Purple Fever by Carlos Mota is a celebratory book that explores the color purple across its diverse manifestations in nature, art, interiors, and design. This color, traditionally associated with royalty, creativity, luxury, magic, and peace, is examined in everything from natural elements like lavender and amethyst to its presence in fashion, jewelry, and architecture. Following his previous work, Mota highlights purple's power to inspire creativity and mystery globally. The book showcases the astonishing variety of purple, ranging from the subtle hues of flowers like orchids and pansies to its use in famous artworks by artists such as Georgia O’Keeffe and Monet, and its appearance in items like royal robes and velvet upholstery. Illustrated with Mota's own photographs from his travels, alongside images by renowned photographers, the volume even includes rooms decorated in purple by notable designers, ultimately serving as a testament to the color's ability to inspire, excite, and fascinate.
Discover P.J. Joseph's blog, your guide to colored gemstones, diamonds, watches, jewelry, art, design, luxury hotels, food, travel, and more. Based in South Asia, P.J. is a gemstone analyst, writer, and responsible foodie featured on Al Jazeera, BBC, CNN, and CNBC. Disclosure: All images are digitally created for educational and illustrative purposes. Portions of the blog were human-written and refined with AI to support educational goals.
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Monday, December 29, 2025
Dior By Yuriko Takagi
The book Dior by Yuriko Takagi offers a unique artistic perspective on the most iconic Dior haute couture designs, featuring exclusive photography by Yuriko Takagi.
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Sunday, December 28, 2025
RetuRO: A Global Success Story
RetuRO, the company operating Romania's deposit return system (DRS) through a public-private partnership with beverage packaging manufacturers and the state, has achieved remarkable success since its launch in November 2023. CEO Gemma Webb described the project as a "zero to hero story," highlighting the system's effectiveness in collecting clean, highly recyclable products with low contamination and full traceability. As a result, RetuRO claims to be the largest fully integrated deposit return system globally. Between its launch and the end of September 2025, Romanians returned approximately 7.5 billion beverage containers, including 4 billion PET bottles, 2 billion metal cans, and 1.5 billion glass containers, resulting in the collection of over 500,000 tonnes of high-quality recyclable materials.
Schilthornbahn 20XX Project
The Schilthornbahn 20XX project outlines a plan to upgrade the cable car system. The section between Stechelberg and Mürren will feature a traditional cable car with a capacity of 800 passengers per hour, and will also incorporate fully automated logistics for goods and luggage. Above Mürren, the system will switch to Funifor cable cars connecting the stations of Birg and Schilthorn. The Funifor system was chosen for its excellent wind stability and its ability to utilize compact, low-rise station buildings. All new station buildings will adhere to an integrated architectural concept developed in collaboration with federal and cantonal cultural and heritage preservation offices.
Hotel Mürren Palace
The Hotel Mürren Palace, built in 1874, is a prominent landmark in Mürren and is nicknamed "Switzerland's first palace." Known for its elegance and grandeur, the hotel has a history of hosting high-profile guests, including celebrity skiers and Hollywood actors like Rita Hayworth. During the 20th Century, its opulent ballroom served as a key meeting point for high society.
Saturday, December 27, 2025
James Hemings: Ghost In America's Kitchen
James Hemings, often called America's "culinary founding father," was an enslaved chef whose significant contributions to American cuisine have been erased from history. This work seeks to highlight his life, achievements (such as introducing French cooking techniques and famous dishes to America), and his subsequent neglect by using the research of food historians and experts on race and the African American diaspora.
Azzedine Alaïa's Dior Collection
An exceptional joint exhibition is being presented by La Galerie Dior and the Azzedine Alaïa Foundation. The exhibit focuses on Azzedine Alaïa's deep admiration for and collection of Christian Dior's work, highlighting Alaïa not just as a designer, but as a collector of Dior's history.
REI Exclusive And Recommended Trips
These are special outdoor adventure trips recommended by and exclusive to REI, which were developed in partnership with the travel company Intrepid. Essentially, they are unique, high-quality outdoor trips designed by REI and run by Intrepid.







