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Tsatsas and Kostas Murkudis Debut Leather and Lace Ready-to-Wear
There’s no shortage of drops, launches, and “collabs” amok in the fashion industry at any given time, so it takes a certain something to get these editors to give a double-take when those five letters crop up. Leave it to a trio of Germany-based designers to combine their considerable talents and wow us.
The creatives behind Tsatsas, a handcrafted leather handbag label helmed by Esther and Dimitrios Tsatsas, and cult-favorite indie designer Kostas Murkudis recently combined their talents to produce a 12-piece ready-to-wear collection of Scandinavian leather and French lace. The first release, Session 01, pairs sheer tunics and sheath dresses with plunging necklines, leather bralettes with contrasting, delicate lace ties. While some pieces come in fashion’s favorite hue—black—there are also pops of periwinkle blue, blood orange, and burgundy. The best part? Its title, Session 01, seems to invite the possibility of future editions. —Jenna Adrian-Diaz
Forge Project’s Ai Weiwei-designed facility in upstate New York. Photography by Thatcher Keats, courtesy of Forge Project…
Forge Project, a social justice initiative supporting Indigenous art and education, has shifted to a nonprofit model to strengthen its long-term sustainability and embody Native self-determination. Established in 2021 by Becky Gochman and Zach Feuer, the organization has since supported nearly 300 Indigenous artists and enhanced cultural programs, moving from a limited liability company for rapid startup to a structure now poised for broader financial backing. This transition includes launching an Indigenous Steering Council, ensuring governance aligns with community values, and emphasizing Indigenous leadership regardless of the financial support base.
Demolition has begun on the Bard Building, a significant East Coast project by architect Anthony Lumsden, constructed in 1976 for Baltimore City Community College as part of its downtown expansion. As the college refocused its programs to its West Baltimore campus, the deteriorating Bard Building, viewed as an eyesore and safety hazard, was shuttered in 2009 and approved for demolition by Maryland officials this past summer. The state plans to replace the demolished structure temporarily with green space to facilitate future redevelopment and community engagement in planning the site’s next chapter.
Henning Larsen Architects has unveiled its design for the Jeddah Opera House in Saudi Arabia, inspired by the historic Al-Balad neighborhood and designed to integrate with its surroundings as part of the Jeddah Central masterplan. The building features a “culture spine” that connects the city to the Red Sea waterfront with a natural canopy and green pathways. The opera house will serve as a cultural hub, offering multiple performance spaces and integrating traditional materials like coral stone with modern touches to reflect regional craftsmanship.
On April 25, Venice initiated an entry fee for day-trippers as part of a pilot project, marking the city as the world’s first to charge visitors in this way to help manage tourism and city congestion. Protests erupted as locals opposed the fee, viewing it as turning Venice into a theme-park-like destination, with demonstrations occurring at key points such as Piazzale Roma and the main train station. Despite the controversy, 113,000 visitors registered on the first day.
In preparation for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, the Louvre is offering dance, yoga, and workout classes among its exhibits, a program dubbed “Run in the Louvre” which kicked off with yoga sessions in the sculpture-filled Cour Marly. Other Parisian cultural sites, including the Musee d’Orsay and Place de la Concorde, are also participating in Olympic activities, with the opening ceremony set to occur on the Seine, adjacent to the Louvre.
