Commuun

by Ami Kealoha

Eschewing chemical-based fabrics for Japanese organic cotton and Italian linen, Paris-based designers Kaito Hori and Iku Furudate of Commuun believe that "environmental issues can not be ignored when considering the future of fashion and society as a whole." Each collection is inspired by natural landscape and "the balance and tension in nature." While the pieces are fastidiously crafted and ecologically sound, they also breathe a rebellious and bold spirit through color and cut. The fall 2007 collection was inspired by photographs of the sea, importing colors from the ocean-like stark blues and haunting blacks, which are grounded by uncluttered silhouettes. There are ethereal tops floating above skin-tight miniskirts, dresses with undulating layers, and graphic blouses anchored by slim pants. The collection is intended for a woman who is "strong and still pure in ways," says Furudate. Do not expect the earth mother archetype. With the pair's understated confidence, Commuun can easily spearhead the movement for sustainable clothing that's still enduringly chic.

by JiJi Lee

Flavorpill's One Step Beyond Party

by Seth Brau

Tonight the American Museum of Natural History is home to a party hosted by Flavorpill. The second night in their One Step Beyond series, the event takes place in the Rose Center for Earth and Space from 9pm-1am. There will live performances by Hess is More and Brooklyn-based Foreign Islands as well as DJs Devlin and Darko of Spank Rock fame, Aaron Lacrate of Milkcrate NYC and the Bassbin Twins. There's also going to be a series of video installations curated by Fuevoz. The best part of course is that partygoers have access to all the fun science stuff in the museum and can see Cosmic Collisions, the latest Planetarium Show.

Tickets are $20 in advance here and until 10pm at the door and $25 after. They include a free pass to the museum for future use—well worth it. The parties continue throughout the summer so check Flavorpill for updates.

American Natural History Museum
Rose Center for Earth and Space
81st Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West
New York, NY 10024 map
tel. +1 212 769 5200

Chewing Gum For Men

by Ami Kealoha

Guys and gals are different. In Japan, that means one thing: separate junk food. Osaka-based confectionary Glico paved the way years back when it introduced its popular chocolate and biscuit snack "Pocky" in male-geared bitter chocolate. The name of this groundbreaking product? "Men's Pocky." So clever.

Now that we've got chocolate snacks covered, next up is chewing gum. Last fall, Kanebo Foods introduced Otoko Kaoru, which literally means "man smell." Yum. The product was so popular at launch that it was back-ordered. The "rose menthol" sugarless gum is supposed to make males smell better better as they chomp. Each stick contains rose essence that is absorbed and then release through your pores much like in the same way alcohol is. Know that chewing too many sticks causes the gum to work as a laxative. (Ed. note: Compact Impact also sells citrus and rose versions available in both gum and candy form.)

This spring, multinational conglomerate Lotte rolled out Men's Style "etiquette" chewing gum. According to the company, Men's Style is aimed specially at males from 30 to 50 years old. The gum comes in two flavors: Winter Green and Hot Cinnamon. Winter Green has a hint of black pepper, while Hot Cinnamon is flavored with red peppers and, well, cinnamon. Both are laced with caffeine, because adults love that caffeine!

Our taste test? Otoko Kaoru had the best flavor per se, but the actually gum itself was waxy. After five sticks, we ended up smelling like hand lotion and with a slight tummy ache. Men's Style Winter Green was indeed peppery and tasted like burning detergent. Thankfully, Hot Cinnamon had flavor that could be only described as cinnamon.

by Brian Ashcraft

Michael Wolf: 100 x 100

by Jonah Samson

Shek Kip Mei Estate, Hong Kong's oldest public housing estate, is composed of 100 rooms, each closet-like in size at only 100 square feet and built in response to a devastating fire in the 1950s that left thousands homeless. In a new series of photographs called "100 x 100," Michael Wolf captures the residents of this housing complex who are almost enveloped by the diminishing space around them, their belongings stacked to the ceiling.

As in Wolf's earlier images of Hong Kong called "Architecture of Density," this series presents an alternate and more human perspective on the socio-economic state of Hong Kong. The repetition of each resident's expression mirrors the repetition of the building and the city itself, where people struggle for space in an overpopulated urban environment and redefine the notion of "modern living." An interesting view for those of us living in large cities that require residents to live in smaller and smaller spaces.

More images here.

100 x 100
30 June 2007
Robert Koch Gallery
49 Geary Street, 5th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94108 map
tel. +1 415 421 0122

Also on Cool Hunting: Hong Kong: front door / back door