Indholdsfortegnelse for February 1, 2021 i India Today

The country has been on a roller-coaster ride since the last India Today-Karvy Insights Mood of the Nation (MOTN) poll five months ago. After see-sawing for a while, Covid-19 infections in the country have plateaued in recent months. The rollout of the vaccines has added to the sense of relief. There have been no more economic lockdowns, and every effort is being made to open the economy. The results are showing. After contracting 23.9 per cent in the first quarter of the financial year, the economy recovered in the second quarter, with the contraction reduced to 7.7 per cent. The overall projection for the year is a 7.5 per cent contraction. Over the past year, what has remained unchanged is the astonishing trajectory of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity. Even…

“When Ranveer Singh called me a ‘true poet’, it boosted my confidence, yes, but it also raised the standards of the hard work and dedication I put in my craft” Devil the Rhymer (Abhay Prasad), 21 “IncInk has always encouraged us to depict diverse colours within us. It has never compromised with our writing or talent in any way” Kaam Bhari (Kunal Pandagale), 21 “I started in Chhatarpur, writing in my notebook and rapping to my mirror. Today, I am so thankful to be releasing EPs and performing in different cities” Spitfire (Nitin Mishra), 21 “Music is free-flowing, especially hip-hop. You can be a commercial artist, an underground artist or whatever you please. You just need to stay true to the art” SlowCheeta (Chaitnya Sharma), 30…

If you had read a headline with the words ‘Charles Sobhraj’ in it, chances are you had read the story. Released on BBC iPlayer this month, The Serpent, an eight-part mini-series, justifies, somewhat brilliantly, our endless fascination with this shape-shifter of a serial killer. For Sobhraj, people were objects, things he toyed with and then disposed of. Prisons were taverns, rooms where he cooled his heels. Love was a feeling he mimicked, never felt. Tahar Rahim (A Prophet, The Looming Tower) doesn’t just look like Sobhraj, he also seems to capture his menace that was as quiet as it was deadly. Set for most part in 1970s Thailand, The Serpent shows Sobhraj drug, rob and kill backpackers who had left the West to either find nirvana or hashish. Sobhraj, as…

Classic Revival –“For furnishings, classic styles and weaves are going to come in vogue. Things like kilims and ikats but with a modern twist such as going graphic with pattern or watercolour version of it,” says Khira. The central idea being an adaptive version of classic weaves. Go Boho – “Bohemian inspired laid back textiles are still trending because of shift towards more natural fabrics,” says Khira. Therefore, materials such as rattan, jute, seagrass, hemp, cotton, and slug are not going away anytime soon. “Synthetic fabrics are too heavy and have taken a back seat,” she adds. This means you can do away with polyester furnishings.…

The phrase ahead of the design curve truly applies to Esha Gupta and her digital platform called Design Pataki. It’s a heady mix of Indian and foreign design, architecture, art and decor, with a generous portion of styling ideas thrown in for good measure. Brands are dying to work with her and she has often represented India at design fairs and exhibitions overseas. In fact, innovative and fresh content makes what she does the need of the hour. Interestingly Gupta is a trained interior designer based out of Mumbai and started Design Pataki after a five-year stint in the interior and architecture industry. “I started Design Pataki around four years ago an expression to my sensibilities on design and art,” says Gupta, adding, “I think it was an unrelenting desire…

Design Digest – “Since being home bound in 2020 has been an eye opener of sorts, I think in 2021 a lot more people will take decorating their spaces more seriously,” she says. By this she means that it will no longer be place to “show off” and will be a part of “personal wellbeing”. “I would say it will be the year of expressing who we are in the form of decor. Clean, clutter-free, a mix of family heirlooms, hand-me-downs and new things,” says Prabhu. Crafted by Hand – “I also a see a lot more people taking notice of handmade artisanal home decor and include them in their décor,” she says.…

It’s natural – With renewed focus on our homes Kapoor predicts turning towards nature. “There will be a lot of emphasis on natural fabrics, materials, fragrances and plants as decor elements that will adorn our homes,” she says. Eco Warriors – With the pandemic more and more people have realised the need to take care of Mother Earth and therefore all things sustainable are getting the attention for all the right reasons. “Eco-friendly will be a big trend this year, in all aspects of your home,” she says. Be Comfortable – This year people are looking for “comfortable and aesthetically pleasing interiors”. “This is also the reason why Hygge and slow living will continue to define the way we will decorate our homes,” she adds.…

Delhi-based interior and product stylist Jasleen Singh started sharing images of her home in south Delhi on Instagram four years ago and even she could not predict the love and appreciation that would come her way. But more on that later. “I had a full time job as editor of a magazine. I had a career in writing and editing for over 20 years, but unfortunately that magazine shut down and I took a sabbatical. I devoted my time then to my other passion—interiors. I’m not a trained interior designer, but I loved styling homes and kept doing that for family and friends,” says Singh. One look at her Instagram handle called The Ketli Home and the earthy and relatable decor with some amazing styling tips makes her account stand…

Neutral Tones – “The pandemic has had a considerable impact on our lives and hence it has also had an impact in the design world. Everyone is looking for a sense of calm and serenity. So, cool neutral tones like shades of blue and grey are going to take over in 2021,” says Bora. These hues will be used on everything from the walls and furnishings to furniture accents and decorative pieces. Turning to Nature – According to Bora, we are also going to see the use of natural elements in decor. “We will be bringing nature inside our homes in many different ways. Top two will be indoor and vertical gardens.” New Style – “People will be shifting towards sustainable, modern designs,” says Bora. This means that while eco-friendly…

She has often topped the lists of the country’s most influential designers, yet prefers to remain under the radar. She guards her privacy with the same passion she designs homes, restaurants and offices. A storehouse of information on all things design, decor and architecture, we guarantee an afternoon with this powerhouse will leave you doubling over with laughter. The enigma in question, interior designer Iram Sultan. Her story starts with the first project she designed—Yellow Brick Road, Ambassador, New Delhi—in 1999. “This was the time every restaurant was brown and beige. I decided to move away from it and worked with the carpenter and painter to give the chairs a beautiful patina,” says the Gurgaon-based designer. She got a lot of appreciation for it and her eponymous firm (started the…

POSSIBLY NO CALENDAR YEAR IN LIVING MEMORY has ever been more passionately awaited than 2021. Transitioning from a year where so many hopes and pleasures were muted, the first Spice issue of the New Year comes with a promising resolution. To nurture tradition, not as “the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.” Stoking the fiery zeal of individualism, our cover story reimagines the new bride of 2021. The country’s top wedding couturiers share their visions and versions of post-Covid bridal regalia. Fashion doyenne Ritu Kumar, who completed 50 years in the industry last year, paints a classical bride who revels in vintage beauty, high on subtle pastels, silk organza and delicate lace. While handloom revivalist Sanjay Garg of Raw Mango eschews fuss or ostentation in favour of an…

Crowning glory, glorified Kerastase’s latest launch Genesis, is the perfect solution to winter’s pet peeve: hair-fall. For dual, anti-fall action, try the Kerastase Genesis Serum Anti-Chute Fortifiant to get to the root of the problem. Price ₹4,500 Availability Kerastase salons www.prosalonlocator.com/kerastase Luxury Cocoon The rarefied worlds of fashion and interior design find expression in Meraki, a collection by Cocoon Fine Rugs, collaborated with designer Falguni Shane Peacock. With bold, edgy and avantgarde design, these rugs are entirely handmade. Price ₹3.25 lakh (Give you Heart & Soul to me (8ft x 10ft); Availability brand stores and cocoonfinerugs.com Malting Pot The Macallan No. 6 summons the fine art of whisky making with Lalique’s exquisite craftsmanship that swirls molten gold in the finest crystal decanter. With a brutal winter laying siege, you could…

If there’s one common denominator that has disrupted every day’s tether to ritual and routine, it is Covid 19. As life wraps its head around the ‘New Normal’, tradition is one of the first casualties. But, every cloud has its silver lining and if we were to look at the slimming effect on the ‘Big Fat Indian Wedding’ then tinsel arrows would point to the bride. From stuffy, over-the-top, uncomfortable costumes to bespoke, subtle, elegant statements that celebrate individualistic style, the Indian bride has come full circle. That’s what a pandemic will do for you. To interpret the new bride of 2021, Spice invited five leading couturiers to share their vision and version of what bridal regalia will resemble. Here’s to shooting for the stars within their own diaphanous veils.…

There’s still uncertainty about former bureaucrat turned politician Arvind Kumar Sharma’s role in Uttar Pradesh politics, but BJP workers seem to believe he is meant for big things. Since joining the saffron party on January 14, the former MSME secretary has been mobbed by party workers for selfies. Sharma’s popularity comes from the fact that he is seen as someone who has Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ear. The 1988 batch Gujarat cadre officer served with PM Modi for nearly two decades before retiring recently. Sharma will soon enter the UP legislative council, but party workers speculate that he will likely be named minister of a major department in Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s government.…

There are years when a single crisis can engulf a nation and push it to the brink of collapse. But seldom does a nation confront a whole constellation of damaging crises in one year as India did in 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic wreaked havoc not only on our lives but also on our livelihoods, leaving the Indian economy in tatters. The massive Chinese aggression on our borders—not seen for decades—threatened the nation’s territorial integrity. And the farmers’ agitation—a self-goal by the central government—has gone on unabated for almost two months now. Given the pressing emergencies before the country, any leader would have found his and his government’s popularity dipping drastically. In the United States, Donald Trump failed to get re-elected partly because of the perception that his apathetic handling of…

When J.P. Nadda took over as the BJP president a year ago, many believed he would be a token president while the real control would remain in the hands of the formidable duo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah. In fact, critics contended that Nadda was chosen as he was perceived to be someone who was ready to work in the shadow of Modi and Shah. His innings also started with a setback—the saffron party’s humiliating defeat in the Delhi assembly poll. However, a year later, Nadda has not only emerged out of the shadows but also developed his own style of functioning—accessible and gentle, yet unwavering when it comes to organisational decisions. Undoubtedly, Modi-Shah still have overriding influence on party affairs and policies, but…

1 NAVEEN PATNAIK Odisha 51% 2. Arvind Kejriwal Delhi 41% 3. Yogi Adityanath Uttar Pradesh 39% 4. Uddhav Thackeray Maharashtra 35% 5. K. Chandrashekar Rao Telangana 35% Respondents of every state were asked to evaluate the performance of their own CM and the final ratings reflect their opinion. For instance, 51 per cent respondents from Odisha gave positive rating to Naveen Patnaik, while 33 per cent respondents from Gujarat rated Vijay Rupani positively…

The year 2020 was a bellwether one for the Indian entertainment industry. With cinemas shut for eight months, OTT platforms had a field day, capitalising on the captive audience. The change in viewing patterns also means that for the first time, India Today’s Mood of the Nation poll asked respondents to identify their favourite actors in both films and web series. On the film front, old was the gold standard. Amitabh Bachchan, 78, raced past Akshay Kumar after tying with him in the August 2020 edition. A month after recuperating from the coronavirus, the actor was back on set to host the popular quiz show, Kaun Banega Crorepati. Bachchan’s streaming debut Gulabo Sitabo was also received warmly, while Akshay’s Laxmmi got the thumbs down. Still, it shouldn’t sully his reputation…

ON THE TRAIL OF THE SERPENT The Life and Crimes of Charles Sobhraj by Richard Neville and Julie Clarke VINTAGE ₹499; 368 pages Tracking Sobhraj’s transformation from con man to dreaded murderer, the book—first released in 1979—has more sex, drugs and death than the raciest of potboilers. CHARLES SOBHRAJ Inside the Heart of the Bikini Killer by Raamesh Koirala RUPA ₹500; 217 pages Narrated by a doctor who treated Sobhraj in Nepal, the book paints the portrait of a serial killer as a frail, balding man worried about his failing health. MAIN AUR CHARLES (2015) Directed by Prawaal Raman Told through the perspective of policeman Amod Kanth (Adil Hussain), the film tells the story of how Sobhraj (Randeep Hooda) ended up doing time in Tihar Jail.…

While Sarah Sham is a well know interior designer and heads Mumbai-based Essajees Atelier, she has an effortless presence on social media that has turned her into what one would call a design influencer without even trying. In fact, it’s this graceful, truthful and honest approach that has got her many fans and followers. With over 78,000 followers her IGTVs about her journey, mistakes she made and how to build a portfolio are exceedingly popular. “Initially I never wanted a social media account, I thought it was pointless as people who were spending few crores doing up their homes won’t hire a designer basis social media,” says Sham. But when a close friend’s mom wanted to see her Instagram account instead of the website, she realised the importance of this…

Curves are In – “On Instagram, I have been ‘oohing’ and ‘aahing’ over everything curvy, though in a very organic sensibility,” says Gupta. She loves the work of Mexican Architect, Javier Senosiain, who exemplifies the concept. “While designers like Nika Zupanc, Studio Pepe and Tom Dixon have already been doing it, I see it translate across all elements in a bigger way now,” she says. Personalise It – “Unique pieces with unique stories—designing is going to be about storytelling and individuality,” explains the influencer. Art of Mix and Match – According to Gupta 2021 is all about adding elements of eclecticism.“Now we will see it more with people identifying with their homes. Eclecticismis going to be a new normal, taking a cue from fashion in that sense.” External Affair –…

She has over 74,000 followers on Instagram, the hashtag she co-created called #MyDesiSwag has over 1,60,000 entries, she has everything from a blog to a twitter account. One thing is clear, Mumbai-based interior designer cum social media sensation Rittika aka Ariyona Interior is a force to reckon with. A tour of her Instagram handle will give you great ideas to do up just about any space in your home. She personally interacts with people who message her asking for tips and advice. But not many know when she started her handle in 2016, it took her six months to reach her first 100 followers. “When I got back to work after almost a decade long mommy break, the working world had pretty much changed around me. Everything from sharing portfolios,…

Rukmini Ray Kadam, better known as Trumatter to her over 29,000 followers on Instagram loves to dish out simple home and living ideas, a sentiment that is also echoed on her blog. Interestingly, for the longest time Kadam was not active on any social media platform. “I started the blog in 2010 to document little projects that I did around the house that I rented with a flatmate. Chiefly because I missed home and more importantly the feeling of home terribly,” says Kadam. It wasn’t until 2014 that she opened her Instagram account.“Coincidentally, that was also the year I won my first blog awards,” she says. Kadam believes that in terms of Insta-popularity, she does not have a large following. “But it gives me solace that I know most of…

Hue Knew – “Neutrals will still be popular but with some warmer colour pops,” says Singh. So what colours will rule the interiors this year? “Grey and navy will be the trendy neutral shades,” she says. Touch and Feel – “More texture and natural materials will be incorporated in homes,” says Singh. Think cane, jute, raw wood and organic cottons. Down to Earth – Sleek finished surfaces are so last season. According to Singh, this year will be all about the earthy textured look. All About Wellness – Covid has changed more than the way we live. It has also created a change in the way to interact with interiors of our home. “This is why comfort and function will be more important than form,” says Singh.…

Open Delhi-based Ishita Yashvi’s Instagram account and you get a smorgasbord of colour, decor, design and fashion neatly placed before you. With over 55,000 followers it’s the fact that Yashvi dons many hats with ease that makes her social media handle stand out. Besides being house proud, she is the co-founder and CMO at Cross Border Kitchens (an online food delivery and catering company) and the founder of The Home and Company (a home décor products brand). “I started in early 2019, when I ended a corporate career and started cross border kitchens. I made my profile public as people wanted people to know the person behind the company,” she says. Home décor and interiors were already a large part of my life. “When I thought of content creation, I…

The year that was brought untold challenges, but with it, also a novel way to look at life in general; tech proved no exception to this rule. If 2020 was the great disruptor, 2021 promises to be the year of amazing gizmos. Gadget makers are heavily betting on 2021 to revive businesses with some incredible launches in the pipeline and unbelievable tech toys to play with. Here’s what’s in store. New Apple iPhones, iPads and Airpods Last year we saw the upgraded versions of the iPhones, iPads, Airpods and Macbooks; this year Apple is planning to launch even more powerful iPhones with Bionic A14 chipsets, that can capture better images, videos and one can even edit them on the fly without breaking into a sweat. In a similar vein, iPads…

As weddings get more intimate, it’s only fair that gifting get special attention. With an evolving wine culture and more versatile expressions on offer and available in the country, its no wonder that vino loyalists are now a growing tribe. With wine as the hip and healthy companion for solo reminiscing, gossip sessions or celebratory moments, it is the perfect present for the bride’s bffs. In case you’re spoilt for choice. Jacob’s Creek offers this ready reckoner that breaks it down for you. SOPHISTICATION AND SASS The Sparkling is the silver highlight of the Cinderella in the group——cynosure of all eyes, first to the party, and last off the dance floor. STYLE ICON The Classic Chardonnay is for the confident fashionista who walks into a room and owns it, brimming…

When history complements innovation, legends exult. Such is the story of the Marine Tourbillon Équation Marchante 5887, a Breguet masterpiece that combines the bold and sporty aesthetic hallmarked by the marque’s Marine line. It comes loaded with a highly complicated movement and the finest hand decoration, but with this model, Breguet offers it in rose gold with a gold dial in slate-grey. To emphasise this link between the Marine line and the sea, the model boasts a guilloche-peaked wave motif in the centre of the dial. The applied Roman numerals as well as the Breguet moon-tipped hands are in rose gold. And the back sports a depiction of an ancient flagship of the French Navy, the Royal Louis, which has been hand-carved across the bridges of the movement. The power…

As a user, you can check what data WhatsApp collects by going to Settings > Account. Tap on ‘Request Account Info’ to access, within three days, a report on all the information gathered from your account. The report can be downloaded as a .zip file but cannot be viewed in-app. You can view it on your computer or mobile phone as an independent file. The report does not contain messages, for WhatsApp does not have access to the end-to-end encrypted messages. It contains account information such as phone number, the name attached to the account, profile photo you currently have, the device you are using, the time when you have been online, all your contacts, all group names, the device type, the IP address, device build number, device manufacturer, details…

In March 2019, BJP’s Syed Shahnawaz Hussain had left alliance partner JD(U) red in the face after publicly blaming them for “taking away” the Bhagalpur Lok Sabha seat he had won in 2009. Now, a thaw seems to be underway. On January 8, Hussain visited Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar to wish him a happy new year. The CM returned the favour when Hussain filed his nomination papers for the legislative council on January 18. The Muslim leader is now tipped to join the Nitish cabinet.…

The India Today Mood of the Nation (MOTN) poll was conducted by market research agency Karvy Insights between January 3, 2021, and January 13, 2021. The poll has traditionally been done through face–to-face interviews. However, in this edition of the survey, due to the unprecedented situation arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic, a mixed methodology was adopted—50 per cent face-to-face and 50 per cent telephonic interviews—using a standard structure questionnaire which was translated into regional languages. A total of 12,232 interviews were conducted—67 per cent in rural and 33 per cent in urban areas—spread across 97 parliamentary constituencies and 194 assembly constituencies in 19 states—Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. In…

Yogi Adityanath has been an unusual chief minister in India’s political landscape. Prior to his being appointed to the top job in Uttar Pradesh—among India’s most politically-significant states—in March 2017, Adityanath was not even speculated as being among the contenders for the job. As the head of a socio-religious institute in the state, he was primarily known for his radical views on Hindutva politics, often dabbling in unwarranted controversies. Yet, the 48-year-old chief minister, one of the youngest in India and with no previous administrative experience, has emerged as one of the most popular political figures in the country. For the record fourth time in a row, respondents in the India Today Mood of the Nation (MOTN) survey—conducted every six months—have rated him as the No. 1 CM. This is…

Q. Madam Chief Minister continues to show you have an affinity to play rebels… I played a quiet rebel in Masaan,aloud one in Gangs of Wasseypur and one in defiance of law in the Fukrey films. Tara is, by far, the most interesting one I have played. The character spoke to me. She isanunderdog, munhphat [voluble]and shuns the tropes associated with her gender. Her going from being an oddball to being the CM was fun to do. Q. There is already speculation on which real-life politician she is based on… The film is full of anecdotes which will remind you of real incidents. Subhash Kapoor [the filmmaker] has taken elements from the lives of seven to eight male and female politicians and fictionalised them to create this character. That freedom…

There’s something so comfortable, relatable and inspiring about Rohina Khira’s social media handle that no matter what she posts, it grabs many eyeballs. Ask her 1.39 lakh followers on Instagram and they will agree. It’s a mix of decor, design, travel, fashion, textiles, DIYs and interiors, all in one space. Khira is the CEO of Mumbai-based, decor store AA Living and started her Instagram account in 2013. “Facebook was fading away, especially the business pages, everyone was saying one must move to Instagram,” says Khira. So, she started a handle but it was more for her company, AA Living. She began documenting designs she was doing for the brand, new products, cute cafes and interesting spots. “It was spontaneous and not a curated feed. People enjoyed my international outlook to…

Colour Cue – “People are refrencing 50s and 60s for their design aesthetic. Think all pink or blue rooms—just tones of one colour,” says Sham. It’s a bold trend that when done right can look fantastic. Terrific Terrazzo – While in 2020 terrazzo was thought of as a fad, this year it’s here to stay. “Terrazzo is not going away any time soon,” she says. Metal Musing – “Metals other than brass such as brushed copper are going to be seen. There is a lot of evolution in the market,” says Sham.…

Tradition meets modernity in 61-year-old Anuradha Kapoor’s social media account. It’s full of all things handcrafted, celebrating Indian design and aesthetics. Art and craft can be found in abundance here. A true celebration of an ethnic aesthetic, images of her home show her love for maximalism. But her design story started at 54, what many would consider a late entry in the social media scene. “My children coerced me into opening an Instagram account to share the pictures of our home. The response was very encouraging and I received a lot of appreciation and praise. From there on my journey has been full of learning, absorbing new ideas and interacting with like-minded people. The journey continues with new experiences, learnings and a whole lot of fun,” says Kapoor. In 2015…

Get Comfortable – “Comfort and tradition I think will rule the roost when it comes to design and decor this year. And it’s a direct result of 2020,” says Kadam, adding, “People spent a lot of time in their home and over the year we realised that layers of functional comfort actually do help and we will be seeing more of that in 2021 for sure.” To sum it up, this means, “less formal and more inviting living rooms, over stuffed furniture, softer curves and traditional styles”. Relaxed Design – “That entire feeling of ‘curl up and have coffee’ will be a deciding factor in everything,” says Kadam, who is been doing this style for quite some time now. “I sincerely believe home will be at the forefront of drawing…

DIYs come naturally to Swati Bora, better known as Kumaoni Soul on Instagram with over 37,000 followers. “I landed here accidently,” says Bora, who grew up in a small town in Uttarakhand and was passionate about DIYs, painting and gardening. “I remember taking up painting classes and making pretty cushions and beautiful designs on bed sheets during the day and working in the garden with my father in the evening during summer vacations. Then I moved away from my town for higher education and got a job in the city,” she says. In late 2018 when she got married and shared her passions with her husband, Vineet Verma, he suggested that she document the entire process of converting their rented apartment in Delhi into a home. “He encouraged me start…

Going Green – “WFH and staying indoors is going to continue. So, greener homes, taking nature indoors will be a big trend,” says Yashvi. The serial entrepreneur believes that they will bring in peace and calm inside your space, and make you feel connected, which everyone needs at the moment. “But it’s not just about the plants it’s about pairing them with the correct decor and design elements this year,” she adds. Past Perfected – Yashvi has always loved handlooms and handcrafted beauties however she forecasts that in 2021 more and more people will reconnect with their past and roots. It’s all about traditional Indian designs. “An example of this is using furniture that was used in the villages. It brings a sense of comfort and nostalgia,” she says. Retro…

Nature means many things to many people, but for Mumbai-based art director, set designer and fantasy botanist it’s a means of capturing your imagination and drawing you into a story. “Fantasy Botanicals is an evolving series of sculptures where I design my own plants by taking familiar and unfamiliar organic elements out of their original context and unearthing a new meaning”, says Shah, who is trained to be a graphic designer. She runs a multi-disciplinary practice called Studio Lalala in Mumbai. “After having practised design for seven years I switched to a more tactile medium. I wanted to play with materials and textures, and get my hands dirty,” she says. Currently, alongside the commercial work, she is also developing a few ob-jets d’art. AT @pri_ism (Instagram)…

If there’s any year that needed to renew its commitment to love, hope and eternity, it’s 2021. Not just as a follow-up act to a year that obliterated the word ‘Normal’ from its lexicon, but because no other year has been ushered in on the wings of hope and prayer quite as much. That’s what makes Blancpain’s annual commitment to women and February 14th so special. Every year since 2001, the watch marque celebrates women and love and for its 21st Valentine’s Day special series, the Manufacture offers a stunning interpretation of its Villeret Women Date model in a 28-piece limited edition. This new model is an homage to lovers and celebrates airy lightness. The white mother-of-pearl dial is an invitation to soar above the clouds, where cupid plays hide…

In 2020, the skincare market expanded more in size and impact than it has in the last decade. Some called it the “lipstick effect,” and with a worldwide pandemic that ensured everyone stayed at home, skincare slowly transformed into self-care with an apparent focus on wellness. Reflecting on trends in the industry, it is noticeable that as our hygiene evolved and became more stringent so did consumer-buying habits. Gravitating towards products that allow us to replicate the salon experience in the comfort of our homes with aesthetically pleasing skin care that not only makes promises but also delivers serious results. Defense makes the most sense Brands with insight have quickly become aware of consumer needs during this phase of change and have taken quick action. For example, in 2021, products…