So Kawaii

Weekend Max Mara celebrates its newest collection of Pasticcino bags dedicated to the Land of the Rising Sun. JASMINE ALIMIN reports from Kyoto in this ELLE Singapore exclusive.

- JASMINE ALIMIN

"Believe in craftsmanship, live a little slower, appreciate beauty and enjoy fashion," chirps Nicola Gerber Maramotti, consumer channel director of Max Mara. She's speaking to me under an outdoor pavilion at the Fufu Hotel in Kyoto, where the cool spring air and soft gurgle of a tranquil man-made waterfall conspire to lull us both into a blissfully zen and reflective mood.

During our relaxed conversation, Maramotti talks about the origins of Weekend Max Mara, launched as an offshoot of the main Max Mara collection to offer sophisticated, relaxed pieces and casual outdoor wear for women with a spirit for adventure and wanderlust.

I ask her what her hope is for fans of the brand. Reiterating the brand’s mantra, she wishes for everyone to shop more consciously, but more importantly, to enjoy the process of discovery: “Discovery is fascinating. It keeps you alive. It keeps your life colourful.”

And so she brings me on a journey of discovery of the Pasticcino bag. This trip to Kyoto was organised by Weekend Max Mara to introduce the “Treasures of Japan” edition of the Pasticcino World Tour bag collection, which showcases the craftsmanship of some of Kyoto’s most respected artisans.