From the maker

At a time when, more than ever before, it is vital to extol the organic, naturally imperfect beauty of all that surrounds us, encouraging us to foster a deeper connection with Nature and ourselves, it is through our theme ‘Raw’ that we bring you projects, people and places that, in some sense, rid themselves of superficial layers so as to embrace their authenticity.

What better way to accomplish this resolution than by travelling to the wondrous, and equally ebullient, Azores archipelago? The islands of São Miguel, Pico and Faial would provide the starting point for our island epic. Drawn by emerging talents, innovative projects and the ever-present energy of entrepreneurial voices, and traveling through areas that are disparate and exciting in equal measure – from photography, interior design, hotels, jewellery, perfumery or catering – we now seek to lend our voice to the creative manifesto of a region that goes well beyond its astonishing beauty and which, over the last five years, has witnessed a growth capable of preserving its most authentic – even enigmatic – side, like no other archipelago.