Cool Hunting
| 19 December 2005view entries from: this week | this month | view previous day | view next day |
Exclusive Cool Hunting Gifts
by Ami Kealoha
The clock is ticking, but you still have time to make this the best xmas ever by picking up some limited edition exclusives from Cool Hunting's Gift Guide. The three designs pictured here are patterns from our artist-designed gift wrap by emerging artists Seth Brau and Derek Aylward. Brau's black on white patterns adds pop psychedelia and Aylward's biting wit brings levity to gift-giving. Only 150 sets of these were made and you can only get them here. Also, be sure to check the All-Canvas Timbuk2 Artist Bags (only 15 exist in the world) and the imported Berlin architecture-themed gift wrap.
For US orders only through tomorrow, Tuesday, 20 December, items will be shipped Priority Mail to arrive before Christmas.
Cool Hunting Video
by Josh Rubin
Like a post to the site, Cool Hunting Video delivers quick and dense segments on a specific topic, but with all the benefits of audio and video. Each week we'll bring you at least one story produced in collaboration with M ss ng P eces. CH Video is available as a podcast in iTunes where you can view it on your computer or transfer them to your iPod video if you have one (more information on podcasts in iTunes here).
Tam Aura Concrete Rings
by Ami Kealoha
Brooklyn-based designer Tam Aura brings industrial elegance to jewelry with this line of concrete rings. Clean lines and simple, fluid designs subtly highlight her unique use of materials. The unusual pairing of sterling silver and concrete generates "a sense of strength and indestructibility...balanced by the cool green-grey tones."
Starting at $70 from Tam Aura
Fat Freddy's Drop: Based On A True Story
by Mike Reger
I first heard Fat Freddy's Drop, a New Zealand sextet, by chance live at the Big Chill festival this past summer and was immediately hooked on their smooth dubbed out blend of jazzy improvisation, funky song craft and authentic stage presence. Though a few thousand miles removed from reggae's native sands, Fat Freddy's Drop is still as genuine and jammin' as island music gets. True to the dub reggae sound of pioneers like Mad Professor and King Tubby, the central player of the group is the selector, the man on the mixing board and FX—in this case DJ Fitchie (aka Chris Faimumu). But where Fitchie's laidback beat programming, towering layers of echo, atmospherics and large south pacific visage might be enough to fill any space alone, the full band comprised of Toby Laing on trumpet, Joe Linsay (aka Ho Pepa), Warrent Maxwell (aka Fulla Flash) on sax, Tehimana Kerr (aka Jetlag Johnson) on guitar, Iain Gordon (aka Dobie Blaze) on keys and Joe Dukie on vocals creates some of the fattest, richest, most soulful wall of sound these ears have ever enjoyed.
When I got back from the festival I scoured the internet and record stores from Berlin to London to New York trying to track down all their output. Most were vinyl only and rather rare even from overseas vendors. Their first official album available worldwide, "Based on a True Story" is a great collection of new soon-to-be classics, remakes of rare tunes and a glimpse into their very live jamming style and slick production savvy. This is quite possibly the best underrated album of the year in my book.
Find most of their music at the iTunes store and support great independent record labels like Sonar Kollektiv.
Recycling Trash Can by Adriano Carvalho
by Evan Orensten
We love the simple and effective design of this recycling trash can by Adriano Carvalho. It won first prize in Brazil's Centre for Enterprise Commitment with Recycling's (CEMPRE) first "+Design -Waste" competition. The three separate trash areas stack for maximum efficiency. A tap on the pedal opens the top to each of the three bags, easily allowing the user to place their trash in the appropriate bag. This can is already in use in a few schools in Brazil, and goes into retail production in 2006.
Via Treehugger
Carafe from 366cm
by Evan Orensten
Imagine all of time you can save with this carafe, which allows you to pour two glasses at the same time. For novelty or expeditious serving the creative minds at 366cm never cease to impress us.
Availble online for €37 from 366cm.
