Cool Hunting
| 28 August 2006view entries from: this week | this month | view previous day | view next day |
Bonfire of the Brands
by SummerSeventySix
Neil Boorman is exactly the kind of bloke you would expect to see dressed from top-to-toe in labels. As founder of the Shoreditch Twat, DJ at London club 333 and a writer for The Guardian, brands that you or I might covet, from Apple to adidas, have decorated every part of his life. Until now. You see, he's decided to burn all of his branded gear on a big, cathartic bonfire on 17 September 2006. All the shoes, clothes, designer bags and even furniture will go on it, with only a de-badged laptop remaining.
This kind of reaction to modern consumerism is not a particularly new one, and reminds me of what Michael Landy did in London some five years ago. The fact that Boorman has a track-record as a smart operator, with a deal to write a book about his experience, initially made me quite skeptical. However, the blog he's writing in the build-up to the bonfire makes interesting reading, and does seem genuine. Even if the £4.99 plimsolls he's now swapped his Nikes for are actually the most fashionable non-brand in East London right now.
The Cocoon from Uono
by Evan Orensten
Uono, a Köln-based coffin manufacturer, offers The Cocoon, designed by Andreas Spiegel. Lightwight (20kg) and made from a soy-based resin and lined with jute, the coffin decomposes in 10-15 years and can also be used for cremation.You'll rest comfortably in the white cotton or silk liner. It features a water-based varnish and is CO2 neutral. The coffins are finished by hand are available in 14 colors, or use their Haute Couture program to design custom color of your choice.
Fortunately you can pre-order your coffin so your loved ones won't have to lay you to rest in something less aesthetically pleasing. Delivery is 3 days in Germany, and shipping elsewhere will take more time. The Cocoon will set you (or your loved ones) back $3,500.
Via the New York Times
