A NEW CHAPTER FOR AN ICONIC (& VERY COMFORTABLE!) ARMCHAIR
Luxury furniture house Maker&Son has joined forces with Sydney’s Studio ALM for a bold collaboration that reimagines “the most comfortable chair in the world.”
2 min
Luxury furniture brand Maker&Son, renowned for its deep-seated armchair often described as the most comfortable in the world, has announced its first-ever collaboration – a partnership with Sydney’s Studio ALM.
The project redefines a classic by offering something new: the ability to reinvent the chair through interchangeable covers, without changing its timeless essence. It is a meeting of permanence and play, rooted in craftsmanship but alive with creative experimentation.
For this collaboration, Studio ALM took its cues from a broad spectrum of cultural influences.
The bold textiles and colour stories of Australian designers Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson provided a starting point, along with the graphic dynamism of Sonia Delaunay and the irreverent French designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac.
That spirit of pattern and fearless colour was further energised through ZigZag Zurich, the Swiss textile brand whose Memphis-style ethos and community-driven design added a contemporary spark.
The results are fabrics that are far more than decorative. They are graphic and textured, charged with energy and intent. Merino wools and cottons appear alongside hand-dyed cottons created by rural cooperatives in Senegal, giving each piece a global resonance.
Among the designs are Mayen by Kleopatra Moursela, evoking alpine landscapes through geometric harmony; Gate and Japan by Nathalie Du Pasquier and George Sowden, founders of the Memphis movement; Rimini One by Sophie Probst, a modern celebration of weaving and colour; Senegalese Patchwork, exclusive hand-dyed cottons; Karo by ZigZag Zurich, a vibrant pink checkerboard; and Shake Your Move by Milanese designer Federico Angi, which combines precision with playful rhythm.
The collaboration is also available through the brand’s showrooms and selected online platforms. For Maker&Son, the partnership reinforces its position as a brand synonymous with soulful comfort, meticulous detailing and natural materials.
For Studio ALM, it marks another chapter in its ongoing mission to surprise and spark delight by weaving together art, craft and design from across the globe.
A resurgence in high-end travel to Egypt is being driven by museum openings, private river journeys and renewed long-term investment along the Nile.
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A resurgence in high-end travel to Egypt is being driven by museum openings, private river journeys and renewed long-term investment along the Nile.
2 minAbercrombie & Kent says demand for Egypt is rising sharply across its key markets, with the destination now ranking among the company’s top performing regions for 2026.
The luxury travel group reports strong year-on-year growth across the UK, US and Australia, spanning private journeys, small group itineraries and high-end celebration travel.
Some Egypt itineraries in the US market have more than doubled compared with last year, while forward bookings already extend into 2027.
Industry observers point to a renewed confidence in Egypt as a destination, underpinned by significant cultural investment and a growing appetite for deeper, more personalised travel experiences.
One of the main catalysts has been the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, located beside the Giza Plateau.
The museum, the largest in the world dedicated to a single civilisation, brings together the full collection of Tutankhamun’s treasures for the first time and has reignited interest in Cairo as a standalone cultural destination rather than a gateway stop.
Abercrombie & Kent’s Senior Vice President, Egypt, Amr Badr, said: “The opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum has been transformative – we’ve seen a significant surge in enquiries since November, and the calibre of traveller is remarkable.
“These are culturally curious guests seeking genuine immersion rather than surface-level touring.
“They’re booking private after-hours access to the museum, arranging consultations with Egyptologists, and approaching Egypt with the same intentionality they’d bring to any major cultural pilgrimage.
“Egypt has always been extraordinary, but 2026 feels like a renaissance moment – the perfect convergence of world-class infrastructure and a new generation discovering why this civilisation has captivated humanity for millennia.”
According to Abercrombie & Kent, British travellers are increasingly pairing museum-led experiences in Cairo with classic Nile journeys, while demand is also rising for private dahabiya charters and bespoke river itineraries.
In Australia, repeat high-spend travellers are returning to Egypt for milestone celebrations, often opting for private touring and exclusive access experiences.
The company is responding with further long-term investment along the Nile. Later this year it will launch Nile Seray, a new luxury riverboat that will feature in a private journey debuting in 2026.
A second vessel has already been commissioned, signalling confidence in sustained demand for high-end river travel in the region.
Egypt occupies a central place in the company’s history. Founder Geoffrey Kent first introduced Nile cruising to the brand in the late 1970s with the SS Memnon, laying the foundations for what has since become one of its most enduring destinations.
Nile Seray is now accepting reservations for departures from October 2026, with four-night voyages priced from USD $3,125 per person.
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