| From mahjong clubs to a cinema-meets-nightclub in a parking lot, here's how to make money from partying. Elsewhere, a truly off-the-grid cabin concept, ice beyond cubes and packaging secrets you need to know. And, friendly reminder, it's your last chance to pre-order our new book... | | | 01. Find out how the idea of a dream business means something different to everyone in our new book. Expect flower farmers, small-batch olive oil producers, surf schools, off-grid guesthouses next to extinct volcanoes 💐🫒🏄🌋 in corners of the world full of opportunity and off the usual reporting circuit. Also there's plenty of big, beautiful photographs. Pre-order Dream Businesses right here.
02. You can always learn something new – today, from a teenager. Pam Vivatsurakit told us to check out Mediums in Bangkok. 'It's an art supply and stationery shop founded by a 16-year-old. Initially, Mediums operated 24-hours a day to accommodate students and artists working late into the night.' Smart.
03. Pam also put us onto Ben Mizu Confectionary, a project by graphic artist Benjarat Aiemrat, who uses agar (a jelly-like substance) to create edible art. We can't stop looking at this incredibly realistic ice cube.
04. Another ice-inspired brand: Chthonic, an LA-based design studio, makes hyper-realistic frosted sunglasses and headphones covers. The perfect way to stay cool.
05. Inflatable fashion is blowing up. Take Bence Borbely, a London-based balloon fashion designer who has been tapped by fashion houses Jacquemus and Mugler, as well as musicians such as Sampa The Great, thanks to his fun designs 'fuelled by queer expression'. | | | Quality wines, matched to your palate Take the guesswork out of shopping for wine, with Bright Cellars. Just take their quick and easy seven-question wine quiz to assess your taste preferences, and they'll deliver wines you're guaranteed to enjoy, directly to your doorstep. Plus, education cards accompany each bottle so you can learn as you sip. Start your wine journey and get your first 6 bottles for just $55 ($150+ value)!
Find my perfect wine. | | | 06. Modernizing a centuries-old tile game is the idea behind Mahjong Mistress. It started after four friends, all working in creative industries, found themselves separately lugging their mahjong sets to dinner parties and teaching friends how to play. Mahjong Mistress parties now include things such as baijiu tasting (that's the Chinese liquor typically coming in between 35% and 60% alcohol by volume 🤯), DJs and lion dances. As for the name? The founders say it's a salute to hot women. 'I love it when we're teaching people and they're like, 'Yes, mistress. Excuse me, mistress.'
07. Another past-time turned party: Cineclub Cortina is a parking garage turned cinema in São Paulo. It prioritizes Brazilian films, with lounge chairs that fold up so the space can turn into a nightclub after the end credits have rolled. 🇧🇷
08. Meanwhile, the resurgence in UK rave culture means young creatives coming of age are cashing in on ticket sales, commissions and brand deals. Shy Bairns Collective organizes techno and trance raves, while photography handle Tough Luck recently collaborated with fashion store END.
09. Hot: The Amateur Weather Observers is a knitwear brand started by designers Laura Chopin Emsley and Rosie Lawson, Central Saint Martins alumni, named after the British love of discussing the weather.
10. Another place-based brand: Marleen Franke, a former impact investing consultant, started her natural wine brand Chateaumoabit in 2018 out of her grandparent's basement. It's named after Moabit – the neighborhood in Berlin where the store is situated and the wine is fermented – and rather than traditional labels, each bottle is individually hand spray-painted by visual artist Katja Koeberlin in a homage to the city's graffiti. | | | | TRY IT. Don't sleep on good packaging. Expert Oren John breaks down how to choose a standout box for your brand plus some factory options. | | | | | | | 11. Karl Fritsch is a German-born contemporary jeweler based in New Zealand taking custom-made pieces to the next level: at his studio he's been known to work his malleable magic hammering jewels onto bands while clients are wearing them.
12. Apapacho World works with raw materials such as onyx, marble and volcanic rocks to create one-of-a-kind home goods created alongside Mexican artisans. It recently showcased work at Fabríca in Mexico City, where it's based, and at New York furniture store Lichen, previous Courier magazine cover stars. This vase dipped in beeswax is very satisfying.
13. In a saturated podcast market, there are still fresh opportunities to stand out. Subway Takes has done just that, utilizing a bite-sized, 60-second format for controversial opinions captured exclusively amid the rush of the New York subway. Anything from why fancy food sucks or how kindness makes you hotter. 🗽
14. Another way to make content that breaks through: focus on 'dupes', aka duplicates. Recently 'the dupe economy' has expanded drastically to include anything from affordable versions of high-end beauty products and designer handbags to toilet paper (yes, really). Sarah Akedola – whose videos are directed at educating consumers and providing actionable tips on saving money – found herself doing more fashion dupe content because it always 'goes viral' (hashtags such as #baddiesonabudget have over 23.3 million views). | | | The smartest use of screen time yet Get out of mindless scrolling and into a world of knowledge and growth. With Brilliant, you can transform idle moments into opportunities for learning and career development. Dive into their captivating lessons in math, data science, and CS, and watch as your understanding expands and your skills flourish.
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Start your free trial today. | | | 15. New Berlin hotel MM:NT is taking the opposite approach to one-size-fits-all. Each room is designed differently and customizable depending on the type of stay (for example, you can request a kitchen if you're sticking around for a while).
16. Unyoked takes 'off-the-grid' vacationing quite literally – its cabins in Australia, New Zealand and the UK are measured in amount of cell coverage and how many meters hike the cabin is from your parked car. But it's not without its comforts – you can upgrade to have cocktails and s'more supplies. | | More from us (and elsewhere)
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