miu miu literary club 2026 | politics of desire

Cupra.

Cupra has officially ignited its next era of electric performance, orchestrating a coordinated, multi-city world premiere to launch the highly anticipated ‘Cupra Raval.’ The Spanish brand took directly to the streets to reveal its first 100% electric urban vehicle, carrying out a synchronised cultural takeover across twelve major European cities, anchored by a massive institutional event and public concert in the heart of Barcelona.

The launch event serves as a literal homecoming for the brand, whose headquarters and production line at Martorell have been designated as the epicentre for the Volkswagen Group’s future urban electric vehicle push. To mark the vehicle’s debut, Cupra transformed its iconic central venue into the ‘Casa Cupra Raval,’ celebrating the vibrant, non-conformist spirit of the Barcelona neighbourhood that gave the car its name. The street-level reveal in late April culminated in a public concert at Plaça Catalunya headlined by Nathy Peluso, while simultaneous musical events fired up across Europe – featuring Disiz in Paris, Kim Petras in Berlin, Chase & Status and Lancey Foux in Manchester, and Mahmood in Milan. Now, the brand is maintaining that momentum in Spain, displaying the physical production models to the public for the first time as part of an immersive local showcase.

Cupra.

The vehicle itself acts as a radical interpretation of compact mobility, compressing signature performance dynamics into a manoeuvrable four-metre footprint. Built upon the advanced MEB+ platform, the Raval mimics the aggressive, low-slung stance of a performance hatchback while delivering the interior spaciousness and 441-litre boot capacity typically reserved for higher vehicle segments. The exterior design is dominated by a sharp “shark nose” front end, flush illuminated door handles that deploy automatically upon approach and highly detailed Matrix LED headlights that instinctively adjust to changing road conditions.

Personalisation takes a futuristic turn with the bodywork options, marking the first time a Cupra model has ever been made available with an iridescent Plasma paint finish. This innovative coating shifts dramatically through shades of cyan, blue, indigo and rose red depending entirely on how the daylight interacts with the sculpted body lines. This colour-shifting skin sits alongside exclusive matte paints like Manganese and Century Bronze, which can be paired with a contrasting bi-colour roof in Manhattan Grey or Midnight Black.

Cupra.

At the apex of the launch lineup is the performance-driven VZ Extreme edition, which channels the brand’s racing essence through a front-wheel-drive powertrain delivering 166kW (226PS) and a 0-100km/h sprint time of 6.8 seconds. The VZ trim sits on a sport chassis lowered by 15mm, using an electronic slip differential (e-LSD) to manage torque distribution through tight corners and progressive steering for direct front-axle engagement. Drivers can freely customise the ride quality through Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) with 15 selectable levels of damper stiffness.

Inside, the driver-centric cabin relies on an immersive Smart Light Next Generation setup that functions as an intuitive communication layer, casting dynamic animations onto the door panels during performance moments like the E-Launch function. The cockpit is anchored by a 12.9-inch infotainment unit powered by a native Android OS, complemented by a 12-speaker Sennheiser Sound System using psychoacoustic technologies to deliver a rich, enveloping soundscape. 

Sustainability takes precedence via the top-tier ‘AHEAD’ pack, which introduces bucket seats crafted on demand using an innovative 3D-knitting technique from 100% recycled materials to eliminate factory textile waste.

Cupra.

The electric architecture supports a net energy capacity of 52 kWh for the NMC battery variants, delivering a maximum range of up to 446km. Out on the highway, DC fast-charging capacity of up to 105kW allows the battery to replenish from 10% to 80% in just 24 minutes, supported by an integrated e-Route Planner and automated Plug & Charge functionality to streamline public infrastructure navigation.

Series production is scheduled to begin immediately at the Martorell plant, with the first wave of market deliveries hitting European roads this summer. Discover more here.

photography. courtesy of Cupra
words. Gennaro Costanzo

Marshall.

Sixty years have passed since a young American guitarist wandered into Jim Marshall’s Hanwell drum shop, carrying a Fender Stratocaster and an appetite for volume. Mitch Mitchell, the drummer who later joined the Jimi Hendrix Experience, spent his Saturday evenings working behind that same counter, eventually introducing the two men who would define the sound of rock. Marshall is commemorating their seismic encounter with the ‘Hendrix 60th Anniversary Collection,’ a series of limited releases where cosmic aesthetics meet high-voltage engineering.

In a heartfelt letter to Marshall’s fans, Janie Hendrix, President and CEO of Experience Hendrix, notes that the pairing went far beyond a standard hardware arrangement. “The Marshall x Hendrix collaboration was the cultivation of new techniques and extreme ideas for their time that elevated the entire medium of sound,” she writes. “They brought something new that changed the way music was heard. That’s where the legacy began.” She recalls discussing the cosmic nature of the alliance with Jim Marshall himself, marvelling at how the stars aligned given that they shared the names James and Marshall – Jim’s surname being Jimi’s legal middle name.

The design leans directly into Hendrix’s obsession with velvet, silver trinkets and stargazing science fiction. Emma Rydahl, Senior Industrial Designer at the Marshall Group, admits the team spent months spinning psychedelic tracks on repeat while testing fabrics to ensure the visual rhythm hit the right note. “From his fashion to his lyrics to – of course – his music, there are countless stories we could tell about Hendrix. A lot of time has flowed into the fine-tuning of the final design, so that in the end everything is coherent across the entire collection,” she explains.

Marshall.

Marshall.

The result is a total overhaul of the Acton III Bluetooth speaker, wrapped in plush, tactile velvet and finished with a silver control panel, purple knobs and matching LEDs that feel delightfully unstuck in time. Even the power-up noise has been customised, greeting listeners with rare instrumental snippets from his 1968 track ‘Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland).’

For the purists who prefer their nostalgia at a volume that threatens the structural integrity of their windows, the jewel of the drop is the 1959 JMH Half Stack. Hand-wired in Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, the monolithic setup features a cosmic oil-on-water swirl of black and purple across the front grille, punctuated by silver hardware inspired by Hendrix’s personal jewellery. It comes bundled with a matching Dunlop Fuzz Face® distortion pedal to faithfully recreate that raw, biting snarl that rattled Woodstock. 

Terry Marshall, co-founder of the company, claims that the pairing was entirely elemental: “Jimi was an extraordinary musician, a true force of nature. He played Marshall, so we wanted Marshall. We undoubtedly grew alongside his fame.”

Bringing this legacy into the contemporary space, the campaign imagery features Austin-based independent artist Zach Person. Person, whose raw approach to the blues-rock genre frequently draws comparisons to the late guitarist, represents the modern continuation of that same sonic disruption.

With hints of further collaborative drops scheduled for later in the year, Marshall is making it clear that while Hendrix might have left the stage decades ago, the frequency he discovered remains completely dialled in.

Marshall.

The Hendrix 60th Anniversary Collection is now available online, with the Acton III bundle including two themed T-shirts. Pre-orders for the hand-built Half Stack are also open, followed by a wider release at selected retailers starting 14 May. Discover more here.

photography. courtesy of Marshall
words. Gennaro Costanzo

Db.

When Erling Haaland is involved, the word ‘icon’ usually refers to a record-breaking hat-trick or a physics-defying leap into the Manchester City history books. But today, Db is lending his status to something a little more literal – and significantly more industrial.

This week, the Scandinavian travel brand is officially pulling the curtain back on the Ramverk™ Alu, a next-generation aluminium luggage line that expands on the brand’s award-winning Pro framework. Every component here has been built from scratch to endure the chaos of international transit without sacrificing the minimalist aesthetic that first made the brand a favourite among the surf and ski communities.

Db.

For those who followed Db since its early days as ‘Douchebags’ (the brand’s polarising original name), this launch represents a coming-of-age. The company has moved from the irreverent outlier of the ski world to a B Corp-certified design house backed by LVMH Luxury Ventures. The Ramverk™ Alu is their attempt to disrupt the aluminium hardcase market – a space traditionally dominated by heritage German brands – by rejecting “off-the-shelf” parts in favour of custom-moulded wheel housings and edge frames.

Haaland, who stars in the campaign, joined the brand as a strategic partner in June 2025 alongside fashion model Gustav Witzøe when they teased the aluminium line during a holiday cameo for their ‘It’s just Db’ campaign. The Man City striker and Db investor’s personality – a sort of mix of intense focus and blank Nordic humour (see his burgeoning YouTube channel for proof) – matches Db’s own brand voice: serious about the product, but never taking themselves too seriously.

Db.

Engineering takes a front seat with a rivet-less shell construction that keeps the exterior clean while allowing for easier repairs. On the inside, the centre frame structure acts as a stable spine to increase impact absorption, while the trolley handle uses a unibody aluminium housing to eliminate the wobble found in subpar alternatives. The carry handles are particularly tactile, swapping standard plastic for a refined textile material that provides a more ergonomic grip.

Available in both cabin and check-in sizes, the line maintains the brand’s signature Hook-Up System™, allowing users to attach existing backpacks for a one-handed stroll through the terminal.

Db.

The Ramverk™ Alu is available now at Db’s online store and select global stockists. Discover more here.

photography. courtesy of Db
words. Gennaro Costanzo