At the end of last year, we sat down with our friend Clayton Chambers to talk about the rise of his inspirational menswear platform, Sprezza, and to hear his perspectives on the state of online content and media. We first connected with Clayton in early 2023, right after he had landed in Amsterdam, where he was planning to stay for a few months. We had discovered his inspiring newsletter sometime the year before. Sprezza had launched as a side project during the pandemic, delivering weekly dispatches of Clayton's (micro-)trend-focused observations, outspoken opinions on style, and his personal tastes in contemporary menswear. In many ways, it reminded us of the blogosphere, translated into today’s digital landscape. A few months after our initial meeting, we collaborated on a dinner activation for Atelier Munro during Pitti 104. Soon after, Clayton’s time in Amsterdam ended, but in the second half of that year, Sprezza really started to take off. [ Continue reading ]

Another year in the books. An interesting and beautiful one, with lots of expected and some unexpected changes. With familiar and unfamiliar challenges and destinations. And most happiness to be found in being with the right people. Old and new friends and collaborators. At the right time and place. In all aspects of our lives. (Thank you all!!!) It marked the end of our time in-house creative directing Atelier Munro and the beginning of our independent consultancy practice. It also turned out to be a year in which a lot has been written about what we’ve felt for some years now: how sameness is killing the distinctive quality of our (creative) culture. And how we have to keep on pushing newness even if people don’t think they need it (they are very wrong!). [ Continue reading ]

Wrapping up another year around the sun with our annual Another Playlists and Another Gift Guide. With all the things we love to buy and all new music we have enjoyed in the last 12 months. [ Continue reading ]

As we gear up to share our favorite music of 2024 later this month, one album that won’t be on our official list —but has undoubtedly been our top pick— is Cindy Lee's Diamond Jubilee. Unfortunately, it isn’t available on Apple Music or Spotify, making it a hidden gem that lives outside the mainstream. This hauntingly beautiful record deserves its own spotlight as one of the most captivating releases of the year.
Diamond Jubilee is the perfect example of not following conventions and highlights the project’s signature blend of haunting melodies and raw, vintage textures. Created by Patrick Flegel, formerly of the band Women, this album explores themes of heartbreak, isolation, and transcendence, enveloped in dreamy, lo-fi aesthetics. Critics, including Pitchfork, praised its ability to evoke a powerful sense of nostalgia while maintaining a deeply emotional core, solidifying its place as one of the year's standout releases. [ Continue reading ]

We recently met up with Rop (/Rob) van Mierlo and Remco van der Velden to speak about their brand Wild Animals. Having just moved into a new space in the north of Amsterdam, which opened the week before our visit, they explained how a new phase is about to start. Having just introduced two new directions of products that will be available next season named Patterns and Flowers, for the first time moving beyond depictions of animals, they are ready to show the wide range of Rop’s signature wet-on-wet aesthetic.

The current moment also marks the end of a period that was dominated by three major brand collaborations, out of which the H&M kids wear partnership had by far the most impact on the duo. It introduced their work to a global audience, but at the same time (for the first time in their existence) it alienated some of their core followers that didn’t appreciate the fast fashion affiliation. Now, they are ready to move on, with a myriad of new insights, and with the space (financially and time-wise) to finally start growing their Wild universe into new realms. [ Continue reading ]

Shots from the road by Joachim taken in Toronto and all the way up to the Bruce Peninsula National Park, while shooting our third Raze Sports collaboration (our first freelance project) with Mounir and Milan that was officially launched today. The series was something that had been on our mind since the beginning of our Atelier Munro endeavours in the context of the NHL in 2022 and after finally getting it done became our undisputed favourite campaign to date: presenting Mark Giordano, Andrew Mangiapane, Ty Dellandrea and Zach Hyman as 'The AM Team'. Taking the concept of the tunnel fit, that has been part of the NHL's culture for only a few years now (which we spoke about for the campaign with Sportsnet culture journalist/host Donnovan Bennett), and perfecting it to present the brand's three main made-to-measure fabric categories: the (seasonal) Fall/Winter 2024 Signature Collection, the (permanent) 365 Essential fabrics collection and finally a special AM Team capsule collection with perennial styles for classic and casual items out of the offering. [ Continue reading ]

Shots from the road by Joachim taken in the Swiss ski resort of Zermatt and up the Alps towards the Matterhorn, while shooting the Atelier Munro Fall/Winter 2024 Signature Collection. Like the former Signature Collection, we collaborated with Wendy on photography and Milan returned doing the film. Having officially launched last month, the series marks our changed roles in relationship to the brand as it is the final project while operating in-house. The campaign is shot in a wonderful chalet overlooking the iconic village in the south of Switserland. From outside, architect (amongst other things) Heinz Julen’s creation very much appears to be another traditional wooden cabin, but once inside, the 300 sqaure feet loft shows an elegant clash of concrete, steel and glass. The loft also formed the perfect base to move up the mountains, first overlooking Zermatt and finally all the way towards the Matterhorn where we set up for a full day of shooting in the sun. [ Continue reading ]