barbers’ stories

Parma is known worldwide as an ambassador of Italy’s Food Valley, famous for unique delicacies like the Parmigiano Reggiano, prosciutto and culatello.

But few know that locals, with no false modesty, love to compare this city in Emilia-Romagna to the Ville Lumière. Why? Because, like the French capital, Parma carries an aristocratic charm and effortless elegance. It has its own Louvre in the Palazzo della Pilotta museum complex and its own “rive gauche” in the bohemian Oltretorrente district. But this reference actually has deep historical roots: when Philip I married the daughter of Louis XV of France in the 18th century, the Duchy of Parma was infused with the influence of French craftsmen. Cabinetmakers, sculptors, and tailors from beyond the Alps helped architect Petitot shape Parma in the likeness of Paris. Today, that French spirit survives in the architecture, the restaurants, the boutiques, in the city’s enduring passion for antiques. It is also present in the conversations, in the atmosphere, in the colours: the “Parma yellow” (giallo Parma) and the deep violet of the flower favoured by Duchess Marie Louise, Napoleon’s second wife (another link to France). The same violet that is used to produce the city’s signature fragrance, which has become globally known.

Parma’s artistic heritage spans from the Middle Ages to our day: from the Cathedral to the Baptistry, from the Teatro Regio with its renowned opera season to the modern Auditorium Paganini, which was designed by Renzo Piano and built on the site of the original Barilla pasta factory. But the influence of “Stendhal’s city”, as Parma has become known, goes far beyond the city limits. It extends into a province where history and modernity, art and entrepreneurship are deeply intertwined.

With its breathtaking landscapes and vibrant energy, the Land of the Eagles is quickly becoming a magnet for trendsetters seeking a unique and promising destination. Here, creativity, global openness, deep-rooted pride, and a culinary tradition worthy of global recognition come together as part of everyday life.Tirana is a must-see destination for lovers of Soviet-era architecture: here, the renowned Dutch firm MVRDV turned the mausoleum of communist dictator Enver Hoxha into an impressive glass pyramid – now a high-tech hub for start-ups. Similarly, a giant nuclear bunker with five underground levels has been reimagined as the Museum of Albanian history, Bunk’Art. As you wander the streets of Tirana you see women and men walking with confidence, as proud heirs of Scanderbeg, the national hero who led the fight for independence against the Ottoman Turkish empire.

Just outside the city, you’re met with Albania’s raw beauty: a pristine coastline with crystal-clear waters, rugged and mist-shrouded mountains that are crossed by horseback shepherds sipping raki, some of the most breathtaking Orthodox monasteries in Eastern Europe, and the stunning lake Ohrid, with its quiet fishing villages.In short, over the past few years, the wind has shifted: Tirana is now easily accessible from all major European airports and boasts a continuously growing calendar of international events. Concerts, film festivals, a Book Fair, and – above all – a Beauty Fair, which DEPOT Albania proudly takes part in alongside Rei Qurdedi, the barber who will guide us through this captivating Albanian journey.

Sparkling, intoxicating: that’s Sydney at first glance. For years now, Australia’s iconic city has been a dream destination to people around the globe. In fact, it can count many blessings: a sunny and mild climate, a diverse and multicultural vibe, a booming economy that’s been growing at record numbers for the past three decades, a young population, and a laid-back yet dynamic energy. To complete the picture, it offers order, cleanliness and, above all, a genuine passion for fashion.

Founded in 1788 as a British penal colony, Sydney’s street names sound familiar to Western ears: it has both a Bond Street and the Royal Botanic Gardens. However, before the colonization, the land belonged to the aboriginal Dharug people, whose legacy lives on in about 2,000 archaeological sites. Sidney is a natural blend of land and sea – countless bays, endless canals and Bondi Beach, the most Instagrammed surfer’s beach in the world. Past, present, and future effortlessly coexist here. The gleaming new skyscrapers in the financial district rise alongside 19th century brick buildings, while the Opera House, with its iconic white sails silhouetted against the sky, feels fresh and modern although it was designed in the ‘50s by Danish architect Jørn Oberg Utzon.

Every corner of Sydney exudes a carefree lifestyle, as the city emerges in a privileged natural context, set along an enchanting coast, against the backdrop of wild and open spaces. Everything here feels like a promise of opportunity; a promise that what you dream of – whatever it may be – is within reach.