Tasaki opens second London space with permanent counter in Selfridges
Japanese jewellery Maison Tasaki is to have a permanent presence in Selfridges ' Wonder Room in its London flagship on Oxford Street.
The company, which is the world's principal producer of Akoya pearls and the only De Beers sight-holder in Japan, said this new permanent presence at the store comes after a successful 70th Anniversary Floating Shell Exhibition pop-up there that ran from last November until February.
The new counter marks the brand's second point of sale in the UK and comes some time after it opened its first European flagship store on New Bond Street, London, in March 2019.
While Selfridges is just a stone's throw from New Bond Street, its destination status for a wide variety of local and international shoppers makes it a must-be-there location in London's West End.
The new opening adds to the more than 100 points of sale the Maison has globally, most of which are in Asia.
So what will be the focus at Selfridges? Tasaki will showcase its Akoya Pearl designs, featured across both high and fine jewellery collections including balance, danger and chants. There will also be pieces from its Atelier High Jewellery collection such as the Cascade high jewellery parure, which highlights paraiba tourmaline set on white gold, cascading waterfalls of Akoya Pearls all punctuated by diamonds.
Kimura-San, the company's EMEA/US head who's also MD of Tasaki UK & France, said the opening follows a strong reception to the pop-up last year and is 'a significant milestone' in its journey in the UK.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Euronews
an hour ago
- Euronews
Eurostar plans direct trains from the UK to Germany and Switzerland
Europe's rail renaissance is showing no signs of slowing as high-speed rail operator Eurostar reveals ambitious plans to expand its network. The company says it will introduce direct train connections from London to Germany and Switzerland, in what it calls the dawn of a "new golden age of international sustainable travel". The operator is also enhancing its existing offering by increasing services on popular routes. Here's what travellers can look forward to. Eurostar's proposed expansion includes establishing direct rail links between London St Pancras International and two key European destinations: Frankfurt in Germany and Geneva in Switzerland. The company plans to invest approximately €2 billion to acquire a substantial fleet of up to 50 new trains for the routes. These new services are expected to begin operating during the early 2030s and aim to rival air travel for the same trips. And journey times make the rail alternative attractive. Passengers travelling between London and Frankfurt can expect to arrive in approximately five hours, while those heading to Geneva will make the journey in around five hours and 20 minutes. Eurostar has not yet released details on intermediate stops and whether passengers will have the flexibility to get on and off at various points along the route. The new services are particularly aimed at business travel, with Eurostar's Chief Executive, Gwendoline Cazenave, highlighting that the destinations are 'big financial hubs'. Frankfurt and Geneva are also tourist hotspots, filled with culture, striking architecture and international events. Dates for the launch remain approximate as there are still several logistical challenges to implementing these new routes. These include expanding passenger facilities at destination stations, establishing new border control checkpoints, and securing track access agreements. Despite these hurdles, Cazenave remains optimistic about the project's success, citing strong commitment from Eurostar, passenger demand, and government support. Eurostar's expanded fleet will also enable it to increase frequency on popular routes. This includes boosting daily return services between London and Paris from 17 to 20. The company has also confirmed plans to introduce a fourth daily return service between St Pancras and Amsterdam beginning on 9 September, with a fifth service added from mid-December. Currently, Eurostar operates services connecting London to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, and seasonal routes to the French Alps during the winter sports season. It also runs train links within Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands. The operator transported 19.5 million passengers last year - a five per cent increase from 18.6 million in 2023. The London-Paris route proved most popular with 280,000 passengers, followed by London-Brussels with 250,000 passengers. While Eurostar currently enjoys a monopoly on passenger services through the Channel Tunnel, several competitors are developing plans to challenge this, including Virgin Group, Italy's FS Italiane Group, and Gemini Trains. If you're looking for a paradisiacal seaside escape this summer, this new ranking might help you choose between Europe's myriad coastal delights. Each year, Tripadvisor, the world's largest travel guidance platform, releases a list of the world's top beaches based on reviews left by travellers on their website. Four European beaches made the top ten of their Travellers' Choice Awards: Best of the Best Beaches for 2025 - including one that took the top spot. Here's where to find the best beaches in Europe for 2025. The analysis of Tripadvisor reviews concluded that travellers' favourite seaside spot in Europe for 2025 is Elafonissi Beach on the island of Crete. The Greek beach is back on the list for the first time in four years, soaring up 23 places to secure the number one spot. It is famous for its pale pink sand, which one reviewer described as 'breathtaking' at sunset. The beach has shallow lagoons perfect for paddling with children and deeper waters for swimming and snorkelling. Nature-lovers can take a cool hike in the surrounding forest of cedar trees or spot birds on the sandbanks. The fifth spot was taken by Praia da Falésia in Portugal's Algarve region. The beach is known for its sweep of dramatic, ochre cliffs, rising up 70 metres above the sand in some places. A scenic footpath runs along the top with sensational views. Down by the shore, the six kilometres of golden sands are perfect for sunbathing while beachgoers can take to the sparkling blue waters for swimming and body surfing. According to Tripadvisor reviews, the best time to visit is from April to October, when the weather is warm and sunny with minimal rainfall. The shoulder seasons of May to June and September to October also offer pleasant temperatures and fewer crowds. Playa de Muro Beach in Mallorca, Spain, came in eighth place. Fringed by pine trees, it is a family-friendly spot with long stretches of golden sand and plenty of options for watersports. You can easily spend an entire day here, strolling, sunbathing, snorkelling, paddleboarding, or swimming in the warm sea. There are toilets, showers, and lifeguards on duty, and parking is free, or you can arrive by public transportation. With a Mediterranean climate of hot, dry summers and mild winters, the best time to visit is between July and August. Another Greek coastal spot came in 10th place. Surrounded by mountains, Myrtos Beach on the island of Kefalonia is the perfect scenic spot for a peaceful beach day. Travellers recommend taking a dip in the cobalt blue waters or going snorkelling, then grabbing a bite at a coffee shop nearby. It rarely gets crowded, so there's plenty of space to hang out and just enjoy the vibe. Visit in the spring from May to June or in early autumn for pleasant weather and fewer crowds.
France 24
2 hours ago
- France 24
French Senate to vote on regulating fast fashion
The bill is targeted at Chinese-founded e-commerce giant Shein, which has a reputation for selling lower quality clothes at a very low price. Easy to order and replace, fast fashion items are exported to France on a large scale, causing pollution and saturating markets. Adopted by the lower house National Assembly in March 2024, the bill will be voted on by the Senate later on Tuesday and is expected to pass, with backing from the government and widespread support in the chamber. The vote is not the final legislative hurdle: a joint committee of senators and lower house deputies is expected to meet from September to produce a joint text, prior to the final adoption of the law. The text plans to "reduce the environmental impact of the textile industry", said Anne-Cecile Violland, the centre-right member of parliament who proposed the bill. Fast fashion is a growing market in France and between 2010 and 2023, the value of advertised products grew from 2.3 billion euros to 3.2 billion euros. Around 48 clothing items per person are released into the French market each year, and 35 are thrown away every second in the country, according to the state environmental agency Ademe. Fast fashion poses a "triple threat", said the minister for ecological transition, Agnes Pannier-Runacher. "It promotes overconsumption, causes ecological disaster and threatens our businesses," she said. Slamming an "invasion" of products that "do not last", the minister expressed hope it would help change things in Europe. Once adopted in France, the European Commission will be notified to ensure it complies with European law according to Pannier-Runacher. Targeting fast fashion The Senate, dominated by the right, modified the bill to target "ultra" fast fashion companies, such as Asian websites Shein ou Temu. The Senate's amendments plan to leave out French and European brands that may be affected by the bill, such as Zara, H&M and Kiabi. The fashion giants will still be obliged to notify their customers about the environmental impact of their products, according to the new bill. "I have no intention of making French brands that contribute to our country's economic vitality pay a single euro,' said rapporteur Sylvie Valente Le Hir, member of the right-wing The Republicans party. The bill will impose stricter sanctions on fast fashion companies by scoring their "environmental communication". This "eco-score" will affect all fast fashion companies, Pannier-Runacher said. Those with the lowest scores will be taxed by the government up to 5 euros per product in 2025 and up to 10 euros by 2030. This tax cannot go beyond 50 percent of the price of the original product. Advertisement ban The bill would impose sanctions on influencers who promote such products and ban fast fashion advertisements. The regulation of the fast fashion industry will only succeed with a "collective effort", and not by targeting "a single actor," Shein spokesperson Quentin Ruffat told RTL radio on Monday. According to Ruffat, the law will add "a tax of 10 euros per sold item of clothing by 2030" and "impact the purchasing power" of French people. Environmental organisations are also worried that the law may be misinterpreted. Debates may amount to an interesting framework which still lacks substance, according to Green Senator Jacques Fernique. On Monday, the Textiles Industry Union (UIT) recognised the bill as "a first step" and hoped for its "rapid adoption ... even if the text does not entirely fit our expectations".
France 24
5 hours ago
- France 24
Eurostar to launch routes to Germany and Switzerland
The new direct routes would open from the early 2030s, in addition to new services from Amsterdam and Brussels to Geneva, the international rail company said. Announced at the back of positive year-end results, Eurostar said in a statement that it would invest two billion euros (£1.6 billion) in the new services to major European cities and 50 new trains, bringing its total fleet to 67 trains. The announcement comes amid "continued demand for international rail travel across Europe", according to Eurostar, which currently operates in the UK, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. While it currently has connecting services to Cologne, the new routes will directly serve the German financial capital and global diplomatic hub Geneva. "Our new fleet will make new destinations for customers a reality -- notably direct trains between London and Germany, and between London and Switzerland for the first time. A new golden age of international sustainable travel is here," said Eurostar CEO Gwendoline Cazenave. According to the rail company, passenger numbers rose to over 19.5 million in 2024, marking a five percent increase from the previous year. It has a target of ferrying 30 million passengers annually. The Eurostar Group merges operations of Eurostar which operates in the Channel Tunnel between the UK and France, and Thalys, which runs high-speed rail services from Paris to Amsterdam and German cities. Eurostar also said it would increase daily services between London, Rotterdam and Amsterdam starting later this year. "I am pleased to welcome this exciting investment into Eurostar services, which is a huge step in promoting green travel across Europe and boosting our international rail connections," UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said. The announcements come as Eurostar's three-decade monopoly in the Channel Tunnel looks likely to end. Earlier this year, Britain's Office of Rail and Road opened access to a maintenance depot along the Paris-London route to other firms, removing a hurdle to competitors offering services. Italian railway operator Trenitalia and British billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Group have since signalled plans to open their own services on the cross-Channel line.
