I’ve always been fascinated by what makes people do what they do. Not necessarily the finished product, the recognition or the success, but everything that happens before any of that. The decisions, the disagreements, the occasional leap of faith, and the stubborn belief that something is worth pursuing.
Perhaps it’s the journalist in me. Or simply curiosity. Probably a bit of both.
This month’s cover takes us to Italy, where Fratelli Rossetti continues a family story that began more than seven decades ago. Three brothers, one extraordinary legacy, and the rather complicated business of preserving something while allowing it to evolve. Because, really, how do you honour the past without becoming trapped by it?
What I particularly appreciate about their story is that craftsmanship is not treated as some romantic notion from another era. It’s a living practice, shaped by the people who continue to believe in it. And in a world where so much is produced to be replaced, that is worth considering.
My sincere thanks to Ivan Allegranti, our International Features Editor, for bringing this conversation to Gazetta. Ivan has a wonderful instinct for finding the person behind the public story, and I think that comes through beautifully in this feature.
Elsewhere, we travel to London for a conversation with Suyash Nath, CEO of Passion F&B, as Trèsind Mayfair introduces a different perspective on contemporary Indian cuisine. What interested me was the idea of challenging what people think they already know. We do it with food, with culture, with people, sometimes without even realising it. We become so comfortable with familiar interpretations that we forget how much more there is to discover.
We also explore Azza Fahmy’s Tales of the Nile, where jewellery becomes a means of revisiting history, memory and cultural identity. I’ve always thought that the objects we choose to keep say something about us, particularly when they carry stories that began long before we did.
And then there’s the practical side of life. Robert McFadden returns with a timely look at standard versus itemised tax deductions. Because as much as I enjoy a conversation about design, history or gastronomy, I also appreciate information that helps us make better decisions in our everyday lives.
Of course, there is much more waiting for you in this issue. Fashion, design, culture, lifestyle, new ideas and different perspectives from the people who contribute to Gazetta. I won’t attempt to introduce every story here. Part of the pleasure, I think, is discovering them as you go.
One of the things I’ve come to appreciate about editing a publication is that you don’t always know what will stay with a reader. It might be a conversation you almost didn’t include, a small detail buried in an interview, or an entirely unfamiliar subject that unexpectedly becomes interesting.
And I like that.
I don’t believe everything we publish needs to appeal to everyone. In fact, I’d be a little concerned if it did. What matters is that there is thought behind it, a reason for telling the story and something worth taking away.
To our contributors and collaborators, thank you for continuing to bring your ideas, knowledge and perspectives to these pages. Gazetta would be a very different publication without you.
And to our readers, I hope you enjoy this October edition. Read what interests you, wander into something unfamiliar, and perhaps give a story you wouldn’t ordinarily choose a chance.
You never know what might catch your attention.
I’ll leave the rest for you to discover.
