It's our last issue of Tempus for the year! It's been a challenging 12-months for all of us, but I'm so pleased that we were able to end the year with our exclusive sustainable menswear fashion shoot. The Covid-secure photoshoot, shot by Ian Gavan at Blakes Hotel, starred Oliver Cheshire wearing a selection of big name brands and Savile Row tailors who are all making steps to a more planet-friendly fashion industry. Read my final editor's letter of the year in full, below: "When the Oxford English Dictionary announced its 2020 Word of the Year, it came as no surprise that this unprecedented year had earned not just one word, but a whole list of new phrases and portmanteaus – from Blursday (a day of the week indistinguishable from any other) to Covidiot (a person who disobeys pandemic guidelines).
But amid the list of Corona-related phrases there is some relief from all the doomscrolling (another OED winner, meaning compulsively scrolling through bad news on the web or social media). More positive phrases show the cultural strides taken towards social equality (Black Lives Matter) and sustainability (net zero), while a clutch of digitally inspired neologisms – like Zoombombing and unmute – reflect the rapid digitalisation of our work and social lives since March.
Just as our language has evolved over the past 12 months, so too has our appetite for a more meaningful, post-opulent form of luxury. According to our canvassing of some of Britain’s biggest brands – in our first annual British Luxury Review – a year of uncertainty has accelerated our desire to seek out experiences and companies that make a positive impact on the world, improve the lives of their employees and customers, and create objects of true beauty that are designed to last (page 26).
Their insights are confirmed by Helen Brocklebank, CEO of luxury trade organisation Walpole, who predicts we will not only recover from the year’s many trials but that the challenges of 2020 will be the catalyst for a creative renaissance – read Helen’s column on page 16.
Another major trend predicted for 2021 is the continued growth in sustainable practices. It’s fair to say that combatting the climate crisis is no longer the remit of NGOs and social enterprises alone, as our cover story shows. Our exclusive menswear shoot, starring model and designer Oliver Cheshire, gathers some of the most exciting luxury labels to uplift any gentleman’s New Year wardrobe. Better still, each of the brands featured are moving away from fast fashion in favour of a new production model that celebrates traditional craftsmanship as it moves towards a zero-waste standard. Head to page 40 to see more. Elsewhere in the issue, we bring you a trio of architectural intrigue: rock legend Lenny Kravitz shares his design collaboration with Steinway & Sons (18), Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi tells us why community-led property developments are here to stay (84), and yachting designer Adriana Monk reveals her philosophy of design in motion (88). Tempus also looks forward to all-new travel trends on page 70 as well as the independent boutiques encouraging us to shop local (56).
While our gaze may be fixed on the year ahead, we haven’t forgotten the joy and hope of the festive season to come. In a year where spending time with our loved ones is, more than ever, the greatest luxury of all, that doesn’t mean we can’t treat them (or ourselves) with a few stocking fillers! Don’t miss our special extended Luxe List (10) for a curation of gifts to help you round off the holidays in style.
Before we collectively say goodbye to 2020 and settle in with our Christmas bubbles (another OED winner), all that’s left to do is wish you a very happy and prosperous New Year."