Photo: @ChristopherDraghi, Model: Sophia Goslitski www.nevsmodels.co.uk

The Winter Print Issue of Designed is Out Now

Featuring our trip to Venice with the story of legendary Venetian fabric maker Fortuny, our cover shoot by Christopher Draghi at the Fortuny factory and gardens – honouring the past century of the brand in a fashion story woven from their sumptuous creations, and reviews of four fabulous hotels in our Best Beds Venice series. This issue’s Designed By profiles cover 40 years of David Collins Studio and the move from fashion to interiors of colour king Matthew Williamson. The Fireside Tales photo story by Robert Sanderson showcases cocktail tables stocked and ready for winter evenings, and we cover trips to a chocolate factory in the West of Ireland and a one-of-a-kind chalet hotel in Switzerland by design visionary Ramdane Touhami.

Also featured are water-themed shopping pages, the gift of almost unlimited museum and gallery visits, and we take a look inside the new book of alpaca whisperer and collector of treasured memories, Sandra Jordan. Our guest contributors have shared their expertise on accessible design, the new sustainability activist-makers, bathroom lighting, making the best use of colour, hand crafted heritage lighting, how to create joyful interiors and quiet luxury. We also meet the two Janes who started a lampshade company inspired by the Bloomsbury Group and the Bond Girl who has brought her interiors flair to a much-loved healing retreat.

Available to buy from stockists and online at: 

www.designedmagazine.com/

Win a La Montaña Winter Candle Duo Worth £90*

La Montaña champions slow living with evocative scents inspired by Spanish mountain life, with each fragrance made with premium, natural ingredients and inspired by moments in a small village in Valencia, Spain. The La Montaña collection of hand-poured candles, all-natural reed diffusers and room mists evoke a warm Mediterranean atmosphere, with packaging featuring distinctive 1930s travel poster style, and every aroma telling a captivating story. The hand-poured candles have a burn time of up to 40 hours and are in glass vessels perfect for repurposing.

The Three Kings candle pays homage to the midwinter Spanish holiday on the 6th of January, with cedarwood, frankincense, myrrh, pine needles, almond nougat turron and brandy. The Valencian orange harvest carries on throughout winter and the La Montaña Winter Oranges candle is a warm, spicy blend of orange, cinnamon, red apple and clove. 

For a chance to win both candles, reply to this email with the answer to the question: 

On which date is the Three Kings holiday in Spain?

*One prize available. Winner will be picked at random. No cash alternative. T&Cs may apply. Entries must be received by 5pm on Tuesday 4th November.

www.lamontana.co.uk/

Hand Crafted Creative Tools to Treasure

An estimated 9 billion pens are thrown away each year. Tom's Studio is a modern British stationery brand that meets the growing demand for sustainable, design-led and well thought-out gifts. Tom made his first pen from Corian and brass on his father-in-law’s 1960s original Myford Engineering lathe after watching his wife Gemma use a plastic mass-produced calligraphy pen. The beautifully crafted creative tools Tom now designs, from precision-engineered and refillable pens to inks and unique accessories, are all made to inspire creativity and built to last a lifetime.

The Lumos, priced from £45–£120, is infinitely refillable and comes with 11 interchangeable Japanese-made tips. TheWren, £35, is Tom’s Studio’s bestselling, award-winning everyday writing pen and is also refillable with fountain pen ink. All pens come in a range of colours, can be engraved for a personal touch and arrive in beautifully designed sustainable packaging. Tom’s Studio gift sets are presented in gold foil-embossed boxes. The Studio Fountain Pen Gift Set, £119.95, includes the Studio Fountain Pen in a choice of 7 colours and nib types, a solid brass pen holder and fountain pen ink in one of 4 colours

www.tomsstudio.com

Flora on the Edge – a Blanket for Threatened Wild Plants 

In collaboration with the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland, Arcana Living, a small British business with sustainability at its heart, has launched a collection of woven blankets to celebrate the beauty and fragility of some of our most threatened wild plants. Each design features five endangered species, chosen for their ecological significance and quiet resilience. The blankets are in 100% recycled cotton, finely woven on Jaquard looms, machine washable and made to last. They feature illustrations by artist Ria Mishaal and honour the intricate forms of native flora and the delicate balance they depend on. Each piece comes with a beautifully printed Nature Connection Companion with information about the species featured.

The blankets, priced between £245-£295, are woven to order in small batches, and 10% of sales go directly to the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland, the leading charity for plant recording, research and conservation across these islands. Since 1836, BSBI has brought together botanists, volunteers and nature-lovers to protect and understand the wild plants that shape our landscapes.

Order by today, 31st October, for delivery before Christmas, and by the end of November for New Year delivery (batches will be made to order after this). Other designs also available for Christmas delivery.

https://arcanaliving.com/

Windows on the Winter World

Window Cards architectural advent calendars, wrapping paper and clever 3D Christmas cards were developed over the years from founder, graphic designer, artist and model-maker Nick Sellek's love of Christmas. They combine both contemporary and traditional cityscapes, architecture and interiors with the magical warmth of the festive period in streets, cities and areas as diverse as St. Nicholas Street, Paris, Oxford, Derbyshire and Hackney.

On the outside, the Brighton Advent Calendar, £15, appears to be a silent, snowy December day in the city, with the snow-covered Pier, roof tops, hotels and beach. But the wintery scene hides a contemporary Christmas narrative. Open the building facades and windows or lift up a roof to find magical, festive interiors and happenings. Mounted on card, 42cm x 29.5cm.

www.windowcards.co.uk/product-page/brighton-advent-calendar

The Intricate Beauty of Indian Tealight Holders

These exquisitely hand-painted metal tealight holders from Raj Tent Club bring a warm touch of Indian folklore and craftsmanship to winter interiors. A celebration of colour, culture and intricate artistry, they are inspired by traditional Indian decorative arts. Each piece is meticulously cut and painted by hand to depict a whimsical menagerie of birds and animals drawn from the rich tapestry of Indian mythology and rural life. Sure to be loved by design aficionados and collectors of unique, heritage-inspired pieces, they make striking centrepieces for the festive season – and a timeless accent piece year-round. 

The collection also includes a 24-tealight version, designed as an unusual advent calendar and accompanied by a set of hand-crafted ornaments to be hung day by day, offering a quiet ritual of light and decoration throughout December. Both tealight holders are priced at £1500 including the decorations, which are also available separately.

 www.rajtentclub.com

Celebrating the Joy of Letter Writing with Montblanc

The Happy Holidays Set 2025 from Montblanc is a celebration of the enduring art of letter writing. A limited edition of 100, the set is housed in a finely crafted ‘writer's cabinet of curiosities’ with eight drawers and a top compartment in the shape of an envelope unveiling an exclusive Montblanc fountain pen. At its centre is the Meisterstück Geometry Solitaire LeGrand Fountain Pen, created exclusively for the set and featuring a handcrafted Au 750 gold nib adorned with snowflakes and a signature gold-coated cap and barrel featuring a 3D geometric pattern. 

In the drawers are: a set of 10 holiday cards and envelopes inspired by a photograph of heritage fountain pen nibs; a magnifying glass and letter opener in polished gold-tone; a tin with a set of 10 postcards and stickers featuring nostalgic designs echoing historical Montblanc advertising posters; a gold-toned paperweight with the iconic Montblanc emblem at its centre, suitable for adding an elegant touch to one's workspace; a perpetual calendar crafted in ashwood and plexiglass; and a pen pouch, ink and notebook featuring a hand drawn illustration of a travelling couple at the foot of the Mont Blanc mountain, surrounded by vintage planes, trains, and letters in flight. 

The smaller Happy Holidays Capsule also pays homage to Montblanc's heritage of writing and travel, uniting timeless storytelling with everyday functionality. 

POA; Set and Capsule available across Montblanc boutiques including at 119 New Bond Street, London W1S 1EP

www.montblanc.com

Festive Treats from Hazel Mountain Chocolate

Kasha Connolly opened the doors to Hazel Mountain Chocolate in between Galway Bay and the Burren Mountains in 2014 and it is now listed among the top ten food attractions in Ireland. There’s a visitor centre where you can watch chocolatiers hand painting truffles, and crafting Irish milk, vegan and hot chocolate. 

To enjoy Hazel Mountain from further afield, the Festive collection for 2025 has just been unveiled. With smooth and fudgy 42% Irish milk chocolate, the Cherry Rocky Road wreath is studded with malted crispies, petit-beurre biscuits, chewy Amarena cherries and cherry syrup, with a topping of marshmallows for the perfect table centrepiece. Available to pre-order now for release on the 10th November.

Read the full story about Hazel Mountain Chocolate in the new print issue of Designed Magazine, out now!

www.hazelmountainchocolate.com

A Fragrant Journey Under the Northern Lights

The most popular fragrance in the eau de parfum collection of niche perfume brand source adage is a joyous voyage into the winterscape of the Arctics. The fresh, woodsy scent captures the vibrancy of the Northern regions with coniferous juniper, fir needle and pine notes and crisp mint to usher in cool breezes. A tart, green apple accord bridges the gap from aromatic notes to the earthier dry down of cedar wood and sweet amber. This unique, genderless fragrance was designed to be persistent but measured. Nuanced, yet with a decisive personality. Co-founders, and “noses” of source adage, Christopher Draghi and Robert Dobay, pride themselves in creating elegant, high quality fragrances that tell a timeless story through well-balanced accords. C’i’aan is no exception for its universal appeal and sophisticated character.

Debuting in New York in 2015, source adage now calls the coastal Tuscan town of Riparbella its home. Among vineyards and olive groves, Christopher and Robert continue to create the brand’s next perfumes and luxury home fragrances and offer scent workshops at their stylish ”adage studio olfattivo”.

Source adage fragrances are available in Europe at www.sourceadage.it or in the UK at www.saintecellier.com

Win a bottle of KAY Sake*

KAY Sake is breaking with tradition by bringing a modern spin to the Japanese beverage Designed to be enjoyed in new serves, KAY Sake celebrates purity, offering cocktail lovers an alternative spirit option that is gluten-free, lower in alcohol and free of sulphites and additives. The drink was born from the majestic landscape of Niigata Japan, blending Eastern tradition with Western style, with a contemporary bottle design designed by renowned Dutch designer, Marcel Wanders.

KAY Sake is crafted at the Aumont Brewery in Niigata, Japan, renowned for its pristine rice and water and with over two centuries of brewing expertise. It now can be found on the menus of some of London's top cocktail bars including Kwãnt Mayfair, Bar Lotus and Archive & Myth, earning its place as a refined choice for discerning drinkers. KAY Sake can either be served on the rocks, neat or as a low-ABV (15.8%) alternative ingredient for cocktails. 

KAY Sake, £39, is available from Master of Malt, Hedonism Wines and Gerry’s Wine & Spirits and is offering 

One reader of Designed Magazine can win a bottle of KAY Sake*. To enter the draw, reply to this email answering the question:

Who designed the KAY Sake bottle?

*One prize available. Entrants must be aged 18 or over. ID may be required. Winner will be picked at random. No cash alternative. T&Cs may apply. Entries must be received by 5pm on Tuesday 4th November.

www.kaysake.com

Dutch Barn Vodka Lazy Mule 

Dutch Barn Vodka is distilled from British apples and filtered for an ultra-smooth finish. The brand has a commitment to sustainability and proudly holds a B Corp Certificate. 

To make a simple Lazy Mule jug serve that takes the strain out of cocktail making, combine 350mls of Dutch Barn Vodka with 1 bottle of Double Dutch Ginger Beer in a jug with ice and add freshly squeezed lime juice or lime wedges. Stir and serve.

RRP: £32 for 70cl. ABV: 38%. Dutch Barn Vodka is available nationwide from dutchbarn.com, Morrisons, Amazon and other good retailers.

Cotswolds Distillery The Bees Knees 

Cotswolds Dry Gin captures the essence of the English countryside with a blend of nine botanicals, including local lavender from the Cotswolds and pink grapefruit and lime zest. Due to the high volume of botanicals used, a pearlescent cloud appears when ice or tonic is added to the gin, creating the beautiful and unique Cotswolds Cloudy G&T. 

To make a The Bees Knees cocktail, create honey syrup by adding 30ml of water to 15mls of honey syrup to a saucepan and stirring until honey dissolved. Pour the syrup, 50mls of Cotswolds Dry Gin and 25mls of fresh lemon juice into a mixing glass and shake over ice for 10 seconds, then strain into a chilled coupe. 

RRP from £38.50 for 70cl. ABV 46%. Cotswolds Dry Gin available from: Cotswolds Distillery, Amazon, Waitrose, select Sainsbury's, Ocado, Majestic Wine, Selfridges and Fortnum and Mason

Pantalones Organic Margarita

Pantalones is a 100% Blue Weber Agave, premium organic tequila. Using 4th generation farmers who have been caring for over 7,000 acres of agave since the 1920s, this environmentally conscious, certified gluten free and award-winning tequila is smooth and flavourful.Pantalones Tequila was founded in 2023 by American actor Matthew McConaughey and his wife Camila. 

To make the Margarita, rim the edge of a rocks glass with a lime wedge, and dip the rim in salt. Add 60ml of Blanco or Reposado Pantalones Organic Tequila, 30mls of organic lime juice and 15mls of organic agave nectar to a shaker with ice. Shake until well chilled and strain over fresh ice. 

Pantalones Tequila Blanco: RRP from £40 for 70cl. ABV 40% 
Pantalones Tequila Reposado: RRP from £42 for 70cl. ABV 40%

Both expressions are available from Master of Malt and Blanco is stocked in Waitrose from 10th November.