Opiates

Birkenstock x Maharishi: A Harmonious Clash of Function and Philosophy text Ulrika Lindqvist In a striking fusion of utility and serenity, German heritage brand Birkenstock joins forces with London-based label Maharishi to unveil a limited capsule collection, launching globally on May 30th. The collaboration draws from both brands’ enduring philosophies—Birkenstock’s commitment to ergonomic, nature-driven design, and Maharishi’s peaceful take on military aesthetics. At the heart of the capsule is a reinterpretation of Birkenstock’s Mogami sandal. Known for its rugged appeal, the Mogami has been transformed with a tactical edge, staying true to Maharishi’s utilitarian roots. This waterproof sandal features quick-release buckles, a detachable sling strap, and is paired with the brand’s signature tabi socks—an embodiment of functional innovation made for modern movement. Complementing the footwear is the M.A.L.I.C.E. backpack, a contemporary adaptation of 1960s U.S. Army modular load-bearing systems. Maharishi reimagines this tactical lineage through a pacifist lens, delivering a piece that is expandable, ergonomically designed, and full of thoughtful details such as concealed zip compartments. The backpack stands as a wearable metaphor—military-born but peace-minded, engineered for everyday exploration. Together, the collection is a meditation on duality: nature meets technology, motion meets stillness, form meets function. It’s a compelling example of how fashion can draw from contrasting worlds to create something wholly original. The Birkenstock x Maharishi collaboration will be available from May 30th at www.birkenstock1174.com and selected global retailers. Read more at www.birkenstock.com Image courtesy of Birkenstock 

Dior Presents Its New Exhibition at la Galerie Dior text Zohra Vanlerberghe A perpetually evolving space dedicated to art and memory, La Galerie Dior at 30 Montaigne retraces the House’s extraordinary story in the very place where its collections have come to life for nearly eighty years. It offers a voyage to the heart of haute couture – from Christian Dior to the present day – continually reinvented through temporary exhibitions, each offering a new perspective on this unique heritage. On May 21, La Galerie Dior inaugurated a new retrospective showcasing around 150 models, accompanied by original sketches, archival documents, and photographs that illustrate the richness of the House’s legacy, its enduring modernity, and its leading role in the history of fashion. Christian Dior, who developed a deep affinity with artists from a remarkably early age, infused his designs with the magic of painting, music, and dance. For the first time, a room is devoted to the latter discipline, also a major inspiration for the founding-couturier’s successors. In 1947, at the request of his friend Christian Bérard, Monsieur Dior dreamed up the costumes for the ballet Treize Danses, choreographed by the young Roland Petit. In turn, Maria Grazia Chiuri devised those for Sharon Eyal and Gai Behar’s Chapter 3: The Brutal Journey of the Heart in 2019. Thirteen themes celebrate the Dior spirit and the passions that inspire it, from a fascination with gardens to the enchantment of balls, from the creative freedom of the Miss Dior ready-to-wear line to the virtuoso mastery of the ateliers that shape the haute couture of 30 Montaigne, via the “Chambre aux merveilles,“ conceived as a cabinet of curiosities, from the entrancing Dior allure to its spellbinding J’Adore … a fabulous adventure. La Galerie Dior (11, rue François-Ier, Paris 8) is open from 11 am to 7 pm, every day except Tuesday. Last admission is at 5:30 pm. Online reservation is recommended on galeriedior.com Images courtesy of Dior

Elite Hotels introduces the summer luncheon text Natalia Muntean This summer, the table tells a story, one of heritage, abundance, and the quiet sophistication of Swedish culinary tradition reimagined. Inspired by the classic Grosshandlarlunch, this seasonal dining experience invites guests to pause, gather, and savor the richness of summer with the grandeur once reserved for winter feasts. Think of it as a midsummer christmas buffe: generous, sun-drenched, and overflowing with the best of the season. Over four elegant servings, guests are taken on a journey through Sweden’s most refined flavors, locally sourced delicacies, meticulously crafted main courses, and a finale of cheeses and confections that linger like golden hour on the skin. Whether it’s a celebratory farewell to colleagues, a long lunch with chosen family, or a quiet indulgence in a storied setting, this is not just a meal, it’s a ritual. One that honors both the past and the present, where every bite is both familiar and new. A table awaits. Take your seat. Read more at www.elite.se Image courtesy of Elite Hotels 

A Rebel Summer with Dr. Denim’s New Collection text Natalia Muntean Relaxed silhouettes, sun-bleached washes, and a modern edge define Dr. Denim’s High Summer 2025 collection – denim designed for freedom of movement and effortless style. Captured through the lens of photographer Ida Blom, the campaign embodies the collection’s rebellious spirit. Staying true to their inclusive approach, the Swedish brand offers everything from slim to baggy fits, low to high waist options, and straight to wide-leg cuts. The collection expands beyond jeans with skirts of all lengths, trucker hats, knits and sleek, form-fitting denim dresses. The standout detail? The carefully crafted washes that give each piece its character. Inspired by jeans that have aged naturally over years, the Stream Pale Vintage range offers particularly covetable patinas this season. With this release, Dr. Denim proves once again their ability to deliver timeless denim with a contemporary twist – rebellious yet wearable, vintage-inspired yet fresh. Photography Ida Blom 

Oscar Magnuson × Room 1015 text Ulrika Lindqvist When Swedish optical clarity collides with French olfactory rebellion, the result is as sharp as it is subversive. Oscar Magnuson’s Rick OM 7 sunglasses—already an exercise in architectural minimalism get a radical chromatic jolt in this limited-edition collaboration with fragrance provocateurs Room 1015. The Cherry Punk edition doesn’t whisper; it cuts through. A translucent crimson frame, numbered, of course channels the visceral energy of punk without sacrificing Scandinavian discipline. Think safety pins in couture silk. Think Vivienne Westwood in a lab coat. This is rebellion, calibrated. It began with a scent, spiced, irreverent, unfiltered. Now, Room 1015’s cult-favorite Cherry Punk steps into the light, refracted through bio-acetate and BioNylon lenses. The result is an accessory that sees the world not through rose-colored glasses, but through red-tinted defiance. Only 200 pieces exist, each one housed in hand-stitched Italian leather vegetable-tanned the old way, because some traditions are worth preserving. Punk may have started as noise, but here it ends in silence. Elegant, deliberate, and bold as hell. Read more at www.oscarmagnuson.com Image courtesy of Oscar Magnuson and room 1015

Understatement x Meagan Morrison – A Sicilian Story text Saffie In June, Swedish lingerie and swimwear brand Understatement will release a limited edition capsule collection in collaboration with Meagan Morrison, the New York-based fashion illustrator and founder of Travel Write Draw. The collection is inspired by Morrison’s long-standing admiration for Sicily, drawing on the island’s vivid contrasts and spirited cultural identity. Morrison describes Sicily as a place of “sun-bleached facades, fiery landscapes, opulent traditions, and fiercely strong women”, all of which influenced the creative direction of the collaboration. The resulting capsule merges Morrison’s signature hand-drawn illustrations with Understatement’s modern, empowering silhouettes, creating a unique line of underwear and swimwear that embodies the essence of a Sicilian summer. This exclusive release represents a fusion of travel-inspired artistry and contemporary design, available for a limited time only. Read more at www.understatement.com image courtesy of Understatement x Meagan Morrison

PRINTWORKS x Anna Cramling text Saffie PRINTWORKS proudly presents a new design collaboration with internationally acclaimed chess personality Anna Cramling. The result is a chessboard that seamlessly combines Anna’s deep passion for the game with PRINTWORKS’ signature design aesthetic—created to inspire a new generation to discover the world of chess. At just 23 years old, Anna Cramling has become one of the most influential voices in the chess community. A Woman FIDE Master, she has represented Sweden in multiple Chess Olympiads and engages over 2.7 million followers across YouTube, Instagram, and Twitch, making chess more accessible, inclusive, and social.  Since its inception in 2017, PRINTWORKS has earned a reputation as the go-to brand for design-forward board games where visual appeal and functionality are perfectly balanced. This partnership with Anna Cramling represents a natural synergy between two worlds: elegant design and a profound love for chess. Together, they are making their next move, one step at a time. Read more at www.printworksmarket.com image courtesty of PRINTWORKS

Louis Vuitton x Takashi Murakami text Saffie In celebration of the 20th anniversary of one of fashion’s most influential collaborations, Louis Vuitton presents the third and final chapter of its iconic partnership with Japanese contemporary artist Takashi Murakami. Launching globally i May 2025, this re-edition collection revisits Murakami’s beloved smiling cherry motif, an emblem of playful luxury that helped redefine fashion in the early 2000s. Debuting alongside Louis Vuitton’s Resort 2025 line, the collection brings the cherries to life across more than 70 pieces, including bags, shoes, and accessories. Classic silhouettes like the Speedy, Alma, and Capucines are reinvented with bold colors, metallic detailing, and whimsical surprises, such as hidden charms and 3D-printed cherry heels. A special denim capsule adds embroidered cherries to monogrammed fabric, extending even to a sun lounger. Photographed along the sunlit Mediterranean Riviera by Inez and Vinoodh, and fronted by global ambassador Zendaya, the campaign captures the collection’s blend of nostalgia, joy, and modern artistry. This final installment is not merely a retrospective; it is a vivid reminder of fashion’s power to bridge generations, elevate craftsmanship, and blur the boundaries between design and imagination. More than a farewell, the collection is a celebration of a partnership that helped shape 21st-century luxury: bold, playful, and enduringly influential. Read more at www.louisvuitton.com image courtesy of Louis Vuitton

Swarovski Opens the Doors to Its Creative World in Stockholm text Jahwanna Berglund Swarovski has officially opened its first Scandinavian store, marking a new chapter in the Austrian house’s legacy of light. Located in Westfield Mall of Scandinavia, just outside central Stockholm, the boutique is a crystalline dream brought to life under the bold creative direction of Giovanna Engelbert.
 Spanning 90 square meters, the space radiates glamour with a soaring glass façade, chrome and silk textures, and a luminous interior dotted with signature octagonal vitrines. Part of the global rollout of the WonderLux concept, the store transforms the traditional jewelry experience into an immersive journey of color, self-expression, and bold design.
 The Spring–Summer 2025 collections burst with personality, from a fresh lilac shade in the Millenia family to the golden glow of Gema and the candy-colored charm of Dulcis. Digital screens, curated displays, and exclusive pieces invite visitors into a kaleidoscope of storytelling and sparkle.
 Stockholm just got a lot more brilliant!

String Furniture Presents Museum Black – Industrial Beauty in Dark Costume The acclaimed Museum collection from String Furniture, designed by Swedish design duo TAF Studio, is now being expanded with a new color. From spring 2025, the side table, candle holder and shelf will also be available in an elegant black color. With clear roots in Swedish design heritage and an expression derived from industrial functionality, the Museum collection is now introduced in a new color. Black is timeless, dramatic and always relevant. The color creates contrasts, highlights details and gives a sense of elegance and depth. In combination with objects in natural materials such as wood and stone, a balanced dynamic arises. – Black is not just a color, it is an expression that sharpens the form, deepens the materiality and allows the object to speak with greater emphasis. In Museum Black, our fascination with industrial references meets a sense of quiet drama. The collection is our ongoing exploration of how design can be present without taking over, as a frame around something larger, say Mattias Ståhlbom and Gabriella Lenke, TAF Studio. Read more at stringfurniture.com Image courtesy of Grand Relations