Nordic Writing

I am Danish and Norwegian, descended from the first king of Norway, Harald Fairhair (though his existence is shrouded in myth). I love sharing my heritage, as I grew up eating all the Æbleskiver and agurksalat, hearing Viking stories, celebrating midsommer and putting a touch of hygge into everything possible. I've traveled extensively around Iceland, northern Norway and southern Finland, and specialize in the Nordics as a travel journalist.

Nordic nations setting luxury trends of tomorrow

From Denmark to Norway, prestige is increasingly showing enthusiasm for the north. Luxury companies across categories are pouring resources into Nordic nations, framing them as the setting of fashion campaigns, hosting Arctic automotive retreats and, among other activations, opening five-star hotels in the area. As the international community discovers a love for all things hygge and biophilic, Scandinavia and its trademark trends are proving to be in the midst of defining the landscape of tomorrow.

Mercedes-AMG hosting frozen adventures in boreal zone

German automaker Mercedes-Benz is hosting adventures in cold-weather climates come 2024. The company will offer consumers the chance to improve their driving skills on the frozen waters of Sweden's Lake Galtisjaure as soon as next year. Professionals will guide those of all experience levels through a series of three to five-day courses, as Mercedes-AMG's Experience on Ice program teaches participants how to safely navigate in winter conditions from the comfort of the brand's luxury models.

Delvaux odes shared mythologies for spring/summer 2024

Richemont-owned Belgian leather goods house Delvaux is looking to a medieval art genre for a new collection. Norse symbolism emanates throughout the spring/summer 2024 array, the 11 handbags dancing with jewel tones, animal imagery and themes of heraldry. With a special focus on shared mythologies, Delvaux worked with Belgian creator Kasper Bosmans to bring the vision to life, tapping into the surging art market that many luxury fashion labels are likewise moving to benefit from.

Vacheron Constantin explores Arctic landscapes for 'One of Not Many'

Swiss watchmaker Vacheron Constantin is shining a light on both climate change’s impact on northern ecosystems and the resilience of the horology label's products. Working with American artist Zaria Forman, the brand’s latest “One of Not Many” campaign– a series that since 2018 has highlighted individuals who reflect the maison’s values — reveals the shifts occurring in Arctic landscapes. The creative is shown capturing melting glaciers, crumbling icebergs and warming black sand beaches at the top of the world, all the while donning a timepiece from the Overseas collection, which like her, overcomes the elements without missing a beat.

LVMH-owned Château Galoupet, Swedish fine dining partner celebrate multiyear collaboration

LVMH-owned French vineyard Château Galoupet is spotlighting its bond with a Swedish restaurant. Äng, a fine dining establishment based in the town of Tvååker, is renowned for its scenic setting and acquisition of a Michelin Star. On the edge of one of Sweden’s biggest vineyards, Ästad Vingård, Château Galoupet celebrated a two-year partnership with the eco-responsible eatery, hosting a special event that additionally marked the launch of a new vintage in the Nordic nation.

Orient Express lends locomotive to 'Mission: Impossible' crew

International hotel, river cruise and rail company Orient Express is stealing the show on the silver screen. For the newly-released blockbuster, Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning, the company built a replica of its historic, art deco-era trains. Orient Express is taking viewers behind the scenes in a new activation, showing off technical know-how and creative spirit just in time for the film’s premiere. “The Mission: Impossible team has taken the use of trains as locations to a whole new level,” said Simon Pielow, cofounder of Luxury Train Club, Swindon. “We have enjoyed for some years providing trains, carriages, and rail facilities such as stations for movies and more, but we acknowledge that Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning has hugely raised the bar!”

Rising tides, rising strides: apparel manufacturers adjust as climate shifts

As the environmental emergency at hand worsens, many consumers are opting for lifestyle changes that can either lessen their own contributions to the issue or help them adapt to the new climate. Among these shifts is a growing embrace of leather alternatives and other bio-friendly fabrics and materials. Luxury fashion brands are stepping up to meet this demand, from presenting mushroom-based bags to showing off shoes made from bananas.

Adam Rolston, ‘starchitect’ behind TWA Hotel spaces, discusses sustainable design ethos

As modern cabin company NevelHaus grows, Luxury Daily exclusively presents the announcement of architect Adam Rolston’s global expansion with the custom home building company. Cofounded by two NYC-based luxury developers in 2020, the turnkey platform offers a sustainable way to build eco-friendly footprints at speed. NevelHaus is calling in the creative director of INC Architecture & Design, the New York studio backing the company's rise, owned by Mr. Rolston himself — the designer is responsible for such projects as the meetings and event spaces present at the TWA Hotel at the JFK Airport and 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge — tapping the planner's expertise in a move that now seeks to bring his biophilic influences to properties beyond the continental United States.

Learning About My Heritage Helped Me Feel At Home In My Body

I grew up in the age where Megan Fox was the beauty standard. She’s tall and tan, with pouty lips and long dark hair. That has never been what I look like. Because of this, I used to wish that I looked differently. I had days when I loved myself, and days when I didn’t, but the love rarely included love for my body or appearance. I didn’t see that as a negative thing, or let it eat me up with a desire for cosmetic surgeries or anything. I took pride in my strength, and my athletic abilities, and

What Hygge Means To Scandis

As a Scandi-American, I grew up with coziness at the center of our home. Hygge was key in the way we decorated, interacted with the seasons, and viewed the world. My mother hung dried lavender from our garden from the ceilings in our living room, and the cottage I grew up in was filled with handmade blankets, candles, warm hues, baked goodies, and piles of sweaters. The seasons were at the core of our lives, as they are for fellow Danish and Norwegian people, and all other Nordic nationalities.

How The Viking Diet Informs Contemporary Scandi-veganism

As a Norwegian and Danish person, the biggest challenge of becoming a vegan was losing my heritage. I thought that if I cut out animal products, I wouldn’t be able to eat the way my family fed me, or the way my ancestors fed themselves. Like most people, I was told my whole life that Norsemen ate a meat-heavy diet. I pictured huge men around fires eating spits of salmon during long winters. It wasn’t until I did a semester-long research project on the topic that I realized that Vikings were a l

Iceland Has The Most Writers Per Capita. Why This Matters Globally

Per capita, Iceland has the highest number of writers in the world. One in ten people in Iceland have published a book, and one in four people work in a creative field. The country is home to countless number of artists and creatives, with many musicians from the tiny island nation in the north gaining global popularity. Literature is the oldest of those arts practiced in Iceland, however, and the famous sagas are still read by Icelanders faithfully today. The capital city of Reykjavik is design

Top 10 Happiest Countries In The World: What We Can Learn From Their Cultures

Every year, The World Happiness Report is conducted and sent out to measure which countries are the happiest. They take into consideration a plethora of data, such as citizens’ general satisfaction with life, access to clean water, and other factors that would affect someone’s quality of life. This year, the report took into consideration the COVID-19 emergency, factoring in the way countries handled the crisis. While every country has its problems, the top 10 countries on this year’s report we

How Scandinavians Stay Happy & Balanced During The Dark Months

Seasonal depression is very real, yet Scandinavians, who live in almost total darkness for months on end, seem to thrive in the wintertime. That’s not to say that it’s easy for them, but it can be argued that they have tackled the age-old question of “How can I be happy in such a dark time?” Countless studies have been done on this, since for decades the region has baffled people by consistently making the top five spots on the world’s Happiness Index, annually. People associate the darker mont

Best Places In The World To See The Northern Lights & Tips

The Northern Lights are on many people’s bucket lists. It’s hard to imagine just how mesmerizing the dancing glow is until one sees it in person. It’s calming, mystifying, and magnificent. Since the beginning of humankind, they have been capturing imaginations and hearts. Their earliest depiction dates back to 30,000 BCE, captured in cave paintings. The earliest written account of someone observing the Northern Lights is from 2,600 BCE. Galileo dubbed them Aurora Borealis after the goddess of th

A Scandinavian-American On Incorporating Scandinavia Into Your Life (Besides Hygge)

With the weather turning colder in the northern hemisphere, many are looking to the arctic countries for tips on how to make the most of the chilling temperatures. Scandinavia is famous for hygge, and many in non-Scandinavian countries have adopted the practice to learn to enjoy the colder months. While hygge is so important, it’s a good idea to note that since Scandinavians are so used to the cold, they have more to give than just hygge when it comes to chilly-living tips. So if you’re wanting

The Grounding Practice of Icelandic "Berjamór" And Why You Should Try It

On the mountain-dimpled arctic island of Iceland, locals are often found foraging for berries. Berry picking, or “berjamór,” could be considered the national past time of the country, as Icelanders have embraced it into their everyday lives for the good exercise, wild-picked nutritious fruit, and grounding time in their stunning outdoors. It is seldom practiced by tourists who visit the country, since berjamór hasn’t exploded on Instagram in the way that the Blue Lagoon has, making it a truly Ic

The Ultimate Vegan Guide To Iceland: Sights And Food In All Regions

Iceland is opening its borders back up to those who have been vaccinated or already infected in the past with COVID. This is exciting news for the country (as most of its revenue comes from tourism) and for tourists. Iceland is the most beautiful country in the world, in my opinion, and it offers the most exciting outdoor adventures out there. From towering waterfalls, to rugged sea cliffs, to glacial volcanoes, to fields of lupines stretching towards the midnight sun, to the northern lights, it

3 Things Norwegians Taught Me About Life During My Time In The Arctic

Last year, my partner and I spent some time in Norway. It was a last minute trip with which I surprised him. Seeing that the flights were really affordable and that it happened to be prime time to see the Northern Lights, I bought the tickets and figured out the details later. We ended up traveling all over Scandinavia, but we spent more time in Tromso to see nature’s light show. It is at the top of Norway, and happens to be the most visible place to see the Northern Lights on the planet. We met
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