Creativity and sustainability to collide at Junk Kouture World Final in Monaco

The Junk Kouture World Final, an event featuring young fashion talents aged 12 to 19 from New York, London, Paris, Milan and Abu Dhabi, among others, is to be held at the Grimaldi Forum on 22nd February.

The young designers from 20 nations worldwide have been tasked with ingeniously creating 100% recycled collections and catwalk items that will be presented at the event. From discarded pool floats to electrical wiring and camping tents, their sources of inspiration are vast – and inspiring.

“Junk Kouture is not just a competition; it’s a movement that advocates for the power of youth creativity and voices in shaping a more sustainable future,” says Troy Armour, the founder and CEO of Junk Kouture.

Alongside the showcases, entrants will be in with the chance of winning ‘Junk Kouture World Designer of the Year’. Additional awards will be presented across various categories thanks to the support of industry giants like Deloitte, Microsoft, DHL and Etihad Airways.

“For 20 years, I have travelled to Monaco annually for the Grand Prix and the TV Festival,” continues Armour. “I am delighted that Junk Kouture joins a list of these incredible events, and further that the Principality over those 20 years has grown to be a world leader in sustainable living, showing how it can be done. Welcoming the Junk Kouture finalists here will be inspirational for all of them… Put yourself in their shoes, 16 years old and taking to a global stage in Monaco… It is the kind of thing dreams are made of.” 

To find more details or to purchase tickets, which cost €25 each, click here

 

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Photo credit: Ed Wright Images

Tsunami alert exercise: no need for alarm

The Prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes will be testing its mobile FR-Alert system on Friday 19th January with a tsunami warning, and local authorities say it may crossover to residents in Monaco.

On Friday, between the hours of 10am and 12pm, the Prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes will send out a fake tsunami warning, which will include an alert text message and audio signal on people’s mobile phones.

The system was recently used when storm Aline passed over the Alpes-Maritimes.

The Monaco government on Tuesday warned that the alert may reach residents in the Principality as it is relayed via the antennas of telephone operators, and urged residents not to worry.

“As this is a simple exercise, this alert message will not require any response or sheltering behaviour from the population,” says the government. “There is therefore no point in blocking the emergency lines 18 and 112 to obtain information.”

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Photo source: Prefecture Alpes-Maritimes

Club de Suisse de Monaco to bring the Swiss culinary tradition of the raclette to Èze

The Club Suisse de Monaco is to blend Swiss cuisine with Riviera charm next month at a sumptuous raclette night at the Hôtel Èze Hermitage. Here are all the details. 

The pretty hillside town of Èze, found a 15-minute or so drive from the Principality, will be welcoming the members and friends of the Club Suisse de Monaco on 22nd February for a special evening featuring one of Switzerland’s best loved dishes: the raclette.  

The Hôtel Eze Hermitage B&B will be hosting the event, which is being co-organised by the social club and Laurent Kostenbaum, a Swiss national residing in Monaco, from 7pm at 1951 Avenue des Diables Bleus.  

Guests attending will be greeted with a glass of prosecco ahead of a gourmand evening of raclette accompanied by sliced meats, potatoes and salad as well as a hearty serving of warm Swiss hospitality. 

The evening is open to both members and non-members, with tickets priced at €90 and €120 respectively. For those requiring transportation, arrangements can be made through the club’s secretary for an additional €30.   

Click here to reserve your place or for more information. 

 

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Photo source: Ellena McGuinness, Unsplash

Jean Cocteau and Jean Marais haven listed by Sotheby’s for €13.7 million

In the hills above the Côte d’Azur, with views of the lush green hinterland, the Mediterranean Sea and the charming village of Cabris, sits a magnificent stone bastide built by the late French film director and artist Jean Marais that has been exclusively listed by Côte d’Azur Sotheby’s International Realty for €13.7 million.

An exceptional residence on a 15,000m2 tract of land around 30 minutes back from the coast, the property was designed by Marais himself in collaboration with his trusted architect and is a true work of art in all senses.  

It was where Marais and Jean Cocteau came together, living as a couple beneath its roof, but it was also a source of inspiration for the various works the two artists created, including Cocteau’s film Orphée, which featured Marais in a central role. 

The property was given its name, La Muse d’Orphée, in their honour by the owners who purchased the stunning 511m2 home following Marais’ death. The couple also oversaw some gentle renovations and modernisations of the bastide in the early 2000s. 

Today, the main building houses four generous bedrooms while a guest pavilion offers an additional three bedrooms.  

A vast saltwater pool lined with rare Corsican river stones helps the stone edifice blend into the landscape while its beautifully tended gardens, planted with native trees and shrubs, harmonise with the surrounding nature.

See more: Palatial Cannes property hits the market for €120 million

For Frederic Barth, CEO of Côte d’Azur Sotheby’s International Realty and a member of the Private Desk, who is managing the exclusive listing, this property is exceptional due to its unique history and legacy as a retreat for the friends of the couple, such as Gabrielle Chanel, Pablo Picasso and Pierre Cardin. 

“It served as the haven for Jean Cocteau and Jean Marais, a sanctuary of arts and culture during the golden era of the French Riviera,” he tells Monaco Life.  

The listing describes the property as the embodiment of “the artistic and cultural heritage of Jean Marais, offering its future owners a piece of history to live with every day” as well as a “unique opportunity to own an exceptional heritage, steeped in passion, creativity and history”. 

To view the €13.7 million listing of La Muse d’Orphée, click here

Click on the images below to see more of the property:

 

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Photos courtesy of Côte d’Azur Sotheby’s International Realty

Princess Charlene named as new Honorary President of Pink Ribbon Monaco

Pink Ribbon Monaco, the breast cancer charity spearheaded by Natasha Frost-Savio since 2011, has announced that Princess Charlene has come on board as the Honorary President of the association.  

The backing of the Princess, a big supporter of women’s health issues, is the feather in the cap of the association, which holds a number of events spotlighting breast cancer awareness and prevention in the Principality each year. 

One such event is the upcoming Golden Age of Hollywood-themed gala that will be held by Pink Ribbon Monaco on 2nd February at the Casino de Monte-Carlo. 

See more: Pink Ribbon Monaco to host charity gala at the Casino de Monte-Carlo in early 2024

“The Princess joining us ahead of our gala is ideal,” Frost-Savio, the president and founder of Pink Ribbon Monaco, tells Monaco Life. “With her support, we hope to make it one of our biggest fundraisers to date.”  

The gala will be taking place just over a week before the Pink Ribbon Walk on 11th February, an event that always attracts plenty of support in the Principality. Now in its 12th year, the event is a fun run and walk that is described as a day to “let loose, have fun, and celebrate life”. 

“HSH Princess Charlene’s involvement as our Honorary President adds immeasurable strength to our cause,” says Frost-Savio. “We are honoured to have her support as we approach these significant events, and her commitment reinforces our wish to encourage critical research and support our local community.” 

Tickets for the gala are on sale now and can be found here.

To find out more about the Pink Ribbon Walk and how you can get involved, click here

 

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Photo credit: Eric Mathon / Palais Princier de Monaco

Inclusivity inside and outside the classroom taught to Monaco’s schoolchildren

The second edition of the ‘Semaine de l’Ecole Inclusive’ – Inclusive School Week in English – is taking place in Monaco between 15th and 24th January, and upwards of 1,400 pupils from 78 classes across the Principality are set to take part in its enlightening and awareness-raising workshops.  

The goal of the event, which has been co-organised by the Department of Action and Social Assistance and the Princess Grace Hospital Centre (CHPG) along with input from several Monegasque and French associations, is “to promote acceptance and support for pupils with disabilities”.  

A series of workshops on the challenges faced by those living with cognitive, sensory and motor disabilities have been designed to give students better and personal insight into these issues, with the wider aim of fostering a more inclusive environment in the Principality’s schools.  

Some 1,400 children are set to benefit from the inclusivity sessions over the next week. Photo credit: Stéphane Danna / Monaco Communications Department

“The event is a reminder of the importance of making an education accessible to every child, regardless of their difficulties or disability,” says a government spokesperson. “An inclusive school is one that welcomes all pupils and ensures that the support they receive — educational, in particular — results in their well-being and success. Everyone at an inclusive school is involved: pupils, whether they have a disability or not, teaching staff, the other adults in the education system who work with children and, of course, families.” 

The age-adapted sessions will be held in classrooms and at the Centre de Loisirs Prince Albert II. For more information about the initiative, click here

 

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Photo credits: Stéphane Danna / Monaco Communications Department