With its fresh, virgin mornings with a newspaper and espresso on an empty terrace, the endless strolls through unknown and humid cities, the late night parties on hillsides overseeing the sleeping bay, the wonderful encounters with art, culture, old friends and new ones; summer is here. For me, the weeks before summer are always filled with the preparations for travels, finding the nice spots, the hidden gems and the can’t misses. Asking friends and friends of friends where to stay, what to do, who to meet. But then, the day, or even the hours before ‘takeoff’, are a time of reviewing and reevaluating my packing and travel routines – thinking about what to bring and what to drop, when it comes to the wardrobe. Guessing the possible stretch of temperature and climate while on the road ahead, and finding the perfect mix of breathable and flexible where the latter means layering as well.

This second issue of the AM Times feels like the perfect summary of both. From longer-term travel planning to the short term (and often last minute) holiday shopping. The team is hitting Florence for Pitti (one of the most important men’s trade fairs) with our soon-to-be brand ambassador Arno Kantelberg. And exploring all the beautiful terraces from Lisbon to Milan with style advisor Ricardo Wemerman as our guide. We’re dancing at jam-packed festivals with Danny Vera, strolling the best beachside spots in Oostende, Belgium with our friends at Icons Collections, and riding through Amsterdam with our Head of Digital Len Koster on (spoiler alert) a hint to a future collaboration launching later this fall. We’re even enjoying some amazing sparkling natural rosé made in the South of France, curated by our Moroccan ambassador and sommelier Simo Zbiri. It’s all here and it’s all promising the summer vibes we’ve been yearning for.

Then there are the exciting things to come. A visit to New York for the opening of our new showroom and the 2022 E-Prix where our other brand ambassador Nyck de Vries is making moves. And for those who can’t wait, a preview of our second flagship store coming to Toronto and our limited fall-winter fabric collection. Hope you’ll enjoy!