Comme des Garçons joins Baccarat for Exquisite Collaborative Glassware

 

Japanese fashion house Comme des Garçons taps French glass artisans Baccarat for a special collaborative event. To welcome summer, the duo are launching a pop-up with a special edition piece of stemware.

Reimagining the Harcourt with polka dots.

Having recently dipped into the world of Japanese fashion courtesy of fragment design, Maison Baccarat is no stranger to inventive creations. This collaboration, however, isn’t a new shape – instead, Comme des Garçons tweaks one of the iconic classic Baccarat creations.

The Harcourt wine glass has remained a staple of Baccarat’s line-up since the Maison was founded in 1841, simultaneously highlighting the house’s knack for elegant design and its equisite attention to detail. Sleek lines inform the glass, arcing down onto a brilliantly simple hexagonal base.

Comme des Garçons’ collaborative edition places branding on the base and Comme des Garçons’ preferred polka dots across the bowl, yielding a glass that is equal parts progressive and classic.

Joining the $415 Harcourt glass, a commemorative T-shirts will drop at the special event hosted inside Comme des Garçons Aoyama, which begins May 31.

Come into the beautiful worlds of Maison Baccarat and Comme des Garçons.

 

 

 

 

Johnnie Walker launches its first 50 year old whisky

The John Walker Matsers’ Edition Scotch whiskey is one of the most memorable Johnnie Walker whiskeys ever. The triple matured Scotch whiskeys are made from six exceptionally rare whiskies. Each whiskey is at least 50 years old and with that the first 50 year old whiskey from Johnnie Walker was born.

The whiskeys of the John Walker Masters’ Edition come from distilleries that existed during the lifetime of founder John Walker. Some distilleries, such as the Glen Albyn and Glenury Royal distillery, no longer exist today. However, the Blair Athol distillery, one of the most famous distilleries in Scotland, is still in operation. The other three grain whiskeys used come from the haunted distilleries of Caledonian, Cambus and Port Dundas.

A total of 100 bottles of this special Scotch whiskey have been produced. Each presented in a custom made, individually numbered, rare double encased black crystal Baccarat decanter. Of course, the packaging of a whiskey of this level should not just be in a ‘box’. The box in which the spectacular Johnnie Walker comes was developed by NEJ Stevenson, Cabinet Makers. A craftsman who is characterized by work for the British Royals – not just any name.

Every drop of the whiskey has been hand selected from some of the most valuable and precious casks of malt and grain whiskeys that have been in storage for over 20 years. So reports Jim Beveridge, Johnnie Walker’s Master Blender. Blenders from Johnnie Walker discovered the barrels two decades ago. They decided to keep the barrels, to use for a special moment; John Walker Masters’ Edition. With this very exclusive edition, Johnnie Walker pays tribute to the whiskey masters who worked on whiskey a long time ago.

For $25,000 you can get an exclusive bottle of the John Walker Masters’ Edition, which will be available in limited markets. One bottle will be auctioned at Bonhams, Hong Kong in 2019. Come into the beautiful world of Johnnie Walker.

Baccarat, Flos and Philippe Starck collaboration steals the spotlight at Milan Design Week

The thousands of projects – complete or forthcoming – his global fame and tireless protean inventiveness should never distract from Philippe Starck’s fundamental vision: Creation, whatever form it takes, must improve the lives of as many people as possible. Starck vehemently believes this poetic and political duty, rebellious and benevolent, pragmatic and subversive, should be shared by everyone and he sums it up with the humour that has set him apart from the very beginning:

No one has to be a genius, but everyone has to participate.

Philippe Starck

His precocious awareness of ecological implications, his enthusiasm for imagining new lifestyles, his determination to change the world, his love of ideas, his concern with defending the intelligence of usefulness – and the usefulness of intelligence – has taken him from iconic creation to iconic creation… From the everyday products, furniture and lemon squeezers, to revolutionary mega yachts, hotels that stimulate the senses, phantasmagorical venues and individual wind turbines, he never stops pushing the limits and criteria of contemporary design.

His dreams are solutions, solutions so vital that he was the first French man to be invited to the TED conferences (Technology, Entertainment & Design) alongside renowned participants including Bill Clinton and Richard Branson.

Bon Jour, designed by Philippe Stark in 2015 is the timeless elegance of high-technology dematerialization. With a body that is ethereal, pure and almost immaterial. Its naked, transparent base can be customized with a variety of interchangeable finishings and materials, expressing personal taste. It’s timeless.

I have a total weakness when it comes to the French ‘crystal’ Maison’s like Lalique, Daum and Baccarat. Not only the vases and sculptures I like, but also ‘transparant’ lamps!…. Lighting is always the centre of attention in a room.

Presented during Milan Design Week, Fuorisalone, the Bon Jour Versailles collection of lamps – a collaboration between French crystal maker Baccarat, Italian lighting manufacturer Flos and renowned designer Philippe Starck – stole the spotlight.

A beautiful handmade version of the Flos ‘Bon Jour’, is the Baccarat ‘Bon Jour Versaille’ that is availble in two sizes. The lamp sits on top of a finely sculpted transparent handmade crystal stand. The lines are reminiscent of Baccarat’s most iconic pieces. Starck designed a beautiful timeless classic.

Camus receive prestigious French Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant label

French Maison Camus has been awarded the Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant (Living Heritage Company) label in recognition of itssavoir-faire, advanced technical skills and commitment to crafting quality products.

Created in 2005 by the French State to promote its industrial and craft heritage, the Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant label rewards outstanding economic and cultural talent across the country. Selected companies undergo a rigorous and lengthy examination process by an official body comprising independent and governmental entities.

Camus has been recognized as one of the select few Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant labeled brands to contribute to France’s economic standing, which include Baccarat, Boucheron, Chanel, Hermés, and Chateau Laubade.

Cyril Camus, President of Camus, representing the fifth generation of the founding family, said: “It is a privilege for Camus to receive the Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant label, which testifies to the devotion and savoir-faire passed on from each generation of my family to the next, as well as to the ongoing support from all those who have worked alongside us over the years. This success is also theirs”.

Maison Camus spans more than 150 years. With 180 hectares in the Borderies cru, the smallest and rarest district in the Cognac appellation, the Camus family has always been deeply involved in making and distilling Cognac.

Come into the beautiful world of Camus.