Design – Numéro Berlin https://www.numeroberlin.de Wed, 21 Oct 2026 16:00:02 +0000 en-US hourly 1 WESTWING | VICTORIA BECKHAM “DINING COLLECTION” https://www.numeroberlin.de/2026/10/westwing-victoria-beckham-dining-collection/ Wed, 21 Oct 2026 16:00:02 +0000 https://www.numeroberlin.de/?p=76565 WESTWING | VICTORIA BECKHAM PRESENT TABLEWARE COLLECTION

 

 

Westwing is the number one name in European e-commerce when it comes to beautiful living. The new collection from Westwing and Victoria Beckham marks the designer’s homeware debut and brings Westwing’s vision into the homes of design lovers through a curated selection of tableware, textiles, and decorative objects. Besides that, the collection marks the beginning of a dialogue between fashion and interiors and offers true design lovers a new way to bring a personal style into their homes.

In her eponymous brand, the designer’s work is distinguished by modern minimalism, precise tailoring, timeless elegance, and high-quality craftsmanship. She carries these fundamental principles into this collaboration and reinterprets them. Under the guiding slogan “Serving Style,” Victoria Beckham’s appreciation for the art of hosting and carefully chosen details comes to life. Her designs follow less strict rules of form and instead feel like a warm invitation to the table, combined with elegance.

 

Organic lines and curves run through the dishes as well as the cutlery, bowls, and vases, and the collection forms a distinctive aesthetic of its own for the world of Home & Living. In keeping with this, the shapes and patterns of the chain motifs repeat from the dishes into the textiles, and from the glasses into the cutlery.

Victoria Beckham’s creative vision and Westwing’s expertise in beautiful living design and hospitality come together in a collection that transforms everyday gatherings into stylish experiences. The collection is an excellent interplay of texture, craftsmanship, and form. Its unmistakable design acts as Victoria Beckham’s ingrained design code in the world of interiors. She combined the aesthetics of the 19th-century British Arts and Crafts movement with a look that feels modern at the same time.

The collection features a color palette chosen to match the organic silhouettes, effortlessly combining a sense of simplicity and permanence in style with a high level of craftsmanship. This collaboration marks a significant milestone for Westwing and underscores the brand’s relevance in Europe following its successful market entry in the United Kingdom in early 2026.

 

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GUCCI SPRING/SUMMER 27 https://www.numeroberlin.de/2026/10/gucci-spring-summer-27/ Fri, 02 Oct 2026 16:35:48 +0000 https://www.numeroberlin.de/?p=75279
THE NEW GUCCI, IN STORE

 

 

 

After Demna took over as Creative Director of Gucci in 2025, attention has been on the house as the designer gradually worked out his vision for one of fashion’s most recognisable names. Following his first runway show for Gucci, “Primavera”, in February of this year, which focused on body-conscious silhouettes and the provocative glamour associated with the house’s Tom Ford years, Demna now brings together the different sides of Gucci he has explored since his arrival. For Spring/Summer 2027, “The Store Show” offers a more complete picture of what Gucci might look like under his direction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The setting makes the concept immediately clear. Built to resemble Demna’s vision of a Gucci boutique, the space is filled with displays of watches and jewelry, shelves of bags and shoes, and low, velvet-covered seating. The audience sits among the merchandise, while a street scene unfolds on screens behind the store, giving the impression of a boutique embedded in a living city. The runway itself becomes part of the shopping experience, with models entering through the store’s doors, pausing in front of displays and occasionally checking their reflections in mirrors. Rather than treating the setting as a backdrop, Demna allows the clothes and the people wearing them to inhabit it. Menswear and womenswear follow one another as two distinct collections, just as they would occupy separate sections of a store.

 

 

 

 

 

The show opens with menswear, accompanied by an instrumental soundtrack by Gucci Music Director Loki. A bossa nova-inspired composition, built around jazz-inflected piano and Brazilian percussion, sets a relaxed tone for the first looks. The opening wardrobe follows suit. Navy, black and muted neutrals dominate, with long trench coats, dress shirts and sharply tailored blazers establishing a polished, distinctly Italian approach to dressing. Cropped trousers worn with loafers and no socks bring an old-school sense of elegance to the runway, while fitted jackets and pronounced shoulders give the silhouettes a sharper edge.

 

 

 

 

The collection does not remain quite so polished throughout. As the show progresses, proportions become more exaggerated, with puff-shaped outerwear, broader shoulders and slouchy denim interrupting the more restrained tailoring. Some jackets are worn loosely over the shoulders, while other looks lean into layered shirts, rugby tops and more undone styling. These shifts bring a different attitude to the collection, one that feels closer to Demna’s own design vocabulary. The contrast is particularly apparent when a classic Gucci wardrobe is disrupted by oversized outerwear or deliberately dishevelled styling. Rather than introducing an entirely new set of codes, Demna seems interested in seeing how far the existing ones can be pushed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gucci’s familiar codes quickly emerge. The Horsebit appears on belts and shirt pockets, while the Ophidia returns in both accessories and bags. The new 3X belt, distinguished by its three Horsebit details, makes the house’s equestrian heritage particularly visible. Dark, rectangular sunglasses recur throughout the menswear, adding a degree of Demna’s signature anonymity to otherwise carefully composed looks. There is something almost cinematic about the combination of tailored suits, slick styling and narrow eyewear, with occasional references to the sleek, body-conscious Gucci of the 1990s.

 

 

The models contribute just as much to this shifting identity. Their hairstyles, make-up and walks vary from one look to the next, giving the impression that each has arrived at the store with a different idea of what Gucci means to them. Some embody the polished, affluent customer suggested by the tailoring; others feel younger, more casual or deliberately eccentric. This variety reflects the three personalities that shape Demna’s vision of Gucci: “The Rebellious Aristocrat”, “The Snob” and “The Eccentric”. Rather than presenting a single ideal Gucci customer, the collection moves between these characters, allowing different attitudes towards the house to exist side by side.

 

 

 

 

 

The shift into womenswear is accompanied by a change in the soundtrack. The lighter, jazz-inflected opening gives way to “Tango”, a slower composition that gradually builds in intensity, lending the second half of the show a more sensual atmosphere. It opens with a return to Gucci’s equestrian roots. A riding-inspired look leads into crisp white shirts, sharply tailored blazers, knitwear draped over the shoulders and sleek black riding boots. The styling evokes a distinctly bourgeois wardrobe, with an ease that feels inherited rather than constructed. The Horsebit continues to anchor the looks, while familiar accessories, including the GG Marmont belt and Ophidia bag, reinforce the connection to the house’s established identity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yet the collection gradually moves away from this controlled appearance. Rugby tops, Scottish tartan, checked wool, leather and sharply pleated A-line skirts introduce a more rebellious, almost collegiate attitude. Puff-shaped jackets sit alongside masculine shirting, while oversized Horsebit details bring a familiar house symbol into more exaggerated territory. The tension between propriety and irreverence becomes one of the collection’s recurring themes.

 

 

 

As the womenswear progresses, the atmosphere shifts again. Layered jewelry and sharp-shouldered blouses introduce a more romantic sensibility, before delicate lingerie appears beneath voluminous shearling outerwear. The contrast between the softness of the lingerie and the weight of the outerwear gives these looks a different kind of sensuality from the tightly fitted silhouettes of “Primavera”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evening-wear eventually takes over, with fluid dresses and increasingly revealing cuts recalling Gucci’s more provocative past. The final “gravity” gown takes the idea quite literally, a teardrop-shaped metal weight hangs from the dress, pulling the fabric into place as the model moves. The casting reinforces the collection’s range of identities. Different generations and familiar faces from across the fashion industry appear within the same world. The models continue to move through the boutique as though they were customers rather than performers, stopping to look at displays or adjusting their sunglasses in the mirrors. These small gestures make the concept feel more fully realised, allowing the store to function as part of the presentation rather than simply an elaborate set.

 

 

 

The idea also reaches back to the origins of the house. Before founding Gucci, Guccio Gucci worked at London’s Savoy Hotel, where he encountered an international clientele whose different styles and social worlds would shape his understanding of luxury. Demna returns to the hotel as a point of reference for a house that has always moved between different cultural identities. His Gucci is not defined by one particular customer, but by the possibility of several existing side by side.

 

 

 

 

 

After a year spent exploring different facets of the house, “The Store Show” brings those ideas into closer conversation. Italian tailoring and equestrian references sit alongside slouchy denim, oversized outerwear and the sensuality of evening-wear. Some looks remain close to Gucci’s established codes, while others carry the unmistakable imprint of Demna’s own approach to proportion and styling. By bringing these different wardrobes together, he presents Gucci less as a single aesthetic than as a space in which contrasting personalities can coexist. The store, in that sense, becomes more than a setting for the show. It offers a vision of Gucci in which the question is not who belongs, but which version of the house one chooses to make their own.

 

 

 

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IN CONVERSATION WITH LEON EMANUEL BLANCK https://www.numeroberlin.de/2026/09/in-conversation-with-leon-emanuel-blanck/ Mon, 14 Sep 2026 09:24:06 +0000 https://www.numeroberlin.de/?p=73842
Leon Emanuel Blanck about His Craft, His Body of Work and LEB

His work is defined by an inherently asymmetrical approach, working directly from the human body, with no pattern piece ever mirrored. When meeting the Berlin-based designer at his collection launch in Berlin, he told us about his work and his clothing line, LEB, a distilled, more focused line that concentrates on the most essential elements of the main collection. In conversation with Numéro Berlin, we got an insight into who he is as an artist and designer and into his way of thinking.

Elin Luehmann: How did you come to the attitude of not wanting to perfect anything that others have already perfected, such as tailoring, but instead to work with asymmetry, distortion and the anatomy of the body?

Leon Emanuel Blanck: Perfectionism is not something that gets me anywhere. It also has to do with the technique I have developed. I see the whole process as a kind of Sisyphean task. You work on one side, or on both sides in parallel, and then the piece is finished, so to speak. You put it on again and think, “Okay, this side is a little tighter than the other,” or something doesn’t quite work. Then you work on the other side again, and suddenly that side is different. You could continue forever. At some point, you have to stop, otherwise it will never be finished. In my idea of things, perfection simply isn’t attainable.

EL: If you consider a garment as something living, when does it start to live for you: during the design process, on the body, or only in the moment when it is worn?

LEB: Earlier, actually. I see the entire design and shaping process as a conversation between the body I am shaping, the person, the material and my own input. It’s like a conversation, so to speak. I don’t actually design that much; things happen almost automatically through the movement and the person. Ultimately, the seam lines and the shapes are determined by the natural characteristics of the body. In that sense, it is already something very natural and alive. Then there is another step when someone buys it and wears it, and their character and the character of the garment connect with each other.

EL: Do you have ups and downs in your creativity and phases in which you are not inspired?

LEB: Everything I touch turns to gold. It’s quite scary. I’m actually always inspired. I don’t really have moments where I think, “I have no idea what to do.” I also don’t see it as, “Now I’m designing something,” or “Now I’m thinking about this.” The day is just the day, you do what you do, and maybe an idea comes to you. Sometimes you just have to start working on something, and then it comes naturally.

EL: Are you more inspired by things in your surroundings or by emotions?

LEB: Emotions more than things I see. But I don’t think you can design something while living in a completely white room, isolated from everything. What you surround yourself with, in the broadest sense, will always come back out through you. But it’s not something I actively do. I don’t look at something and think, “I’m going to make this now.” It’s more about how you carry yourself. But emotions definitely play a role.

There is a collection for Leon Emanuel Blanck called Human. It was the winter collection that has now come into stores. During the design phase, it was originally very much connected to a feeling I had. I was quite angry for a while about various things, which isn’t necessarily unusual for me—that is part of my character. I eventually realized that this was coming through in the collection, and it developed from there.

EL: „Kollektion Drei“ is being shown for the first time tonight. If you were not allowed to explain it, what would you want someone to understand when putting it on?

LEB: To feel themselves, and also to feel the difference between left and right—not necessarily the left and right sides, but generally. The nice thing about clothes, or at least what I like about my clothes, is that you always feel something when you wear them. It’s not that classic feeling of, “Wow, this is so light,” or “I don’t feel anything at all.” It’s more that something is happening.

EL: With LEB, your rather radical design language becomes a little more wearable, one could say. In that context, is wearability a limitation for you, or simply another form of design?

LEB: Another form of design, if I’m being precise. It actually started with taking classics and putting my DNA onto them—whether it’s a trench coat, a five-pocket jean or a trucker jacket. These are all classic pieces that still work when I put my stamp on them. It works without a logo. I put the cut into the foreground, which is kind of a logo in itself, but not actually one.

That’s what I find interesting. If you’re not paying close attention, you simply have a trench coat. But if you have an eye for things, you might think, “Interesting. Why is it made this way? Why is the seam positioned like that? Why are the left and right sides different?” It’s not very loud.

EL: You can also see here in these surroundings that you move between fashion, sculpture, art and everything in between. At what point does a garment become more than clothing for you? Would you call it art?

LEB: Clothing is clothing, and artworks are artworks. That’s what’s beautiful about sculptures, for example. They don’t have to fit anyone. Something can be too tight for me, too wide, or simply not suit me. It doesn’t have to.

EL: Your work has been exhibited at MK&G in Hamburg, alongside Rei Kawakubo, for example. What does it mean to you to have your work shown alongside such an influential figure, especially considering that you also work so much with the body, distortion and asymmetry?

LEB:  It was really funny because I didn’t actually realize how special or great it was until much later, looking back. It wasn’t gone, obviously, but I only really appreciated it afterwards. I thought, “Fuck, that’s amazing.” 

In general, I’m not very easily impressed or in awe of other people. Of course, it’s great when people create something amazing, but there are so many people creating incredible things. I’ve never really had that kind of fandom—even as a child, it was never really my thing.

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IN CONVERSATION WITH ANNA RINGSTAD https://www.numeroberlin.de/2026/09/in-conversation-with-anna-ringstad/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 09:58:25 +0000 https://www.numeroberlin.de/?p=73540
THE MOST DEMOCRATIC FASHION SHOW: ANNA RINGSTAD WITH “MAINTENANCE MELANCHOLIA“

As the beautiful chaos of Oslo Runway slowly comes to an end, the crowd gathers for one of the last shows in Café Sara. On arrival, I’m not sure if I’m in the right place: an old-fashioned café on the street corner, “the most democratic café in Oslo,” as I would learn later. People sit outside at the tables, having promising-looking lunch inside and an early beer here and there.

I find a seat in the backyard and wait with the rest of the fashion crowd for what’s to come. Lene3000 enters the stage, a Norwegian artist who has recently gained attention for her dreamlike, mythical vocals, often set amidst Norwegian nature. She climbs the improvised stage on the little balcony of the backyard and slowly lulls the crowd into the creative world of Anna Ringstad.

As waiters are still bringing out fries and drinks to the tables, the first models appear in the yard, blending in so well that I almost missed that we had already started. They carefully maneuver through the tight tables, seeming almost out of this world. On their faces: expressions of great strain, confusion. They pose in completely exaggerated ways, actually asking the audience to take pictures of them as they arch their bodies. They vividly long for our attention, begging the photographers to take their picture, who gladly play along, desperately trying to catch these ever-moving models.

As they rush to bring drinks to the table, they dash through the tables, spilling drinks on the mesmerized crowd. Their smiles are overpitched, lost in absurdity, all underlined by Lene3000’s singing.

The looks presented entail the same romantic bizarreness: a lot of carefully crafted knitwear, lace, braided hair, loudly screaming floral prints, heels, silk and mostly dresses or skirts.

As suddenly as they appeared, the models disappear from the backyard, leaving a fascinated yet slightly confused crowd. After the applause follows a silent anticipation – everyone is curious to see the designer, the mastermind behind a show that turned into such an intricate play.

With a similar whimsicalness as her performers before, Anna Ringstad quickly runs through the tables, hiding between huge sunglasses.

She is, next to WILHELMINA, the winner of the NEXT award, a sponsorship program by Oslo Runway to lift up emerging talent with financial support, creative feedback and industry exposure throughout the year. 

Numéro Berlin caught Anna Ringstad right after her show to sit down with her and ask what on earth this was all about.

EDWIN LEYMAN
EDWIN LEYMAN
“I want people outside of this sphere to find it interesting and intriguing.“
Leonie Kampen: I don’t know if you had an interpretation with it, or if it was just about creation, but I was really wondering what your vision of that performance was.

Anna Ringstad:

So, the thing with this is that it’s sort of meant to look like it’s improvised, like, “Oh, we’re just doing it on improvisation and seeing what’s happening,” but we’ve been practicing to make it look like improvisation. The whole collection and the whole show is sort of this attempt to be a perfect collage of the casting, the location, the choreography, and the music.

The umbrella theme is about when you try a bit too hard to become this “pretty girl.” You’ve done all the research, you have your list of things you need to check out: you’ve got your hair, you have the floral dress, blah blah blah. But when you have all of these points perfectly checked out, that’s where it sort of falls down. You can really see that you tried too hard, and then it becomes vulnerable. You can see how self-conscious they are.

With the whole location, I find it to be the most democratic bar in Oslo, where everyone can be sitting here: the most famous director and the local guy who drinks beer. For me, it’s important when doing my first runway show to make it into a place that has a connotation that it’s not for the fashion industry or the fashion bubble. I want people outside of this sphere to find it interesting and intriguing.

That’s also why the casting is all non-models, but they’re all performers in a sense: they’re actors, dancers, musicians. They all work with stage presence for a living, which makes them able to create this group dynamic, and they take choreography quite well. We’ve been talking a lot about references and rehearsing and figuring out, like, how does this girl actually walk in heels when she’s so hyper-aware that her walk becomes terribly bad?

With this casting, everyone in the city has a connotation to these girls because they’re kind of local it-girls or celebrities. It’s quite interesting to see those two girls who are usually humorists, or that one dancer girl, now in this context. You become intrigued and want to see what’s happening. That’s sort of my fishing aim: to pull all the people who don’t really care about fashion into this sphere and, in that context, make them interested in fashion.

LK: So all the performers who walked now are well known in Oslo?

AR: Yeah, they’re actors, dancers, humorists. They all work with the stage.

LK: And this idea of overdoing it and still something being off, was that inspired by someone or something?

AR: It started when I was on a residency in North Macedonia, where it became quite interesting. I’m also half Russian, so I was thinking, “Okay, they’re Baltic, I am one of them, we have a lot of things in common.” But they really embodied this kind of trying too hard with the biggest pride. They went to the hairdresser for two hours before every event we went to. At the fashion week we saw there, it was all corsets, lace gowns – everything was so overly done.

I was also catching myself thinking, as a Scandinavian, I consider myself a free feminist. I don’t shave my armpits, I don’t wear a bra, and I was kind of looking at them with pity at some point, thinking, “I feel so bad for them, feeling like they have to wear all these lashes and corsets.”

But then I came to the conclusion that I’m not above them in any way. They’ve decided to dress this way just as much as I’ve decided to dress the way I’m doing. In a way, I can really appreciate that they actually want to look like they put in the effort. For me, that’s kind of where I become too self-conscious. I think it’s a bit embarrassing, or maybe I’m not confident enough to be walking around in a corset in this full-glam look. So it’s kind of an homage almost to that thing.

LK: And who were these other girls?

AR: We were four Scandinavian designers and four Baltic designers. They were my age, up-and-coming designers, and we were supposed to make some kind of cross-cultural references. But it was really like all the Scandinavians were doing some boxy-cut thing, and they were in full corset, push-up bra. So it’s also this admiration that they actually want to show all the effort they’re putting in.

That’s kind of a reference to the title, Maintenance Melancholia, because here in Scandinavia we have this 28-step no-makeup makeup routine where you have to eat this much protein, and it’s a lot of effort put into looking effortless. Whereas there, you do all the steps and it needs to show what you’re doing.

So it’s kind of a clash and collapse of those two things, and that’s the outcome of this collection.

It’s also implemented into the techniques of the garments, because of the way I use craft and all of these lo-fi, handmade techniques. It’s kind of a mix between, “I want a Chanel dress, but we don’t have the money, so we do it ourselves.” It’s this aspirational dream of getting something, becoming something, looking like something, but also using craft in the context of today and the current digital society, instead of working with craft as this heritage-grounded thing.

To me, it’s so important in how I work because it needs to be slow-paced in order for me to consume all these internet references and get all these things. You have this hyper-quick content that keeps running, and then you have this slow handwork. I think those two things need to exist together in order for this whole craft wave to exist in the future. I think in ten years craft won’t be as relevant if we just keep referring to it as heritage – it’s important, it’s history. It needs some kind of recontextualization into the current.

LK: And how is that currently? How do you see it becoming something contemporary?

AR: I think it’s more in the way of – how should I put it? Yeah, I mean, it’s a long stretch of reference, but the way, for instance, pictures circulate through Pinterest and stuff like this. You have the real thing, and then it circulates and circulates and becomes this dupe thing. The dupe of the dupe and the reference of the reference becomes more relevant than the actual thing.

I kind of see craft the same way. You have Loewe making a knitwear sweater on the runway, and then it circulates and circulates and ends up at H&M, and then people are wanting to recreate that as well. Then it becomes this hyper reality, where you don’t know where it starts. It’s kind of like dupe culture in a way.

LK: Do you think it requires confidence to dress in your designs?

AR: I mean, it roots down in being able to wear what you’re wearing with the confidence that you have. The thing I’m trying to show with this collection is that none of the girls are supposed to look like they feel natural and at home in the garments. It’s kind of like trying on a dress that sits a bit wrong at the mall, and you’re like, “I don’t know, the breast doesn’t fit perfectly.”

But when you have this thing that, “I’m wearing this garment instead of this garment wearing me,” then it doesn’t really matter if you wear a corset or a tank top without a bra. That’s also the thing with personal style: you need to know how your body wears your clothes.

STIG BUVARP
BERTINE MONSEN
STIG BUVARP
“None of the girls are supposed to look like they feel natural and at home in the garments.“
BERTINE MONSEN
“I think there should be room for the whole spectrum between some crazy, ugly floral prints and a beige cashmere.“
LK: Your designs differ quite a lot from the Scandinavian minimalism that I’ve seen so far. Is that a conscious choice, and do you think Oslo or Norwegian fashion needs a little more maximalism?

AR: Yeah, for sure. In a way, it’s quite – not an obvious choice, but a choice I’ve taken to do a bit of the complete opposite from Scandinavian minimalism. But it’s not like I want to be contrary or anti. I also want to show that you can do something different than the beige stuff.

I think there should be room for the whole spectrum between some crazy, ugly floral prints and a beige cashmere. I think runway and Scandinavian fashion have room for more things than just plain silhouettes.

That’s also why I want to show in a context like this. Oslo isn’t really established as a fashion city, so I think that also gives you some freedom. You can bend and break the rules a bit instead of, for instance, showing in Paris, where you have these religious rules you need to follow, and if not, you’re out.

Here, no one’s going to fire you or kick you out or never work with you again if you do something like this. This also helps bring more people in the cultural industry into fashion.

It’s also such a small city where the fashion industry can fit around one dinner table. But I look at fashion in the same way as music: as a cultural phenomenon. Music is more generally spread out to everyone. We all have a relation to it, but I don’t think everyone in Norway wants to say they have a relationship to fashion. But they do – they’re just not aware of it.

Doing things like this, I think, also helps open it up. It becomes more democratic, less elitist. Putting in some irony and cringy elements makes it easier for the normal guy in the street to have an opinion and talk about it.

I think this white-box, catwalk runway situation becomes too abstract. It must be difficult for your regular neighbor to be able to have an opinion about it. Then it’s not a conversation; it’s just something circulating within a room of four walls in the fashion industry.

LK: What was your inspiration for the looks themselves?

AR: It’s kind of a clash and collapse of this Baltic girl and the Scandinavian she. So I’ve called it “Baltic babe tries to be a Scandinavian chic.”

It’s been this speculative design process where I’ve thought, okay, if I imagine that the character is one of these Baltic girls, and she’s like, “Okay, in Scandinavia they have all these pretty floral gowns, and it’s a lot of knit and crochet,” and you make this list.

But the outcome is that it’s kind of a lost-in-translation thing, where you have the floral prints but they’re digital, and the colors are awful, and it’s incredibly ugly – but on paper, it’s correct.

LK: And do you live here?

AR: I actually live in Paris, but I kind of want to have a relation to the fashion world here. Because of what I said earlier, it’s so – I don’t want to say non-existent, but it’s so fluid that you can really become part of changing what it ends up being.

In a way, I find it way more interesting to show in a context like this instead of striving to fit into the Paris calendar, because then you’re just a tiny dot in an ocean.

It’s also a lot about context. I mean, for you it’s probably not like this, but the casting and probably everyone in the crowd has a relation to the casting and the musician, and it all becomes familiar. It’s also about recontextualization. It’s not just about finding great models that look good in the clothes.

LK: And who is the singer?

AR: Her name is Lene and her artist name is Lene 3000. She performs in the forest, in the middle of nowhere, and she’s become this viral phenomenon where she always sings in either a bridal dress or some kind of ugly ’80s grandma dress. It’s violin and synth, and it’s a bit between quirky, spacey, and fairy-like. Her lyrics are quite – I feel like they fit the vibe of the collection.

She’s amazing, and I feel like her lyrics sound like a stream of consciousness of what the character I want to embody keeps thinking: “Do you like what you see? Focus on my body language.” All of these things that go on repeat.

And since she’s not from Oslo and she’s never really been to Oslo, it makes her kind of the coolest of them all. When she’s here, she doesn’t get any of the references. She’s never been to this bar, but this bar is kind of a place where everyone comes to. You never know if you’ll see all your exes, all your lovers, all your enemies and best friends. But she doesn’t get that context, so she’s kind of glitching the matrix.

Everyone knows her from social media, but she’s not a face you see in the city. So that kind of makes her, I feel like, come in like a hologram avatar.

And I feel like she’s going to become huge, so it’s also such a blessing. Before I even got the whole Oslo runway thing, I was kind of daydreaming since January: “I really want to work with her, but what should the project be?” And then it ended up fitting really great.

LK: About the knitwear in your designs – did you study that?

AR: Yeah, when I did my BA in Clothing and Costume Design, I did a lot of specialization in knitwear. I’ve also interned at a lot of different brands in Paris, where I was a knitwear design assistant and helped out on the knitwear atelier team.

It’s also something I learned from my mom and my aunt. Those are the Russian ones in my family who work with it. The whole thing with craft and knitting was kind of my way of playing.

My aunt from Russia used to come and be like, “I bought so much yarn for you, and now we’re going to knit all summer.” So to me, it’s kind of this thing I do when I’m a bit stressed out or need to think, or when I’m consuming new content and stuff.

EDWIN LEYMAN
BERTINE MONSEN
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W COSTA NAVARINO: A PLACE BETWEEN MYTH AND MODERNITY https://www.numeroberlin.de/2026/07/w-costa-navarino-a-place-between-myth-and-modernity/ Thu, 23 Jul 2026 10:39:56 +0000 https://www.numeroberlin.de/?p=72560
W COSTA NAVARINO: A PLACE BETWEEN MYTH AND MODERNITY

Numéro Berlin explored the luxury resort that became one of the filming locations for Christopher Nolan’s newly released film, The Odyssey.

Following Odysseus’ legendary ten-year journey home after the Trojan War, Nolan brought the epic tale back to its Mediterranean origins, filming amid the dramatic cliffs, caves and shores of the Peloponnese. Celebrating the film’s release with screenings at its open-air cinema, while also offering specially curated excursions, artisanal workshops and activities inspired by the enduring story of Odysseus, the landscape continues to invite a different kind of voyage: one defined by design, wellness, cultural curiosity and the art of slow luxury.

Let’s be honest: it is difficult not to fall deeply in love with Greece — whether for the beauty and diversity of its landscapes, the layers of history that merge with the present in a way found almost nowhere else, its spirit of philoxenia, which goes far beyond hospitality and expresses a genuine love for strangers, or its profound joy of living and instinct for celebrating life at any moment. And, last but certainly not least, its food.

As part of an exclusive series of artworks, Greek curator and visual artist Poka-Yio raises compelling questions about the symbolic identity of hotels and their ability to serve as bridges into another space, allowing us to experience the spirit of a country in a more intimate way. He sees hotels as timeless entities: “They are certainly out of place and out of time. They are portals.” Some have the rare privilege of being built on land that carries deep, collective memories of the past.

W COSTA NAVARINO: A PLACE BETWEEN MYTH AND MODERNITY

W Costa Navarino is undoubtedly one of those portals. Opened in 2022, it is nestled in one of Greece’s best-kept secrets: the region of Messinia in the southwestern Peloponnese, a landscape shaped by more than 4,500 years of history. It forms part of an expansive luxury destination comprising premium hotels, private residences and one of the Mediterranean’s most diverse offerings for exploration, sport and wellbeing.

Driven by a philosophy of protecting and preserving Messinia while thoughtfully contributing to its development, Costa Navarino places sustainability and its relationship with the local community at the centre of its vision. Messinia is home to one of Europe’s richest regions for biodiversity — the Gialova Lagoon alone provides a habitat for 271 bird species — while also preserving an extraordinary cultural legacy, from Mycenaean palaces and vaulted tombs to Classical temples, Byzantine churches and medieval castles.

The region is further enriched by several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Ancient Olympia, Mystras and the Temple of Apollo Epicurius. It is also home to Ancient Messene, the Palace of Nestor and Nestor’s Cave— believed to have served as one of the filming locations for the Cyclops Polyphemus sequence in Nolan’s The Odyssey — the iconic omega-shaped Voidokilia Beach.

A VILLAGE REIMAGINED

Costa Navarino is made up of three distinct destinations, each with its own character: Navarino Dunes, Navarino Bay and Navarino Hills.

Together, they comprise four luxury hotels. At Navarino Dunes are The Romanos, a luxury Collection Resort and The Westin Resort Costa Navarino, alongside private residences, two golf courses and a Mouratoglou Tennis Centre, the NBA Basketball School and a collection of villas available through Costa Navarino’s villa rentals programme. It is also home to the 4,000-square-metre Anazoe Spa, a renowned wellness and thalassotherapy centre.

Navarino Bay is home to Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino and W Costa Navarino, as well as Navarino Agora -a hub for gastronomy, culture and entertaintment open to all guests and residents of Messinia. While Navarino Hills features an additional two signature 18-hole golf courses.

My destination, however, is the vibrant W Costa Navarino.

After a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Athens Airport, the changing landscape gradually reveals what makes this corner of Greece so special. Rolling hills, olive groves and the sea create a quiet sense of anticipation long before reaching the hotel. “This is the Hamptons of Greece — just without the crowds,” someone tells me on the way.

The first thing that catches my eye upon arrival is the monumental W sculpture, rising almost four metres above the entrance. I later learn that it forms part of the hotel’s permanent art collection by Greek artist Poka-Yio, whose fascination with creating works for public spaces reflects one of the resort’s central ideas: bringing together culture, place and contemporary hospitality.

The sculpture is also a tribute to the Constantakopoulos family and their deep connection to the sea. Constructed from fragments of traditional wooden fishing boats, it preserves disappearing pieces of Greece’s maritime heritage, turning them into something entirely new.

“I turned to the old-fashioned fishing boats and trawlers that are quickly disappearing from Greece’s seas. We visited boatyards and marinas, collecting wood from abandoned boats and using it to fill the metal frame of the hotel’s sign. In a way, we connected the Constantakopoulos family’s history with the sea, creating a dialogue between memory, landscape and the present,” the artist explains.

Rather than functioning as decoration, the artworks throughout the hotel quietly anchor the property in the history of its surroundings. Alongside Poka-Yio’s own works, sculptures, photography and installations by emerging artists create a subtle conversation between antiquity and contemporary Greece.

One of my favourite discoveries appears in the reception area: clay tablets inscribed with Linear B. Their markings resemble prehistoric text messages or emojis, inviting guests to imagine one of Europe’s earliest written languages through a distinctly contemporary lens. Elsewhere, fragmented ceramic vessels evoke archaeological finds freshly lifted from beneath the sea.

THE W, REIMAGINED

 

For those familiar with the W brand, W Costa Navarino offers a noticeably different experience from its sister properties around the world. Overlooking the historic Bay of Navarino, the adults-only resort feels more rooted in its surroundings, balancing contemporary design with the slower rhythm of the Peloponnese.

Set along a peaceful 450-metre stretch of sandy coastline, the property features 226 rooms, including beachfront three-bedroom villas and two-bedroom suites with private rooftop pools. Throughout the season, a changing programme of events and collaborations connects guests with the surrounding landscape, offering everything from mountain biking, hiking and road cycling to rock climbing, windsurfing, waterskiing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding.

Wellbeing is woven just as naturally into the experience. Alongside fitness classes and yoga, the resort offers regenerative programmes inspired by Hippocratic philosophy and contemporary medical research, encouraging a more holistic approach to longevity, recovery and mental balance.

ARCHITECTURE IN CONVERSATION: LIVING WITH THE LANDSCAPE 

Designed as an ongoing dialogue between the raw beauty of Messinia and a contemporary vision of Mediterranean living, W Costa Navarino blends naturally into its surroundings rather than competing with them. Greek architectural studioAlexandros N. Tombazis & Associates reinterpret the spirit of the Peloponnese through natural materials, organic forms and a seamless transition between interior and exterior spaces, while MKV Design brings warmth, texture and a distinctly contemporary sensibility to the interiors.

Stone, water, vegetation and natural light constantly interact, allowing the architecture to almost disappear into the landscape. From certain viewpoints around the main pool, the horizon, the sea and the hotel seem to merge into a single uninterrupted panorama.

My favourite part of the property, however, was the Fabulous Infinity Swim-Up Guest Room. With direct access to the shared pool from each private terrace, the rooms quietly blur the boundary between private retreat and communal living — another subtle expression of how W Costa Navarino encourages guests to experience the resort not in isolation, but as part of a shared landscape.

COMMUNITY IS THE HEARTBEAT

Breakfast at W Costa Navarino unfolds like a walk through a contemporary Greek village square. Inspired by the traditional platia — the heart of every Messinian village, where people meet, talk and spend time together — the space transforms the morning ritual into something far more relaxed than a conventional hotel buffet.

Instead of one large dining hall, breakfast is spread across a series of individual “houses”: a bakery filled with freshly baked bread and pastries, a coffee shop, a deli celebrating local produce, and live cooking stations where dishes are prepared to order. Surrounded by pergolas, natural materials and Mediterranean planting, Platia captures something that Greece has always understood particularly well: that food is as much about gathering as it is about eating.

Just a few steps away lies Navarino Agora, a contemporary marketplace built around the same idea. Conceived as a meeting place for both visitors and locals, it brings together independent boutiques, restaurants, street-food concepts, an open-air cinema, immersive entertainment and a richprogramme of music, dance and cultural events. It feels less like an extension of the resort than a small neighbourhood that has grown naturally around it.

The Agora is also home to several of the resort’s 46 restaurants. One of the standouts located in the W is Parelia —stemming from the Greek words Parea, Elia and Paralia, which mean Friends, Olive and Beach— where Executive Chef Nikos Billis reinterprets the flavours of Messinia through a contemporary lens. Rooted in locality and seasonality, the menu remains unmistakably Greek while allowing familiar dishes to evolve and inspire.

BEYOND SUSTAINABILITY

No story about this part of Greece would be complete without its olive trees. Kalamata has become synonymous with some of the world’s finest olives, and throughout Costa Navarino the centuries-old groves are treated not as landscape decoration but as part of the region’s cultural identity.

That philosophy extends well beyond symbolism. During construction, nearly 7,000 olive trees were carefully transplanted and protected before being replanted across the estate —the largest olive tree relocation programmes ever undertaken in Europe. Since then, more than 9,900 native trees and over 1.2 million endemic shrubs have been introduced across the destination.

The environmental initiatives continue in less visible ways, from significantly reducing single-use plastics and investing in responsible water management to sourcing electricity from renewable energy and designing buildings that work with the landscape rather than against it. Sustainability here feels less like a marketing statement than a long-term commitment to preserving the character of Messinia while supporting the local economy.

There is even an unexpected final chapter to that story. Through the Navarino Pet Community, volunteers have already helped find homes for more than 270 stray dogs and cats. Together with the Captain Vassilis & Carmen Constantakopoulos Foundation and local organisations, the initiative “Messinia Without Strays” reflects another, quieter expression of hospitality — one that extends beyond guests to the place itself.

Since 2025, Costa Navarino has also been supported by a long-term biodiversity monitoring programme. Conducted by a team of 13 researchers from Nature Conservation Consultants, the ongoing survey documents the region’s wildlife and plant life, contributing valuable data while helping protect one of Greece’s richest natural landscapes.

What makes all of this even more meaningful is understanding how Costa Navarino came to exist in the first place.

The destination was born from the vision of Captain Vassilis C. Constantakopoulos, one of Greece’s most respected shipping entrepreneurs, who imagined a place that would celebrate rather than reinvent his native Messinia. More than creating another luxury destination, his ambition was to build a model in which hospitality, local heritage and the landscape could exist in balance — allowing the region’s cultural identity to remain intact while creating new opportunities for future generations.

DESIGNED FOR PLAY

Costa Navarino has become one of Europe’s leading golf destinations, with four signature courses spread across the estate. Among them are The Dunes Course, designed by former Masters champion and Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer in collaboration with European Golf Design, and The Bay Course by Robert Trent Jones Jr., whose route follows rolling hills, olive groves and uninterrupted views across the Ionian Sea. Both combine world-class sporting facilities with a landscape that remains unmistakably Greek.

Equally impressive is the Mouratoglou Tennis Center at Navarino Dunes, one of Europe’s leading tennis training facilities. Founded by Patrick Mouratoglou, the 

academy combines elite coaching with a global network that includes the French Riviera, Italy, Malaysia and the United States. The Costa Navarino centre features twelve tennis courts, three padel courts and two pickleball courts, with a second Mouratoglou Tennis Center scheduled to open at Navarino Bay next spring.

The destination is also home to the NBA Basketball School, the first collaboration between the NBA and a privately operated hospitality and sports destination in Europe — another example of Costa Navarino’s ambition to position itself as more than a traditional resort.

Yet perhaps the most memorable journey begins just beyond the resort itself.

FOLLOWING ODYSSEUS

Only a short drive away lies the Palace of Nestor, one of the best-preserved Mycenaean palaces in Greece and one of the places where Homer’s Odyssey still feels remarkably present. Nearby, the fortress of Niokastro in Pylos and the Archaeological Museum of Pylos trace the many civilizations that have shaped this coastline, from the Mycenaean world to Venetian and Ottoman rule.

It is here that the story comes full circle.

Long before Christopher Nolan returned to Messinia to film The Odyssey, these landscapes had already carried the memory of one of the world’s greatest journeys. Today they continue to do so — not as a backdrop for mythology, but as a place where history, culture and contemporary Greece quietly exist side by side.

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IN CONVERSATION WITH SABER AHMED https://www.numeroberlin.de/2026/02/in-conversation-with-saber-ahmed/ Thu, 12 Feb 2026 15:34:19 +0000 https://www.numeroberlin.de/?p=69035

At Ogata, Glass Cypress held its first fashion show in Paris with its Fall Winter 2026 collection titled “A Quiet Frontier.” Founded in 2016 by brothers Saber Ahmed and Samee Ahmed, the Texas-based menswear label has evolved outside the traditional fashion capitals. Raised by Bangladeshi parents, the brothers grew up with a sensitivity to craft and material that continues to inform the brand’s contemporary language in quiet, deliberate ways.

The rooms were spare yet quietly striking, light settling gently across wood and stone. There was a sense of stillness before anything began. On every chair lay an envelope containing a letter and a pen, waiting.

The note opened simply: “Dear friends, thank you for being here. My name, Saber, means patience, a value I did not naturally possess and one I have learned through time and work.” What followed reflected on discipline and reduction, on removing excess so that form could surface through repetition. The garments, it explained, were constructed without added effect, designed to sit with the body and reveal themselves gradually through wear.

When the show ended, the invitation remained. Guests were asked to respond, leaving behind a word of their own.

Glass Cypress continues to work closely with artisans, employing techniques such as dyeing, quilting, gathering, bridging, and washing. In Paris, the space, the letter, and the work itself seemed to move at the same tempo, unhurried and deliberate, leaving an impression that lingered long after the room had emptied.

Juliette Leoncini Roux – @juliette.leoncini
Juliette Leoncini Roux – @juliette.leoncini
Juliette Leoncini Roux – @juliette.leoncini
Elena Kaempfe: This season marked your first presentation in Paris. What did that moment represent for you, both personally and professionally?

Saber Ahmed: Everything I do is a continuation of a body of work. Showing in Paris felt less like an arrival and more like
a moment of alignment, when the clarity of the brand and the reason for making the work felt fully formed
and ready to be shared. Personally, it confirmed that the intuition guiding the process could hold up under
scrutiny.

What was the starting point for this collection? Was there a specific reference, idea, or period you kept returning to?

I try to avoid working from fixed references. The collection began with a feeling I experienced while
walking in Jackson Hole, watching my niece move freely through an open landscape. That sense of scale,
movement, and quiet tension became the foundation.

“I was interested in the beauty that emerges from tension.”
That sense of scale and tension is very present in the silhouettes. How did that feeling translate into construction and material on the runway?

It translated through construction rather than imagery. I was interested in the beauty that emerges from tension, in how landscapes are worn in and shaped over time. Techniques such as gathering, bridging, and washing were used to test gravity and use, allowing garments to collaborate with time rather than resist it.

What proved most challenging during the process?

Restraint. It is easy to over-design, and learning when to stop, to trust repetition and editing, was the most demanding part of the process.

Juliette Leoncini Roux – @juliette.leoncini
Juliette Leoncini Roux – @juliette.leoncini
Juliette Leoncini Roux – @juliette.leoncini
The casting felt very intentional and understated. What was your vision for the models?

I wanted models who could carry tension and human presence without projecting personality or attitude.
The intention was for the garments to speak first, without any performance or narrative attached.

You are based in Texas, which is not typically associated with contemporary menswear. How does that distance shape your work?

Texas is not a fashion reference point, and that distance is important. It allows me to work without
constant visual noise or immediate comparison, which keeps the process grounded and personal.

How would you say living in Texas nourishes you as an artist?

It provides distance from trends, urgency, and general overexposure. That separation gives ideas time to
mature and cultivate internally and quietly before they are shared.

Do you see your work as connected to a specific place, or do you try to keep it geographically open?

The work is informed by context but not tied to one place. I am more interested in conditions such as time,
movement, pressure, and of course texture, than geography.

“The intention was for the garments to speak first.”
How do you see the current state of menswear, and where do you position Glass Cypress within it?

Menswear today moves very quickly. Glass Cypress exists intentionally outside that pace. I am less
interested in novelty and more focused on continuity, building a language that can be returned to and
refined over time.

How would you describe your vision of modern menswear?

Classic pieces are forms that have already proven their longevity. Working within familiar structures forces
discipline and leaves little room to hide behind novelty.

“Glass Cypress exists intentionally outside that pace.”
You continue to work with classic pieces like shirts and tailoring. What draws you back to these forms today?

Classic pieces are forms that have already proven their longevity. Working within familiar structures forces
discipline and leaves little room to hide behind novelty.

In a fashion climate that often prioritizes novelty, what does classic mean to you now?

I don’t think classic is a refusal of change. Fashion exists because of the impulse to leave what is familiar
and move toward something new. At the same time, moving too far from the idea or too quickly risks
isolation. For me, classic lives in the tension between novelty and sameness. It is a balance, introducing
subtle difference without abandoning the idea, allowing garments to evolve while still remaining legible
and usable over time.

The name Glass Cypress suggests a contrast between fragility and strength. How did the name come about, and how does it relate to the brand’s identity?

The name reflects the same tension that runs through the work. Glass Cypress is about balancing
opposing forces i.e. fragility and strength, novelty and sameness. The clothes are meant to introduce
subtle differences without removing familiarity, allowing forms to adapt and erode without losing their
structure. That balance gives the work durability, both physically and conceptually.

The Paris venue was very considered visually. How involved were you in choosing the space, and what role did it play in presenting the collection?

The space was integral. Ogata is quiet, precise, and built around attention rather than spectacle. It
allowed the collection to exist without distraction, which was important to me.

Juliette Leoncini Roux – @juliette.leoncini
“For me, classic lives in the tension between novelty and sameness.”
When you think about the wearer, are you designing for a specific person or a broader idea of masculinity?

I am designing for someone who understands balance. Someone who values familiarity but is not
confined by it, and who is open to change without chasing novelty for its own sake. It is less about
masculinity and more about conviction and presence, where the clothes adapt to the wearer and
confidence remains intact, even as the garments change.

After this Paris presentation, what feels most important for you moving forward as a designer?

Continuity and balance. I am focused on refining the language rather than expanding it. I’ll try to make
sure the work holds up quietly, over time, without needing constant explanation.

Juliette Leoncini Roux – @juliette.leoncini
Juliette Leoncini Roux – @juliette.leoncini
Juliette Leoncini Roux – @juliette.leoncini
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ON OUR RADAR https://www.numeroberlin.de/2025/12/on-our-radar-111/ Thu, 04 Dec 2025 15:56:02 +0000 https://www.numeroberlin.de/?p=66355 Numéro Berlin’s weekly collection of the most exciting news about fashion, music, and simply everything that is on our radar. And here is why it should be on yours as well!

ALPHA INDUSTRIES FW25 WINTER COLLECTION

Alpha Industries presents its FW25 collection with a focus on cold-weather essentials inspired by Iceland’s icy landscapes. Key pieces include the N-3B VF 59 Winter Jacket, N-2B Heritage Winter Jacket, and 45 P Hooded Custom Bomber Jacket, built for warmth and durability. The MOD Fur Bomber Jacket for women updates classic shapes with improved fit and comfort while keeping the brand’s tactical edge. Each design combines functional materials, military-inspired silhouettes, and city-ready style.

The collection is available at alphaindustries.eu and the Alpha Industries store in Frankfurt.

STELLA MCCARTNEY X H&M

H&M announces a new collaboration with pioneering designer Stella McCartney, marking a renewed partnership twenty years after their debut project in 2005.

A first preview of the collection was revealed at the Fashion Awards in London, where Amelia Gray, Anitta, Emily Ratajkowski, Yasmin Wijnaldum, Bel Priestley, Alton Mason, and Kiara Nirghin appeared in early looks.

The Stella McCartney H&M collection will launch in Spring 2026 in selected stores and at hm.com.

EASTPAK HOLIDAY COLLECTION FW25

The Eastpak Holiday Collection FW25 combines silver accents, Holiday Red, and clean Off White tones with versatile and functional designs, perfectly suited for office-to-holiday looks, weekend getaways, or seasonal editorial styling. Signature Hardcase travel essentials make a return, offering practical solutions for all festive travel needs while maintaining the brand’s signature aesthetic. The campaign celebrates the joy of family and friends coming together, capturing relaxed, candid moments filled with warmth and energy. Subtle and intentional messaging adds a layer of holiday and gifting context, enhancing the festive story without overpowering the visuals, creating a cohesive and inviting seasonal narrative.

Mette Towley, Karabi Dagogo-Jack
Ruel
Becky and the Birds

ACNE STUDIOS X SPOTIFY PRESENT ROBYN LIVE IN LOS ANGELES

At the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles, Acne Studios and Spotify welcomed friends of the brand for a special evening featuring an exclusive performance by Robyn. The legendary Swedish artist and longtime friend of Acne Studios took the stage after opening sets by Isabella Lovestory and Brownsinhazel.

Robyn performed her latest single Dopamine, alongside unreleased tracks and iconic fan favourites including Missing You and Dancing On My Own.

UGG X PALACE LOONEY TUNES COLLECTION

UGG and Palace unite with Warner Bros Discovery Global Consumer Products for a new capsule that blends laid back California style with London street energy. Launching December 5, the collection reworks the Ultra Mini and Tasman with detailed embroidery of Tweety and Sylvester, featured in chestnut, yellow, and black. Apparel pieces include a wool varsity jacket, hoodies, T shirts, and joggers.

The campaign stars Palace skateboarder Alexandrino Ferreira Da Silva, musician Shygirl, and Sylvester, set inside a surreal hotel inspired by classic cartoon corridors. Directed by Adam Toddhunter, the visuals follow a fast paced, dreamlike journey into the playful world of UGG and Palace.

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