Schön! alive | paradise found

photography. Pietro Savorelli

If you believed Florence was exclusively Donatello and Ferragamo, you’d be mistaken. While the touristic hoards flock and queue, struggling to follow in the footsteps of the Renaissance masters, a wider part of the ancient city has experienced a youthful rebirth.

Beyond the city walls, on the outskirts of the city centre, is the Manifattura Tabacchi; the Truman Brewery of Florence. Once a former tobacco factory, closed in 2001, the site has been reborn as a thriving and enterprising mix of education facilities, shops, restaurants and luxury apartments. 

A few stops on the tram from Florence’s Santa Maria Novella station, Manifattura Tabacchi is worthy of the adventurous detour for its clean Art Deco lines and generous proportions. In 2027, the city’s new T4 tram line will directly link the complex to the city centre.

An ambitious urban regeneration project, the development was started in 2018 with full completion scheduled for 2028. Covering 110,000 m2, it is currently nearly three-quarters complete and home to such distinguished establishments as the Polimoda fashion school and LVMH’s Métiers d’Excellence.

photography. Pietro Savorelli

The former industrial site’s masterplan was developed with the contribution of several renowned designers including Sanaa, q-bic, Piuarch and landscape architect Antonio Perazzi. The factory site’s original architecture has been sympathetically restored with minimal changes and a focus on efficiency and sustainability. The buildings are heated and cooled by means of a complex geothermal plant, called a condensation loop, which connects a series of wells, collecting the natural heat and coolness of the groundwater.

location. ‘Puro’ apartment
photography. Valentina Sommariva

For fashion students, Polimoda opened its second city campus in 2024 alongside the Polimoda Library, housing over 29,000 books, designed to become not only the most important fashion library in Europe, but also an international hub for research and comparative studies. The complex houses a hall of residence with accommodation for 384 students, as well as a hostel for 136 guests, designed for travellers and tourists who desire to discover the more innovative side of Florence without the Gucci price tag.

location. Archivi Sartoriali
photographer. Sofie Delauw

Experience some of the most exciting young brands in Florence: Manifattura Tabacchi is home to tailoring by Archivi Sartoriali, workwear reinterpreted by Captain Santors and artisan streetwear brand, Cool Farm by Mauna Kea. It’s also home to the first European outlet of Puebco, a Japanese brand known for products made with upcycled materials or discarded items, and leading hat label SUPERDUPER, which specialises in tailor-made headwear and is the perfect place to pick-up a stylish souvenir.

location. SUPERDUPER
photographer. Sofie Delauw

For the gastronomes, the Manifattura Tabacchi experience ranges from local specialities to international cuisines introduced to the city for the first time. Most notably is Hiroko Bentō e vini fatti a modo, the first bentō bar in Florence, and Bulli&Balene with its many gourmet specialities. Po’Stò is a gastro bakery open from breakfast through to aperitif time with the VIVIDO entertainment area offering live music, a DJ set, refined cocktails and a menu with the emphasis on Tuscan flavours.

location. Hiroko Bentō e vini fatti a modo
photographer. Sofie Delauw

location. Bottega Biologica
photographer. Sofie Delauw

The campus-like old factory is an enclave of creative energy while also letting its historical roots shine through. The ‘Caveau di Manifattura Tabacchi’ – booking is required – is a place where machinery, window frames, objects and materials left in the factory are retained and offered to design engineers, artists and designers wishing to give them a second life.

A modern and refreshing alternative after the Uffizi, Manifattura Tabacchi is the most exciting thing to happen to Florence since David was taken inside and out of the rain. Grab a lacquered bentō box from Hiroko, or a recycled tote bag from Puebco, and enjoy a few unrushed hours at this revitalised and creative addition to Tuscany’s magical city. 

To learn more, visit manifatturatabacchi.com.

photography. Pietro Savorelli, Valentina Sommariva + Sofie Delauw
words. Marcus Jaye

Orville Peck has always had a flair for the theatrical. The Grammy-nominated singer—known for his ever-present mask, bold charisma, and sweeping songwriting—has created one of the most memorable artistic personas in recent memory, marrying soul-baring songwriting with an enigmatic image. Earlier this year, Peck shed his signature mask to take on a new dramatic role: as the Emcee in ‘Cabaret’, in which he made his Broadway debut. Peck’s performance as the Emcee generated glowing reviews over his 16-week run, marking an exciting new era for an artist who has already proven himself keen to evolve in both theatre and his own music. In November, Peck released a seven-track EP, ‘Appaloosa,’ that included an homage to the 1972 ‘Cabaret’ film, in a fitting signifier of his recent evolutions as a performer. 

Peck is now bringing that versatility to a collaboration with W Hotels, as the latest star of their ongoing “Hotel Tales” series. Just as Peck’s onstage persona invites audiences into a world of theatricality, grit, and romance, W Hotels’ immersive environments provide an ideal setting for individual expression and sweeping adventure. “Hotel Tales” has featured some of today’s most exciting creatives at W Hotels locations around the globe, and their collaboration with Peck places him at the recently transformed W Austin, in a playful short film that depicts him chasing a lost mask around the hotel. 

Schön! spoke to Peck about life on the road, his collaboration with W Hotels, and more. 

Over the years of touring, how has travelling inspired or influenced your music?

Having the opportunity to travel, tour, and experience new parts of the world has been instrumental to who I am as an artist. Each destination and experience on the road gives me a new perspective that I hold onto. Meeting people from all walks of life inspires me for my music and projects. There’s a rhythm I get into when travelling that feels a lot like music, always searching for the next inspiration. 

What drew you to this collaboration with W Hotels?

Hotels are fascinating, in-between spaces. You arrive, you settle, you move on – and for a moment, you’re part of something transient yet meaningful. W Hotels has an energy that’s alive, bold, and always evolving. It’s the kind of environment where stories take shape, and I wanted to be part of that.

The “Hotel Tales” series reflects how the W Hotels brand is constantly evolving. Have you found that different environments have inspired evolutions or new directions in your own work?

Yes, without a doubt. When I’m in a city like Austin, there’s this buzz – an energy and creativity that pushes me to try new things and take chances. Other times, being somewhere remote and quiet helps me slow down and reconnect, blocking out the outside noise. Your surroundings seep in whether you notice it or not, and those shifts find their way into the music.

Amidst your various projects and travelling, what steps do you take to maintain a sense of routine while on the move?

Touring can be chaotic, so I try to keep a few things constant. I like to travel with my journal, my film camera, and of course my masks. I try to carve out small moments for myself, like coffee in the morning at a shop that everyone loves or music to ground me. It’s easy to lose yourself on the road, so I rely on rituals that help me stay present, even in motion. 

What’s the first thing you do when you arrive at a hotel?

Even though the stay is temporary, I like to make the space my own. I’ll put on some music (the rooms at W Hotels always have an incredible sound system) and unpack. It’s about settling in and letting the room feel like a temporary home away from home for me. 

Where do you want to visit next?

I’ve got my eye on W New York – Union Square. It’s such an iconic property that’s been newly redesigned, and I like the idea of experiencing the brand’s roots in one of my favourite cities.

Learn more about W Hotels at w-hotels.marriott.com and check out more Hotel Tales on Instagram.

interview. Juliana Ogarrio

When Rimowa, the LVMH-owned leader in grooved aluminium luggage, decides to collaborate, they don’t mess around. They’ve joined forces with Robbe & Berking, a fifth-generation family silversmith from Flensburg so esteemed their handcrafted work is found on over half of the world’s 200 largest private yachts. This is a brand so obsessed with timeless craft, they even started their own shipyard in 2008 just to build classic wooden yachts.

Together, the two German titans have created the Rimowa X Robbe & Berking Cocktail Case, a limited-edition object of pure, functional luxury with a price tag of €4750.

The exterior is pure, unmistakable Rimowa: a durable, anodised and ribbed aluminium shell, crafted in the brand’s historic Cologne factory. Those iconic grooves, by the way, aren’t just for show; they were inspired by the corrugated metal skin of pioneering 1920s aircraft to add strength while keeping the case light. The case is finished with the signature leather handle, security lock and mirror-polished applications.

But it’s what’s inside that truly elevates it. A custom-made insert holds a trove of 90g silver-plated treasures, all meticulously handmade by Robbe & Berking’s artisans. The set includes a pair of heavy Belvedere tumblers, a cocktail shaker in a design only available in this set, a measuring cup and exclusively designed coasters. Even the Belvedere bar spoon and the two drinking straws were developed in special sizes, just for this project. A silver-care set is, naturally, also included.

This collaboration is a perfect alignment of two brands obsessed with “precision, material authenticity and timelessness.” 

This extremely limited object is available now at all Robbe & Berking stores and online, with a small number also available at Rimowa stores worldwide.

photography. courtesy of Rimowa
words. Gennaro Costanzo