Fiat x Banca de Camisetas Winter 2008

by Phuong-Cac Nguyen

Whether it's 10 or 50 already cramming your drawers, we know your addiction for t-shirts refuses to be abated. At least Fiat thinks so. As part of their strategy to stay on top of the automaker market in Brazil (in which they've been wearing the crown for several years), Fiat's been hooking up with national and international designers for seasonal runs of tees that target exactly the kind of Brazilians who take street style as seriously as the labels they're most loyal to—and who likely also have a Fiat in the garage as well. Pictured here are photos of Fiat's upcoming winter 2008 line by a roster that includes French collective Shobo Shobo, Zoomp, Alcides e Amigos, Amapô, Estùdio Mopa and Ndeur. (Click image below left for detail.)

It's clear Fiat values Brazil's well-clad, fashion-industry types, usually sponsoring São Paulo Fashion Week and a pop-up cafe during the event. It even has a signature male and female line of clothes and accessories made in bamboo by Alexandre Herchcovitch.

The tees retail at $43 a pop and are sold at Banca de Camisetas in São Paulo or from their site.

Also on Cool Hunting: Banca de Camisetas

Squares, Checks and Grids

by Letizia Rossi

"Squares, Checks and Grids," the newest title in the Communicating with Pattern series from Rotovision, is an homage to the most linear of shapes. Serving as a sourcebook for designers, the book features 850 inspirational images of squares, checks and grids in a variety of contexts.

Dozens of examples of houndstooth, tartans, argyles, ginghams and western plaids explore checks in the context of textiles. Drawing on architecture and industrial design, the book has hundreds of examples of squares with an impressive section on mosaics that includes an image of the beloved Fate/Faith installation at the Lorimer/Grand subway station in Brooklyn. Using images of space invaders and "minpops," the tiny pixelized illustrations of popstars made by Chris Robinson, even pixels get their due.

With authors Mark Hampshire and Keith Stephenson's insightful introduction and helpful bits of context throughout the book, it's a great resource for designers of all stripes but particularly those who love a tight grid.

Available from Amazon.

Also on Cool Hunting: Circles and Dots

Futurecraft Studios

by Letizia Rossi

Futurecraft Studio is the home of apparel and accessories combining traditional craftsmanship and technological advances in weaving from some of the creative forces behind SVSV. A family business, Futurecraft was founded by Jenna Rivers, a Fashion Institute of Technology grad who specializes in the convergence between fine tailoring, traditional crafts and new technologies along with her mother Josephine Rivers, a weaver and art teacher, and her grandmother Maria D'Amorea, professor of textile design, knitting, patternmaking and rugmaking.

The three generations of women collaborate to create extraordinary collections of jackets, hoodies, scarves, hats and jewelery made from the finest cotton, bamboo, cashmere and Alpaca, hand weaving all the intricate fabrics at the Futurecraft Studios.

Check out Futurecraft's blog for images of their amazing looms in action and information about the weaving classes they give in schools. You can also purchase several items from online store.

Also on Cool Hunting: SVSV: Sartor's Habit, SVSV Aformofwar

Pop Subversion

by Lost At E Minor

This Friday, 8 February 2008, Ad Hoc Art Gallery in Brooklyn, New York, will play host to a large group of both established and emerging artists from the realms of street art, pop surrealism, lowbrow, illustration, print making, and tattoo. Through this group exhibition, promising young artists will have the chance to exhibit side by side with some of the more established artists in these fields. This mixture will allow the viewer to experience a variety of styles and techniques rising out of this powerful New Contemporary movement in art.

Pop Subversion
Opening Reception: 8 February 2008, 7-9pm
8 February-2 March 2008
Ad Hoc Art Gallery
49 Bogart Street Unit 1G, Buzzer 22
Brooklyn, NY 11206 map
tel. +1 718 366 2466

Twinkle's Weekend Knits

by Letizia Rossi

"Twinkle's Weekend Knits," the latest book from multi-talented, high fashion knitter Wenlan Chia, is a more casual answer to her first book "Twinkle's Big City Knits", which is full of images and patterns for making sophisticated knits that (unlike the majority of knitting books) actually appeal to stylish city girls. The weekend warrior version features 20 quick-to-make projects for new and experienced knitters alike, all designed for the relaxed mood of the weekend.

My favorites include the vintage inspired Oceania Sweater, a chunky fisherman style with raglan shoulders, and the Urchin Beret. The book also features patterns for several scarves, an iPod case and a pattern for a hanger cover.

In addition to Chia's books for the modern knitter, she has a bit of a knitting empire with an apparel line, Twinkle by Wenlan (available at Macy's and Shopbop), a line of bedding and home decor called Twinkle Living, Twinkle Jewels and a line of yarn. Made from 100% virgin wool, her "Soft Chunky" yarn is available in 27 colors and is perfect for making your own version of the enormous scarves seen on Giles Deacon runways last fall.

"Twinkle's Weekend Knits" is available from Amazon. The Soft Chunky yarn is available from the Twinkle for $20 for an 83-yard skein.