid Platform enabling the next phase of the energy transition, was the runner-up.

CleanEquity is hosted by Innovator Capital, the London-based specialist investment bank, focusing on health and sustainable technology innovation.

MCM’s new global creative platform starts at Midnight

MCM has launched a new global creative platform to support and engage with cultural pioneers. The German luxury brand is teaming up with international creatives to introduce a series of upcycling and recycling projects via this initiative. 

Explaining the platform, Dirk Schönberger, MCM Global Creative Officer, said: “I would like MCM to engage with an international community of creative minds from various backgrounds and disciplines. We aim to offer a platform to showcase their work and a voice to spread their message. The platform will develop organically, not bound to seasons and is a long-term project for the brand. We will include curated capsule collections and individual product drops with local and international elements. Always keeping our sustainability efforts in mind.” 

MCM x Midnight collaboration

The first project is with German streetwear brand Midnight, established in 2016 by designer and social activist Can Demirezen, who paints all his products by hand. Midnight focuses on community, urban culture, and collaborations. Silhouettes are combined with modern customising techniques. 

“The melancholy of the night and the spirit of the 90s are my inspiration,” said Demirezen. “I also like to work with hip hop references and want to convey strong cultural and political point of views through my designs. MCM gave me the freedom to rework their product and a platform to share my beliefs, growing a community into a movement.” 

Midnight’s collaboration with MCM dropped on October 2 with limited-edition, screen-printed T-shirts, jackets and pants that aim to reduce fashion waste by upcycling archive MCM products. 

MCM showcases Midnight and the brand’s cause on its global digital and social channels. A dialogue between Schönberger and Demirezen – the first in a new series of conversations dubbed MCM Creative Minds – can be seen on MCM’s Instagram channel (https://www.instagram.com/mcmworldwide/). 

The MCM × Midnight collection is exclusively available in MCM flagship stores in Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich as well as online at mcmcworldwide.com from October 2, 2020.

MCM explores a new reality

German luxury house MCM has introduced its Autumn/Winter 20 collection inspired by travel and movement through virtual and physical worlds.

Dubbed Hypertechnoreality, the campaign stars actor Aaron Altaras, artist and producer Pricela, writer and aspiring businesswoman Céline, and skater Yannick Zhou. The collection centres on clean-cut tailoring, deconstructed sportswear, and functional innovation. 

MCM's new logo play for AW20

“This collection is the beginning of a journey to real and virtual places – taking inspirations from both realms,” said Dirk Schönberger, Global Creative Officer of MCM. “In a mix of those cultural influences, we clash traditional tribal graphics with silhouettes inspired by Japanese garments to create a fresh take on tailoring and the modern street uniform.” 

Highlights are eco-friendly nylon ready-to-wear and a new logo play. The convertible pieces are designed to be worn on their own or layered. Logo-laden denim is paired with streetwise high- and low-top sneakers. This season, the letters MCM are colourfully glitched on handheld accessories, or turned into 24k shiny gold closures. 

Berlin street culture is also realised throughout the assortment. Berlin Bear paws appear on new T-shirts, with some styles spray-painted in bright graffiti to disrupt the muted hues of winter. The brand’s signature cognac colour is repurposed on accessories, while house codes get sleeker finishes and new Visetos colour options. Mini and x-Mini bags are designed to stack atop larger ones or link together for extra storage. 

Eco-friendly nylon ready-to-wear 

Key looks this season include the Logo Glitch shopper made with a translucent body and a linen-cotton canvas insert. Mini versions have crossbody capability via a removable leather strap. Graphically, the standout pieces are a body-skimming jacquard long-sleeve top in digitised geometry with matching skirt and leggings options.

Lastly, a fully functional and unisex quilted down coat expands the outerwear category. 

Continuing sustainability efforts led by SS20’s underwear collection, the Terrain Lo sneaker debuts in specially developed organic cotton canvas with a recyclable rubber outsole, and chrome-free tanned leather.

“Hypertechnoreality defies convention, redefines borders, crosses cultures, and blurs gender in an interconnected limbo wired between time and space,” said MCM. 

The AW20 campaign was photographed by Timothy Schaumburg, with Sabrina Hubert as Creative Producer.

Davidoff takes time with its Masterpiece humidors

Davidoff Cigars has created two limited-edition Masterpiece humidors, designed by the renowned French marquetry artist Rose Saneuil.

The humidors are inspired by different aspects of time. The first makes its debut in September and is limited to only eight pieces globally.

Davidoff's Masterpiece humidor designed by French artist Rose Saneuil

"Collaborating with artisans and artists mastering unique skills is not only a cornerstone in our innovation strategy but always a possibility for us at Davidoff to learn, get inspired and expand our creative horizons," said Edward Simon, Chief Marketing Officer of Oettinger Davidoff AG. 

In her approach, Saneuil artistically intertwines three dimensions of time: time as the ultimate luxury, a moment of serenity reflected in a sunset; the limitation of time and its easy evaporation is inspired by the image of evaporating smoke; and for the third dimension, when time seems to stand still, Davidoff has provided vintage tobacco leaves harvested in 1994 which inspired the artist to create the perfect moment. These tobacco leaves, reflecting eternity, are part of the artwork.

Following in November, the second Masterpiece humidor is designed with a shimmering effect, while the combination of darker colours of tobacco with vibrant golden hues reflects warmth. The materials incorporate gold leaves, tobacco leaves, mother-of-pearl, parchment and woods from vavona burl and sycamore trees. The body is crafted from precious Macassar woods, all treated to reflect a richer and more vibrant appearance.

Both designs will be accompanied by 50 unique cigars, exclusively blended by Davidoff's Master Blender for these humidors.

Bacardi doubles down on lockdown creativity

Bacardi has been busy getting creative during lockdown. The rum brand has launched a new digital ad spot – its first-ever shoot conducted remotely.

Featuring Bacardi rums such as Superior white rum and the brand’s latest product innovation, Real Rum Cocktails, the Bacardi Roommates ad spot inspires people to do what moves them. The message is: even when the world stops moving, you don’t have to.

To translate to screen how people were maximising their time in quarantine, Bacardi put out a casting call to find three real roommates to star in the new digital short film. They were not only the actors featured in the spot, but also the camera operators, cinematographers, set and costume designers, hair and makeup team, crew and lighting coordinators.

The film follows the three roommates – Alina, Kiara and Raisa – as they make the most out of quarantining together with Bacardi through a series of relatable, at-home activities, including choreographing a dance, singing karaoke from their couch, practising at-home mixology, giving each other haircuts, relaxing on their rooftop, and cheering on healthcare workers from the fire escape.

Bacardi's roommates mix cocktails in the new ad spot

To prepare the roommates for the shoot, Bacardi, its creative agency BBDO New York and production company 1stAveMachine sent the three stars professional film and lighting equipment – teaching them how to use it remotely via live video chats – as well as interior decor to spruce up their space before the director virtually shouted ‘action’. The final spot is a result of 30 hours of Zoom meetings, two days of filming, 15 boxes of props, and no outside people entering the set.

In other news, Bacardi Limited has unveiled a new company website (https://www.bacardilimited.com/) which aims to reflect the people-focused, entrepreneurial culture and vibrant life at Bacardi. The design is inspired by the company’s purpose of ‘celebrating moments that matter’. 

Dedicated pages detail the stories behind the brands and nutritional information for many of the brands as part of the company’s continued commitment to marketing alcohol responsibly. Also featured, the careers section gives a peek into Bacardi life with personal career stories, talent development programmes, and links to the job-searching tool.

“Our new Bacardi Limited website reflects our unique family culture and celebrates the people and brands that make us proud to be a part of the team,” said Jessica Merz, Global Director of Corporate Communications for Bacardi. “Our website’s striking design elements, improved navigation and new sections offer a simplified, yet very engaging, discovery of our business and brands.”

MCM's game-changing hip hop celebration

Luxury goods house MCM is celebrating ‘The Remix: Hip Hop x Fashion’, a film that chronicles the contributions of urban fashion pioneers Misa Hylton and April Walker in a male-dominated industry.

For the past two years, MCM, Tribeca Studios and Cortés Films have been working on producing this award-winning documentary.

MCM on Instagram @mcmworldwide

Co-directed by Academy Award-nominated producer Lisa Cortés (Precious, The Apollo) and film editor/director Farah X, the film brings these important women to the forefront.

There are special appearances by Dapper Dan, Kirby Jean-Raymond, and other game-changing Black voices in fashion.

Misa Hylton, the renowned stylist and MCM Global Creative Partner, was one of the leading contributors who changed the destiny of fashion and music.

The MCM and Tribeca Studios-produced documentary ‘The REMIX: Hip Hop X Fashion’ streams on Netflix on July 22.