Five international women take M&V on an insider’s tour of their favorite cities. Read their recommendations by clicking on the cities and names below.
Every year for the past ten years, Irene Bertucci lives six months in Rome and six months elsewhere, anywhere. She is the girl with the suitcase, a modern nomad, “but I always come back to this chaotic and complex city.” The statuesque blonde is president and co-owner of Eidos, a school of journalism that offers post-graduate masters in radio, TV and fashion journalism, communications and media relations, as well as vice president for MST, a company that promotes “Made in Italy” events.
São Paulo with Leila T. Kallop
Born and raised in Taubate, a small town an hour from São Paulo, Leila T. Kallop moved to Brazil’s largest city while in high school. In late 2012 she launched LTBrazil.com, an e-commerce boutique specializing in Brazilian designers. “I immediately felt that Brazilian fashion was going to be loved by Americans.” Her permanent residency is in South Florida, but Kallop travels to São Paulo throughout the year to meet designers and to discover new collections for the site.
Copenhagen with Ann Sophie Stærk
No matter where she resides, Copenhagen will always be close to Ann Sophie Stærk’s heart. Her Danish hometown is a tranquil city and its nature and design play a strong part in her artwork. In 2004 she adopted New York City as her home base when she was accepted into The International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP), the premier residency-based contemporary art center in the United States for artists and curators. Commissioned by companies to create grand-scale murals, Stærk is working on a mural for a new building in Tokyo, Japan to be unveiled in 2015.
Originally from Ankara, Turkey, Ipek Irgit practically grew up in Istanbul, where her parents are from. “Even when I was young I was fascinated by the rhythm, diversity, history and mysticism of the city. I wanted to stay in Istanbul as much as I could and dreaded going back to Ankara.” Now a New York transplant, Irgit is the owner and designer of KIINI, a line of swimwear and beach accessories that is sold at boutiques like Miami’s Webster. The entrepreneur is quick to tell you that although she has New York roots now, she always makes time for her Turkish friends back in Istanbul.
Malini Ramani’s life is a magical blend of east and west. Born in New York and raised in India, the designer’s aspires to push creative boundaries in multiple ways. Most recently, she founded Dreamscape, a lifestyle store in Goa that showcases paintings, elephant statues, mirrors and other knickknacks and artifacts selected from Ramani’s worldly travels. Her eponymous clothing boutique is a staple in Goa as is Congo, her upscale lounge bar located in the heart of Candolim. Last year, Ramani teamed up with footwear company Bata India, a first of its kind collaboration for both Ramini and the company.
