Angora Brick by Various Projects

by Ami Kealoha

Named for collaborations between the owners, Project No. 8, the latest NYC avant-boutique, carries some of their earlier projects (under the heading Various Projects) as well. The Angora Brick is an actual brick covered in hand-knit fuzzy angora, and one of many other knitted works that co-founder Elizabeth Beer conceived. A play on contrasts—softness versus hard right angles and the weight of the brick, masculinity versus femininity—like Knitta Please, the art object is a surprising and unconventional application of knitting. It's $100 from Project No. 8 (+1 212.925.5599).

Brownswood Recordings

by Leonora Oppenheim

The scene at Hiro in New York last Wednesday night was unmistakably "Worldwide"—Brits, Brazilians, New Yorkers and Japanese were all shaking their thing, both on stage and on the dancefloor. Not many can create this kind of multicultural fest, but champion of global beats, cult British DJ Gilles Peterson, is certainly one of them. Best known for his eclectic "Worldwide" radio show, the very successful Talkin’ Loud record label and for his numerous and consistantly diverse compilation albums, such as last year’s Back in Brazil, Gilles was in town to launch his latest venture, Brownswood Recordings. At Hiro (in conjunction with Giant Step) Gilles showcased several artists on his new label named for his old house that he moved out of because his record collection grew too big. The audience was treated to the dulcet tones of Brazilian singer Tita Lima, the soulful New Yorker Jose James and a special guest appearance by the multi-talented Taylor McFerrin. The night came to a rock n’ roll jazz climax with the New York debut of those crazy Japanese punk funksters Soil & Pimp Sessions. After our ears drums were blown out by Soil & Pimp's horn section, Gilles himself brought us smoothly into the early hours with his ever-beautiful beats.

The next Brownswood Session will be in Paris this Thursday, 1 February 2006, featuring the British "soul kid" Ben Westbeech. Keep your ears out for his debut album Welcome To The Best Years Of Your Life which will be released on Brownswood in March. You should also check out last year’s compilation Brownswood Bubblers, a forerunner to the launch of Brownswood Recordings.

Also on Cool Hunting: Matthew Herbert

Burton x iPod x Shiny Toy Guns Contest Reminder

by Tim Yu

To remind you, we put up a contest in collaboration with Burton, Apple and the Shiny Toy Guns for a chance to win a free Burton Audex Jacket, a 30gb iPod, and the new Shiny Toy Guns album, We Are Pilots. If you're into new wave and the likes of Depeche Mode and New Order then you will most likely appreciate Shiny Toy Guns' version of early 80s synth rock.

What really caught our attention was the album art by Benjy Russel (pictured above). The almost other worldly photos fit the Shiny Toy Guns' soundscape well.

You have until 12 February 2007 to sign up here and win.

Sole Searching

by Ami Kealoha

With Louboutin's candy-apple red soles becoming as ubiquitous as Paris Hilton sightings, and Pierre Hardy's coutourtorous designs as wearable as a Jeff Koons sculpture, you know it's time for a new crop of shoes. Lesser-known labels that still pack a distinctive punch are a rare breed, but these six inspiring collections more than fit the bill. Among them are notables Miroike, Scorah Pattullo and Finsk. Berlin-based Miroike first gained notoriety for their innovatively draped leather boots; their knee-high gladiator sandal for spring is a standout and stunning enough for evening. (Pictured above right). In conjunction with former Alexander McQueen affiliate Rikke Hjelde, Johnnie Pattullo and Frances Scorah created a dynamic range of classic-looking shoes with a twist—from lace-up pumps to velvet platform sandals. Their buckle-down shoe booties in glittery star-printed suede and soft winter-white leather are currently setting our hearts aflutter. (Pictured below right.) Julia Lundsten of Finsk creates elegant, sculptural heels from Finnish birch-wood, with its rings and knots sometimes stained varying colors. She then tops them off with pieced leather uppers that bear dimensional leather squiggles and flaps. (Pictured below left.)Read more..

Daniela Thomas and Felipe Tassara Architecture at São Paulo Fashion Week

by Ami Kealoha

I'm in São Paulo on behalf of Motorola for São Paulo Fashion Week (SPFW), which takes place in Oscar Niemeyer's modernist Bienal building. Second only to his design (see his central sweeping spiral ramp here), the temporary cardboard walls form functional and beautiful spaces within the building. Designed by São Paulo architects Daniela Thomas (renowned for her stage design) and Felipe Tassara, their aim was to take advantage of Niemeyer's building, a feat they achieved very well—the walls compliment the space perfectly. Made from about 15,000 white cardboard boxes, the modular structures take three different forms: parallel horizontal rectangles, vertical zig-zagging angles and polka-dotted cut outs.They also cleverly cloak scaffolding, as pictured above right. In keeping with the theme of this year's SPFW, the walls are fully recyclable and also make a great backdrop for the riot of color that is Brazilian fashion. Click the above images for detail and for more see the "hiper-blog" Moto-à-Porter.

Richard Sarson for Seed Magazine

by Evan Orensten

We covered artist Richard Sarson and The Circle Project last July.

His latest commissioned work is featured in the December/January issue of Seed magazine (a CH favorite) and was inspired by the Hawkings/Hertog theory, which states that time is a product of the infinite possibilities of itself rather than a single action. The drawing was originally hand-drawn with a compass and pigment ink on de-inked 100% recycled paper stock. (The image on the right is a detail, click above left for a larger version.)