From Europe with Love 👀 February 2, 2025

Discover a bold one-button coffee machine, a timeless weekender bag, a cozy wool blanket, a perfectly curved ceramic bottle, and a sculptural Parisian stool — all found in the past 7 days...

Buonasera from Wellington!

Welcome to this week’s edition of what’s hot in European brands & products!

Three days ago, I met Derek Sivers here in Wellington.

Crossing paths with someone who’s been a quiet role model in your life is pretty inspiring. Not in a star-struck, ‘Can I get a selfie?’ way (I don’t even have a photo to prove it), but more like, ‘Damn, this guy rewired my brain.’

If you’re into good copywriting, you might know him as the guy behind CD Baby’s legendary order confirmation email.

Or maybe for his “Hell yeah! Or no!” rule when deciding what’s worth your time.

Either way, his outlook on life is a great filter for the kind of design I love: bold but effortless, impactful without screaming for attention.

And this week’s finds?

They’re exactly that.

If you’re new around here: Every week, I share five of the coolest things from Europe I’ve stumbled across in the past seven days.

I scout, you explore. Let’s get to it.

With love ☀️
– Jakob

© Sophie Cook

Porcelain Bottle [🇬🇧]

Clean colors. Perfect curves. Minimalism that looks effortless (spoiler: it’s not). Sophie Cook nails the balance between soft pastels and razor-sharp precision. This porcelain bottle doesn’t just sit there — it makes everything around it look better. Handmade to order, so patience required. Check it out here.

© Studio Goons

MM Stool [🇫🇷]

From Paris-based Studio Goons comes the MM stool — aka the kind of furniture that makes you question whether to sit on it or just admire it from a respectful distance. Minimal, sculptural, and just playful enough to keep it from taking itself too seriously. Take a closer look here.

© Zig Zag Zurich

Gunta Wool Blanket [🇨🇭]

Made from 100% New Zealand wool, this blanket has the best of both worlds: it gives off that breezy summer feeling like here in Wellington but is cozy enough to survive even the coldest European winter days. Zig Zag Zurich collaborates with artists to turn textiles into proper design statements, and this one — designed by Sophie Probst and Michele Rondelli — is a stunner. High-quality wool, bold patterns, and the perfect excuse to stay wrapped up all day. Wrap yourself in it here.

© Holzrichter Berlin

Weekender No. 13 [🇩🇪]

I don’t just recommend this one — I’ve owned it for almost ten years. My Holzrichter Weekender No.13 has been my go-to travel bag for short trips, and after a decade of use, it still looks incredible. (It just gets better with time.) Designed in Berlin, crafted in cognac-colored full-grain leather, and built to age beautifully — this is the kind of bag that feels like an old friend. Check it out here.

© Purple Future / Mokapod

Mokapod One-Button Coffee Machine [🇪🇸]

Listen, I wasn’t sure about sharing this one. Because let’s be honest — can anything really beat a classic Bialetti? But this Barcelona-made Kickstarter project (currently at 76% funding) from Purple Future caught my eye: a moka pot reimagined with one-button simplicity and a bold, almost toy-like aesthetic. It might be worth the pledge if you like your coffee strong and your appliances quirky. Decide it for yourself here.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE FIND THIS WEEK? HIT REPLY WITH #1, #2, #3, #4 OR #5 – I’D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS!