Cool Hunting
| 02 April 2008view entries from: this week | this month | view previous day | view next day |
Leslie Shershow Jewelry
by Josh Teixeira
Boston-area metalsmith and jewelry designer Leslie Shershow finds inspiration in topics as disparate as found objects, stuffed animals, and the exploitation of nature by humans. Despite the wide array of subject matter, her collections share a refined ruggedness and a rough-hewn beauty.
Our favorite collection is her Alaska Series, with its antlers, rifles, bear heads and horns. Selections from the Alaska Series have recently become available again, and can be purchased at Etsy.
Norman Foster Desk Accessories
by Brian Fichtner
Although it's been out for a decade, the Foster Series of desk accessories for the German office brand Helit hasn't aged a day. Unless you work for Hearst, or you plan to attend the Summer Olympics in Beijing, your experience of Lord Norman Foster's ingenuity is likely limited to press reviews and the occasional tourist jaunt. Kitting an office desk with these accessories (which, when grouped, resemble an abstract city block) is the next best thing to working in a Foster building.
Predating Apple's use of aluminum, the Foster Series is characterized by simple rectangular boxes of anodized aluminum that are capped with a tactile, rubbery material called Perdur. The lines are so precise, the lids fitting just so, that even the design legend Dieter Rams would be impressed with this level of perfectionism and restraint. In fact, covering your desk with the Foster Series, a MacBook Pro, and a vintage Braun radio is like curating a miniature MoMA design display. Good luck getting any work done.
The Foster Series is comprised of numerous pieces, such as a pen box ($120), a paperclip box ($65), a tape dispenser ($130), a writing pad, and filing trays, many of which are available online through Moss.
Podpro Trailmaps
by Tim Yu
Instead of fumbling with oversized trailmaps on the chairlift, Podpro offers free downloadable maps which you can view on your iPhone or iPod.
Offering access to a few dozen resorts in the U.S and Canada like Aspen, Alta, Mammoth and Whistler Blackcomb, you can now plan your descent with a few clicks or zooms. The Podpro service also features RSS feeds of weather conditions ensuring you find your way to fresh tracks. It's a great tool and I look forward to more mountains and maybe even some hiking trailmaps.
Check it out at Podpro.
S. Stein Workbags
by Ami Kealoha
Our recent post about Heath's picnic set introduced us to the rugged good looks and quality craftsmanship of S. Stein Workbags. Designer Sherry Stein, with several of her own lines and years at places like Nike and the Gap under her belt, took a cue from the utility of Doctor's leather bags, bricklayer's canvas bags, military surplus and toolbelts to come up with a collection of bags to hold daily essentials and built to last.
We're always a fan of a good zip tote the new one from S. Stein (pictured above) has a lot to rave about. The bark-tanned suede, cotton and canvas bag features a dual zip that runs down the sides for easy access, a slot for a laptop (up to 15"), plenty of pockets and straps that detach for cleaning. It's available in a small ($350) or large ($370) size from S. Stein.
There's plenty more to love, including a laptop bag, the workhorse (the same used for the Heath picnic set) and a toolbelt (pictured right). We suggest checking out the full line for moms, photographers, gardeners, architects or any other hard-working schlepper you know.
Generic Man Sportman Sneakers
by Josh Rubin
My latest sneaker purchase, the Sportsman by Generic Man, have all the aesthetic qualities of a great sneaker with high-end materials and production methods to match. Using an almost imperceptibly subtle faux reptile skin (textured white Italian leather) and handmade in Portugal, the look perfectly toes the line between dress and sport. (Click images for detail view.)
Based in Los Angeles with a small studio in Milan, Generic Man was born in 2006 out of a "case study in adultism" (i.e. what it means to be an adult these days), a concept reflected in the brand name and models called "Boatman" and "Motoman." From the research, the label came up with the aim to fill the gap between mass and luxury, hence the superior materials and craftsmanship. It's an ethos reflected in the Sportmans through and through. Pick them up at Oak for $320.
