Pommery Pop America Champagne

by Ami Kealoha

by Tamara Warren

Independence Day extravaganzas, election hoopla and Olympic action—'tis the season for Americana and celebration. Joining designers from Milan to Middle America who are touting the red, white and blue as the aesthetic of the moment on and off the runway, Pommery's Pop America Champagne in pint-size packaging makes for a perfect pour and party favor.

Designed with stars streaming across a blue background and red and white stripes leading up to the silver bottleneck, the bottle design (as well as the more candy-apple sweet, less traditional brut taste) is an all-American concept through and through. While it may seem quixotic to appeal to American sentiment, long before the Statue of Liberty, Americans drank the French beverage of celebration. Reportedly, George Washington ordered six baskets of champagne for import during his presidency.

For seasons spent abroad in the French countryside, a visit to Pommery estates is recommended. Beyond the usual vineyards, the fifth annual Pommery Experience showcases L’Art En Contemporain Europe, an exhibition designed to reflect the emerging identity of a changing Europe. The artists created much of the work after they visited the picturesque grounds Domaine Pommery.

Pop America is available at Sherry-Lehmann starting at $15 per mini bottle.

A.P.C Denim: Butler Worn Out Series

by Tim Yu

Making a departure from their slim raw denim (with the label that famously advises against washing except in the ocean), A.P.C is expanding their line by releasing a distressed variety named the Butler Worn Out Series.

Unlike the whiskered and bedazzled versions of other brands, the Butler stays true to its clever name. Rather than using sandpaper or washing techniques, a real human being wears each pair to create genuine and one-of-a-kind stress marks that just can't be recreated by some automated process. The jeans even feature the initials of the "butler" who wore them in written on the inside.

It's the ultimate solution for those who don't have the time or patience for that perfectly worn look. We like the fact that every pair is a one-off. No word on price but A.P.C denim is usually fairly reasonable. Keep a look out for the new Butler Worn Out Series at A.P.C this upcoming season.

via Jean Touitou

Fabia Bercsek Mini Locks for Papaiz

by Phuong-Cac Nguyen

Brazilian designers are learning the importance of branding outside the apparel world. The limited-edition Band-Aids that Alexandre Herchcovitch (who already has a signature linens line in his pocket) designed for Johnson & Johnson and released a few weeks ago saw people practically looking forward to getting boo-boos in order to have an excuse to wear the stylish cut protectors. Now São Paulo designer Fabia Bercsek is locking in her name with outsiders of fashion via two specially created mini locks she's done for the international hardware company Papaiz's Fashion line. Befitting her association for coming up with original prints, she created an animal skin-style design to match her Summer 2009 collection and a pretty, floral scene that references Japan in homage to the centenary mark of the Japanese immigration to Brazil. Having the key to style doesn't seem to be too difficult when equipped with these.

Split Ruler

by Tim Yu

A cleverly subtle (and totally Japanese) update to the classic wooden ruler, the Split Ruler by Tokyo-based Cina has a pencil-shaped cut-out for placing pens or pencils when not in use. The duo behind Cina are the same two behind the snowflake-patterned flash drives that have been circulating around the internet this week, but in this case we're more captivated by the reinvention of even older technology.

Made of laser-cut beech wood, it's a more graphic interpretation of a tool that, by conveniently and neatly locating the writing implement within reach for making a line, is as useful to proper third graders as it is to grown-up type-As. No word on price but contact Cina to preorder.

Tâke Personal Pocket Safe

by Doug Black

One problem that comes with the internet's high level of data fluidity is how to keep your most private information private. Black Box Innovations attempts to ameliorate the issue with the Tâke Personal Pocket Safe. What appears to be an average flash drive is loaded with unique software to help organize all of your personal records. It includes fields for everything from your credit card information to passport numbers. You can attach additional documents, photos and videos as well. The drive has one gig of flash memory and after you've updated information, you can eject the unit without any remnants remaining on the computer.

The unit secures its data in a number of ways. It uses a military grade 256-bit AES encryption system and content is automatically destroyed when it detects forced access to the memory chip. It also has a datalock PIN-pad that is programmable between three and ten digits and locks out intruders after three incorrect PIN attempts.

Black Box is currently offering the Personal Pocket Safe for $50 online, and they expect to expand to national retailers soon.