From the Editor Christian Schwalbach “ Italy has taken over so much of our consciousness because we’ve been in the mood, amid all the global uncertainty, to engage with elegance and style „ 12 DEPARTURES OVER THE PAST few months, Italy has been on our minds. Part of this is undoubtedly Covidrelated: it was the first country in Europe to be struck hard by the virus, and it was also one of the first Western countries to recover (though this “recovery”, as in most places, is proving more halting and less permanent than hoped). But beyond all that, Italy has taken over so much of our consciousness here at Departures because we’ve been in the mood, amid all the global uncertainty, to engage with elegance and style – and there may be nowhere better on earth at producing it than this land of la bella figura. There is no other country with such a high concentration of superlative creators of fashion and accessories, which you can see in this issue’s photoshoots, from the carefully curated accessories gift guide to the deep dive on premium sneakers. Take a look at our story on the newly reissued furniture of Ico Parisi, an underappreciated architect and designer whose most famous creation, the iconic Uovo chair for Cassina, helped to define the midcentury look. This trio might just be the statement pieces needed for your own home renovations. Sometimes it’s a pleasure simply to admire someone else’s home. Such is the case, for us at least, with Bologna’s Palazzo Bentivoglio, where an art collecting couple has transformed a suite of rooms with uncanny (dare I say “Italian”) good taste: historical details are lovingly emphasised while missing or time-ravaged passages are filled by contemporary artists with a connection to the city, who make site-specific works. Pulling back the curtain, we feel privileged to be part of their private world, as it is not open to the public. As always, the magazine is also full of features and insights from across the globe. We venture to the Arctic not once but twice, and we road trip through the UAE’s lesser-known emirates. We also roundup the latest from London and dive into the emerging worlds of acoustic panels and interchangeable watch straps. We hope you find inspiration in these pages. And we look forward to seeing you online at departures-international.com for the latest news, notes and perspectives.
