From the Editor Christian Schwalbach “ Whether it’s stumbling upon a new find in a favourite boutique or a serendipitous crossing of paths with an acquaintance, moments of surprise add a piquant flavour to life. „ 12 DEPARTURES SERENDIPITY IS ONE of the things that we, collectively, have missed most over the past 18 months. Whether it’s stumbling upon a new find in a favourite boutique or crossing paths with acquaintances in the most unanticipated of places, the frisson that accompanies these moments of surprise adds a piquant – and some might say essential – flavour to life. As we return to something resembling normalcy, at least in some places, we are celebrating the unexpected in this issue of Departures: journeying to relatively untrodden landscapes and corners of the globe; putting a new spin on familiar accessories and accoutrements and even pushing out the boat – for the first time in the magazine’s history – with a section dedicated to the members of our society who add the largest dose of endearing arbitrariness and unpredictability to everyday life – which is to say, children. Turn to page 35 for a whirlwind tour of kids’ fashion, a selection of family-friendly destinations with educational programmes and the perfect gift ideas. You’ll also find surprises across our usual mix of on-the-pulse explorations and thoughtful trend reports: read about the secrets of clued-up tailors who specialise in warm-weather suits – and how misappropriation has played a role in their ascendance – or dive into the ceramics scene in Athens, where avant-garde creatives are putting a new, surprising spin on the ancient art. We hope these dispatches bring you both joyful inspiration and useful intel – a combination you can also find on our daily updated website, departuresinternational.com. We look forward to seeing you there for more serendipitous discoveries, too.
