THE Stylymate, Issue 02|2021 think! and then act rights

THE
Style
mate
think!
THESTYLEMATE.COM
and then act right.
INSPIRATION FROM AROUND
THE WORLD FOR AN AESTHETIC
AND MEANINGFUL LIFESTYLE
ISSUE No 02 | 2021
thestylemate.com

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THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021
Summer has arrived, and with it a long-
yearned-for slice of freedom. There are
times when it feels like it was “before”.
Then you start getting a bit nostalgic.
Somehow, you can't stop yourself from
thinking about it. There doesn’t seem to
be an innocent light-heartedness anymore.
We also have these thoughts, and it’s this
“contemplation” that we’ve devoted this
issue to. We met free-diver and environ-
mental activist Christian Redl, who supports
the protection of the sea through his
7Oceans project. We spoke to him about
climate change, ghost nets, overfishing
and the plundering of the world’s oceans.
What is there to be positive about? The
fact that Christian Redl believes there is
a solution to every problem.
We also want to believe that. And it gets
easier when you consider the many people
who try to make a difference through
their work. Day in, day out. We invited
chefs Stefanie Herkner and Paul Ivić for
an interview, took a look around the new
Green Pea shopping centre in Turin, which
is entirely dedicated to sustainability, and
got to know several sustainable fashion
labels a little better. There are also many
special characters in craft and design with
ideas along the right lines – as there are
at our LIFESTYLEHOTELS. Once again,
we’ve been lucky enough to get to know
some incredibly interesting people who
we’ve been able to contemplate with.
Because that’s what matters: not eliminating
things but rather acting consciously and
in harmony with nature. Preferably all
together. But first of all, we hope we can
encourage you to contemplate with our
“thoughtful” issue.
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IMPRINT Media owner and publisher: Prime Time Touristik & Marketing GmbH, Schmiedgasse 38/1, 8010 Graz, Austria
Editors: Thomas Holzleithner & Hardy Egger Editor-in-chief: Mag. Nina Prehofer Managing editor: DI (FH) Christin Maier-Erlach
Cover photo: Marc Hillesheim Layout: VON K Brand Design
Writers: Franzobel, Helder Suffenplan, Lisbeth Wild, Jana Inga Trenner, Hedi Grager, Nora Palzenberger Translators: Katherine Nussey, Lisbeth Wild
Advertising: office@thestylemate.com Printed by: Medienfabrik Graz, 8020 Graz Published in: Graz Publication: 3 x yearly
Thomas Holzleithner & Hardy Egger
E D I T O R S
IN THIS ISSUE
Essentials
page 3
LIFE:
What is the f***ing
problem?
pages 4–7
By Helder Suffenplan:
Perfume for peace!
page 8
The taste of
a clean conscience
pages 9–11
The future of shopping
pages 12–13
Franzobel
page 14
STYLE:
Prêt-à-changer
pages 16–18
Collected Fragments
page 19
Fragility and
transcience
pages 20–21
In the name of the tassel
pages 22–23
Outdoors is
the new indoors
pages 24–25
Democratic design
pages 26–27
LIFESTYLEHOTELS
selection:
Hotel Heureka
page LH 1
Gradonna Mountain Resort
Chalets & Hotel
page LH 2
EALA My Lakeside Dream
page LH 3
Bergland
Design and Wellness Hotel
Sölden
page LH 4
Sportresidenz Zillertal
page LH 5
New Member:
Steinach Townhouse
Meran
page LH 6
New Member:
Alpenstern
Panoramahotel
page LH 7
New Member:
Sir Adam & Sir Albert
page LH 8
Arabella Retreat & Spa
page LH 9
New Member:
Torel Boutiques
pages LH 10-11
Directory
LIFESTYLEHOTELS
page LH 12
Imprint
page 2
Cover
Photo:
Marc
Hillesheim,
Photo:
Heldentheater

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THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021
essentials
I N T H I S
TA K E A R E F R E S H I NG D I P !
Viennese designer Rosa Rendl sells swimsuits and
bikinis for all body shapes. The designs and colours have
been kept basic and classic, with comfort and a positive
feel being the top priority. The summer essentials are
made out of high-tech fabrics from Italy that incor-
porate recycled nylon. The benefits of the sustainable
Econyl material are that it is quick drying, has a high
resistance to chlorine and offers UV protection.
rendl.co, from € 100
S E T S A I L !
Old sailing and climbing ropes are the new raw materials.
It is from these ropes that New York-based Austrian
designer Sophie Sevigny makes individual mats that will
give any house a joyful and unique lift. The idea came
about in 2011 on a sailing trip to Nantucket. The knotting
technique that Sevigny employs for her work harks back
to traditional sailors’ knots that have been used for
hundreds of years.
serpentsea.com, from € 245
E L E G A N T A N D T I M E L E S S
Jules Wabbes (1919–1974) had a penchant for finding new
ideas at flea markets. It’s no wonder people said that the
Belgian architect and furniture designer had a unique
eye for shapes and materials. And that is apparent in
his countless designs, which still haven’t gone out of
fashion even today. A shining example is the chandelier,
developed in the 1970s, whose futuristic form is as much
at home in a modern bar as in a posh hotel lobby.
weverducre.com/j.j.w.-collection
W E A R I N G N AT U RA L C O L O U R S
Slow fashion label Rudolf was established in 2014 by
Antonia Maedel and Lisa Mladek. All of their yarns are
dyed with plant-based colours at the company’s own dye
works in Vienna, and the items of clothing and home
accessories are made exclusively in Austria, within a
maximum radius of 150 km. The new collection will be
available from September and is markedly colourful.
A highlight is the pleated Franz skirt made out of 100%
Merino wool.
rudolfvienna.com, Franz skirt € 249
C E RA M I C A R T
Onka Allmayer-Beck worked for many years at large
fashion houses, with her life at the time revolving
around Milan. With the change of scenery of her return
to Vienna, her creative path also changed: she started
making items out of clay. What was initially a hobby
is now her job, and with great attention to detail and
a high standard of craftsmanship, she creates joyful
pieces that have already been exhibited at renowned
galleries around the world. All of her pieces are made
entirely by hand in Vienna.
instagram.com/onxydizzyfingers
A R E YO U S I T T I NG S U S TA I N A B LY ?
Back in 1933, Artek released the Stool 60. Designed by
Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, millions of the number
one stool of all stools have now been sold, not least
because of its simple design language and practical,
simple use – like being easy to stack. And that’s before
you consider the sustainable manufacturing of the
design object. No wonder the Stool 60 was honoured
with the German Sustainability Award in the Design
Icons category in December 2020.
artek.fi, from € 239
E D I T I O N
Photos:
provided
by/credit:
Rudolf
Vienna,
Serpent
Sea,
Onka
Allmayer-Beck,
Wever
Ducré,
Artek,
Rendl

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THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021
LIFE
problem?
f***ing
what is
the
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THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021

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THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021
LIFE
At people who throw their rubbish out the window. At everyone
still gleefully drinking water from a plastic bottle. At politicians
whose solutions only look good on the surface. And at everyone
that has stopped thinking and acting independently. With his
7Oceans project, he wants to better protect the oceans. Not just
because he loves them – but because all of our lives depend on it.
is angry.
Photos:
Jörg
Carstensen
Christian
Redl

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THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021
LIFE
LIFE
Including our
own.
Every second breath we take
comes out of the oceans.

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THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021
LIFE
LIFE
You discuss many topics through
7Oceans: how plastic is polluting the
seas, climate change and the resulting
coral bleaching, overfishing, ghost nets,
the plundering of the seas, shipwrecks
and the practice of shark finning. With
such a huge range of problems, where do
you start and what have you and your
fellow campaigners resolved to do?
As the name suggests, we want to dedicate
ourselves to the world’s seven oceans. In
summer, we’re going to start shooting
our film. We’re going to dive in all of the
world’s oceans and show their beauty.
But also the problems. We don’t want to
make a film that leaves the viewer feeling
powerless, numb or just wanting to keep
looking the other way at the end. I’ve also
resolved to show solutions and think it’s
really important to appeal to people’s indi-
vidual sense of responsibility. It’s possible
to do something on a small scale and the
more people that do something, the more
impact these small measures will have. I’m
convinced that there are solutions for all
problems.
What upsets you the most?
The fact that most people won’t take on
any more individual responsibility. That
we know more about Mars than about the
oceans. That there are people who think
fish don’t feel any pain. That supposed
solutions from politicians are so widely
accepted.
What do you mean by that?
Electric cars, for example. At the moment,
we’re expected to all be driving electric cars
by 2030. But I wonder whether an electric
car with its huge battery can really be the
solution? How do we get all the compo-
nents? By exploiting the depths of the ocean
on the hunt for nickel and other similar
materials, releasing metals that poison
marine life. What do we do with our old
diesel and petrol cars? Send them to Africa!
Are they suddenly less of a problem over
there? What do we do with the batteries
when they stop working? What are the risks
in the event of a crash? What impact does
the battery have on our body when we’re sit-
ting on top of it? In my opinion, there must
be more promising solutions than electric
cars, but the industry has invested so much
money that now they want their profit from
it. I predict that in ten years, we’ll be told
that electric cars unfortunately aren’t the
solution. At the moment, we’re putting all
our faith in natural gas or e-fuels.
You say the example of the shark can be
used to explain a lot. Can you tell us a bit
more about that?
If we look at the ecological pyramid of the
ocean, the shark is right at the top. Sharks
are the governors of the ocean, meaning
there aren’t that many of them and they
only reproduce with great difficulty. Nature
must have considered that, because they’re
the strongest. But if you remove the shark
from the top of the pyramid through shark
finning and other methods, animals fur-
ther down in the pyramid then breed too
much. That’s how the viscous circle begins.
When nothing has a predator anymore, the
ecological pyramid dies out completely and
then the reefs are dead and empty. And if
the ocean dies, people die. Unfortunately,
there are still far too many stupid people
who don’t understand that the shark is
absolutely worthy of protection.
What’s the problem with the oceans, why
are people paying so little attention?
The problem, which is also a metaphor, is:
we’re standing on the beach and looking at
the surface of the water. Everything looks
beautiful. But what about underneath?!
There aren’t any more fish because they’ve
been totally wiped out by dynamite fishing,
there are no sharks because they’ve been
hauled out despite the ban on longlines.
We’re always looking at the surface of the
ocean, but we need to submerse ourselves
to see the problems.
But people are now aware of garbage
patches.
Yes, and now you can imagine what it looks
like underneath. And that’s only the tip
of the iceberg. But we come back to the
problem of protecting the oceans, because
in my opinion, the biggest problem is how
to deal with international waters. No one
feels responsible for it. Dynamite fishing
is more or less unopposed here, but even
in protected areas, Chinese fishermen
outsmart the protective features and haul
hundreds of sharks out of the water, only
to then throw their living bodies back into
the water with their fins cut off. It’s been
so long since international warships were
there and the perpetrators immediately
held to account that nothing will change.
And offer a platform for solutions
at the same time.
I want to be the mouthpiece
of the oceans.
So what can be done?
People need to be told the truth. I think the
poles will melt and towns on the coast will
be submerged. We need to act quickly to
work out how to prevent that. By that,
I mean structural solutions or relocations.
It’s also true that there are too many peo-
ple on the planet. So dramatically reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, don’t buy any
more plastic bottles, eat less meat and stop
disposing of waste in nature. I mean, what
is the f***ing problem with chucking your
rubbish in a bin? Most importantly: think
about how to act responsibly.
Do the oceans still need saving?
I’ve always been an optimist and I always
will be. That’s why I say “yes, but…”. In my
opinion, we need to say goodbye to unreal-
istic scenarios that are unfortunately more
likely to be heard in the current narrative.
We need realism, solutions that people
can actually implement. For me, it makes
more sense to give lots of people a bit more
responsibility than for a few people to
totally change their way of life.
The oceans are normally “only” linked
with plastic waste. But the problem we’ll
have if we don’t look out for the oceans is
much, much bigger.
In Austria, very few people understand
why even we are dependent on the ocean.
The horizon ends with the mountains
and global connections can appear to be
misunderstood. Every second breath we
take comes out of the oceans. Including
our own. To be fair, we should give the
topic more attention. Up to now, we’ve only
protected 3% of the oceans – that’s noth-
ing! Our goal is to safeguard 30% of the
oceans with protected areas by 2030. And
that’s the only chance we have, because the
climate is controlled largely by the oceans.
You’re a free-diver, multiple world record
holder and have worked as a stuntman.
How did you become an environmental
activist?
I did my first dive with a tank in the Red
Sea when I was 16. I’ve been back there
countless times since. As a child, I watched
all of the films by Hans Hass and Jacques
Cousteau and I know what the Red Sea
looked like in the 50s and then 30 years
ago. The transformation to today is shock-
ing! Then the topic of plastic waste gained
more traction on social media and I saw
the film For the love of the game by David
Beckham. He wanted to give something
back because he’s grateful for everything
he’s got in life. That inspired me and led
to my 7Oceans project. I wanted to give
something back to the sea as well. I want to
be the mouthpiece of the oceans. And offer
a platform for solutions at the same time.
savethe7oceans.net
CHRISTIAN REDl is a multiple free-diving
world record holder and the founder of 7Oceans
– for the love of the oceans. Under his leaders-
hip, 7Oceans organises trips, dives and events
in order to raise awareness and donations to
help solve the 7 problems identified. The jour-
ney with 7 dives in 77 feet in 7 oceans will be
the kick-off to start the project. A documentary
road movie will show the beauty of the oceans
and also the impact of human
behaviour.
Photos:
Martin
Aigner

peace
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THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021
FRAGRANCING AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE, MORE WOMEN’S
RIGHTS THANKS TO MORE EAU DE TOILETTE, SPRAYING SCENT
FOR WORLD PEACE? THAT MAY SOUND A BIT OPTIMISTIC, BUT
ACTUALLY THERE ARE A LOT OF EXAMPLES OF HOW EVEN
THE PERFUME INDUSTRY IS ATTEMPTING TO HELP MAKE THE
WORLD A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE.
HELDER SUFFENPLAN is an independent
journalist and creative consultant from Berlin,
and has had a particular passion for perfumes
since he was a child. With his successful 2013
launch of SCENTURY.com – the very first on-
line mag
azine for perfume storytelling – Hel-
der has become a recognised authority in the
global world of fragrance. He has been on the
jury for events such as The Arts & Olfaction
Awards in Los Angeles and the Prix Inter
national du Parfumeur Créateur in Paris.
As a writer, he combines his passion topic
of fragrances with a range of fields such as
contemporary art, popular culture, literature,
film and geopolitics.
Just as there are in the fashion or the
film industry, there are countless charity
initiatives – for example, online perfume
shops donating a portion of their profits
to charitable organisations, or celebrities
who use the medium of perfume to
support aid organisations. Take Angelina
Jolie, who passed on her fee, an estimated
$10 million, from her Guerlain campaign
for Mon Guerlain to an NGO in 2017. But
there are other projects that arise from
the specific structure and mentality of the
perfume industry and can therefore only
be found within this industry. These are a
few of the most interesting.
London perfume house Jo Malone has
been inspired by the beauty of the British
flora since 1990, releasing scents with
charmingly simple names such as English
Pear & Freesia and Poppy & Barley. A project
emerged from this identity that has enabled
the creation of eight of what they call
Charity Gardens, where those with mental
health issues can immerse themselves in
nature in order to be able to better deal
with vulnerability and isolation.
Underground label Atelier PMP from
Hamburg turns the fragrances themselves
into ambassadors for a better world:
Geschöpf (Being) appeals against discri-
mination and declares the right of people
to reinvent themselves and to become
their own person. The creation antianti
aims to encourage positive thinking via
the nose and actively doing something for
good rather than always acting against
something.
However, with an annual turnover of
around $50 billion, the perfume industry
is more than just an aesthetic niche
market. It’s a global industry with research
centres, manufacturing facilities and
distribution chains. The way the big and
small brands make, package and ship
their products determines whether urgent
matters such as the use of resources, global
warming and global justice are addressed.
At this point, it’s important to know
that the majority of fragrances sold in a
perfume shop come from one of the five
biggest manufacturers. Bottles flaunt the
names of fancy fashion labels, even though
the contents were most likely created and
produced by companies like IFF, Firmenich,
Givaudan, Symrise and Takasago. However,
it’s all done according to the creative briefing
from the brand, so if it says Armani on the
The times of civet cats and musk oxes
being slaughtered for a few millilitres
of fragrance or rare plants almost being
wiped out so people thousands of kilo-
metres away can smell nice appear to be
over. It’s in these situations that chemistry
often comes to the rescue of nature:
civet and musk are now chemically
reproduced and rose essences in particular
are synthesised in abundance. According
to estimates, the entire planet would have
to be covered in rose fields several times
over to satisfy our appetite for the rose
scent entirely from natural resources.
That would no doubt look beautiful, but
in the long run it might be somewhat
monotonous and wouldn’t do anything
for biodiversity.
An area where the fragrance brands
themselves need to do their homework is
the packaging of perfumes. The quantity
of the materials used is usually dispropor-
tionate to the quantity and transience of
the contents. What’s more, the boxes are
many times the volume of the bottle and
are filled with inserts made out of plastic
foam. The whole thing is then wrapped
in film so no dust particles can tarnish
the elaborately printed surface. This
definition of luxury is so yesterday and it
needs to stop! If we as consumers take care
to only buy products that are as fair and
sustainable as possible without too much
packaging, we’ll be able to change a lot in
this regard.
My favourite example of this, of how
scent – or the lack of it – can improve
the world, is conclusive. In collaboration
with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,
Firmenich has set up a project in India
aiming to protect people from severe
infectious diseases. The problem: when
you don’t have your own toilet and public
facilities smell so bad that you’d rather do
your business somewhere out in the open,
pathogens get into the drinking water
and cause serious illnesses such as typhus
and cholera. The solution: thanks to many
years of fundamental research, Firmenich
was able to develop a product that blocks
receptors in the nose from foul-smelling
molecules. People no longer sensed the
smell, facilities were used once more and
infection rates sank.
But every one of us can do something good
every day without the need for a billon-
dollar foundation: fragrance improves our
personal well-being and our happiness,
making every spritz a contribution to
world peace. So reach for your perfume
bottle as often as possible and feel good
about it!
perfume for
outside, it’s Armani on the inside, too.
Most of these perfume producers have
acknowledged their responsibility for the
future – perhaps with a better outcome
compared with other industries. That’s
why family company Firmenich in Geneva
plans to be carbon neutral by 2025, and
pledges to be climate positive by 2030,
meaning they’ll remove more CO2
from
the atmosphere than they emit.
Competitors Givaudan are also striving
for environmental protection and social
responsibility, and through their own
foundation they support vetiver growers
in Haiti to improve infrastructure, health-
care and education in surrounding villages.
Because vetiver is one of my favourite
scents, I’m especially pleased by this.
For me, a fragrance is even nicer when a
large proportion of the ingredients are
derived in justifiable conditions.
scentury.com
Photo:
Atelier
PMP

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THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021
changing
the
world
ONE FLAVOUR
AT A TIME
IN THEIR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE STYLEMATE, THE
TWO AUSTRIAN CHEFS REVEAL WHY THE SOCIAL VALUE OF
FOOD IS REGAINING ITS IMPORTANCE, AND GIVE TIPS ON
HOW TO ACHIEVE ZERO WASTE IN DAILY LIFE.
In Stefanie Herkner and Paul Ivić’s restaurants,
living sustainably every day takes pride of place on
the menu.
Photos:
Stefanie
Herkner,
Ingo
Pertramer

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THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021
IT’S TIME
FOR A
RETHINK
S T E F A N I E H E R K N E R
Let’s talk food waste. What are your
three tips for being more conscious
with food?
I think it’s important to shop at local
farmers markets or a small delicatessen.
Most things have no packaging, they’re
seasonal, and you tend to only buy what
you actually need. I also recommend
looking in the fridge and the cupboards
before cooking or going shopping, and
just making something from what’s
there. It’s a lot of fun! My parents are old
school when it comes to cooking and will
make something out of anything, and
nothing goes to waste.
What’s the perfect recipe for using
up scraps?
My mum is saddened the most when
people throw away bread. It hurts me, too.
Bread isn’t just good for dumplings and
breadcrumbs. You can also make bread
soup with warming spices, herby croutons
to go with soup or thin bread crisps to
nibble on. I love simple things like that.
How has food culture changed
during the pandemic?
I get the feeling that people are paying
more attention to where things come
from. A new level of awareness has arisen
from the momentary standstill. We’re
concentrating on meals and ingredients
much more and quality is therefore
increasing in importance.
How can food make the world a
better place?
Good food just makes you happy! Food
brings us together. On my cookery courses,
I see how a group of people who have been
thrown together can get along as if they’ve
known each other forever – from stranger
to friend in an instant. That makes me
happy. If we now continue to look at what
we eat, we can improve the world, the
climate and many other things besides.

As a layperson, which organic traps
might it be easy for me to fall into?
When it says organic, but it comes
from the other side of the world – that’s
definitely not the right thing to go for.
Also, organic standards vary quite a
lot around the world. There are many
farmers in Austria that are more than
organic enough, but they don’t tick all
the boxes when it comes to “official”
organic criteria. I’m currently working
on the organic certification of my pub,
which is quite a challenge, but I’m
determined to take it on. I want to do my
bit, to progress. It’s time for a rethink.
Your motto is “Cuisine with heart”.
What’s in this big heart?
A passion for detail, passion for quality
and passion for great flavours. But there’s
also something deeply feminine and
motherly about this attentiveness, and
the heart always plays a big part in that.
Based on which criteria do you select
the ingredients for your dishes?
It’s so important to look at where the
ingredients come from. Do they come
from the other side of the world, a huge
factory or from a small local farm?
For me, it’s always the latter. I’m fortunate
that my family has a small farm where
I spent most of my time as a child, and
I saw how potatoes grow. I know how
vegetables grown in your own garden
taste and are supposed to taste.
What does sustainability mean
for you personally, and from a
chef’s perspective?
For me, the personal and the profes-
sional are one and the same. I respect
every ingredient, I respect nature and
I respect our resources. It’s extremely
important to me where products
come from and how they were made.
Connection with food and appreciation
for it is the most important thing. Small
operations and regionality are the top
priorities for me – and flavour, of course!
BORN AND RAISED IN VIENNA, STEFANIE HERKNER SPENT
PERIODS IN THE LONDON AND VIENNA CREATIVE INDUSTRIES
BEFORE REALISING HER DREAM OF OWNING A PUB IN 2013.
IN THE FORMER PREMISES OF AN INSTALLATION COMPANY
ON WIEDNER HAUPTSTRASSE, SHE HAS SINCE BEEN SERVING
UP AUTHENTIC AND HONEST HOME-COOKED FOOD. ONE OF
HER SPECIALITIES IS DUMPLINGS, AND YOU CAN LEARN HOW
TO MAKE THEM YOURSELF DURING REGULAR WORKSHOPS
HOSTED BY THE CHEF HERSELF.
zurherknerin.at
REGIONALITY, ORGANICALLY FARMED INGREDIENTS, SIGNATURE DISHES
RATHER THAN AN ENORMOUS MENU AND A HUGE PORTION OF HUMANITY
– VIENNESE PUB LANDLADY STEFANIE HERKNER REVEALS HOW SUSTAIN-
ABILITY AND CUISINE CAN WORK SEAMLESSLY TOGETHER.
Photo:
Stefanie
Herkner

11
THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021 11
LIFE
CULINARY JOURNEY BEGAN AT
THE AGE OF 14, WHEN THE TYROLEAN NATIVE OF CROATIAN
HERITAGE NO LONGER WANTED TO GO TO SCHOOL AND HIS
SISTER SUGGESTED THAT HE BECOME A CHEF. THE PATH OF
THE COMMITTED ADVOCATE OF ORGANIC FARMING PASSED
THROUGH GERMANY, AUSTRIA AND SWITZERLAND BEFORE
FINALLY STOPPING IN VIENNA, WHERE HE’S BEEN HEAD CHEF
AND MANAGER OF THE TIAN FLAGSHIP RESTAURANT SINCE
2011. WITH HIS INCOMPARABLY REFINED CREATIONS MADE
FROM VEGETARIAN, FAIRLY PRODUCED INGREDIENTS, WHICH
INCLUDE VIRTUALLY FORGOTTEN VARIETIES OF FRUIT, VEG-
ETABLES AND GRAINS, THE FATHER OF ONE WAS AWARDED A
MICHELIN STAR AND FOUR GAULT&MILLAU TOQUES FOR TIAN
IN VIENNA. TIAN IS THEREFORE ONE OF ONLY A FEW VEGE-
TARIAN/VEGAN MICHELIN STAR RESTAURANTS WORLDWIDE.
ITS GERMAN COUNTERPART, TIAN IN MUNICH, HAS BOASTED A
MICHELIN STAR AND TWO GAULT&MILLAU TOQUES SINCE 2019.
FOLLOWING ON FROM DIE VEGETARISCHE SOMMERKÜCHE AND
DIE VEGETARISCHE WINTERKÜCHE, RESTLOS GLÜCKLICH IS THE
THIRD COOKBOOK FROM THE AWARD-WINNING CHEF.
P A U L I V I Ć ' S
FLAVOUR IS
OUR BIGGEST
ALLY
fattening are harmful to us and lead to
antibiotic resistance. Also, when we buy
cheap food, we’re automatically exploiting
people who are forced to work for low
pay. So with every purchase we’re doing
something to change a part of this system.
Can you give us a couple of tangible
tips to make our food consumption
more conscious?
Before going shopping, I write down what
I actually need. I don’t put too much in the
trolley – I’d rather go back a second time.
And as a first step, I try to at least go for
organic foods. What I would avoid as much
as possible are industrially processed
foods, because it’s so much more worth-
while cooking something good for yourself.
And maybe simply speak to farmers who
grow organically, as you’ll learn a great
deal from them.
You’re pleading with people to avoid
waste and use up their scraps. Do you
have a simple recipe that will leave our
organic waste bins empty?
When I cook for my young daughter, I peel
the carrots because they taste a bit better
that way. I leave the peel to dry, then you
can use it to whip up an amazing vegetable
stock – I actually made some this morning.
Leave the carrot peel to simmer for 15
minutes in two litres of water with some
dried celery and onion peel, add a pinch of
salt and reduce it a bit – and voilà!
During the lockdown imposed by the
pandemic, you gave us some entertaining
cooking battles on Instagram with restau-
rateur Sepp Schellhorn, as well as creating
the new TIAN zuhause product line. What
flavour do you associate with coronavirus?
A delicate bittersweet flavour. Sweet
because of the birth of our child last sum-
mer – the best experience of all! And bitter
because we couldn’t do what we really
wanted to do: cook and entertain guests.
How important is the social value of food
these days?
I think the social value has always been
very high, perhaps some people are even
more aware of it now. When I think
back to my childhood, I remember the
smell of vanilla biscuits, Tyrolean bacon
dumplings, being together and testing
cake batter. And that creates an insanely
deep connection and the seed is sown.
Eating is more than just a quick intake
of food – it also has a strong influence on
our economy, our environment, our social
behaviour and our health.
A quote from your new cookbook reads:
“And if the world could be improved
with simple enjoyment alone, who could
possibly say no?” How can the world be
made a better place through conscious
enjoyment?
I think food needs to be looked at as a
whole. It starts right at the beginning with
farming – from monocultures that ruin the
soil to herbicides and pesticides, which I’m
not saying are good, but I also don’t want
to completely demonise. Over-fertilisation
leads to nitrites in the water and it is
therefore poisoned. Then the hormones
and antibiotics used in fishing and animal
How do you convince a dedicated carnivore
to book a table at your Michelin star
vegetarian restaurant TIAN?
With the absolute best flavours. Even
after ten years, we still get diners (mainly
men) who at first are rather uptight, as if
their last meal on this earth is going to be
without meat. But after the second course
they start to relax because they realise, wow,
that’s creative – not stupidly creative, just
a really exciting experience. Then you start
talking to people, and in that situation,
flavour is our biggest ally. I see us as
being bridge builders. Food should be fun,
especially when you eat with us.
tian-restaurant.com
HE’S REVOLUTIONISED VEGETARIAN COOKING AND HAS JUST
RELEASED HIS THIRD COOKBOOK RESTLOS GLÜCKLICH: PAUL IVIĆ IS
A MICHELIN STAR-RATED CHEF, AND HE SPOKE TO US ABOUT CONSCIOUS
ENJOYMENT, HIS ROLE AS A BRIDGE BUILDER AND THE TASTE OF HIS
CHILDHOOD.
Photos:
Ingo
Pertramer/Brandstätter
Verlag
Interview
Nora Palzenberger

12
THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021
Since the mid-2000s, Italian Oscar
Farinetti has revolutionised Italy’s
shopping landscape with his culinary
marketplaces, and turned local food and
dishes into the state of the art. His Eataly
concept is a blend of shopping and a food
experience, where delicatessens and super-
markets meet almost fine dining. Farinetti
now runs over 40 Eataly branches around
the world and is one of the biggest inter-
national purveyors of Italian consumer
goods.
And the success story of this self-made
man continues: his new megaproject, the
Green Pea shopping centre, is the epitome
of a sustainable shopping experience.
The shopping centre is a meeting place
devoted to an entirely new means of
consumerism that offers high-quality,
sustainable products with a focus on
Italian origin. What all of the products
and services on offer have in common
is that they have little or no impact on
the environment. He is supported in this
endeavour by his son Francesco, who is
the president and CEO. For the Farinetti
family, the name is a symbol of respect:
the round shape of the pea represents the
Earth as a whole and the solidarity we
should display. Its green colour embodies
respect and the attention we should pay to
our planet so that we can continue living
here in the future. You could also say that
the pea represents a green, global lifestyle.
The Green Pea shopping centre in Turin is the perfect
demonstration of what a sustainable 360-degree shopping
experience can look like. THE Stylemate took a closer
look at this exceptional green project.
the future
of
Photos:
Fabio
Oggero

13
THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021
The five-storey Green Pea building,
which boasts highlights such as a large
pool on the roof, is the work of architects
Christiano Cartino (ACC Naturale Archi-
tettura) and Carlo Grometto (Negozio Blu
Architetti Associati) and has an entirely
organic and sustainable design. It is made
almost exclusively out of recycled and recy-
clable materials. All 15,000 square metres
of the structure are also fully recyclable
and, as requested by the founder, can be
dismantled using just a screwdriver. The
predominant materials are wood and steel,
while lush planted areas blend the interior
with the exterior of the building. Heat and
electricity are obtained via a geothermal
installation and photovoltaic panels. But
what about the inside of this shopping
mecca? Its five floors allow you to indulge
in sustainable shopping and cultural
experiences. The ground floor caters for
a green lifestyle – from electric cars to
green energy, there’s a diverse range of
concepts and ideas to explore, and you
can also pay a visit to the building’s own
Green Pea Discovery Museum. The first
floor is dedicated to a green home. From
sustainable kitchens to low-energy lighting
and ethical sofas, there’s a bit of everything
here. Up another floor, you’ll find the latest
trends in green fashion.
More than 35 brands, including Italian
giants such as Ermenegildo Zegna, offer
only fair fashion that certainly gives high
fashion a run for its money when it comes
to style! There are of course also collec-
tions from green champions such as Ecoalf
and Patagonia. On the third floor, visitors
can immerse themselves in a veritable
wellness wonderland and discover, test
and purchase the latest in green beauty.
Right at the top, the Green Pea features a
real oasis of tranquillity and relaxation:
a park-like roof terrace, wellness area,
rooftop pool and lounge bar invite you to
forget the daily grind and contemplate
a more conscious, sustainable lifestyle.
greenpea.com
LIFE
shopping

14
THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021
Photo:
Dirk
Skiba
LIFE
FRANZOBEL is an Austrian
writer. He has published
numerous plays, works of
prose and poems. His plays
have been produced in
countries including Mexico,
Argentina, Chile, Denmark,
France, Poland, Romania,
Ukraine, Italy, Russia and
the USA.
His great historical
adventure novel “Das Floß
der Medusa” (published by
Zsolnay) was awarded the
Bayerischer Buchpreis
(Bavarian Book Award) 2017
and was on the shortlist for
the German Book Prize 2017.
F RA N Z O B E L
When Jay Sugg woke up, he felt hungover.
It was dark and he couldn’t move, but then
he didn’t even know the words “darkness”
or “movement”. “What’s wrong with you,
lazybones?” someone nagged at him. “All of
your brothers and sisters are already munching
their way through the plant roots, working
hard to dig the passages, and there you are with
your feet up.” Jay Sugg stretched and yawned.
He didn’t know what “passages” meant, had
never heard of the word “feet”.
After a couple of days, he knew exactly what
was going on. He started in his first year at May
bug school. A year later, the fourth-years got a
hard cape under which their wings grew, then
they crawled upwards and took flight. In doing
so, they transformed from earth dwellers that
lived in the soil into extra-terrestrials. Soon,
there was barely a single family that didn’t have
someone flying up above. All of them told of
the wonders of life in the open air, how it was
bright and warm and colourful. Only the worms
reckoned it was unhealthy and dangerous up
there, that there were terrifying monsters by
the names of Wind and Rain and Human, who
would skewer you on a hook and had unsightly
spikes and horns growing out of their heads. But
none of what the worms said made any sense.
However, when even the moles started going on
a tirade about life in the open air, spoke of the
dominance of the earthlings and the benefits
of the darkness, the young beetles became
suspicious. “Nonsense,” objected their old
teacher. “Moles, famous for their cosmopolitan
attitude, of all people. Such prejudice! Life up
above is magical and wonderful, you’re free.
Up there is the future!”
No one ruled out the possibility that things
could also be different. Some regarded the
teacher as backward with outdated views.
“We’ll be controlled and manipulated! Some-
one’s making a business out of it. There’s no life
to be had up there,” said some. “The story about
the wings is a lie, we’re being drawn towards a
light that isn’t even there.” Stories like this were
thrown back and forth. And when Jay Sugg’s
class was about to graduate, no one was ready to
put on their hard cape. They all went on strike.
No one wanted to give up their home for an
empty promise. They would much rather watch
the grass grow from underneath, here in the
good old musty soil. Word got to one of the most
determined guys who had got around a lot on
earth; he’d seen five gardens.
When everyone realised there would be a
season without a graduating class, Jay Sugg
stepped forward, or rather he crawled, and
mumbled that he couldn’t understand such
small-mindedness. “You’re full of prejudice,
incapable of adapting to new situations. I’m
going to make the flight anyway, and it doesn’t
matter if I break my neck doing it because I
don’t even have one.” Soon he’d hooked up with
the first ones to get their wings. And then they
were off. There’s every chance that there had
never been a May bug that moved with as little
grace as Jay Sugg, but my goodness, he flew.
It was incredible. He could take in the world of
things with a single thought. Suddenly, he could
see everything in a totally new light. Brightly
coloured chasms opened up, blazing green hill-
sides, trees, a scorching blue sky. The world was
hunched, but unspeakably beautiful. A mosaic
of iridescent rainbow facets. And at night, the
starry sky opened up and gave the daisies below
their faces. It was incredible. It was paradise.
But shadows soon descended. The appearance
of the bird totally nixed the mindset of the May
bugs and the enthusiasm with which they’d
flown through the surroundings vanished.
They realised that they were easy prey. But did
they regret ever having hatched? “No chance,”
said Jay Sugg the May bug. “This experience of
life was worth it.”
the may bugs go
on strike

The feeling that comes over you when roaming through the alleyways of Venice will have you swooning time and
time again. You’ll discover beauty around every corner and your own imagination will be in overdrive. At the
Hotel Heureka in the Cannaregio district, the 16th-century palazzo has been transformed into its present-day
form that’s just as magical as Viennese architecture. Every one of the ten rooms is an individual artistic mosaic
of various styles, which makes the whole palazzo a real feast for the eyes. And in the morning, when the birds
are singing in the garden and the smell of espresso wafts in, you’ll know you’ve found a place that’s perfect.
L I F E S T Y L E HO T E L S
LIFESTYLEHOTELS.NET
H O T E L H E U R E KA
I TA LY / V E N I C E
Selection
02 | 2021
lifestylehotels.net/hotel-heureka
Photo:
www.lucanicolao.com
AN ARTISTIC MOSAIC

LH 02
THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021
GRADONNA ****S
MOUNTAIN RESORT
CHALETS & HOTEL
NATURAL
LUXURY
The resort is spectacular proof that luxury
and protecting nature can work hand
in hand. Carbon-neutral bioheat, close
partnerships with regional partners and
local producers, and vegan cosmetics
brand Magdalena’s (made in Tyrol) are just
three examples of how you can feel close to
nature here. In turn, we enjoy the freedom
of the silence and breathe in the fresh,
clear air, which encourages us to go out
and adventure and allows us to sleep much
better at night. Our skin also benefits
from the pure mountain source water
and all of the herbs that can be collected
right outside the hotel. After all, “Herbs do
their best work where they grow”, as the
wellness team at the Gradonna believes.
Silence, Reflection, Views – these are the names of the new
power places to be discovered this summer and autumn in the
forest surrounding the Gradonna Mountain Resort in Kals am
Großglockner, East Tyrol.
If you’re looking to explore nature and
experience it with all your senses, there’s
no better place to do it than the Hohe Tau-
ern National Park, one of the largest nature
reserves in the Alps. At 3,798 metres high,
the Großglockner is in good company here,
with another 300 peaks in the National
Park also surpassing the 3,000-metre
mark. At the gateway to this jaw-dropping
Alpine landscape in East Tyrol, you’ll find
the Gradonna Mountain Resort, with its
four-star hotel and 41 cosy luxury chalets.
time to
recharge
AU S T R I A
E A S T T Y RO L / KA L S A M
G RO S S G L O C K N E R
3,000m2
spa with natural cosmetics
products
Childcare included
Book online
lifestylehotels.net/
gradonna-mountain-resort
104
rooms
41
chalets
SUSTAINABLE
CUISINE
Regionality and seasonality are also
important in the kitchen. Award-winning
chef Michael Karl and his team treat us at
breakfast, lunch and dinner to Tyrolean
specialities, elevated with a Mediterranean
twist and herbs from the kitchen garden
to create a top-notch gastronomical
experience that nourishes both body and
mind. The food, which is picked by hand
by Tyrolean mountain farmers, can also be
found in the Gradonna’s exquisite delica-
tessen, so there’s no longer anything to get
in the way of you having a tasty snack in
your chalet or a picnic in the forest.
ADVENTUROUS
TRANQUILLITY
While for some this might mean climbing
the via ferrata or a summit tour, for others
it’s an hour’s yoga session or a massage.
Thank goodness the Gradonna caters for
the relaxation of active holiday-makers
and wellness fanatics alike. Both will find
what they’re looking for when it comes to
natural recharging, be it at the summit
of the Großglockner, in the expansive
pool complex or at one of the new power
places in the forest. Young and old should
keep their eyes peeled – with a bit of luck,
you’ll see chamois, bearded vultures and
blue gentians. For children in particular,
the forest is a place of fantasy and
experimentation, and us grown-ups would
probably also benefit from spending more
time allowing sand to trickle through our
fingers, investigating mud with sticks and
creating art with leaves. Next time, at the
Gradonna!
Photos
:
Gert
Perauer

LH 03
THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021
Close your eyes and picture the perfect Italian
escape: imposing mountain landscape,
the lake rippling at your feet and a full
range of luxury amenities at your disposal.
That’s exactly what you’ll get at the EALA
exclusive hotel. Situated in the breath-
takingly beautiful Limone sul Garda, the
EALA benefits from a unique position on
Lake Garda with direct access from its own
private beach. There’s no denying that the
setting is exactly what you’d expect from
an idyllic Italian sojourn.
Owned by the Risatti family of passionate hospitality innovators,
the five-star EALA design hotel on Lake Garda is a one-of-a-kind
in many ways. Renovated to its current standard of luxury in 2019,
the building is characterised by its proximity to nature.
THE POWER OF
NATURE
The draw of nature in this region is strong.
It’s in the height of the mountains. The
depth of the water. The warmth of the sun.
It’s also in the design of the EALA. Follow-
ing its full refurbishment, it now boasts an
aesthetic that takes inspiration from the
surrounding landscape for its shapes,
colours and construction techniques, and
has become a transition point between
the lake and the Gardesana scenic road. It
has two façades that have been designed
differently to blend in with the natural
setting. Facing the road is a frontage
clad with vertical pine strips that are the
same colour as the chestnut trees used
to build the old lemon tree pergolas. At
the entrance, a series of white triangular
concrete elements are reminiscent of
sails and the wings of a swan, and are an
invitation to guests to venture inside.
THE BEAUTY OF
NATURE
The interior of the hotel features natural
materials and tones to create a cosy and
welcoming atmosphere. Stone, wood,
marble and glass are the predominant
materials throughout the public areas,
with colour accents creating a link with the
natural setting. Furthermore, the names
and designs of the exclusive suites make
reference to elements of the surroundings:
Albus is as white as a swan’s plumage,
Nemos is blue like the sky and the water,
Alisia boasts the strength of the cliffs and
the elegance of marble, Argantos shines
like a silver jewel and Awen is majestic like
a swan.
EALA *****
MY LAKESIDE DREAM
THE LUXURY OF
NATURE
It goes without saying that spending
time in nature has many benefits for
our well-being, and the EALA capitalises
on this to bring us closer to the unique
ambience of Lake Garda, all while enjoying
a luxury setting within the exclusive
hotel. As an adults-only hotel, guests are
guaranteed an opulent stay thanks to
the 1,500 m² luxury spa, cuisine from the
culinary genius of Michelin-star chef Alfio
Ghezzi, a comprehensive concierge service
– all of which is packaged to benefit from a
view that frames the spectacular beauty of
the lakeside position. This hotel truly is as
elegant as the swan it was named after.
nature
at its
most
elegant
I TA LY
L I M ON E S U L G A R DA –
L A K E G A R DA
Adults only
Book online
lifestylehotels.net/eala
67
junior suites and suites
1,500m2
luxury spa
Photos:
2021
EALA
Parolari

LH 04
THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021
FOR RELAXED
MUSCLES
As well as the skin, natural cosmetics
products also have a positive effect on
the digestion, circulation and muscles.
For those who want to experience these
benefits for themselves and their well-
being, the spa team recommends trying
a Bergland Natural or Alpine treatment.
With a soothing brush massage, they’ll
prepare the body for the highly beneficial
ingredients of the moor Alpine herb pack
that follows so that it can be absorbed
deep into the skin. That’s followed by a
massage using the hotel’s own arnica pine
milk to intensify the sense of well-being.
With so much natural regeneration on
You’ll feel the power of the mountains in a very particular way at the
Bergland Sölden, where ancient plant knowledge has been revived in
the SPA to allow us to relax in harmony with nature.
FOR A
CLEAN CONSCIENCE
The active ingredients used in the Natural
Alpine products all come from the Ötztal
Alps themselves. Carefully harvested
within a 40 km radius of the hotel and
processed by hand, together they create
exclusive products based on ancient heal-
ing knowledge. The plant wizards behind
the exfoliators, powders, creams and other
products come from Alpienne, a Tyrolean
brand that represents nature, environ-
mental awareness, ethics, responsibility
and sustainability – both in terms of the
production and the packaging of the items.
FOR FRESH
SKIN
The beauty products don’t just calm our
conscience, they’re also a real relief for
our skin. If you’re looking to pamper
this most important of organs while on
holiday, you can’t go wrong with booking a
Beauty Classic or Beauty Basic treatment
at the Bergland Sölden. These treatments
combine powerful Alpine plant extracts
and natural active ingredients with luxu-
rious creams to leave you with incredibly
smooth, firm and revitalised skin.
Famous naturopath Sebastian Kneipp
was a firm believer that “Nature is the
best medicine”. And history has proven
him right, as for many centuries, active
ingredients derived from nature have
played an important role in medicine and
cosmetics. This ancient knowledge has
been resurrected by the spa team at the
Bergland Sölden, who treat their guests
sustainably and naturally using the hotel’s
own range of cosmetics products called
Natural Alpine, which celebrates the
boundless wonder of the hotel’s natural
setting.
a
tribute
to
BERGLAND
DESIGN AND WELLNESS HOTEL
SÖLDEN
86
rooms
2,200 m² Sky SPA
Own range of cosmetics products
Book online
bergland-design-und-
wellnesshotel-soelden
AU S T R I A
T Y RO L / S Ö L D E N
the
wonder of
nature
offer, hectic everyday life is quickly forgot-
ten at the Bergland, and you’re immersed
in an Alpine world of relaxation where even
the stones for the hot stone massage come
from the Ötztal, and it’s not just soothing
water you can float away on but warm hay
flowers as well. And if you want to carry on
enjoying nature in its purest form when
you get home, you can simply pick up some
of the cosmetics products from the hotel
shop before your return journey and enjoy
protecting nature and nourishing your
body at the same time – on holiday as
well as at home.
Photos:
Daniel
Zangerl,
Christoph
Schöch

it’s all
about
the green
AU S T R I A
T Y RO L / U D E R N S
33
rooms
right on the golf course
exclusive wellness area
Book online
lifestylehotels.net/sportresidenz
-zillertal
LH 05
THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021
Golf thrives on nature: on the lush green of the undulating
landscape, and on the feeling of space that, in the Zillertal,
is provided by the astounding mountain backdrop.
It’s this backdrop that makes the small but
perfectly formed holiday village of Uderns
in the heart of the Zillertal valley – where
the valley is still wide – the perfect place
for a top-class golf course. The 18-hole
championship course more than lives up
to its ranking among the Leading Golf
Courses top 14 in Austria. At the adjoining
four-star hotel, the Sportresidenz Zillertal,
you can golf-in, golf-out all year round
thanks to the indoor putting green. And
you can do so in peace and quiet consid-
ering there are only 33 rooms at the hotel,
which means you’ll also enjoy the freedom
of space off the course, too.
NATURE IN,
NATURE OUT
The natural beauty of the mountain
and valley backdrop continues at the
Sportresidenz, where you’ll enjoy spectac-
ular views of the 3,000-metre main Alpine
ridge right in front of the hotel. Before we
even make it into the lobby, we spot the
solar panel installation on the roof, which
provides the entire building with green
electricity harnessed from the power of
the sun. The next thing we catch sight of
are the charging stations for electric cars
and e-bikes that we can hire directly from
the hotel, then we step inside and take in
the natural, high-quality materials such as
wood and stone that can be found at every
turn.
RELAX IN,
RELAX OUT
In addition to how good it feels to do
something good, we enjoy pure luxury at
the Sportresidenz Zillertal. We feel it in the
spacious rooms and suites with infrared
saunas and the partly private sauna as
much as we do in the wellness area that
spans all three floors of the building. On
the ground floor, we dive off the landing
stage into the bathing pond, on the first
floor, we relax in the sauna and the steam
room, and the second floor takes us out
to the sun terrace and the heated outdoor
infinity pool, while up on the roof, a jacuzzi
and relaxation area with a jaw-dropping
panoramic view await.
ENJOYMENT IN,
ENJOYMENT OUT
When it comes to cuisine, the Sport-
residenz also has something unique to
offer. The Genusswerkstatt restaurant is
located at the exciting end of the ninth
green, a position that quickly turns it into
the clubhouse of the exclusive golf course.
The one toque and eleven points from
Gault&Millau plus two forks and 85 points
from Falstaff demonstrate the expertise of
head chef Willy Tillian and his dedicated
team, who transform local ingredients and
game from their own hunting expeditions
into mouth-watering delights with a
healthy portion of passion.
Anyone drawn in by the spectacular
mountain views is able to make the most
of the hotel’s location to head out hiking
or snow-shoeing, depending on the season
– or cruising through the countryside on
an e-bike. It doesn’t matter which mode
of transport you choose – pure enjoyment
awaits us here, and it’s all sustainable.
Photos:
Golf
Zillertal
Betriebs
GmbH
SPORTRESIDENZ
ZILLERTAL ****S

LH 06
THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021
Photos:
Steinach
Townhouse
Meran
I TA LY
S O U T H T Y RO L / M E RA NO
à la carte breakfast
stylish urban retreat in the old town
Book online
steinach-townhouse-meran
8
suites
The recently renovated Steinach Townhouse Meran is a
hidden gem in the historic streets of Merano in Italy’s South
Tyrol. Owned by two designers from Milan, the B&B provides
a warm welcome to this central European city, and is the
perfect retreat in the heart of the Alps.
START THE DAY
RIGHT
This is a B&B that fully subscribes to the
belief that breakfast is the most important
meal of the day. To avoid wasted food
left over from an enormous spread, their
breakfast offering is mainly à la carte – at
no extra charge – and it’s jam-packed with
organic, regional and seasonal produce
that really gets our mouths watering. Our
pick would have to be the crêpes with berry
jam, but we’d be quite tempted by the
porridge and the smoothies, too. Having
sated ourselves for the time being, we head
out to see what the delightful Merano has
to offer.
ON THE
DOORSTEP
Equipped with a bounty of information
from our knowledgeable host Katrin, we
step out of the B&B right into the old town
of Merano and feel ourselves relax as we
take in the calm, low-key atmosphere. But
that’s not to say this town doesn’t have
enough to keep us occupied – quite the
opposite. Within easy walking distance
we come across a number of bars and
restaurants (that’s dinner sorted), as well
as boutiques, thermal baths and cultural
attractions. We hear word of a wine festival
taking place here in November and make a
mental note to put it in our calendars, along
with the upcoming South Tyrol Festival in
September.
The Steinach Townhouse Meran simply
oozes character and history, and has
been lovingly embellished with examples
of local craftsmanship by its designer
owners. Everywhere we look there is
evidence of the attention that has been
paid to ensuring this B&B offers its guests
an experience that is both personal and
typical of the region. From the greeting at
reception to the carefully chosen original
furniture, we’re in no doubt that we’ll be
extremely well looked after here.
the personal
touch
STEINACH
TOWNHOUSE
MERAN
TAKING IT FURTHER
AFIELD
If you’re looking to travel outside the town,
the B&B offers a couple of options. Firstly,
there’s the Meran Mobilcard that’s included
in the cost of your stay and will give you
access to public transport. Secondly, there
are e-bikes for hire that will allow you
to take to the trails and explore the sur-
rounding valley. Such thoughtful touches
to make our stay more convenient and
environmentally friendly at the same time.
After all that activity, we return to our
spacious suite feeling like we’re coming
home. Boasting allergen-free mattresses,
a comfy seating area, state-of-the-art
climate control and plant-based toiletries,
it’s just what we need to recalibrate,
recharge and revive. Thank you, Steinach
Townhouse Meran, for welcoming us with
open arms – we’ll be back!
NEW
MEMBER

LH 07
THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021
ALPENSTERN
PANORAMAHOTEL
We will generally only allow ourselves to fall if we know that
we’ll be caught safely – and that’s what we get at the new
four-star Alpenstern Panoramahotel in the Bregenzerwald forest,
where we land in a safety net of relaxation, enjoyment and
sustainability.
The host family at the Alpenstern
Panoramahotel still takes it upon
themselves to personally ensure that
guests want for nothing on their holiday.
Father Bertram Bischof and his family
used the enforced break last year to
turn their hotel into a new power place,
a place where we feel an overall sense
of well-being. This is achieved not just
thanks to their hospitality and the familial
atmosphere, but mainly by the modern
timber construction designed by architect
Johannes Kaufmann and interior designer
Stefan Ghetta. In collaboration with the
hotel owners, 2020 saw the pair create a
setting that prioritises relaxation, nature
and sustainability.
CUISINE
AND VISTAS
In the restaurant, we’re spoilt by Bertram’s
son Peter Bischof personally. Along with
his team, he reinterprets traditional
dishes and serves them beautifully on
the sun terrace, which looks out towards
the mountains. Bertram’s son-in-law,
sommelier Maximilian Steinfeld, gladly
recommends we try one of his hand-picked
wines. “I only have wines from Austria on
the wine list because our home country
offers such a variety that it’s not necessary
to fly in wines thousands of kilometres
from around the world,” explains the
husband of Bertram’s daughter Corina,
the kind-hearted soul of the hotel. And in
order to really anchor the sustainability
concept in the hotel cuisine, Peter ensures
that the kitchen only cooks with regional,
seasonal products and that no part of an
animal ever goes to waste.
NATURE
AND RELAXATION
It doesn’t matter whether we’re planning
to head straight out from the hotel onto
the slopes in winter or treat ourselves to
some fresh, pure mountain air during
a long summer hike, there’s a path to
relaxation for everyone at the heart of the
Bregenzerwald forest. The host family
is also happy to show us their favourite
places in Damüls, and there are options
to climb one of the steep trails to the
summit, have breakfast on the mountain
and book a guided ski tour in the great
Alpine outdoors. The Bischof and Steinfeld
families are always available to guests for
advice – after all, almost all of them grew
up here so they know their home better
than most.
retreat
and
space
AU S T R I A
VO RA R L B E RG / DA M Ü L S
modern, timeless design
scenic location in the Bregenzerwald forest
Book online
alpenstern-panoramahotel
NEW
MEMBER
WARMTH
AND COMFORT
Back at the hotel, the soothing wellness
area awaits with pools, saunas and many
a tranquil spot. In our fluffy bathrobes we
look out across the surrounding mountain
landscape and, just for a moment, lose our-
selves in the silence. A feeling of warmth
spreads within us and provides just as
much energy as our outdoor adventure.
Good to know: part of this warmth that can
be felt throughout the hotel comes from
the hotel’s own heat recovery system. This
means that at the Alpenstern, we can enjoy
ourselves while being in harmony with
nature at all times, as well as preserving
the environment for future generations.
Corina and Maximilian’s young son
Rasmus is very grateful for that.
Photos:
Mia
Feline
-
goldenfox.com
56
rooms
9
lodges
2
suits

LH 08
THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021
Photos:
Sircle
Collection
Amsterdam has more bikes than inhab-
itants – to be precise, there are around
880,000 bikes for just under 840,000
people. So it’s no wonder that even dogs,
floor lamps and offspring are transported
by pedal power in this European city. But
Amsterdam is so much more than that.
The city is a music hotspot, a creative
centre and a design mecca, as the Sir
Adam and Sir Albert hotels so impressively
demonstrate.
SIR ADAM
ROCKS OUT
At the fashionable A’DAM Tower in the
north of the city, the Sir Adam design hotel
greets its guests with cool industrial chic
and musical flair. The neighbours? None
other than MassiveMusic, Sony Music,
Wink and a host of young creative agencies
with a passion for music. The fact that
music is in the air here is no accident –
every room features a different vinyl to
provide the soundtrack for an evening with
a chilled drink. Extras like Corsley record
players and electric guitars in the rooms
are sure to make it difficult for music
lovers to leave their temporary home.
T H E N E T H E R L A N D S
A M S T E R DA M
Book online
lifestylehotels.net/sir-adam-amsterdam-north
lifestylehotels.net/sir-albert-amsterdam-de-pijp
SIR ADAM
108
rooms
in the A’DAM Tower
for music and culture lovers
take on
amsterdam
Sir Adam
SIR ALBERT
89
rooms & suites
in a former diamond factory
for design lovers
Sir Adam
Sir Adam
Sir Albert
The Dutch capital is so much more than just canals and
coffee shops. At the Sir Adam and Sir Albert design hotels,
we’re able to live the unmistakeable Amsterdam lifestyle.
a different
SIR ADAM &
SIR ALBERT
NEW
MEMBER
But they should, because the tower itself
contains highlights such as the highest
swing in Europe, cool cuisine at The
Butcher Social Club and a nightclub where
you can dance the night away.
That’s Amsterdam, too.
SIR ALBERT
OOZES STYLE
Where before workers used to cut precious
stones, there is now a hotel that’s fully
deserving of its prestigious title. From its
past as a diamond factory, the Sir Albert
continues to shine today with its high
ceilings, large windows and a myriad of
historic details that were maintained
during the renovation. In combination
with the multi-award-winning interior
design, they create an ambience that fits
in perfectly with the fashionable district of
De Pijp in southern Amsterdam. Museums,
restaurants, markets, the red light district
and hidden architectural highlights – in De
Pijp, you’ll find everything is just around
the corner. According to the host, the
district is best explored on a hired (e-)bike.
And when hunger strikes, culinary surprises
from Asia with a South American twist
await at the Izakaya restaurant. That’s
Amsterdam, too.
THAT’S HOW TO
DO AMSTERDAM
So if you want to get to know the city of
canals from more than just a tourist’s
perspective, you’ll be well looked after at
either of the Sir hotels. Here you’ll manage
to sneak an exclusive look behind the
scenes of Amsterdam, if you want – thank
goodness for the local hosts. But beware:
once you’ve been a guest at the Sir Adam
or Sir Albert, you’ll know how difficult it
can be to leave the amazing rooms. But it’s
worth it – we promise!
Sir Albert

LH 09
THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021
ARABELLA
RETREAT & SPA
The Arabella Retreat & Spa near the Tyrolean border
with Italy and Switzerland is a special place that promotes
the freedom to enjoy your holiday just the way you like it.
ON
CLOUD 78
It’s also recently become home to a new
feature: Wolke 78 (Cloud 78). Behind the
dreamy name is a modern spa area with
an indoor pool, salt water steam room, spa
lounge, heated jacuzzi in the garden and
much more. Thanks to carefully selected
materials sourced predominantly from the
region, the hosts were able to incorporate
nature into the spa interior: the sauna
smells of the forest, the background noise
takes us to the banks of a mountain stream
and source water from the nearby Gamort
valley burbles in the pool. That’s how the
new Wolke 78 appeals to all the senses
and turns relaxation into an experience
in itself – no matter whether it’s after an
active day on the slopes or a late breakfast.
NATURE AS FAR AS
THE EYE CAN SEE
Something that all areas of the Arabella
Retreat & Spa have in common is sleek
elegance created by the use of high-
quality and sustainable natural materials.
Austrian oak meets native arolla pine
and makes cosy nest-like areas feel open
and spacious. The surrounding mountain
landscape is within reach in all parts of
the hotel: in the lounge, the premium Sky
Sauna and on the rooms’ own balconies
and terraces. Being immersed in so much
nature grounds and offers guests exactly
what they long for the most: to find
themselves again, to make memories with
their loved ones and to live life to the full.
SERVICE
ON TOP
How that looks for each individual person
is decided by the guests themselves at the
Arabella Retreat & Spa – your stay here
is personalised and private in your own
apartment with a terrace or balcony and
a fully equipped kitchen. You don’t have
to use the kitchen if you don’t want to,
as the hotel provides all the amenities
of a four-star hotel as part of their
exemplary offering: concierge services,
the convivial Auszeit. Bar & Lounge,
delivery of breakfast and dinner to your
apartment, restaurant recommendations
including VIP discounts, MINI convertible
and e-Vespa hire to take a spin round the
border region and a free programme of
activities including a ski test, group hikes,
toboggan nights and much more. All as you
want it, of course. Because here you are
afforded the ultimate freedom to choose.
freedom
is a state
of mind
Relaxation means something different for
everyone: while for families it might be a
pleasant hike followed by some pool action,
for cyclists it’s a rapid downhill track and
for couples it’s undisturbed alone time in
the apartment. The Arabella Retreat & Spa
in the idyllic town of Nauders welcomes all
kinds of people, but there’s one thing that
unites them: they value the quiet rather
than the loud, understatement as opposed
to overstatement and spontaneity over
planning. That’s why people are drawn
here to this unique power place with just
20 apartments, where hospitality and
privacy work hand in hand.
AU S T R I A
T Y RO L / N AU D E R S
Border area between AT/IT/CH
Book online
aparthotel-arabella
20
apartments
1,200m2
wellness area
Photos:
Arabella
Retreat
&
Spa
–
Aparthotel
Arabella
Moritz
GmbH
&
Co
KG

LH 10
THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021
TOREL PALACE
LISBON
SUMMER BREEZE
BY THE COAST
If you want to get away from the capital or
if you already know the area from previous
visits, there is another distinctive palace
hotel from Torel Boutiques in the coastal
town of Porto, around 300 km north of
Lisbon. It came about following a meeting
between original host João Pedro Tavares
and two Austrian businesswomen, Barbara
Ott and Ingrid Köck. The three now
manage a total of four Torel locations: the
Torel Palace Lisbon, the Torel Palace Porto,
the Torel Avantgarde Porto and the Torel
1884 Porto.
LIVING LIKE
KINGS
The locals know that, and so does João
Pedro Tavares. After taking a break from
his 20-year career in finance, he ended
up leaving it altogether. He converted an
abandoned villa on one of the seven hills in
the centre of Lisbon into an elegant oasis
of tranquillity amidst the hustle and bustle
of the city, and there and then trans-
formed from a banker into a hospitality
provider. That laid the foundation for Torel
Boutiques, which now has three additional
locations.
The first took the name Torel Palace
Lisbon, and this hotel most certainly lives
up to its name. The exclusive bed and
breakfast has been receiving guests since
2013 in two historic palaces and a striking
mansion. Within the sensitively restored
walls you feel as though you’ve been taken
back in time, and can enjoy not only the
on a hill in
lisbon…
But back to the palace hotel in the harbour
city: the Torel Palace Porto. The five-star
boutique palace is situated in the heart of
the city of 200,000 inhabitants, also known
as Portugal’s “capital of the north”. Again
here, what was formerly a magnificent
building provided the perfect shell for
the ultimate relaxed and luxurious hotel.
The 24 rooms and suites are named after
major Portuguese writers and poets such
as Fernando Pessoa and Florbela Espanca.
But their literary influences aren’t just
felt in the individual rooms but also in the
Blind restaurant and bar and the romantic
garden and pool.
TOREL PALACE
PORTO
Portugal is a tourist destination that
moves with the times. Over the past dec-
ades, it has evolved from a little-known
location on the Atlantic to a mecca for
culturally aware tourists and energetic
surf fans alike. With temperatures rarely
dropping below 15ºC and 290 days of
sunshine a year, it’s the perfect place for a
small – or large – break from the everyday.
spectacular view across the capital and
the Tagus river, but also modern luxury
of the highest level. The location on the
somewhat lesser-known hill Sant’Ana
reinforces the feeling of exclusivity that is
exuded here.
And yet the historic city centre, the Baixa
district, is only a few minutes away from
this most central of the seven hills. The
question is just whether you’ll actually
want to leave this breath-taking place at
all, because even within the Torel Palace
Lisbon itself, there is plenty to explore:
the pale blue pool surrounded by cobbles,
the stylish Cave 23 bar, the sun-drenched
terrace with a superlative view across
Lisbon, and simply the exquisite rooms,
suites , apartments, penthouse and villa –
depending on which royal quarter you’ve
chosen.
Photos:
Luis
Ferraz,
Carlos
Vieira
NEW
MEMBER

LH 11
THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021
TOREL
AVANTGARDE
FROM SEAFARERS AND EXPLORERS
In Porto, everything reminds us of the
eventful history of the city, whose name
literally means “port”. In the 19th century,
it was the place where Europeans could
always discover and buy new and exotic
spices, dishes and fabrics from overseas.
And it’s this part of the country’s history
that provided the inspiration for the fourth
Torel Boutiques hotel: the Torel 1884 Suites
& Apartments.
12 deluxe rooms and 11 apartments in two
historic buildings in the city centre await
curious explorers looking to uncover the
mysteries of the “secret capital of Portugal”
while enjoying a laid-back atmosphere and
all the luxuries and conveniences of the
21st century.
Each room at the Torel 1884 Suites &
Apartments is based on an exotic theme
such as coffee and tea, porcelain or
tapestry, while the hotel’s own bistro,
Bartolomeu, lures you in to revisit the
highlights of the day over a glass of good
wine – all while enveloped in an ambience
that sends us right back to the land of the
Portuguese explorers.
All four Torel Boutiques hotels are rich
in history, art and culture, but still young
at heart. Laid-back luxury meets historic
settings to create an atmosphere that
perfectly captures the spirit of the two
cities. It’s hard to imagine being able to
experience Lisbon and Porto in a more
authentic and yet modern way. But come
and see for yourself. Some things really do
have to be seen to be believed.
TOREL 1884
SUITES & APARTMENTS
This is where it all started for the Torel Boutiques hotels, and it’s a
tale filled with history and sophisticated luxury. The first of their four
establishments occupies a picturesque setting on Sant’Ana, one of the
seven hills in the historic centre of the Portuguese capital.
12
deluxe rooms
P O R T U G A L
L I S B ON / P O R T O
Book online
lifestylehotels.net/torel-palace-lisbon
lifestylehotels.net/torel-palace-porto
lifestylehotels.net/torel-avantgarde-porto
lifestylehotels.net/torel-1884-suites-apartment
TOREL PALACE LISBON
5
apartments
In the centre of the Portuguese capital
Wellness & pool
TOREL PALACE PORTO
24
rooms & suites
Central location
Wellness & pool
TOREL AVANTGARDE / PORTO
49
rooms & suites
Modern, innovative design
Wellness & spa
TOREL 1884
SUITES & APARTMENTS / PORTO
Bistro & wine bar
24-hour room service
11
apartments
ART IN THE
CITY CENTRE
The second Porto representative of the
group, the Torel Avantgarde, celebrates the
art and design of the early 20th century.
The 47 rooms and suites here are not just
dedicated to prominent modern artists
themselves, they’ve also been designed
based on their works. They allow guests to
immerse themselves in a living world of
creativity and ultimately make them part
of the overall work of art.
You’ll inevitably find yourself wondering
here as well whether you really want
to leave at all because of all its hidden
treasures. But it’s worth it, because Porto
itself has plenty of its own highlights
to offer. Stroll through the coastal city’s
historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage
Site, ascend one of the steepest hills on a
tram, or Elétrico, and enjoy the authentic
harbour atmosphere on the promenade by
the river bank.
1
villa
26
rooms

THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021
L I F E S T Y L E H O T E L S . N E T
We offer hand-picked, independent and stylish hotels for
design-oriented globetrotters and sophisticated travellers.
Direct contact with the hotel
First-hand information
Best price
Best availability
LIFESTYLEHOTELS
Book directly. Enjoy benefits!
BAD GOISERN AM HALLSTÄTTERSEE Lesehotel
BRAMBERG Wildkogel Resorts
DAMÜLS Alpenstern Panoramahotel
FISS Alps Lodge
FÜGEN Alpina Zillertal family.lifestyle.hotel
GASCHURN Montafon Lodge Luxury Lodgehotel und Spa
GEINBERG Geinberg 5
Private Spa Villas
GRAZ Aiola Living
GRAZ Augarten Art Hotel
GRAZ Lendhotel
GROSSARL Hotel Nesslerhof
HALLSTATT Hallstatt Hideaway
KALS AM GROSSGLOCKNER Gradonna Mountain Resort
KALTENBACH Das Kaltenbach
KITZBÜHEL Alpenhotel Kitzbühel am Schwarzsee
LÄNGENFELD Naturhotel Waldklause
LEOGANG Puradies
MARIA ALM Hotel Eder
MARIA ALM Hotel SEPP
MAYRHOFEN ElisabethHotel Premium Private Retreat
MELLAU Sonne Lifestyle Resort
MÖSERN Nidum Casual Luxury Hotel
MÜHLDORF LA PETITE IVY
NAUDERS Arabella Retreat & Spa
OBERGURGL Hotel The Crystal
SAALBACH HINTERGLEMM Alpin Juwel
SALZBURG CITY Hotel Goldgasse
SALZBURG CITY Hotel Stein
SCHLADMING Stadthotel brunner
SEEFELD dasMAX
SERFAUS Alfa Hotel
SÖLDEN Bergland Design and Wellnesshotel Sölden
SÖLDEN THE SECRET Sölden
STAINACH - PÜRGG Gästehaus Krenn
TURRACHER HÖHE Hollmann am Berg
UDERNS Sportresidenz Zillertal
VIENNA Hollmann Beletage
VIENNA Hotel Das Tyrol
VIENNA Hotel Schani Salon
VIENNA Hotel Schani Wien
WAGRAIN Almmonte Präclarum Suites
WAGRAIN Almmonte Sensum Suites
ZELL AM SEE Seehotel Bellevue
ZELL AM SEE Senses Violett Suites
AUSTRIA
ISTRIA Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery
STARI GRAD Maslina Resort
SUTIVAN – BRAČ Hotel Lemongarden
CROATIA
CHINA
NANJING Kayumanis Nanjing Private Villas & Spa
FRANCE
PARIS Hollmann Paris
AMSTERDAM Sir Adam
AMSTERDAM Sir Albert
NETHERLANDS
ALENTEJO Sublime Comporta Country Retreat & Spa
ALGARVE Vila Valverde
CASCAIS The Oitavos
LISBON Torel Boutiques: Torel Palace Lisbon
MADEIRA Quinta da Bela Vista
PORTO Torel Boutiques: Torel Avantgarde
PORTO Torel Boutiques: Torel Palace Porto
PORTO Torel Boutiques: Torel 1884 Suites & Apartments
ITALY
PORTUGAL
MALLORCA Convent de la Missio
MALLORCA Fontsanta Hotel Thermal Spa & Wellness
MALLORCA Hotel Can Simoneta
MALLORCA Pleta de Mar
SPAIN
SRI LANKA
DICKWELLA SOUTH UTMT – Underneath the Mango Tree
HUNGARY
BUDAPEST Hotel Collect
BUDAPEST Lanchid 19
AMALFI COAST Casa Angelina
AMALFI COAST Relais Blu
CALABRIA Praia Art Resort
CAMAIORE Locanda al Colle
ISSENGO Gourmet & Boutiquehotel Tanzer
LAZISE Quellenhof Luxury Resort
LIMONE SUL GARDA EALA My Lakeside Dream
MERANO Boutiquehotel SuiteSeven Merano
MERANO Steinach Townhouse Meran
MONTEFOLLONICO Follonico
NATZ NEAR BRESSANONE Seehof Nature Retreat
RIMINI i-Suite
SICILY Monaci delle Terre Nere
TRIESTE Hollmann Trieste
VENICE Hotel Heureka
D I R E C T O RY
L I F E S T Y L E H O T E L S
GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN Das Graseck
NORTH FRISIA Hotel Landhafen
NUREMBERG art&business Hotel
PIRNA Laurichhof
SANKT ENGLMAR Berghotel Maibrunn
TIMMENDORFER STRAND SAND
TIMMENDORFER STRAND Hotel SeeHuus
GERMANY
AMALIADA / WESTERN PELOPONNESE Dexamenes Seaside Hotel
SANTORINI Myst Boutique Hotel
SANTORINI Saint Santorini
GREECE
LAPLAND Treehotel
SWEDEN
LUCERNE Hotel des Balances
ZERMATT Hotel Matterhorn Focus
SWITZERLAND

15
THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021
Photo:
Victoria/Tomas
STYLE
prêt- à-
changer
Text
Nora Palzenberger
T
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E
S
T
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E
MAT
E
PR
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SE
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F
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SU
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TAI
NABL
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BRAN
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ROM
AROU
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WOR
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D
T
HAT
AR
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R
E
I
N
T
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R
PR
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I
NG
AN
D
DE
MON
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RAT
I
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H
IGH
FASH
ION
FOR
T
H
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PR
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SE
N
T
DAY
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HAN
K
S
TO
T
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I
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F
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-
OR
I
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N
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WAY
OF
WOR
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XC
LU
SIVE
How can fashion change the world?

16
THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021
julialeifert.com
@julia.leifert
JULIA LEIFERT
THE DESIGNER
What is considered today as “sustainable”
has been a way of life for Julia Leifert since
she was a child: the animal-loving designer
grew up surrounded by nature in southern
Germany and is a passionate vegetarian.
Even as a teenager she wore self-designed
outfits, but decided to study law first
before also studying fashion at the AMD
Academy of Fashion and Design in Berlin.
After a lengthy stay in New York, Julia Leifert
founded her own label in 2014, initially
under the name Philomena Zanetti.
THE CLOTHES
The multi-award-winning designer wants
to “inspire women to be bold”. Effortlessly
elegant and timeless pieces aim to
highlight the individuality of modern
and independent wearers. The current
collection Edition IV is devoted to a new
(non-)reality in which time appears to
stand still. Contrasts of colour and shape
define the look. Masculine elements meet
flowing feminine fabrics, reflecting the
contradictions we feel exposed to both
within ourselves and in the world around us.
THE GREEN PROMISE
Julia Leifert is committed to integral
access to sustainability. For this reason,
the 38-year-old designer works exclusively
with natural materials from Europe, with
production taking place under fair and
transparent conditions within a 150km
radius of Berlin. The quality and design
are based on the concept of circularity:
the garments are intended to be kept for
several seasons and eventually recycled
or upcycled. To avoid overproduction and
wasting resources, Julia Leifert, a member
of UN Women Germany, creates limited
editions rather than short-lived seasonal
items.
BER
L
I
N,
GER
MAN
Y
Photos:
Julia
Leifert,
Paulie
Eberwein

17
THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021
STYLE
dariadeh.com
@dariadeh
DARIADÉH
THE DESIGNER
Madeleine Alizadeh became a successful
Austrian fashion blogger after watching
the 2013 documentary Gift auf unserer Haut
(Poison on our skin) about the failings of
the leather industry. The turning point for
the 32-year-old former political science
student was breaking up with cheap fashion
and starting her own fair fashion label
dariadéh in 2017 with a budget of €2,000
and some printed t-shirts. The brand
aims to set new standards in terms of
comfortable, sustainable and ethically
manufactured fashion.
THE CLOTHES
dariadéh sees itself as an inclusive and
diverse label. All pieces are available in
sizes ranging from XXS to XXXL and are
easy to pair together. The current spring/
summer collection that’s made out of
Tencel, organic cotton, Bemberg Cupro and
linen is presented under the motto “Day
to Night”, and the pieces can be worn both
during the day and in the evening – which
incidentally reduces the number of items
of clothing in your wardrobe.
THE GREEN PROMISE
Madeleine Alizadeh places great value
on transparent communication. All
dariadéh products are made without
any of the usual synthetic fibres like
polyester or nylon, and are manufactured
by small, carefully selected family
businesses in Portugal or Serbia. In
keeping with the concept of “giving
back”, 50 cents from every order placed
on the website is donated to charitable
organisations. The Instagrammer, who
keeps her 324,000 followers up to date
about her passion topic on a daily basis,
has much more planned: at the moment,
she’s contemplating a second-hand
portal and a recycling system for dariadéh
products.
VI
EN
NA
,
AUST
R
IA
victoriatomas.com
@victoriatomasofficial
VICTORIA/TOMAS
THE DESIGNERS
Working together and living together – for
proof that this combination can work well,
look no further than Paris-based designer
duo VICTORIA/TOMAS, who are also a
couple outside of work. Victoria Feldman
and Tomas Berzins founded their joint
label in 2012, four years after first meeting
at a French fashion school. They first
gained international recognition in 2013
as the youngest finalists at the Festival
d’Hyères, the longest-running fashion
festival in the world.
THE CLOTHES
Their passion for skater culture and Tim
Burton’s eccentricity combines with their
fascination with experimental fashion
and art to form the recipe for the success
of VICTORIA/TOMAS. The pair don’t see
their collections as being either masculine
or feminine, but rather more of a dialogue
between man and woman. Men’s wardrobe
essentials form the basis and are adapted
for the female body through the use of
feminine elements and cuts. The result is
pieces with sculptural silhouettes and vivid
colours for a new generation of modern
women.
THE GREEN PROMISE
The imposed lockdown during the first
wave of the pandemic in spring 2020
forced Victoria Feldman and Tomas
Berzins to reconsider their access to
fashion. To avoid excess, they are now
both committed to living by the phrase
“Buy less, wear more”, and decided that
in future, they will only design versatile
2-in-1 pieces that can be worn in two
ways. In addition, the label will move
from four collections a year to two, and
will relocate all production to France
in order to ensure the best quality, as
promised by the Made in France label.
PARI
S,
F
RANC
E
Photos:
Dariadéh-DIEIDA,
Dariadéh-Maria
Noisternig,
Victoria/Tomas,
Marion
Colombiani

18
THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021
nynne.eu
@nynne_online
NYNNE
THE DESIGNER
Born in 1993 in Copenhagen, Nynne Kunde
was interested in art and design from an
early age. In 2014, she went to London
to pursue her passion at the Istituto
Marangoni and study fashion, also working
for ready-to-wear label Rejina Pyo.
Shortly after her graduation in 2018, the
Danish designer was named Womenswear
Designer of the Year for her first collection
and launched her eponymous brand
NYNNE.
THE CLOTHES
In her collections, Nynne Kunde brings
together craftsmanship, exaggerated
silhouettes and Scandinavian minimalism.
The recurring theme is female empower-
ment: with her sustainable pieces, the
designer endeavours to empower women
to leave fleeting trends behind them and
instead opt for individual combinations
that stand out and embolden the wearer.
Both her home city of Copenhagen and
London have influenced the 28-year-old’s
design aesthetic: the current spring/
summer collection, entitled Walking Soft
Sculpture, sees the pairing of clean lines
and vibrant colours.
THE GREEN PROMISE
“Buy fewer pieces of better quality” is the
basic principle behind the Copenhagen
label, which only releases two collections
a year. The focus is on more responsible
consumption and creating timeless pieces
that can be worn for many decades no
matter what the season or the current
trend. Nynne Kunde sees sustainability
as a process: every season, the proportion
of recycled materials should increase,
as demonstrated by the introduction
of recycled polyester and Tencel in the
spring/summer 2021 collection.
C
OPE
N
HAGE
N,
DEN
MA
R
K
nkwo.design
@nkwo_official
NKWO
THE DESIGNER
Nkwo Onwuka’s interest in fashion was
sparked as a child when her mother taught
her how to sew. What started as a hobby
led to the launch of her own label in 2007
bearing her first name. With the rebrand-
ing five years later, Onwuka placed greater
emphasis on the preservation of tradi-
tional crafts and the reduction of textile
waste. The Nigerian, who has a degree in
psychology, is today one of Africa’s leading
sustainable fashion designers.
THE CLOTHES
Upcycled denim, cotton from Nigeria and
fabric remnants form the basis of each
collection from the Nigerian label. The
result is free-spirited fashion inspired by
the nomads of the African deserts. Using
traditional weaving, embroidery and
dyeing techniques, Nkwo Onwuka breathes
new life into the limited pieces and at the
same time combines the traditional and
the modern. The designer sees the purpose
of her label as recycling textiles. She
invented the hand-woven, upcycled Dakala
cloth that features in every collection and
whose name refers to the use of denim
remnants and the sound of traditional
weaving techniques: Sakala-si, sakala-sa…
THE GREEN PROMISE
For Nkwo Onwuka, sustainability and
upcycling are the natural response to the
vast quantities of second-hand clothing
that land in the markets in her home
city of Lagos. To minimise textile waste,
conserve natural resources and also
safeguard African weaving traditions,
the designer works closely with local
artisans and manufacturers.
ABU
JA
,
N
IGER
IA
Photos:
Nynne,
Nkwo-Scar
Pictures,
Nkwo-Nkwo
Onwuka

19
THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021
STYLE
collected
The perfection of the imperfect and
unique jewellery pieces can be found in the
workshop of label LENA KRIS in Vienna’s
second district. Lena Grabher is a gold- and
silversmith and uses her creations to tell
beautiful stories. At the forefront of her
work is the appreciation of craftsmanship,
locality and sustainability. In her jewellery
workshops, you can learn for yourself how
to experiment with materials and get to
know the satisfying feeling of being able
to smelt precious metals into wonderful
shapes that will fire up the imagination.
“The resulting jewellery pieces reflect the
search for our roots, and the emotions
and facets of a phase of transformation.
The beauty of imperfections and the value
of the handmade are highlighted,” explains
jewellery designer Lena Grabher.
lenakris.com
fragments
K R I S
L E N A
ATELIER
Photos:
Maria
Ritsch

20
THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021
fragility and
THE OBJECTS BY ARTIST ANNA RIESS
CONTAIN MANY THOUGHTS. NATURE AND
SUSTAINABILITY, THE CONSEQUENCES OF
OUR PRESENCE ON THE PLANET, THE ROLE
OF WOMEN AND, NOT LEAST, HUMAN
VULNERABILITY, FRAGILITY AND TRANSIENCE
ACCOMPANY HER IN HER WORK WITH
CERAMICS, METAL AND TEXTILES.
transience
ANNA RIESS lives and works as an artist in
Vienna. All of her creations are made in her
small workshop near the famous Prater amuse-
ment park and the Danube.
After a brief time studying architecture,
followed by a master’s in cultural anthropology
in 2012, Anna focused on her true joy of creating
things with her hands. During a three-year
course in contemporary jewellery design,
Anna learned how to explore and express her
criticism of society by shaping objects in close
relation to the human body.
annariess.com

STYLE
21
THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021
STYLE
R I E S S
A N N A
What do you think about when working
on a new piece?
Every process is different. I’m always in a
different mood when I go into my work-
shop. When I’m working on an order, I have
to stick to specific guidelines, everything
is very results-oriented and focused. The
preparation determines the result.
Porcelain requires the right consistency in
order to then be cast into shape. It takes
me several hours and I have to feel relaxed.
When working with clay, I don’t feel like
I think, it’s more like my hands keep going
until I’m satisfied. It’s like my hands are
undertaking a search. With jewellery, it’s
usually a shape or function that comes to
me first, then I trace it onto the silver in
the studio. I follow these lines with the
saw, but I always allow myself the freedom
to spontaneously do something different.
So it’s more of a process-oriented approach
where I often still decide and optimise in
the moment. The sawn line leaves behind
a shape that I can continue working on.
I often finish off earrings with a naturally
grown Keshi pearl.
Is there a thought that’s always with
you while you’re working?
I have lots of ideas, and when I get to
the point where I can bring them to life,
I think less and focus more on shape, set-
ting the tone, sawing silver, filing, drilling
or soldering. But I would probably only
associate the term “work” with the actual
doing. I actually can’t clearly separate my
work from my thoughts. What does occupy
my thoughts is the urge to focus on the
female form, because it doesn’t get enough
attention in society. I think it’s a necessity
to address all facets of the subject of the
role of women and their requirements.
Human vulnerability, fragility and
transience are thoughts that accompany
my work with ceramics.
What do you deal with as an artist
when you think about society and the
environment, people and nature?
I see the fragility and transience I already
mentioned in direct relation to my body.
My presence on this planet doesn’t last
long. Just recently I was walking through
Venice with a rubbish bag that seagulls
had previously got stuck into and I was
looking for somewhere to get rid of it.
But as people, we can’t get rid of our
rubbish. It can’t decompose. Instead,
it requires a global solution for how to
handle plastic and our CO₂ emissions.
The pandemic has shown that we’re
capable of having a rethink, but we’ve got
to the point where we need a pandemic to
force us into it. It pains me physically to
see animals perish in plastic, knowing that
we humans are responsible. It’s not about
blame for me, it’s about laws that adopt
environmental protection as their main
priority.
What’s important to you during
production?
I work with clay, metal and textiles.
The materials I use all come from nature.
It’s important for me to avoid using any
materials that put a strain on the eco-
system. I also make any journeys that
I can’t make by bike in an electric rental
car. I bought my kiln second-hand, and
when I fire it up I make sure it’s as full
as possible. During production, it’s also
important to be self-sufficient so I can be as
transparent with my customers as possible.
Which materials interest you and why?
I like the contrast between ceramic and
metal. There’s something archaic and
rustic about working with soft clay. It’s the
same when you work with what starts off
as solid metal, which can be reshaped by
hammering and soldering, and expose it to
different temperatures. I find it exciting
to think about what the material can do,
and what I can do. Dialogue with the mate-
rial often creates space for the unexpected.
I often use pearls that have been grown
naturally and aren’t perfect. The appeal
of this lies in the imperfection and the
shimmer, because they’re never going to
be perfect. Then there are the breast pieces
made out of organic cotton and filled with
lavender and cellulose.
I like making those because they provide
comfort, or have a calming effect because
of the lavender filling. It’s important for
the transition that the desire to create
remains. Depending on the idea and the
concept of a project, I work with one of
these three materials. Lately, I’ve also been
working with porcelain, which opens up
even more production possibilities.
What is our world lacking?
What would make it better?
Time to try things out, time to fail. Fewer
patriarchal structures. Ethics lessons
at school. Less of the jet-setting, more
holidays on farms. Green spaces in cities
rather than sealing up the earth. More time
at the Aldi checkout. Yoga in schools for
teachers and students. Empathy.
Photos:
Maria
Ritsch
–
Outfits:
Jana
Wieland
and
Christina
Seewald

22
THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021
the tassel
Photos:
Vilma
Pflaum,
Lisa
Winter
in
the
name
of

5
23
THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021
STYLE
T A S S E L T A L E S
With their slow fashion label Tassel Tales, Alexandra, Stephanie and Sophie Eisl are aiming for more
transparency and fairness in the fashion industry. What’s more, their brightly coloured boho-inspired
pieces show just how stylish sustainably made fashion can be.
What have you learnt about slow fashion,
environmentally friendly materials and fair
production methods that you didn’t know
before you founded your label in 2017?
The production chain of an environ-
mentally friendly and fair label is critical.
The initial period of Tassel Tales was
largely about research and establishing
our production chain. Documentaries,
social media, countless books and ongoing
internet research have enabled us to build
a solid foundation and also to continually
evolve.
Your products are made for women by
women’s collectives in India and Morocco
under the motto “We rise by lifting
others”. How do you personally define
female empowerment?
Giving women the opportunity to be
independent and self-sufficient in defining
their future, giving them a voice that they
might not have had if it weren’t for these
collectives and the associated work. That’s
why, since we established the company,
we’ve collaborated closely with female
artisans and women’s collectives such as
Saheli Women in India and Al Kawtar in
Morocco. We are motivated by the fact that
through our work, we can change some-
thing sustainably, that we can empower
the women we work with.
At the heart of your new Project N°2021
are looks that can be worn all year round.
What encouraged you to stray from
the traditional seasonal calendar of
collections?
Empowerment takes time. As a slow
fashion label, we follow the production
cycle of our partners in India, Morocco and
Poland, meaning we set our schedules so
they have a comfortable amount of time
to make each individual product piece by
piece. The result is products made out of
passion that display something beautiful
and good. Products that represent ethics,
fairness and dignified togetherness.
What are three criteria I should look
out for to make sure I’m actually buying
sustainably manufactured fashion?
At the moment, there are a huge number
of greenwashing campaigns being rolled
out by many fast fashion labels. That
means the brand’s products are portrayed
as being “green” thanks to targeted PR
activities, so customers wrongly get the
impression that the brand acts ethically,
fairly and in an environmentally friendly
way, whereas that is rarely the case. It is
therefore enormously important, first and
foremost, to be actively informed about
the label and to check whether it’s all
just a PR stunt or you’re actually dealing
with a sustainable product. Reports on
sustainability, clearly defined targets and
the provision of sufficient information are
good indicators. In addition, you should
always be aware of the composition of the
clothing, check what materials an item is
made from and look out for sustainability
seals – for example the Global Organic
Textile Standard (GOTS). However, this
kind of certification usually costs a lot of
money, which makes it difficult for smaller
brands like us to achieve. The price of a
product is often also a good indicator.
TASSEL TALES Four years ago, sisters
Alexandra and Stephanie Eisl and their cousin
Sophie Eisl founded Tassel Tales. With their
fair and sustainable ready-to-wear and yoga
label, the three Viennese women want to tell
the story of the origins of their products and
the people involved in their creation, all of
which will ensure greater transparency for
their customers. The vibrant pieces with tas-
sels are made by women’s collectives in India
and Morocco under the motto “For women, by
women” and are synonymous with bohemian
elegance. With the launch of Project N°2021,
Tassel Tales is focusing on eclectic looks that
can be worn all year round and are inspired by
the 70s.
tassel-tales.com
Sustainable manufacture, fair remuner-
ation and natural raw materials are often
more expensive, and the price will reflect
these additional costs.
And how can Tassel Tales customers
help to make the world that little bit
better?
It’s important to be informed about the
products we buy and to question our own
buying habits. As teenagers, even we were
also keen bargain hunters and simply
didn’t know any better. These days, every
young person has access via the internet,
smartphones and other means to infor-
mation that will reveal the shady side to
the fast fashion business – we recommend
watching The true cost. Because of this,
we can make different and more aware
choices, and do something to change and
improve the world.
Interview
Nora Palzenberger
QUESTIONS
FOR

24
THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021
doors
OUT
doors
IN
IS THE NEW

10
DEDON MBrace
BROKIS Knot
GLAMORA Glam Fusion
POLIFORM Kitchen
25
THE Stylemate
Issue No 02 | 2021
inside-einrichtungen.at
R O B E R T E I S E N B E R G E R
What’s your favourite piece of furniture
for summer and what does it do?
It would have to be the Mbrace model
from DEDON. This lounge chair is avail-
able in several variations, it’s extremely
comfortable and you can enjoy having a
room-in-room situation.
What outdoor furniture is an absolute
must in any garden?
I think it should be something that
displays high quality in all aspects and
meets our needs. Teak is very popular, but
of course it has to be teak from a certified
plantation. It’s also really nice when
combined with wicker, which is available
in many colours and designs.
Which kitchen will fulfil our
requirements?
The kitchen is a particular type of work-
space that needs to be planned according
to specific processes and also meet any
ergonomic requirements. Dekton is very
popular, and is currently the most durable
material on the worktop market. We work
a lot with the company POLIFORM, who
also offer a wide range of products for liv-
ing rooms and bedrooms, and that means
you have the option to apply a consistent
theme throughout your living space.
Where’s the best place to rest tired legs?
Preferably on a comfy, welcoming sofa
that makes me feel at ease. Indoors and
outdoors. The trend of enjoying outdoor
areas as an extension of the indoor living
space is continuing to grow.
Which lights shine almost as beautifully
as the sun? And which will provide the
best mood lighting for the evening?
Light is a really important element in
setting the mood of a space and creating a
lovely atmosphere. There are lots of great
options for this using LED technology.
In the domestic sector, it’s preferable to
use a warmer light, and for that we like
working with companies like Brokis, Deja
Vu and Foscarini. I personally would steer
clear of coloured lights.
What are three types of sofa with
character?
We really like working with MINOTTI,
because in my opinion they’re a company
that considers everything down to the
smallest detail. All of the MINOTTI sofas
are versatile, they’re extremely good
quality, boast a timeless design and can
be used in all settings. One example I can
think of is the Lawrence model, which is a
relatively new one. To ensure you’re sitting
comfortably, MINOTTI sofas always have
a firmer front corner and a softer middle.
The sofas are also more comfortable
because they are now slightly higher.
Any new pieces that you’re raving
about (and why)?
Retro is making a strong comeback, but
with new features and in new combina-
tions. I’ll come back to MINOTTI, as the
quality’s really great and the design has
been well considered right down to the last
detail. That’s what I’m really raving about.
Do you have a secret furnishing hack?
I personally really like hanging chairs and
they always create a “wow” effect for our
customers. They’re a real eye-catcher in
lounge areas in hospitality just as much as
in a domestic setting.
QUESTIONS
FOR ROBERT EISENBERGER, INTERIORS
EXPERT AND OWNER OF INSIDE.
ADVERTORIAL
ROBERT EISENBERGER, since 1992, he
has been providing quality and experience for
exclusive living in the domestic and real estate
sectors. He makes living more beautiful thanks
to INSIDE Einrichtungen in Graz.
Will this style be in demand for
much longer?
The combination with earthy tones is still
very well received. And what really is here
to stay are the great new rugs, which are
now used in the same way as pictures or
large works of art – based on the room
layout and wall size in question. Using rugs
you can achieve insanely beautiful room
layouts, real “wow” effects. It’s also really
nice when different versions of a rug are
used in several rooms, even in wet rooms.
Rugs are also big in outdoor areas – there
are some really nice ones at GLAMORA and
TAPIS VOLANT.
Text
Hedi Grager
Photos:
Oliver
Wolf,
Freifrau,
Poliform,
DEDON,
Brokis,
Glamora

THE Stylymate, Issue 02|2021 think! and then act rights

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