Cool Hunting

27 July 2008 - 02 August 2008 week before | next week view all from this month
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Forget the Film, Watch the Titles Database
Main title sequences for films have always held a very special place in my heart. From "The Good the Bad and The Ugly" (pictured below) to "City Slickers" and "XXX: State of the Union," title sequences have played an important role in setting a stylistic tone for a movie, or they're just there to totally blow your mind. Sometimes they're even better than the...
iMac Transport Bag
A friend of mine lugs his iMac all over his house, treating it more like a laptop than a desktop computer. With components and working parts concealed within the screen, it's actually not a bad way to go. But the German company Reinda recently created an iMac Transport Bag, making transport all the more easy and safe. We've seen more than our fair share...
Three Stop Motion Animators
by Kyle Small Almost since film's invention at the turn of the century, stop motion has been a key component of bringing the magic of the imagination into the world of motion pictures. The semi-recent advances in CGI technology (as well as other dazzling special effects techniques) has ultimately proven deadly to stop motion animation, but there are still those who favor the lo-tech...
Vintage Leather Jacket Chucks
Converse's latest drop to celebrate their 100th is a lesson in how to make a good thing better. Made out of vintage leather jackets, the leather has that greasy worn-in feel and plenty of unique details. We also like the patchwork construction and the incorporation of the black anodized zipper as a design element along the tongue. Waxed cotton laces complete the look, as...
The Modern Architecture Pop-Up Book
Viewing architecture in two-dimensions can be frustrating. Made to be touched and experienced, powerful architecture is impossible to recreate on paper. But a new book takes things one step closer to that unattainable goal. "The Modern Architecture Pop-Up Book" is an overview of some of the most significant buildings of the last century with 100 color illustrations, commentary from architectural writer David Sokol and...
Freeman Transport Collapsible Fixed-Gear Bike
Freeman Transport, based out of Missoula, Montana, has been working on a break down fixed gear since last year and it looks like they're finally ready to start delivering. The all-steel army green frames feature S and S couplings and break in half for easy stowage in a rugged, waxed cotton and leather travel bag designed specifically for the bike by Billykirk. According to the...
Lucas Isawa: Koinobori
By combining traditional Japanese Carp-shaped wind socks with paper lanterns, artist Lucas Isawa has turned his floating and illuminated school of fish into a breathtakingly peaceful spectacle. Building on koinobori (wind socks decorated with colorful Carp and flown in Japan on Children's Day), Isawa uses bamboo to first construct the skeleton shell of his highly-detailed fish and then fills in the gaps with silk...
Acne: Hockney Socks
Who would've thought that the humble sock could work as an interpretation of a personality? That's exactly what Acne does with their new Hockney Socks due out this fall. Applying the same aesthetic appeal as the pop pioneer for which they're named, the footwear references his bright a bold colors and cubist-like paintings, drawing and photographs. Known for wearing the occasional mismatched pair himself,...
The Walkmen: You & Me Benefit Release
The Walkmen's new album You & Me has already been one of our oft-played summer albums. A couple years in the making and already getting a more positive response than their last release, the band's trademark lilting vocals (with appropriate nods to Dylan) and soaring arrangements make a good soundtrack for afternoon sailing or lazy bike rides. With the news of the $5 digital...
Mari's Brownies
With adventurous flavor combinations, like Thai Coffee and Fig Port, made entirely from scratch using premium ingredients and a fudgey texture, Mari's Brownies are CH's kind of treat. We also like their refreshingly small size, making them a moderate indulgence rather than a "guess-I'm-skipping-dinner" kind. Neatly packaged in their signature Pumpkin-hued baton boxes and wrapped with custom ribbon, the dense, rich squares make perfect...
Tallulah Rendall's Viral Vinyl
When releasing a single in these digitally-enhanced yet nostalgia-hungry days, the question is often whether to go romantically retro on vinyl or to keep up with the times and opt for the free download? The British singer-songwriter Tallulah Rendall clearly couldn't decide, instead opting for both. Next week Tallulah will release "Only You," the first single from her upcoming album Libellus. Her ingenious little...
Three Na Massa
Three Na Massa is a Brazilian group heavily steeped in the music of the last four decades. The debut LP borrows from styles as diverse as Bossa Nova to trip-hop. Consisting of São Paulo-residents Rica Amabis, Pupillo and Sucinto Silva, the group sought a different female vocalist to voice each song on their self-titled record. The result is a diverse disc with 13 different...
Zero-G Watch
by Kyle Small Tokyoflash is famous for making unique and unusual watches, pushing the limits of time telling. We often find the light shows a little too flashy but the mix of retro styling and an innovative display make the Zero-G appealing. With a sleek and slender profile, you might not have the hardest time telling the time (although it still takes a little getting...
The Online Toaster Museum
While we consider toast itself to be one of the greatest snacks of all time (if not for its versatility alone), The Toaster Museum, an online archive of toasters through the ages, suggests that the method of production deserves some credit too. Browsing through the beautifully-photographed and well-organized collection (you can sort using the manufacturer's name, where it was made or by material) is...
Generic Man Fall 08
Here's a little peek of what's to come from The Generic Man this fall courtesy of Arktip. The upcoming line looks as if it's made from recycled clothing—most likely Boy Scout or military clothing. There's not much information on this yet, but the recycled cotton outer adds a casual, rough-hewn look. Dark brown laces contrasted with tan is always complimentary and the plaid inner...
Outside of Sorts: Call for Submissions
When I ran into jewelry and furniture designer Kiel Mead this weekend at The Future Perfect, he told me about his latest project, The American Design Club. With the sole purpose of putting on regular exhibits, Kiel's taking his passion for design and his links to the Brooklyn design scene to further the cause of American design. It picks up a thread he and...
Vans Lacey
A hybrid slip-on/boat shoe, you get the best of both worlds with the Vans Lacey. Although I haven't yet tried them on, they look super-comfortable like most Vans. The easy-on and off is always a big attraction and I like that if I need more security, the wrap-around laces can be tightened up with a quick pull—for outrunning the fuzz or what have you....
Earth Art Exhibit: Nils-Udo
by Kyle SmallPart of the Earth Art Exhibit at The Royal Botanical Gardens in Canada, the work of German artist Nils-Udo caught CH's eye. His installation consists of a grass-based ramp (or is it a bridge?) leading into the verdant forest of the Ontario backwood. It's a clever example of the intersection of nature and a constructed reality, revealing some of our conceptions of both....
Branislav Kropilak Contemporary Photography
Branislav Kropilak's portrayals of modern technology and industry are far too alluring to be considered dystopian. And yet, if one were to seek a literary correlate to his photography, one might readily find the work of J.G. Ballard a suitable mirror. Achingly beautiful and hauntingly perfect in their composition, Kropilak's digital depictions of airplane landings, lobbies, parking garages, billboards, and factories question the psychological...
JR: "Los Surcos de la Ciudad"
by Kyle Small The 25-year-old Parisian street artist is at it again. JR, the man best known for his his active combination of photography and social commentary, recently hit Carthagena, Spain to tell his newest story. Called “Los Surcos de la Ciudad” (the grooves of the city), it's the result of three days JR spent photographing Carthagena's oldest citizens in an attempt to examine...
July 27, 2008 - August 2, 2008 week before | next week view all from this month
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