Made in Italy, style and technology – Design and Italian fashion were again major features in the foreign press. First, there was the agreement between Luxottica and Intel to design the glasses of the future. The partnership’s first product will be ready in 2015, explained the Wall Street Journal (December 3 – Intel to Make Smart Eyewear With Luxottica*),Reuters (December 3 – Luxottica signs deal with Intel to develop computerised eyewear) and Les Echos (December 4 – L’italien Luxottica s’allie à Intel pour développer les « lunettes du futur »).
According to the New York Times, Prada is also interested in technology, presenting a new web site with the aim of increasing its e-commerce (December 3 – Prada Dabbles in More Digital Devilry).
The Financial Times concentrated on major names in the fashion industry, dedicated a profile to the Italian designer Riccardo Tisci (28 –Givenchy’s Riccardo Tisci: the goth Samaritan*) and El Pais Semanal dedicated a long interview with Diego Della Valle (December 3 – “Para que la gente tenga confianza en Italia, hay que decir la verdad”).
Wine, coffee and truffe – Food and wine as always were topics of interest. The Wall Street Journal discovered all the cocktails and possible combinations with Cardamaro (November 28 – Cardamaro: A Cocktail Option for the Pinot Grigio Set), while the Times reported on how Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforett took a zero gravity espresso coffee pot designed by Lavazza (November 29 – Astronauts on the International Space Station Can Now Enjoy Espresso). Meanwhile, the New York Times, suggested a low-budget way to taste truffles and Barolo in Piedmont (December 2 – Truffles and Barolo in Piedmont, the Frugal Way).
Art and tourism – There were also several article on art and tourism. Le Monde went to Turin to visit the provocative exhibition “Shit and Die” by Maurizio Cattelan (November 29 – Le diable se réveille à Turin). The report of the Wall Street Journal ran a more classic piece on the works of the Italian Renaissance, as explained by Isabella Stewart Gardner of the Boston Museum (December 2 –‘Donatello, Michelangelo, Cellini’ Reviewed).
Die Welt discovered a Venice, between reality and illusion (November 30 Die Venezia GmbH macht die Stadt zur Illusion), and the New York Times gave advice on visiting the Cinque Terre (November 28 – The Cinque Terre on a Budget) and a long trip from Venice to Ravello, to rediscover, from a new point of view, the most famous places in Italy (December 2 – Familiar Places, Seen Anew on a Tour).
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