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.”
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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 long-standing cultural cruise and a new expedition-style offering will soon operate side by side in French Polynesia.
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A long-standing cultural cruise and a new expedition-style offering will soon operate side by side in French Polynesia.
3 minFrom late 2026 and into 2027, PONANT Explorations Group will base two ships in French Polynesia, offering travellers a choice between a culturally immersive classic and a far more exploratory deep-Pacific experience.
The move builds on more than 25 years of operating in the region with the iconic m/s Paul Gauguin, while introducing the expedition-focused Le Jacques Cartier to venture into lesser-known waters.
Together, the two vessels will cover all five Polynesian archipelagos — the Society, Tuamotu, Austral, Gambier and Marquesas Islands — as well as the remote Pitcairn Islands.
THE PAUL GAUGUIN: CULTURAL IMMERSION, POLYNESIAN STYLE
Long regarded as the benchmark for cruising in French Polynesia, m/s Paul Gauguin will remain based year-round in the region.
Renovated in 2025, the ship continues to focus on relaxed, culturally rich journeys with extended port stays designed to allow guests to experience daily life across the islands.
A defining feature of the onboard experience is the presence of the Gauguins and Gauguines — Polynesian hosts who share local traditions through music, dance and hands-on workshops, including weaving and craft demonstrations.
The atmosphere is deliberately intimate and internationally minded, catering to travellers seeking depth rather than distance.
Across the 2026–27 seasons, the ship will operate 66 departures, primarily across the Society Islands, Tuamotu and Marquesas, with select voyages extending to Fiji, Tonga and the Cook Islands.
LE JACQUES CARTIER: EXPLORATION AT THE EDGE
Le Jacques Cartier introduces a more adventurous dimension to PONANT’s Polynesian offering, with itineraries focused on the least visited corners of the South Pacific.
The ship will debut three new “Discovery” itineraries, each 14 nights in length, which can also be combined into a single, extended 42-night voyage — the most comprehensive Polynesian itinerary currently available.
In total, the combined journey spans six archipelagos, 23 islands and the Pitcairn Islands, a British Overseas Territory rarely included on cruise itineraries.
Unlike the Paul Gauguin’s cultural focus, Le Jacques Cartier centres on exploration.
Each day includes one guided activity led by local experts, with excursions conducted via tenders, local boats and zodiacs. Scuba diving is available on board, supported by a resident instructor.
Across the 2026–27 period, the ship will operate nine departures, offering a deliberately limited and low-impact presence in some of the Pacific’s most isolated communities.
THREE NEW DISCOVERY ITINERARIES
The new itineraries aboard Le Jacques Cartier include:
– Secret Polynesia: Unexplored Tuamotu, the Gambier Islands and the Austral Islands
– From Confidential French Polynesia to Pitcairn Island
– Polynesian Bliss: Marquesas and Tuamotu
Each voyage departs from Papeete, with prices starting from $15,840 per person.
SCOUTING THE PACIFIC’S MOST REMOTE COMMUNITIES
In preparation for the new itineraries, PONANT Explorations Group undertook extensive scouting across the Austral and Tuamotu Islands to develop activities in collaboration with local communities.
José Sarica, the group’s R&D Expedition Experience Director, worked directly with residents to design experiences including welcome ceremonies, cultural workshops and visits to marae, the region’s sacred open-air temples.
Six new ports of call have been confirmed as part of this process, spanning both the Tuamotu and Austral archipelagos.
SIX NEW PORTS OF CALL CONFIRMED
New stopovers include:
– Mataiva, known for its rare mosaic lagoon
– Hikueru, home to one of the largest lagoons in the Tuamotus
– Makemo, noted for its red-footed boobies and frigatebirds
– Raivavae, famed for its crystal-clear lagoon pools
– Tubuai, rich in marae and spiritual heritage
– Rurutu, known for limestone caves and seasonal humpback whale sightings
A DUAL EXPERIENCE, ONE DESTINATION
By pairing its long-established cultural voyages with expedition-led exploration, PONANT Explorations Group is positioning French Polynesia not as a single experience, but as two distinct journeys — one grounded in tradition and comfort, the other pushing into the furthest reaches of the Pacific.
For travellers seeking either immersion or discovery, the South Pacific is about to feel both familiar and entirely new.
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