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Monday 9 November 2026 · Ep 244 · Curated by Mike Litman

Soho House brings its London club spirit to Tokyo's Aoyama

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In this episode

1Lifestyle and Taste

Soho House opens its Tokyo club in Aoyama, six years in the making

Soho House, the London-born private members' club, has opened in the heart of Tokyo's Aoyama, in a project six years in the making. Design director Domhnall Nolan has married traditional Japanese craftsmanship with the louche, irreverent energy of a classic London private club.

Why it mattersThat mix matters because a members' club sells belonging, and I think belonging has to feel local before it feels exclusive. It fits a wider pull towards places built for a specific crowd rather than for everyone.

Via Vogue

On our radar beforeSoho House has now come up in 2 of our 244 episodes. First: Ep 47, 12 Apr.

Four more signals

2Fashion and Style

Loewe's holiday collection turns The Nightmare Before Christmas into bags and fragrance.

Loewe has unveiled a holiday collection celebrating Disney and Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas. Jack Skellington, Sally and Zero appear across bags, apparel and fragrances.

Why it mattersSandra Bernhard and Jordan Firstman front the campaign, so a Disney licence reaches shoppers through offbeat comedians and actors rather than cartoon art alone.

Via Hypebeast

On our radar beforeLoewe has now come up in 4 of our 244 episodes. First: Ep 31, 27 Mar. Latest: Ep 182, 25 Aug. Every episode on Loewe.

3Design and Architecture

Deafcity Hub plans a space around Deaf people, wider hallways included.

Amanprit Arnold, a global disability urban strategist, is building Deafcity Hub to bring the Deaf community together. The plans include a cinema that shows films with captions.

Why it mattersA captioned cinema in Arnold's plan means Deaf visitors can watch films with friends in the same building where they meet.

Via Monocle

4Fashion and Style

Ferrari Style lands in New York, selling the badge without the engine.

Ferrari Style, the fashion lifestyle line that extends Ferrari beyond sports cars and Formula 1, has opened its first New York store. Chief brand officer Carla Liuni and creative director Rocco Iannone discuss how it deepens the community's connection.

Why it mattersRocco Iannone's designs give New Yorkers a Ferrari they can wear, sold from a store the brand ties to its fan community.

Via WWD

5Tech and Digital

Apple test code hints at chatbots coming to its home hub.

Why it mattersThe 'Conversational Apps' flag in the iOS 27.3 beta would let chatbot makers reach HomeView owners without building any hardware of their own.

Via The Verge

On our radar beforeApple has now come up in 35 of our 244 episodes. First: Ep 1, 25 Feb. Latest: Ep 240, 3 Nov. Every episode on Apple.

What it means

Spaces designed around one community give it somewhere to gather

Soho House opened a club in Tokyo's Aoyama, Ferrari Style opened a shop in New York and disability strategist Amanprit Arnold is building Deafcity Hub. Each starts with a known crowd and shapes the building to suit them.

The case against

Racing made Ferrari's fans. The new store only sells to them.

Mike's take

Loewe got Sandra Bernhard and Jordan Firstman to sell Nightmare Before Christmas handbags. Best bit of Disney casting I've seen all year.

One to watch

Soho House will open a new House in another city by 8 May 2027.

Our call, not a certainty. Deadline: May 2027. How our calls have done

Earlier editions

Ep 243 · Fri 6 NovKering reportedly taps London designer Martine Rose to lead Balenciaga Ep 242 · Thu 5 NovPalace opens its London flagship with a shop-only Burberry capsule Ep 241 · Wed 4 NovParamount+ dramas could soon move to HBO Ep 240 · Tue 3 NovAnthropic bars Claude Code from re-creating existing video games

All 244 episodes