7x7 - 7 Sept Edition

BFI London Film Festival are screening Love+War on 12+13 October. Trailer (of sorts) on YouTube. The documentary highlights Lynsey Addario’s fearless commitment to documenting war’s human toll while revealing the personal sacrifices she makes to pursue her calling. Centered on Ukraine but spanning her career, it shows how her work illuminates recurring themes of global conflict and the enduring power of photojournalism. Bearing witness to the atrocities of the world could not be more relevant in a week that Trump's kakistocracy rebranded the DOD to the Department of War.

On a similar thematic, Don McCullin, one of Britain's greatest photojournalists is on tour and will be speaking at the Barbican and Royal Geographical Society in November and December respectively. Tickets available via How To Academy but you can also register to join How To and join the streamed event live or watch it on playback.

On a more light hearted photographic note, there are a number of great photographers talking at Gresham College. Their photography programme features Martin Parr, Tim Flach and Lee Miller (via her son and curator of her archive, Antony Penrose).

Wellcome Collection is a free museum and library in London and they frequently curate interesting and considered exhibitions. Currently showing is Thirst: In Search of Freshwaster which explores humanity’s vital connection with freshwater as an essential source of life and pillar of good health.

50Best is one of the definitive global restaurant guides and they featured a story this week profiling iconic sandwiches from all over the world. That BLT with fried green tomatoes could justify a trip to Savannah.

Via Vitsoe, Dieter Rams' bag 931, originally designed in 1963 and created for the first time over 50 years later by TSATSAS. The epitomy of quiet luxury and design realised. As part of London Design Festival, Vitsoe will have TSATSAS in the Marylebone shop to present an exhibition celebrating the story of the 931 bag, runs 12-27 Sept.

Vitsœ was founded in 1959 to produce adaptable and long-living furniture designed by Dieter Rams. Dieter began designing furniture while working at Braun, and it was here he met his future wife, photographer Ingeborg Kracht.

Ingeborg photographed Vitsœ furniture throughout the 60s as well as the revolutionary new products Dieter and his design team were creating at Braun, including razors, radios and cameras. Cases were also designed for these items, thus Dieter engaged with material suppliers such as producers of leather, not only for these portable pieces, but also for the Vitsœ 620 Chair Programme.

In 1963 Dieter decided to create a leather handbag as a gift for Ingeborg. Using the same clear design language for the Braun cases, the 931 bag was born. Three bags were made. Two were given to Ingeborg and the third to the couple’s close friend Britte Siepenkothen. As trustee of the Rams Foundation, in 2018, Britte seeded the idea of German fine bag-maker TSATSAS introducing 931 to the market.

In feel good retail, I ordered some office desks from Desktronic in Germany and received a notification that two trees (Rauvolfia caffra) are being planted as a consequence by Tree Nation. Part of Desktronic's sustainability efforts, the trees are planted in Tanzania. Apart from net zero contributions, they also have commercial value in furniture making so offer further potential for community wealth. Herman Miller who I'd normally purchase from do nothing like this and at more than double the retail price. I was also interested to see that Kolor, based in Germany, declare that their orders are packed by people with disabilities. Given that people with disabilities face higher unemployment rates, I'm perceiving this with positive intent and as a sign of an empathetic employer. It was subtly positioned and I hope that the disabled employees were consulted about the positioning of this message. I am stemming my cynicism to see the positive and wish more companies would live their values authentically.