Lagom magazine issue 10 is available now on loremnotipsum.com. In our tenth issue, Niko Dafkos, co-founder of Earl of East, comments that finding a work/life balance is too hard, that perhaps we should look more to a work/life integration instead. This sentiment has resonated with us and, if nothing else, cements the idea that, when trying to find a comfortable balance between the many different directions in which we’re pulled, balance will always be subjective: it’ll always be subject to change, and there’s no right or wrong way to go about finding it.
Lagom is a lifestyle magazine connecting a global community of like-minded creatives who care about thoughtful design, independent travel, and a balanced approach to life. ‘Lagom’ is a Swedish word with no direct English translation, but loosely describes the concept of having just the right amount of something: not too little, not too much. This general theme of leading a balanced life pervades every issue of Lagom and guides us to new stories. The magazine is divided into three distinct sections: Visit, Create, and Unwind. Moving through each issue is a journey, looking behind the doors of inspirational workspaces, hotels, restaurants, and homes from around the world; meeting the entrepreneurs, makers, and craftspeople creating truly unique work; and winding down to learn about the pastimes and hobbies that help attain that all-important sense of balance in our busy, modern lives. Unlike many lifestyle magazines, we eschew pomposity and keep our feet well and truly on the ground, celebrating people rather than image. We care about the personal stories behind the products and the motivations of the world’s creatives.
Content
The Lagom Guide to Tokyo’s Coffee Scene
Japanophile and coffee-lover Geri Coady provides a guide to the best coffee shops in Tokyo — one of the most exciting cities to visit for fans of speciality brew. And, with a little nod to the epic Prague coffee guide we had in our fifth issue, we felt it was only fitting to run another coffee-flavoured special feature for our tenth. Grab a cup and enjoy.
Hotel Galery69, Stawiguda
Opened out of a true passion for art rather than for commercial gain, this hotel has been lovingly decked out with paintings, sculptures, and furniture handmade by its owners — artists who became hoteliers almost by chance. Małgosia and Wojtek Żółtowsky can’t help but put art at the centre of everything they do, and their beautiful hotel is no exception.
Home & Studio Visit: Bembien
When we first discovered Bembien, the fashion accessories brand founded by former Vogue staffer Yi-Mei Truxes, we knew this tastemaker would have a beautiful home. But it was only after talking to her in person that we learned about the incredible story behind her studio, and we knew it was worth bending our own rules a little to take readers on a tour of her home and studio — located just four blocks from each other in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
Business Spotlight: Earl of East
From humble beginnings running a stall at London’s iconic Netil Market, Earl of East founders Paul Firmin and Niko Dafkos taught themselves how to make candles, built a thriving business on the top of these skills, opened two bricks-and-mortar lifestyle stores to showcase their output and products by their favourite indie brands, and wrote a book — all in the space of five years, and all while balancing day jobs.
…and many more.
Details: Lagom Magazine – Issue 10
100 pages, perfect-bound, and printed on uncoated stock (300gsm cover, 140gsm interior) with a foil-blocked, soft-touch laminated cover.
