Cool Hunting

The Spaceman Watches of 1972-77
All obsessions have their own big bangs and appropriately enough, my own compulsive watch collecting began with the Spaceman watches of the '70s. Below is an article I wrote for QP Magazine reminiscing about going back to the future with these Spacemen. Leaving New York one chilly winter day, late in 1999, I found myself come unstuck in time and arrive in Basel at...

Face Projects
by Ezra Natalia When they're not listening to bands like Phew, Googoosh, Yellow Magic Orchestra and Las Grecas, fashion designer Solomon Chase and visual artist David Toro are at work on their new avant-jewelry project Face. Starting the project about six months ago, their first Face product is their Bindi that comes in a variety of incarnations including plaid, plaited hair and a reflective smiley...

Mctega Jewerly
By Ezra Natalia By using the mass production techniques of industrial chemistry on a much smaller scale Sarah McLellan and Kristina Ortega are able to create one of a kind pieces of jewelry for their new line named Mctega. Inspired by their pre-med educations and organic chemistry more specifically, the duo use materials known for their ubiquity to handcraft necklaces that are both creative...

J Shoes x Metro.Pop Magazine: Mpj Boot
by Mat Lyon J Shoes recently collaborated with Los Angeles, CA-based magazine metro.pop to produce the limited edition Mpj Boot. With the market saturated by minimally shaped and starkly-colored offerings, we like the refreshing leap back to the roots of shoe design. The Mpj boot reverently bows its head to Native America with its premium leather construction, removable fringe, sock liner made from recycled material...

Buff Monster: The Sweetest Thing
L.A.-based artist Buff Monster is doing what he does best (bubbly, mostly pink creatures and shapes) for his latest show, "The Sweetest Thing," opening next week at Culver City's Corey Helford Gallery. Influences like "heavy metal, porn, Japanese kawai culture, and ice cream" are evident in his creepy-cute compositions which often feature a character, the "Happy Squirter," made of breast-shaped parts with cherries frequently...

Glow Fest 2008
by Perrin Drumm Last month, Santa Monica's pier hosted 12 hours of performance and installation art, attracting 200,000 revelers for Glow, a public light and sound extravaganza in the style of Paris' Nuit Blanche. This video navigates through both the throngs of people (almost more notable than the art itself) and the many luminous installations dotting the beach and boardwalk. At the far end,...