Antarctica Sub Zero Pop-Up Bar and Restaurant

by Phuong-Cac Nguyen, 6 November 2009

As São Paulo's humid summer approaches, just in time to help cool things down an unusual pop-up restaurant/bar called Estação Antarctica Sub Zero opens this weekend in the bar-heavy neighborhood of Vila Madalena. Conceived to promote the Brazilian beer company Antarctica's new beer, the temporary venue celebrates their double-filtration process at 28.4 degrees Fahrenheit and the refreshing new drink.

The space, an inflatable giant igloo divided into two areas holds a bar with food and area for live bands, plus another bar totally made of ice—with cups, walls and even a sofa made of frozen water. Patrons don specially provided clothes and can stay inside only 20 minutes in the five degrees Fahrenheit temps. Branding and publicity super-agency B\Ferraz planned and put together the space.

If the concept sounds familiar, it is. While Estação Antarctica Sub Zero recalls Absolut Vodka's Icebars, this traveling restaurant and bar boasts a bigger size at 3,230 square feet. Servers will also work 20 minute shifts, making this truly fast food.

Estação Antarctica Sub Zero is open Thursdays through Sundays for two weekends before moving on to other Brazilian cities.

Nine Winter Jackets

by Karen Day, 6 November 2009

With jacket season just underway, CH checked out the current crop to gear up in some of our favorite finds. From functional to fashion-forward, this year's round-up includes a host of versatile coats that can be worn and adored by both women and men.

Already carving out a name for themselves among urban cyclists worldwide for their stylish riding pants, Outlier's Merino Hoodie (above) proves just as compelling and maintains a structure suited for varied climates (pictured above). The jacket—made in NYC—serves those on wheels, featuring components like a three panel hood shaped to fit over a helmet and an extended back designed to keep you covered when leaning into your handles. But its breathable, antimicrobial merino fabric regulates body heat and naturally keeps the jacket from smelling after extended wear. Available in four colorways, the merino hoodie sells from the Outlier website for $225.

Phillip Lim's unisex graphite parka with a removable rabbit fur-lined vest (above) speaks to the androgynous trend found front running high fashion this fall. The jacket's modern take on swinging London provides a sexy silhouette, while its multifunction personality adds a playful vibe. The parka retails at $995 from 3.1 Phillip Lim stores, Bergdorf Goodman and Net-A-Porter, which also offers up a titillating video for the clever coat.

Aether's Space Hoody (above) helps me through chilly mornings and cold nights, either on its own or under a light trench coat. While Aether only makes clothes for gents at the moment—we hear a women's line is in the works—I find their slim cuts suitable for the female frame. And the Space Hoody's sleek microfiber fabric manages an elegance appropriate for a mix of situations.

Wind and water resistant, as well as breathable and outfitted with PrimaLoft fill, the space hoody makes a good choice for running around or spectating at a sporting event. Available in three muted colors, the jacket runs $300 and online from Aether.

We recently had the chance to check out brand-new label IsaOra's innovative Nebula Down Pullover Hoody (above) when we visited their NYC showroom. We really like the jacket's garment-dyed finish, a process that gives it a one-off aesthetic and a waxed look without the stiff feel. The 600 fill-power, goose-down pullover boasts an array of attractive features such as a tri-layer construction, a fixed two-way adjustable hood and a double entry pouch pocket, making it ultra functional and extremely warm. Priced at $550, purchase it from the IsaOra website. Keep an eye out for a full profile on the snowboard-inspired label next week.

Fjällräven's Oban Jacket (above left) wholly conveys the 60-year-old Swedish outlet's commitment to creating smart, functional and durable gear that will outlast any outdoor excursion. Fjällräven constructs the jacket out of a waxed fabric initially used for a tent that housed the Fjällräven founder and Alpine climber Hasse Hellström on 1966 expedition in Greenland.

Called the G-1000, the fabric now comprises most of their jackets and pants, made especially versatile due to its ability to adapt to various weather conditions. By rubbing more wax into the fabric makes the jacket becomes warmer and water repellent, while washing wax out of the fabric (using a washing machine), the jacket makes it lighter and even more breathable. It runs $350 from Context's online shop.

We love the Wool Beat Coat (above right) from San Francisco-based fashion label Nice Collective for its simple yet carefully-detailed look. The highly conceptual duo creates articles of clothing that reflect their passion for design and interests in art, music and culture. The aptly-titled jacket sells online, for $433. See the Nice Collective Cool Hunting video for a deeper look at the curious label.

Longtime fans of Nau know that their eco-conscious and design-focused attitude always results in well crafted, refined casual outerwear. The new water-repellent Down Hoody (above left) is insulated with 850-fill down, providing unbelievable warmth during the cold winter months. An attached helmet compatible hood and machine wash capability proves perfect for cycling for the active lifestyle. The parka sells for $280 online from the Nau website. For more on the Portland-based brand, see the Cool Hunting video.

Patagonia's Lined Canvas Hoody (above right) contains all the warmth of their renowned fleece jackets with its 86% recycled polyester-fleece pile lining, but keeps a cool exterior comprised of an exceptionally durable 10-ounce organic cotton canvas. A nod to the highly regarded Carhartt jacket, the Patagonia jacket retains those essential features for prolonged outdoor activity but with a bit more panache. It's available in three shades of brown from Patagonia for $175.

Comune takes its styling from vintage Italian and Japanese motorcycle culture and its Townsend jacket exemplifies the sharp cuts and overall handsome construction we love about the brand.

The zippered plaid jacket comes in a twill and herringbone fabric, with vertical zipper accents, pockets, snap cuffs, a quilted graffiti lining and an armhole gusset for extra strength when maneuvering your bike—engine-fueled or not—around cars, pedestrians and the cold. The jacket, $128, sells from Karmaloop, Active Ride Shop and the Brooklyn-based boutique Alter.

Il Sistema Degli Oggetti

by CH Contributor, 6 November 2009

by Paolo Ferrarini of Future Concept Lab

Borrowed from the 1968 revolutionary book—"The System of Objects"—written by sociologist Jean Baudrillard, Italian fashion label Il Sistema degli Oggetti conceptually links to the French master by creating fashion-forward clothing designed to last.

The ambitious young designers aim to "create an encyclopedia of clothing," each with their underlying value that "every garment has the ambition of living forever." Their approach reinvents the classic wardrobes of men and women by redesigning the proportions of parkas, blouses, aprons, trousers, culottes and tabards.

Their goals may sound ruthless, but the resulting well-defined collection, entirely made in Italy and based on the ideas of sexless style, daily uniforms and exciting ordinariness makes for a surprisingly wearable line.

Concerned about the impact of social consumerism, founders Caterina Coccioli, Anna Lottersberger and Alessandro Manzi hope to put value and culture into the high fashion vocabulary, an industry usually more concerned with trends than sustainability.

See more images after the jump.

Il Sistema degli Oggetti
Via Mauro Macchi, 26
20124 Milan, Italy map
tel. +39 02 40047085

Karen O'Leary: Cut-Out Maps

by CH Contributor, 6 November 2009

by Maggie York-Worth

Charlotte, NC-based artist Karen O'Leary reimagines the map as an exchange of negative and positive space. Deftly cutting maps of New York, Paris and London with razor precision, she leaves delicate webs of streets as land and water are cut away. Negative space demarcates land, while meandering grids of paper represents streets. In a recent interview with The Jailbreak, O'Leary said of her work, "I love the idea of a completely familiar object made new and even more beautiful."

Her New York map (pictured above and below), the simplest and most haunting of the three, emerges from the expanse of white paper as an intricate abstract diagram of pathways, separated from one another by the negative memory of land.

O'Leary reclaims the conventional fold-out for her Paris and London maps, reducing the existing structure to a lingering cut-out of the cities.

O'Leary also sells drawing maps through her Etsy site (starting at about $300)Studio K, in which she fills in the blocks of Paris with hand-drawn horizontal lines, leaving the streets blank. The work simplifies the map by erasing the unnecessary. But through this deletion she highlights the complexity of a city's streets. Says O'Leary, "These maps reveal the density and delicacy of a modern city with a single element and infinite subtleties."

The maps, haunting in their simplicity and startling visual potency, highlight the transient beauty of each city's skylines through their delicate construction. Says O'Leary, "Imagine all the sounds and smells and feelings of being in a large city…then try to transfer that to paper without using words, only by using a knife or a pen."

via Information Aesthetics via Paper Tastebuds

The Oregon Handmade Bicycle Show: Two Highlights

by CH Contributor, 6 November 2009

by Adrienne So

The Oregon Bicycle Constructors Association recently sponsored the 2009 Oregon Handmade Bicycle Show, a mecca for small-operation bike builders all over the country.

Beloved Cycles (currently sold throughout Oregon, Washington and Texas) speak to the essence of Portland-based bike manufacturer Emile Lemoine's belief that "every lifetime deserves at least one." Beloved involves the customer at every step of the buying and fitting process, from selecting one of the gorgeous frames—including a commuter, mixtie, racing bike, tourer, porteur or randonneur—to personalized fitting, paint selection (including 11 color choices) and accessories.

Brian Engelen debuted his Light On! tail light, intended for use with the Dynolight—an axle-fitted front LED powered by the motion of the axle. The incredibly bright lights don't require batteries and dim to one-fifth of their brightness after riders stop moving for several minutes. The tail light comes with seat post or rack mounts and offers 180-degree visibility. The permanent mount also comes in handy for those who are prone to forgetting or breaking cheap bike lights. Both waterproof lights clean up with soap and a brush.

Check out more images after the jump.

Sound Kapital: Beijing's Music Underground

by CH Contributor, 6 November 2009

by Ashley Eldridge

To the casual concert-goer, China's capital city may seem uncharted musical territory, but photographer Matthew Niederhauser's new book "Sound Kapital: Beijing's Music Underground" places it as a powerful voice among the indie scene.

In a country where sickly sweet Cantopop rules the airwaves, Niederhauser chronicles a small but significant collection of performers that have found their way to D-22, a cramped, grungy hole in the wall in Beijing's university district that serves as the home of the Maybe Mars record label.

For those unfamiliar with the Beijing music scene, Sound Kapital serves as catalog of who's who among the Chinese underground. The spare settings in the photos enhance the raw energy of the musicians and like the performers themselves, the no-frills book keeps it focused. "At the heart, it's really about creating more acknowledgment for the bands," says Niederhauser, who paired it with a compilation CD soundtrack for the retrospective.

Musicians and tunes found within the book and album include the amplified chaos of Carsick Cars, the throaty Mongolian folksters Hang Gai, the rebel rockers Joyside and P.K. 14, the new originals. A recent interview with Maybe Mars founder Michael Pettis, Yang Haisong of P.K. 14 and Zhang Shouwang of Carsick Cars shows the musicians as a refreshing new generation of performers, devoid of motivation driven purely by profit. In it for the rush, the music reflects that purity.

Many of the bands featured in Niederhauser's book—available from PowerHouse Books—are currently on a U.S. tour. Check out the Maybe Mars site for a list of dates and cities.

Read more about the indie music scene in China in Cool Hunting's 2007 profile looking at five emerging bands. See more images after the jump.

EXP

by Evan Orensten, 5 November 2009

Cool Hunting is excited to introduce our new partnership with EXP, a new blog edited by Craig Kanarick. A technologist, designer, entrepreneur and artist, Craig co-founded the pioneering Internet services firm Razorfish and launched Studio RED at Rockwell Group. His new site looks at the innovative ways brands express themselves through the integration of digital technologies into objects and spaces, sustainable actions, real-time communications and open innovation.

We'll be featuring stories from EXP that inspire us, welcome Craig to the CH family, and look forward to sharing his insights.