Monocle 24: Konfekt Korner

We’re in Dakar with designer Khadija Aisha Ba of L’Artisane. Then: we speak with Claridge’s archivist, Kate Hudson, about the hotel’s art-deco heritage. Plus: perfumer Maya Njie, who blends precision with deep personal narratives.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We explore the tactile beauty of stone with Momina Watton of Atelier278, the importance of sound with Alice Vincent’s new book, Hark, and stop by the Miu Miu Literary Club in Milan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have officially passed the vernal equinox. The sun has crossed the celestial equator, bringing near equality to day and night. This episode is dedicated to beautiful things crafted well, collectors, makers and inimitable interior style. We’ll visit the Finnish master of pattern, Marimekko, and discover the intricacies of its in-house printing mill; chat with Melissa Morris, founder of leather-goods brand Métier, about bags that are made to last; and meet Scottish indie-soul singer Brooke Combe to talk about her debut album, ‘Dancing At The Edge of the World’. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is a burst of unbridled beauty to nudge us out of the winter torpor and into the spring light of March. We’ll reflect on the balance of graft and inspiration as we head to the Van Cleef & Arpels ‘Dance Reflections’ festival, discover Lebanese embroidery with the duo behind Bokja and explore the world of tarot as we embark on a journey with the cards through time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Music, books and art are what sustain us through a period of hunkering down, so it should come as no surprise that these are also the themes of this month’s episode. We head to the Swiss town of Baden to meet musician Daniela Weinmann, who goes by the moniker Odd Beholder; speak with Irish writer Eimear McBride and head to Burgundy for a site-specific art exhibition called ‘Terra’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this second special episode of ‘Konfekt Korner’, brought to you in collaboration with Swiss haute horologist Audemars Piguet (AP), we discuss the driving forces that unite us and the power of serendipitous encounters. We are in our London studio to discover how the worlds of luxury watchmaking and music come together to push human talent and foster powerful connections between people. Konfekt’s editor, Sophie Grove, is joined by AP’s country general manager for northern Europe, Daniel Compton, and musician and songwriter, Reuben James. Plus: a special report from ‘AP Time is Now’, a musical evening showcasing emerging talent and the strength of community. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A special episode of Konfekt Korner, brought to you in collaboration with Swiss luxury powerhouse Audemars Piguet, on the driving forces that unite us and the power of serendipitous encounters. We convene in Zürich at the prestigious AP House to discover how the worlds of haute-horlogerie and hospitality come together to deliver an extraordinary experience. Konfekt’s editor, Sophie Grove, is joined on stage by Konfekt’s style director, Marcela Palek; Audemars Piguet’s country manager for Switzerland, David Pantillon; designer and founder of Studio del Castillo, Veronica del Castillo Caldas; and three-Michelin-starred chef at Memories restaurant, Sven Wassmer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first days of January are for rest and recuperation but also new ideas, resolutions and, above all, dreams. This month we’re at London auction house Bonhams for a conversation that reflects on jewellery design and human emotion with expert Kate Flitcroft. We’ll meet British artist and stage designer Es Devlin and discuss her incredible show at Somerset House, ‘Face to Face: 50 Encounters with Strangers’, and speak to writer and biographer Justine Picardie about Dior’s incredible journey to Scotland for its 2025 cruise collection. So take up a pen to scribble your own ambitions while hearing our tips, thoughts and ideas for the year ahead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We muse on the cultural obstacle course the festive period presents us as we seek to escape from the cold – but not without the promise of winter sun. We'll drop into London's Tate Modern for the Gucci-backed exhibition, ‘Electric Dreams: Art and Technology Before the Internet', then we'll look at Alpine fashion with outdoors manufacturer Helly Hansen, meet Turkish singer Melike Sahin and chase the winter sun with a surfing adventure in Morocco. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is something of an ode to jewels, goldsmithing and design – but also the human urge to collect. We'll visit the imposing and eccentric Geneva home that inspires Maison Belmont; chat to the founder of jewellery brand Annoushka about the symbolism and personal history that infuses her work; and delve into the history of Persian jewellers, Le Vian. Plus: our audio essay reflects on the power of planting trees as a gesture of remembrance and hope.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is something of an homage to autumn style: we gather in Zürich for a discussion on the seasonal wardrobe with designer Noële Nana Schaffner from sumptuous Swiss brand Nomadissem. We reflect on the creative resilience of a nation at war as we report on Ukrainian Fashion Week, hear the esoteric sounds of Portuguese musician Ana Lua Caiano and muse on the power of small talk in an audio essay about embracing the poetry of everyday conversation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As crisp, golden leaves begin swirling in the air, it's time to reboot our energy. That's why this episode has a restorative theme: we discuss the future of dermatology with pioneering doctor Emma Craythorne, join the Sauna Social Club in London as it brings music to the hot-box and talk about the legacy of nurse Florence Nightingale. Plus: the beauty and inspiration of the colour blue.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We dive into the heady heat of summer and journey to the remote island of Tinos to find out about its cuisine. Then: we meet Jouissance founder Cherry Cheng, who has distilled sensual stories into perfume, and we cast off to the Finnish archipelago of Turku, where summers are spent eating crayfish and taking midnight dips in the cool sea. Plus: we reflect on the aesthetics of summer tennis.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's time to set sail and make for the coast. This month we stroll in the gardens of the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cap d'Antibes, meet hotelier Valéry Grégo in Nice and reflect on the emotional power of cartography. Plus, we discover a Portuguese fashion brand that captures the spirit of the country's breezy, joyous summers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode reflects how early summer days are full of promise. We meet Swiss born Kia Schwaninger, whose jewellery collection is inspired by the art deco architecture of Miami, sit down with Sudanese-Dutch musician Gaidaa in Amsterdam and discuss colour and the meaning of home with purveyor and creator of paint Cassandra Ellis. Plus: historian Hiba Alobaydi explores the legacy of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon in today's cities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we're live in front of an audience at London Craft Week to explore the world of mindful manufacturing. Mud Talks, set at the Vitsoe shop in London's Marylebone, brought together Mud Australia's Shelley Simpson, Vitsoe's managing director, Mark Adams and David Mellor's creative director, Corin Mellor, to discuss the intricacies of how to balance enduring design with sustainable manufacturing at scale.            See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is infused with the spirit of a transformative travelogue: we begin in the incredible 500-year-old Cinili Hamam in Istanbul's Zeyrek district, reflect on the power and beauty of expansive, flat landscapes and hear tales of innovation and craftsmanship with Van Cleef & Arpels. Plus: the misplaced optimism of a Nordic spring.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This show marks the arrival of spring with an homage to the season: we'll find out about the art of traversing the streets of Rome with author Cynthia Zarin and pop some corks with sommelier Honey Spencer at her London restaurant Sune. Then: we sit down for an intimate chat with musician Marika Hackman and discover Julia Lasica's lyrical homage to the tradition of ‘pysanky' and decorating eggs.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode of Konfekt Korner explores themes of early spring and its sense of vernal opportunity. We spend four hours in a hotbox being rubbed with ashes and honey to report on Estonian sauna culture, hop on board a historic British Pullman to join the riotous Carriage Club and explore the world of perfumery at L'Oreal's The Art & Science of Fragrance festival in Paris. Plus: we reflect on the power of owning your own look in the fashion set.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we emerge from our winter torpor, it's time to hit the road. We visit a new exhibition of work by photographer Russell Young in London, before heading to Athens to a mind-expanding supper club. We'll meet an expert to discuss the social history of road films and hear about one writer's journey to Mongolia, where he found himself the owner of an ever-expanding cashmere collection. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We discuss the history and cultural significance of eyeliner, learn how 1970s and 1980s disco fashions still inspires us today and hit the trails with Icelandic musician JFDR. Plus: how candlelight can improve almost every situation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This month we want to aid and inspire your festive retail forays, whether that's through the fine porcelains of Sydney-based brand Mud Australia or a new album by Peruvian artist, Sofia Kourtesis. We also check in with online-retail giant MyTheresa to find out what makes customers tick at this time of year and delve into the history of the most festive evergreen: mistletoe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is something about the first long, dark nights of winter that make us crave things that sparkle. It's perhaps for that reason that we've gravitated towards the theme of adornment in this episode. We discuss the history of jewellery with two peerless experts, head to the Dance Reflections festival by Parisian house Van Cleef & Arpels and visit a show exploring the pioneering colour of the Victorian era. Plus: we hear from a historian using objects to retell history through a female gaze and muse on the enduring allure of tweed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we explore health rituals and the lost practice of bathing in whey. We also drop in at the London Design Festival to hear about artists using offcuts to create beautiful, innovative designs, journey to the foothills of the mountain of Pelion and discuss the therapeutic value of cycling in nature.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As September arrives and the leaves begin to turn gold, we cosy up at Manzi's, a revived icon in Soho, London. We also pay a visit to the studio of fashion label Elliss, known for its graphic prints, unique silhouettes and sustainable credentials, and meet author Kelechi Okafor to talk about her debut book ‘Edge of Here'. Plus: a love letter to figs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This month we muse on the power of our grandmothers' cooking as we step into the kitchen of Athens-based writer Anastasia Miari. We travel to the Caucuses to find out how local traditions are helping Georgian hospitality to flourish, learn about the future of textiles and take a deep dive into the icy, innovative history of Sicily's granita. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This month we explore why we are instinctively drawn to water, touching upon the themes of healing, restoration and travel. We visit leading Brazilian artist Beatriz Milhazes' coast-inspired new exhibition and head to Mallorca to meet the couple behind the label Accidente con Flores. Plus: we sit down with Malian singer-songwriter Fatoumata Diawara to talk about her life and her new album, ‘London Ko'.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we look at everything from ancient treasure to craftsmanship in the Alps and a new champagne brand to ponder how the present will shape our future. We begin by exploring the future of Alpine living, asking how to keep tradition alive and examining the already pressing issue of climate change in the region. Plus, we visit the British Museum's impressive new exhibition ‘Luxury and Power: Persia to Greece', and get a report from the French city of Reims profiling a new player in the champagne market. Finally, the deputy editor of ‘Konfekt', Chiara Rimella, muses on the joy of serendipitous encounters. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the months grow steadily warmer and brighter, ‘Konfekt' is exploring the bounty of nature, artistic homes and fresh talent in the UK, as well as musing on alternative lifestyles. We head to the Alpine region of Bregenzerwald in Austria to meet skincare entrepreneur Susanne Kaufmann, visit Charleston, a modernist residence in Sussex associated with the Bloomsbury group, and speak to debut novelist Liv Little and musician Tyson McVey. Plus: historian Anna Neima discusses attempts at creating Utopias and why they matter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is the kind of fresh, zesty, plucky injection of colour that's often enough to revive you from the torpor of winter. We talk to colour consultant Anna Von Ketteler, meet colourist Cassandra Ellis and add gong baths to our wellness toolbox. Plus: we sample some tasty loaves in Zürich's Bread.Love bakery and visit shop owner Carmen Atiyah de Baets in her Amsterdam canal store.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the time of the year when glimpses of spring sunshine are savoured – and this is energy that we channel on this episode of ‘Konfekt Korner'. We celebrate the iconic modernist potter Lucie Rie, learn about the history of Japanese silk weaving and hear about the restorative power of gardening. Plus: we speak to a brave and brilliant fashion designer, Mother of Pearl's creative director Amy Powney, and ponder the perfect attire for a slumber party.

This month we celebrate February's poetic joys. We discuss the fragile elegance of winter flowers with the SSAW collective's Olivia Wilson and Jess Geissendorfer, talk about nature as inspiration with Norwegian musician Fay Wildhagen and pull up a chair at The Audley pub to speak to Ewan Venters, CEO of Hauser & Wirth and Artfarm. Plus: the history of New York's Chelsea Hotel on screen and resolving conflict in a traditional Finnish sauna.

While January might seem like the perfect time for a reset, here at Konfekt Korner, we look at the year ahead with excitement for what's to come. We combine retro and disco to discuss the art of party hosting, immerse ourselves in light and colour with the work of James Turrell and keep our spirits high with a tasting courtesy of Emile Wines. Plus: we meet Italian-Brazilian composer Simone Menezes and ponder on the technique and pleasure of starting your own fire to warm up.

This month, host Sophie Grove presents the show from Dufourstrasse 90 – our Zürich outpost – and it's full of festive fun. From how to keep your skin protected from the elements with the owner of modern apothecary Eden to a trip to Petersham Nurseries to discover the dos and don'ts of wreath-making and perfecting your Christmas cooking with chefs Ethel and Jakob of Austria's Restaurant Klösterle – this episode contains a whole host of seasonal tips. Plus: a report from Saxony on the craftspeople still making striking nativity figurines and a final thought on the positive effect of learning dance moves by heart.

In the month of October, Konfekt spreads its wings from Samos to Seoul, the heart of London to the quaint picturesque town of Rye, to ponder everything from the power of solo hiking to how to spot the perfect kimchi and what it really means to dress for the job. Plus, why taking up a needle and thread is back in vogue and a new immersive experience at London's Cosmic House.

Autumn's arrived - and with it - a back to school reset and a noticeable chill in the air. In this episode, we distract our listeners by pondering a life elsewhere in the Azores, meet studious songstress and artist-on-the-rise Léa Sen, get a tour of Copenhagen's curious and chic concept store Holly Golightly, delve into the history of an Austrian biodynamic wine estate and finally, we brace ourselves to take a dip in colder waters.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Autumn's arrived - and with it - a back to school reset and a noticeable chill in the air. In this episode, we distract our listeners by pondering a life elsewhere in the Azores, meet studious songstress and artist-on-the-rise Léa Sen, get a tour of Copenhagen's curious and chic concept store Holly Golightly, delve into the history of an Austrian biodynamic wine estate and finally, we brace ourselves to take a dip in colder waters.

The warm latter days of summer are among the best and are to be savoured. In this episode we hear about the history of the folding fan, discover the recently restored La Bastide de Saint-Tropez, visit Casa Reîa on Portugal's Atlantic coast, check out Zurich's Eisvogel ice cream and muse on the meditative power of archery.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The warm latter days of summer are among the best and are to be savoured. In this episode we hear about the history of the folding fan, discover the recently restored La Bastide de Saint-Tropez, visit Casa Reîa on Portugal's Atlantic coast, check out Zurich's Eisvogel ice cream and muse on the meditative power of archery.

This episode is about leaving the urban world behind. We dive into the tumultuous ocean mastered by surfers in the film ‘Girls Can't Surf', reflect on the essence of holiday style in photography book ‘Light on the Riviera', pack our favourite Odile Collective beach bag and muse on the dog days of summer.

This episode is about leaving the urban world behind. We dive into the tumultuous ocean mastered by surfers in the film ‘Girls Can't Surf', reflect on the essence of holiday style in photography book ‘Light on the Riviera', pack our favourite Odile Collective beach bag and muse on the dog days of summer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is a burst of summer optimism and inspiration. We ponder the joy of Studio Pottery, discuss the power of cooking with Shiza Shahid of ‘Our Place' and take the temperature of the art world with an incisive review of Art Basel. Plus: curator Corinne Mynatt tells us about the history of ice, from cold houses of ancient Persia to the wonders of the modern freezer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.