Virtual reality

Step out with the German cobbler reviving traditional craftsmanship in Baden-Baden. Headed by Matthias Vickermann and Martin Stoya, this bespoke shoemaker is one of the few of its kind to have survived. The duo rely on high-quality materials and unparalleled customer service to stay on the front foot.

This is a Tokyo-based workspace and events firm using technology to improve customer experience. Japanese architects Makoto Tanijiri and Ai Yoshida, the duo behind Suppose Design, rely on digital methods to keep on top of their busy schedule.

Entrepreneur Ivan Pun is reviving the cultural scene of his native Yangon with Pun + Projects. The firm has cooked up some of the tastiest dining spots in Myanmar’s capital and beyond.

Freddie Blackett and Ed Barrow’s technology-savvy horticultural firm is blossoming in London. Patch is an online garden centre that identifies the best indoor and outdoor plants for each customer using a unique algorithm.

FInd out how a remote Norwegian clothing-maker manages to cover a global market. Alexander Helle and T-Michael’s trademark raincoats are designed to keep the rain out, using technically advanced fabrics to push the brand forward.

The way we work and digest information may have changed but São Paulo print-lover Samuel Seibel knows the value of a good bookshop. His Livaria Da Villa bookstores have become cultural hubs throughout Brazil.

Rotterdam designer Dan Roosgarde explores how technology can be used to improve our lives. His Smog Free tower uses positive ionisation technology to clean the air around it using wind energy. Clever stuff.

Entrepreneurs Marc Cohen, Sefi Amir, Ethan Wills and Annika Krausz set up Boucherie Lawrence – a traditional butcher’s shop – in Montréal’s Mile End. While technology keeps the business running smoothly, it’s the personal attention that makes it a rare find.

Bec Brittain opened her eponymous lighting and product-design studio in Brooklyn six years ago. For her designs – such as the Shy Light – she relies on 3D programmes that translate paper models and sketches into reality.

Meet the Melbourne watchmaker using technology to keep things ticking. Alex McBride left a career in property to launch The Fifth, an online watch business that only trades five days a month.