In the summer of record heat, the fan (luxury or hi-tech) beats the air conditioner

In this record-breaking summer, outdoor life—from concerts to the World Cup, from outdoor cinema to fashion shows—is dominated by one accessory, simple, never out of style, and extremely trendy in its appropriate shapes and materials: the fan. While in the scorching heat of Wimbledon, Prince George relied on a mini electric fan (presumably made in China), in the stands, fans of every shape and color were abuzz. 

Also because their effectiveness seems to surpass that of more technological systems: according to YouTuber and professor Vincenzo Schettini, in a highly viewed video, he explains that "a fan beats everything, no air conditioner can compete." He obviously backs up his words with scientific explanations related to body temperature, humidity, and heat transfer, adding the advice to spray yourself with a little water to increase the sensation of freshness.  

After all, this accessory has helped combat the stifling heat since at least the time of the ancient Egyptians: ancestral fans were found in Tutankhamun's tomb, but even the Greeks and Romans did not disdain the use of what over time also became a status symbol, as nobles and the wealthy sought expensive and exotic materials like peacock or ostrich feathers. Not to mention those hand-painted by great artists or inlaid by high-level craftsmen. A symbol of wealth, the fan was also an emblem of power, as in imperial China, only the emperor himself, members of his family, and the highest dignitaries were allowed to cool themselves with fans. 

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Today, its use is certainly more "democratic," given that you can buy one for just a few euros. But its pervasiveness has also intrigued the luxury sector, as the latest Paris Fashion Week confirmed. While the heat wave forced many fashion houses, including Dior Homme and Rick Owens, to move their shows to the early hours to avoid putting VIPs and buyers under pressure, some brands like Celine offered their guests refined (and instantly sought-after) fans to beat the heat. 

But the history of fashion is full of fans used to cool off or hide from prying eyes. Karl Lagerfeld was a fan, rarely parting with a piece from his collection of unique fans, sometimes centuries old. The news also recalls the fans flaunted in John Galliano's collections for Christian Dior, while more recently – Nss Magazine recalls – Marc Jacobs reintroduced them for Louis Vuitton. And then there were fans in the fashion shows of Giorgio Armani, Maria Grazia Chiuri, and Matthieu Blazy in the recent Chanel pre-fall show. 

Fans are featured in the catalogs of all the major fashion houses: Balenciaga offers—for €450—the Amadeus in black and dark gray cotton and wood, brass, and polished silver steel, while for just €190, Dior offers one in pear wood and white cotton with an Arabesque motif. Vogue Italia immediately captured the trend with a selection of the trendiest models, such as the Gucci one with an archive Flora print for €390, but the most refined solutions aren't those of the big brands but of specialized artisan companies, such as the Italian Vigano. Milano 1919, which offers designs for every occasion—weddings, elegant ones, and handbags—in lace, silk, and satin. Camurati, which has been handcrafting them since 1948 with obsessive attention to detail and quality, transforming them into true jewels. The choice is endless, and if you want to go all out, there's the newest, most hi-tech option. It's from Meanswhile, a well-known Japanese tech brand that has reimagined the classic folding fan, making it from Dyneema, the world's strongest fiber, fifteen times stronger than steel and used in modern bulletproof vests. In short, a fan can be useful, elegant, and even lifesaving. You never know. (by Massimo Germinario) 

(Adnkronos)