Blog & Inspiration

An invisible spray-on varnish that shines as soon as it captures the light – it sounds like a fun gimmick, but the latter is gaining importance as a security measure. The reflective coating was first introduced to the public as “LifePaint” and promoted by the Volvo brand’s advertising appeal. But the inventor is someone else entirely.

Four friends travel from Mexico to the Canadian border across the North American continent on horseback: 3,000 miles through the largely unspoilt hinterland of five US states. As four-legged companions they have chosen mustangs – American wild horses that symbolise freedom and adventure in the Wild West like no other animal. That is why Ben Masters, Thomas Glover, Ben Thamer and Jonny Fitzsimons chose mustangs to draw their homeland’s attention to the problems surrounding the population management of wild horses.

Authentic living in a foreign city is what more and more people are looking for wherever they go in the world. After all, staying in a furnished apartment typical of the country, makes visitors feel like a real insider and not like an “anonymous” tourist. A company that has clearly recognised this trend is Cosmopolit Home, whose new accommodation concept called “NightSwapping” has sparked enthusiasm in the globe-trotting scene.

The story of Stripe reads like a classic tale from Silicon Valley. The founders, the brothers John and Patrick Collison from Ireland, were just 19 and 21 years old when they got the start-up off the ground in 2010. Since then, they have made a name for themselves in the industry and collected funding from top investors.

Those that think a vegan diet boring and stripped of all creativity will be easily contradicted by Laura Miller. It has rarely been more fun to watch while others cook than when watching her. Laura’s metiér: everything. As long as it is plant-based! The bubbly American lives in San Francisco together with her dog named Buzz. From there, she excites audiences across the globe with her cooking show on YouTube. What is the key ingredient of her success? Her charm, wit and a large dose of irony with which she presents her truly tempting recipes. After speaking to us, Laura created an exclusive PKM menu, which will make you crave for more when simply reading it.

The Apple Watch is what Apple presents as its “most personal product” to date. It certainly is the first new product category to have been introduced since the iPad. To check out this watch, a classic product test would be possible but inappropriate. Because this is less about megahertz and working memory and more about design and functionality instead. After all, one only adorns oneself with a technology accessory when both heart and mind have been won over. We put it to the test.

The grand era of Baroque - it was the pursuit of wealth and complete freedom. The epoch’s unique character is reflected, inter alia, in the architecture; all strict structures of the Renaissance were dissolved, their place taken instead by swinging shapes, domes, groups of pillars, gables and windows with rich ornamental finials, which were supposed to give admirers the impression of strength and movement. However, the period was also characterised by the atrocities of the Thirty Years’ War and the emerging absolutism that would conjure up conflict between bourgeois class consciousness and culture at court. Hence, lavish celebrations were organised, which mainly served the representation of princely splendour. More is more, was the credo.

Every year, a colourful quiver of boldly dressed cyclists parades through London – it’s Tweed Run time. The point of the race is not speed but to exhibit a special case of whimsical and nostalgic beauty. Our London correspondent Nora Manthey attended the event.

Heart rate tracker, training schedule & co. were yesterday. Thanks to the smart fitness apparel by Athos, all you need now is a single fitness tracker. Where previously your trainer would crack the whip, all that’s required these days is an app. It measures your biosignals and suggests your own individual training schedule to attain your personal fitness targets.

People have always been in search of beauty and wellbeing. Even in Ancient Egypt, women and men were concerned with finding the right care for the skin. It was the Ancient Egyptians who developed the first cosmetic products to protect their skin against sand and the hot and dry air. They also loved beautiful fragrances, as these were said to delight the gods. But what about today? The hype around the topic of beauty has never been greater. We have forgotten how to consciously take time to do something good for our souls. That is why we arranged to interview Raymond Cloostermann, Founder and Managing Director of “Rituals” to talk with him about the philosophy of his brand and the inspirational source it represents.

Diffused sun rays penetrate the blue of the ocean and dimly illuminate the outlines of a man on the brink of a deep dark hole at the sea bottom. This could be the scene of a base jump if we were not many feet deep under-water. Apnea diver Guillaume Néry gets ready for take-off and then dives as if in in slow motion, down into the black abyss of Dean’s Blue Hole in the Bahamas. He is holding his breath and so are we.

Rrrring. It’s modern, it’s chic and above all it’s smart. Ringly has a lot to offer and keeps us inconspicuously up to date with the news in all situations. A beautiful gadget, which doesn’t appear to be a gadget at first glance.

What if we could self-diagnose flu before it breaks out? What if we could see how physical training and the food we ingest are shaping our organism at the molecular level? The health product ‘Cue’ comes from the company of the same name. It combines powerful biosensor technology with mobile technology that creates a synergy which will definitely change the way we all approach health.

Cute voice, smart design and equipped with a load of soft skills, this is Jibo. The mini robot reminds us a bit of the endearing ET, the only difference being that ET was an extra terrestrial and therefore a living being. Jibo on the other hand is fully automated. Nonetheless, he doesn’t appear to show any less intelligence.

To begin with we just had ideas and visions that were suggested, discussed, pursued and sometimes discarded again. Light reflexes are now mirrored in convex and concave lines, edges cast sharp shadows, and striking surfaces allow the coloured, metallic paintwork to shimmer in an array of green shades that contrast with the warmth of the luxurious interior copper elements, the cognac-coloured leather seats and the exquisite wooden trimming on the doors. It is here that extraordinary ideas and visions have become shape and form. The design, technology and master craftsmanship generate a new vision of luxury and performance in the car industry. The Bentley EXP 10 Speed 6 is one of the most remarkable concept vehicles of the past year.

Marrakesh – merely the sound of the name of this Moroccan royal city awakens oriental  fantasies in us. It has captivated generations of travellers and there is hardly any other North African town in which life pulsates as much as it does in this one.  The imposing town walls glow red in the sunlight and the snow-covered peaks of the Atlas Mountains shimmer in the distance. Green palm groves, fragrant Jasmine, colourful carpets and sparkling ceramic mosaics all combine with one another to create an overwhelming oriental colour frenzy that indulges the senses.

The smell of lavender is beguiling. It mingles with the aromatic smell of pine and rosemary. On the horizon, the peaks of the Maritime Alps disappear in a blue haze and you know the sea is not far away. Provence is a unique region of France, an area that is proud of its breathtakingly beautiful countryside in which the best lavender in the world grows. Like a lilac-coloured sea, the lavender fields that seem to never want to end stretch over the gentle hills. A setting that was made for natural cosmetics.

Deep in the heart of Lombardy not too far from Milan lies one of the most interesting wine regions in Italy, known as Franciacorta. With its gentle green slopes of ancient hills, moraine in origin, the province of Brescia stretches across 20,000 hectares and 19 parishes. It is here that Franciacorta is made, an Italian wine that is exclusively produced with secondary fermentation in the bottle and labelled Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (a label that denotes controlled production methods and guaranteed quality). The Franciacorta denomination is representational of the area, production method and wine. This wonderful region is justifiably regarded as the Champagne of Italy, because as in France, high-quality sparkling wines are produced here using the same variety of grapes in a time-consuming bottle fermentation process.

Our food lays the foundation stone for the energy in our bodies, for our health and our well-being. What we eat influences our lives, our careers, even our relationships and family and beyond that, how we feel. In short, our food influences every part of our lives – and our minds.

In the majestic wilderness of Alaska you may find you come across a more unusual scene: where previously bears caught salmon in the river and elks grazed contentedly, a hiker appears, a hiker otherwise known as Barack Obama, the President of the United States, walking through the breath-taking landscape of the most northerly federal-state in the USA. At his side, the survival expert Bear Grylls, who’s testing Obama’s adaptability to nature and is showing him how to live in the wilderness.

A chef’s biggest challenge when cooking is to know the exact moment a dish is done. Many options exist to help determine it. American start-up June and its oven of the same name offer a solution that is elegant, easy to use, and one which promises to lighten up the life of any amateur chef.