Cool Hunting

Squidfire Hoodie
Just over a year old, the Baltimore-based line Squidfire now boasts a whole range of goods hand-printed on manual presses with their original designs. In addition to Vans (actually hand-painted), messenger bags and a line for kids, they've recently introduced hoodies, like this "Workout" sweatshirt (pictured left, $45) that features overlapping images of a smiling 70's-era muscleman in red, blue and black on grey....

Thunderpants
"They won’t go up your bum!" claims the New Zealand comfy-yet-cute underwear company Thunderpants. Started in 1995 by a couple of girls who were—in their own words—"frustrated by an undie market which either had us squirming all day in wee lace numbers or flopping about in sexless granny bloomers," they designed what they term their "ideal undie." These colorful, well-cut knickers, made from a...

Welcome Squid Overlords
Take me to your leader. Monday night I heard the most esteemed and funny neurologist Oliver Sacks speak at Columbia (he is a super naturalist: into ferns, squids, cuttlefish and stereopsis). It was a fascinating lecture, but his Welcome Squid Overlords shirt transfixed me. It was so strange, I had to find its meaning. Was it from an episode of Star Wars that I...

Low Tee Bathing Suits
Low Tee makes men's bathing suits from vintage t-shirts (props for recycling). The suits are fully lined in Lycra, and have elastic around the legs and waist, which also has a drawstring. Because the suits are made from vintage t-shirts they are all one-of-a-kind (which we also like). And if you ask nicely you could probably send in one of your own shirts to...

New Klaus Tees
Two years ago Klaus Industries proclaimed that 2006 was the new 1984. While the fledgling experiment of democracy is still fledgling, the Portland, Oregon-based company has expanded their line of irreverent and humorous wears. Aside from an update on that particularly ominous theme, these hand-dyed printed shirts extol the tough-guy Abe Lincoln and the need for some domestic humanitarian intervention. “Our shirts are intended...

Turn Nocturnal T-Shirts
Western Massachussetts-basedTurn Nocturnal design studio is the brainchild of designer Matt McInerney and his good friend Jack Strong. Busting onto the scene a few months ago with their best selling font driven "Huge Type Looks Sweet" t-shirt ( still a favorite of mine) they've since followed up with a few others, their latest is "Turn The City and is available, along with Huge Type...