Miscellaneous

👑 Ralph Lauren and Coach kick off New York Fashion Week S/S 2027 on September 9, 2026, in Tribeca, NYC. Henry Zankov debuts at Diane von Furstenberg on September 10, 2026. Noteworthy shows include Proenza Schouler, Tory Burch, Michael Kors, and Calvin Klein. New York leads in luxury retail openings, with new stores from Moncler, Acne Studios, and Victoria Beckham. Zane Li wins the Karl Lagerfeld Prize. Thom Browne concludes the week on September 15, 2026.

✈️ UK air traffic control faced a technical issue starting at 1 PM on Tuesday, 8 September, causing widespread flight delays and cancellations. By 3:30 PM, engineers were on-site. The disruption, unrelated to a cyberattack, continued into a second day, affecting thousands of passengers. Martin Rolfe of NATS confirmed ongoing recovery efforts. This marks the third major outage for NATS in three years, following incidents in August 2023 and July 2022. An investigation is underway.

🚧 Sunday evening before Labor Day, near a border crossing in the desert, a car hit a six-foot-wide crater, destroying a tire. With no cell service, help from the American side was hours away. The driver struggled with Mexican customs, forfeiting a $400 deposit due to a misunderstanding. Children remained in the car for hours. Amidst this, a striking sunset broke across the desert sky.

💳 August saw a 2.1% year-on-year increase in card spending, slightly up from July's 2.0% rise, yet still trailing behind the 3.1% CPIH inflation rate. Both essential and non-essential spending grew by 2.1%, driven by consumer confidence and robust hospitality & leisure performance. Consumer confidence in household finances hit a six-month high at 66% in August, as reported by The Barclays Consumer Spend report.

📦 Twenty years ago, Freitag opened its flagship store in Zurich using 19 shipping containers, forming "Zurich's smallest skyscraper." Located 150m from the original bag factory, it became a design icon featured globally, including a 2006 magazine issue. The store, initially a temporary structure, gained permanent status in 2014. A 2019 overhaul and recent photovoltaic upgrades highlight sustainability efforts. An exhibition, "A Second Life," currently showcases Freitag’s role in the circular economy.

🏠 Luca Guadagnino and Stefano Baisi launched their debut commercial design collection with Zara Home on September 26, 2025. The collection features 200 items, including furniture, garments, and scents. Prices range from £19.99 to £11,660. The launch includes a 20-minute short film directed by Guadagnino. The collection was presented at Milan Fashion Week on September 26-27, 2025, at La Pelota, featuring a pop-up event showcasing their pieces, blending multiple historical design influences.

🏠 Zaha Hadid passed at 65 in 2016, profoundly impacting the architectural world. In 2013, Hadid founded the Zaha Hadid Foundation (ZHF) with goals to support youth in architecture, manage her archives, and establish a museum. Her archives were relocated to Shad Thames, London, in 2018. By 2016, Hadid completed 35 buildings and left 35 projects unfinished. ZHF, led by Aric Chen since 2025, aims to make Hadid's significant 300,000-object archive accessible.

🏡 Nicole Hollis, based in San Francisco, is renowned for high-end residential design and sophisticated hospitality projects, including work for Rosewood Hotels. Her recent ventures include a homeware collection and a tableware collaboration with Saint Louis, launching this autumn. Hollis effortlessly blends art and coastal vibes from Hawaii into her hosting style. Noteworthy for relaxed gatherings, she favors pre-mixed cocktails, charcuterie boards, and unique ice cream flavors, maintaining a dynamic and engaging atmosphere at her events.

🗺 Cedar + Skye in Sea Ranch, California, features a 25-foot ceiling and offers access to 50+ miles of hiking trails. Cucu, located in WestMeath, Ireland, is a 20 sq m off-grid cabin priced from €225. El Hormiguero in Mindo, Ecuador, is a 24 sq m A-frame. JR’s Eco Hut in Nangus, Australia, showcases solar power and outdoor cooking. Skyhawk in Vermont, USA, accommodates eight for $375/night. Vipp Salaca River in Latvia spans 110 sq m, with rates from €375/night.

🎂 October 2026, Wallpaper* celebrated its 30th anniversary with a creative cake project. Visionaries from various industries, including Patricia Urquiola, Jon Gray, and Ma Yansong, contributed unique cake designs. The cakes, presented as drawings, objects, and edible creations, symbolized the magazine's influence over three decades. Notable entries include Bas Smets' landscape cake and Gucci’s recipe card. The event underscored Wallpaper*'s role in inspiring design and creativity worldwide.