There are artists who belong to an era — and artists who somehow survive several of
them: Billy Idol emerged from the wreckage of seventies England, when punk was less a
style than a reaction to a deep economic recession, social apathy, and political crisis.
Long before he became one of MTV’s defining faces, he was part of London’s original
punk underground: a scene shaped by economic crisis, youth frustration, radical self-
invention and figures like Malcolm McLaren, who understood earlier than most that pop
culture itself could become theater, provocation and strategy. But Billy Idol was never a
purist. Where many punk contemporaries rejected image, he embraced it. Where others
feared pop, he understood its power. Across the decades, he continuously mutated:
from London punk outsider and frontman of the iconically named band Generation X to
global rock icon, from leather-clad MTV antihero to the futuristic digital dreamscape of
Cyberpunk — an album once dismissed as excessive but, which, in retrospect, feels
strangely prophetic in an age of online identities, curated selves and algorithmic culture.
His latest album, Dream Into It, released in 2025, feels less like a comeback than a
reflection. Structured almost autobiographically, the record revisits the chaos and
seduction of punk, the excesses of fame, addiction, survival, reinvention and rebirth —
while still remaining strangely future-facing. Collaborations with younger artists like Avril
Lavigne underline something that has always separated Idol from many of his
contemporaries: an instinct to move with the times but staying true to a core idea: a
playful disruption of the status quo. Now more than four decades after punk first
announced “no future,” Billy Idol remains culturally legible in a way that many of his
peers do not. Perhaps because his career was never really about nostalgia. It was about self-invention: how rebellion changes shape across generations, technologies and
culture. In conversation with Numéro Berlin, Billy Idol reflects on coolness, charisma,
masculinity, digital identity, punk as liberation, and why the future he imagined in the
nineties no longer feels fictional at all.

QUEER READING ROOM

Australian skincare brand Aesop takes its name from the legendary Greek storyteller Aesop—and for good reason. Literature has long been at the heart of the brand, serving as a source of inspiration and a platform for voices that are too often overlooked, including authors from the LGBTQIA+ community.

To celebrate Pride in Berlin this weekend, selected Aesop stores will replace their signature products with shelves filled entirely with queer literature. Even better, every visitor is invited to take one book home free of charge, while supplies last.

Accompanied by Aesop’s distinctive aromatic scent compositions, this year’s edition, Body of Work, explores the human body as an expression of our inner world and its relationship to the forces that shape us from the outside. Since launching in 2021, the initiative has gifted more than 115,000 books worldwide.

The Queer Reading Room runs from 22–25 July at the Aesop store on Kurfürstendamm 17, Berlin.

ALO’S EYEWEAR DEBUT

ALO steps into eyewear with its first collection of six Japanese-crafted sunglasses, designed in Los Angeles and handcrafted in Japan using premium Takiron acetate. Balancing timeless silhouettes with a contemporary edge, the debut range marks the next evolution of the brand’s studio-to-street aesthetic.

Fronted by Lila Moss, Amelia Gray, Matthew Noszka, Lara Stone, Alton Mason, and Estelle Chen, the cinematic campaign by Bardia Zeinali captures themes of individuality and perspective through a polished, sun-drenched visual narrative. The collection is available now, with prices ranging from €245 to €365.

DR. MARTENS X MHL: BRITISH CRAFT, REIMAGINED

Dr. Martens and MHL. have unveiled their first-ever collaboration, reinterpreting the iconic 1461 shoe through a shared appreciation for craftsmanship, utility and timeless design. Handmade in England, the style combines chrome-free leather from renowned tannery C. F. Stead with MHL.’s understated, functional aesthetic. The collaboration marks the launch of Statements in Craft, a new series celebrating traditional manufacturing, enduring materials and thoughtful design.

THE ATTICO – WHERE WE ARE FROM

To mark its tenth anniversary, The Attico looks inward rather than back. Where We Are From is a reflection on the brand’s Italian roots, translating heritage into a contemporary wardrobe shaped by instinct, precision and ease. Lace, tailoring, denim and tactile textures are reimagined through a modern lens, while signature accessories like La Passeggiata return in fresh seasonal iterations. More than a celebration, the collection is a confident ode to Italian femininity – lived, inherited and made for the present.

HAVAIANAS X THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2 

Havaianas enters a new fashion era with its collaboration with 20th Century Studios’ The Devil Wears Prada 2. The partnership introduces the Puffed Family — a bold, elevated take on the brand’s iconic silhouettes featuring statement volumes, padded straps, and fashion-forward proportions.

Built around the idea that “if it’s not heels, it’s Havaianas,” the launch celebrates a new approach to style where comfort, individuality, and self-expression take the spotlight.

SCANDI SUMMER: TEKLA

Copenhagen-based brand Tekla introduces “Marstrand,” a capsule collection inspired by the ease of Scandinavian summer days by the water. The collection features everything needed for a day at the beach, including swimwear, beach bags, towels and shirts in sun-bleached fuchsia.

To achieve these distinctive designs, Tekla uses a special dyeing technique that evokes vintage textiles naturally faded by sun and salt. Shot by Philip Messmann, the accompanying campaign unfolds in two chapters: the first aboard a boat, the second in a Swedish coastal town, capturing the quiet charm of a Scandinavian summer.

BRYAN ADAMS FOR BLAUER

Bryan Adams steps behind the camera for Blauer’s FW26/27 campaign. Shot in London, the musician and photographer captures rising British artists DYLAN, Cassyette and Ben Kidson, placing authenticity at the heart of the project. Blending technical outerwear with music and portraiture, the campaign marks another step in Blauer’s evolving visual identity.

BEYOND THE GARMENT: TEN C

Ten c unveils “Art et Métiers”, the third chapter of its Live&Age short film trilogy celebrating the brand’s core values of longevity, authenticity and craftsmanship. The film brings together Giancarlo Busato, third-generation guardian of the historic Stamperia d’Arte Busato print workshop, and illustrator Ale Giorgini, who created an original artwork reproduced using traditional stone lithography before being printed on a limited-edition Ten c T-shirt.

The illustration shows a man in Ten c’s signature orange parka walking through a monochrome cityscape, symbolizing individuality and the courage to follow one’s own vision. Like the previous Live&Age chapters, Art et Métiers reflects the brand’s philosophy of creating garments that evolve with time rather than following fleeting trends—a concept embodied by Ten c’s iconic Original Japanese Jersey (OJJ) fabric, which develops character through wear.

MONTBLANC LEATHER COLLECTION

For Fall/Winter 2026, Montblanc introduces a new leather collection defined by ease, adaptability and refined craftsmanship. Under the artistic direction of Marco Tomasetta, the pieces explore soft constructions and a colour palette inspired by natural depth, featuring shades of ebony, bauxite, red oak and honey. Each design reflects Montblanc’s enduring connection between writing, travel and craftsmanship — a dialogue at the heart of the brand’s identity.

The collection introduces new silhouettes, including the Writing Traveler Briefcase, Crossbody and Small Crossbody, offering versatile options for every occasion. Alongside these designs, Montblanc expands its accessories with customizable bag charms such as the Cherry Blossom and Dragonfly, adding a personal touch to its timeless leather creations.

RIMOWA INTRODUCES INK BLUE

RIMOWA expands its iconic Original Collection with Ink Blue, a new permanent colour inspired by the timeless expression of ink. The deep midnight blue shade highlights the beauty of the aluminium surface through a striking metallic finish, combining contemporary elegance with the Maison’s heritage of craftsmanship.

The collection includes the Original Cabin, Check-In L and Trunk Plus, accompanied by new accessories from the Groove Collection and denim-inspired travel essentials such as Packing Cubes, a Toiletry Pouch and a reversible Bucket Hat. The launch campaign stars actress Sydney Lemmon on a mysterious journey through Shanghai, guided by ink-calligraphed letters. The Ink Blue collection is available worldwide from 9 July 2026.