Yakkay Bicycle Helmets

by Doug Black

Unless you're going for the whole ironic dork look, any cyclist knows that it's impossible to look good wearing a bike helmet. The awkward, bulkiness that makes you look like a doofus is the same thing that protects your head. Yakkay, a Danish company, is trying to disprove conventional wisdom with a new approach to helmet design — one that values safety and style with equal fervor.

The Yakkay is basically a very generic helmet fitted with a hat-like cover. The helmet itself (pictured below) meets current European CE standards for protection, which I assume isn't far removed from American regulations. It has rounded ear straps on the sides and polished stainless steel buckles for proper sizing. They come in two sizes (medium and large) and can be adjusted with a number of adhesive foam circles that you can stick inside.

But it's the covers, not the helmet, that sets Yakkay apart from others. They offer four different options, each with a unique design. The Izmir, for example, looks something like a winter hat, while the Paris has the cut and brim of a military cap. Each cover comes in a few different colors, and can easily be switched as often as you want.

The Yakkay costs about $120 and is only currently available at bike shops in Denmark and Berlin. But since most of the shops have websites, you can try to order one from other parts of the world.

The Shave of New York

by Brian Fichtner

Remember what it was like to walk into a barber shop and get the ultimate shave from a master barber? Probably not, since most of us have never experienced this classic men's grooming service. The Shave of New York, a new barber shop in Manhattan's Nolita neighborhood, aims to restore balance to our frenetic lives by encouraging men to slow down and enjoy the finer things in life, like a top notch shave, a scalp treatment or a simple trim.

Conceived by John and Daniella Scala, native Brooklynites with a family history in the grooming industry (their uncle is the man behind the Grand Central salon Francesco's), The Shave of New York opened just earlier this summer but looks as though its Elizabeth Street roots were planted decades ago. The shop was designed entirely by John, who spared not a single detail in creating an authentic salon experience. From the black and white ceramic tiled floors and Day Lily-yellow walls, to the century-old, reconditioned barber chairs and perfectly poised ceiling chandelier, the interior feels at once confident and inviting.

And inviting it is. Upon being seated, guests are offered a complimentary beverage prior to their service of choice — a fine way to relax the nerves of those who've never gone under the straight razor. Still, ambiance and amenities mean little if the barber's skills are lacking. Fortunately, Master Barber Michael W. Haar has the knowledge, dexterity, and authority (no small feat for a 24 year old) to transform a shave into a life-changing experience. A graduate of the American Barber Institute, Michael has been shaving himself with a straight razor for years and shares the kind of observations you'd expect from an old-timer (e.g. Johnny Depp stropped his razor the wrong direction in "Sweeney Todd").

But back to the shave. The Shave of New York offers two shaves: The Traditional Shave ($30) and the Ultimate Shave ($50). Sparing excessive details that might ruin one's virgin experience, let's just say that the Ultimate Shave, comprised of roughly fifteen stages including a home-made clay mask, is akin to a short holiday at an exclusive spa — one that won't compromise your masculine sensibilities. With time-honored products from Truefitt & Hill and Taylors of Old Bond Street, Merkur platinum-edged stainless steel blades (a new one for every client) and a specially curated selection of essential oils and floral waters, this is one shave that will change the way you look in the mirror.

Now through 22 August 2008, The Shave of New York will be offering Cool Hunting readers a complimentary Traditional Shave with any store purchase of $30 or more.

The Shave of New York (soon to be known as The New York Shaving Company)
202B Elizabeth Street
New York, NY 10012 map
tel. +1 212 334 9495

Spyker Collection

by Ami Kealoha

by Tamara Warren

This season, Dutch luxury automaker Spyker expands its automotive aesthetic to apparel, accessories and fine art prints with the Spyker Collection. And what an aesthetic it is.

In 1898, coachbuilders Jacobus and Hendrik-Jan Spijker crafted their first car in Amsterdam, laying the foundation for Spyker, the Dutch car company that continues to make bespoke, high-performance super cars for select clientele. The latest Spyker creation, the C8 Aileron, was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year and debuted at the British Motor Show this summer.

"Designing a car, however, is more than creating a shape. It is creating a shape with the right proportions." That's the brand perspective according to Spyker—cars in which every part has a function. Spyker takes practical form beyond the utilitarian in breathtaking exotic sports cars with sinuous, sloping lines. Using lightweight aluminum and cues from jets, Spyker hand makes cars authentic to the individual customer. Owners even have their own webpage where they can chart the development of the car.

Spyker-branded gear may be a far cry from a Spyker itself but we can always get behind some ultimate fandom and we actually think the products hold their own. While the Spyker Chronoswiss Pilot Watch Double 12 Platinum is best-suited for the big spenders, priced at €38,675 ($49,495), more moderate admirers of the collection can settle for the €5 ($6) lanyard celebrating Spyker's brief Formula 1 presence. Fine apparel is a way to literally wear your love for the brand on your sleeve and with dashing sartorial cues from the sports car circuit, it's a style statement too. Purchasing Spyker gear requires registration on the Spyker Collection Webshop and all products are produced in limited editions.

Five Wooden Gadgets

by Doug Black

As technology continues on its upward trajectory, designers occasionally grow nostalgic for simpler forms. Consumers also want the basic aesthetics of yesterday, without sacrificing the technological advances of today. One way to get the best of both worlds is wood-based electronics. Whether for the eco-minded, who prefer it to non-biodegradable plastic, or for pure classicists who are charmed by its timelessness, the wooden form is at once visually striking and practical. Here are some of the better examples we've come across recently.

Magno Wooden Radio
The Magno radio is the brainchild of Indonesian entrepreneur Singgih Kartono. Handmade by local carpenters from sustainably-harvested wood, it comes in two sizes (pictured above). In addition to AM and FM frequencies, Kartono satisfies the true retro-philes with two bands of shortwave radio. He also bows to modern conventions by including MP3 compatibility. It's currently available from Areaware, with the small version costing $200 and the larger $250.

Maple Phone
The Maple Phone was designed by Hyun Jin Yoon and Eun Hak Lee, who won the silver at this year's International Design Excellence Awards. It's comprised of two slender pieces of maple that function as a slider, revealing the LCD display stored inside. A sensor on the back turns the block of wood into a fully functional, touch-sensitive phone with MP3 compatibility and a digital camera. Though still in prototype form, the creators expect to manufacture the phone at an affordable rate so that it's available on a large scale. Keep an eye on the designers' blog for production updates.

Swedx
Since 2002, this Swedish company has been producing electronics embedded in polished wood. They claim to bring a "more human" feeling by using warm, natural materials on their computer monitors, television screens and accessories. But despite the unconventional material, they didn't skimp on technology. Their engineers designed one of the world's thinnest TFT-LCD monitors and didn't sacrifice on usability. Swedx products cost are close to the industry standard, and you can buy them from their website.

David Burel Plywood Headphones
These distinctive headphones are as elegant as they are simplistic. Dissatisfied with wood used as a marketing device for environmentalists, David Burel made sure his phones made wood an integral feature of the design. The "wood arch" is made from Finnish birch plywood and uses the same molding technique employed by furniture and skateboard designers. The resulting arch has a width of 1.2mm, so it's lightweight and flexible, while providing the precise, resonant sound that only wood can produce. They're being launched under the title The Perfect Unison, where you can preorder one of 100 units currently in production. Since they're made from one continuous piece, you'll have to measure your head for proper sizing. While it ensures a perfect fit, it's also a built-in excuse to reject your friends' request borrow them.

Wooden LED Clock
This clever timepiece looks like an ordinary block of wood when it's deactivated. Once operational, thought, an interior light lets the numbers glow from behind its surface. It can be run like a normal clock with a constant display, with the digits flashing every 2.5 seconds or in "slide mode," where the numbers scroll one digit at a time every minute. It doesn't have an alarm or any advanced features, but what it lacks in function, it makes up for with eye-catching fashion. You can buy one for $150 at ThinkGeek.

Also on Cool Hunting: Suissa: Enlighten