Cool Hunting

Urban Spectacles of Wood
Scott Urban is a sculptor and designer of custom wood eyewear frames. Working with each customer, he designs a unique frame suited to their needs and desires. Customers choose from exotic woods sustainably grown and harvested in Brazil, including Coco Bola, Bloodwood, Padauk, Goncalo Alves, Snakewood and Purpleheart. In addition to their eco chic credibility, wood frames offer antibacterial, form fitting and natural weather...

Vintage Terrycloth Stuffed Animals
Made from reclaimed cotton terrycloth dating back to the '50s, '60s and '70s, these stuffed animals are a worthy challenge to their classic plush counterparts. Each neo-Boho monkey, pig or polar bear is handmade in Germany and is one-of-a-kind. The animals start at €28 from the new eco-friendly online retailer Matteriashop....

Stephen Burks: Cappellini Love
Yesterday at the Fiera Milano, walking through the sprawling campus of the supergroup Poltrona Frau, I ran into the New York designer Stephen Burks, who took a moment to chat with me about his new line of eco-conscious ware for Italian manufacturer Cappellini. Called Cappellini Love, the collection is comprised of a series of vases and bowls made from glass fragments, and a small...

Elise Bergman Clothing
by Sheena Sood Chicago-based clothing designer Elise Bergman's business began as a small venture. A family-taught seamstress and self-trained designer with a degree in English lit, she started cutting and sewing dresses by hand out of her home in Michigan. Elise launched her label with a small collection of dresses made with mostly vintage fabrics in July 2006. Those pieces all sold and with...

Galen Trezise Crocheted Cozies
From the newly-opened Look boutique in SF, these handmade cozies have all the warm appeal of a sweater grandma made with an offbeat Dr. Seuss shape. According to the site, they're intended for vases but we think they'd be well-suited for dressing up a different household object that holds water and plant matter. With unusual colorways, ruffles and perforated weaves, they also hold their...

Boobs and Dinks Early Detection Kits
While testicular and breast cancer is something we might not want to think about, Shanon Gerdard uses humor to eliminate some of the fear surrounding that dreaded monthly self-exam. Her Boobs and Dinks Early Detection Kits include crocheted breasts or penises that contain small lumps that can be found by following instructions provided in the accompanying booklets. On top of everything else, she donates...