Mctega Jewerly

by Tim Yu

By Ezra Natalia

By using the mass production techniques of industrial chemistry on a much smaller scale Sarah McLellan and Kristina Ortega are able to create one of a kind pieces of jewelry for their new line named Mctega. Inspired by their pre-med educations and organic chemistry more specifically, the duo use materials known for their ubiquity to handcraft necklaces that are both creative and surreal. From animals gilded in gold, to chunks of crystal and amorphous glass-like plates with colourful hexagons, prices range from $92 to $325.

We recently caught up with the duo to ask them a few questions about their line and how they got started.

What are you listening to right now?
We are watching the Olympics! That is all we have been doing for the past week and a half. No music... Were obsessed!

When and how did you start Mctega?
We started last fall in Los angeles. We are friends and we wanted to see what we could create together.

What's your latest collection about?
It's about our science backgrounds. We both majored in science disciplines until our junior year of college before deciding to study fashion. Even though we decided to pursue fashion, science still shapes the way we think and design.

How do you come up with these ideas and put them into action?
Umm, it’s just like anything else. We come up with ideas in our head but the hard part is figuring out how to make them come to life. It’s a lot more research and trial and error then we thought it would be, but the best thing we allow ourselves to do is make mistakes. They have lent themselves to some of our best pieces.

Why jewelry? Why not something else?
Well we decided to start with jewelry first because it was a great way for us to work together and see what we could produce. Mctega itself was just an experiment to see what we could create together. Our goal is to eventually create a clothing line, but we thought it was much more manageable to work with jewelry first.

Who are some other local designers that you admire/respect and why?
Well we are based in Los Angeles so it has to be Rodarte. We actually met during our internship there. Kate and Laura are incredible. Hands down.

What does a typical day in your life look like?
Well not too glamorous... we both work part time to support Mctega, so we go to work then we meet up and work on our own stuff. We can't wait for the day when we can just work on Mctega.

What's your biggest inspiration?
Bill Nye!

Any advice?
Well we always try to embrace change, which is sometimes hard. We push each other to take risks, not just for the sake of it, but to create something that is new to us and something that we can learn from.

Where can we buy your stuff?
Online at Mctega

Festival Dos Abrazos in Santiago de Compostela, Spain

by Max Gold

The paths through the City of Sacred Pilgrimage, otherwise known as Santiago de Compostela, have been smoothed over by centuries of foot travel. Most of the city exists, both literally and figuratively, in the shadow of la Catedral de Santiago which casts a somewhat stagnant and stale artistic environment outside of the church. However, Santiago is attempting to revamp its image with The Festival Dos Abrazos. The first annual summer festival of Gallician music, dance, multimedia and performance art, the intention of the festival is to rediscover less frequently traveled spaces of the city through outdoor art and performance.

As a tourist here for two weeks, the festival not only provides an exciting cross-section of Gallician culture but also pulls me around the city by way of roads less traveled. Highlights thus far include a midnight experimental jazz concert against the backdrop of illuminated stone sculptures and avant-garde dance performances set in less inhabited areas of the city. Although an initiative of most, rare is a festival that provides such a deep and generous slice of what a region has to offer beneath its tourist-friendly facade.

The festival will last until the end of August, culminating with a late-night theater performance in the Parque Alameda. If you're in the area be sure to check it out.

The Mustaches Skateboard Deck

by Mike Giles

I’ve been into skateboarding for about a decade and mustaches, well...not quite as long. The latest project by artist Lawrence Melilli makes a great combo of the two.

Although you might have seen this around a bit, we love Melilli's current series of hand painted skateboards which all feature a distinct and classic ‘stache. Available as a one-off, each mustache is retired once it's been painted. They make for a humorous decorative piece but shaped from Canadian Maple wood the deck offers a pretty good ride too.

Future plans are in place for a limited run of silkscreened editions and we can see The Mustaches teaming up with an established skateboard company to produce the designs for the masses. Odds are this first round of decks will become collectors items.

Custom designs are available so if you've got a mustache you want to see on a deck it will take about 10-14 days to produce. Prices range between $200-$250 and can be purchased by contacting Melilli directly at moostache [at] themustaches [dot] com. Visit The Mustaches for more info.

Rough Cut: Nike Sportswear 21 Mercer Walk Thru

by Josh Rubin

Finalizing our coverage of Nike Sportswear's launch activities we bring you a walk-thru of their new store in NYC, 21 Mercer. Richard Clarke, Global Creative Director for Nike Sportswear, talks to us about the brand as expressed thru this space, the product collection and the their ongoing artist collaborations.

This, our first episode of Rough Cut, was shot on the Panasonic HDC-SD9 which arrived at CH HQ moments before the shoot. So far we like it!

Eco Chef Frying Pan

by Evan Orensten

Organic and sustainable foods have firmly positioned themselves in kitchens across the globe. When it comes to green cooking equipment, however, there's plenty of room for improvement. One step in the right direction is the Eco Chef Frying Pan. It's made from 99% recycled aluminum which conducts heat faster than conventional pans, decreasing heating time by 20%. It also features a non-stick surface that doesn't employ any harmful chemicals (most notably the harmful carcinogen PTFE that's found in Teflon-based cookery), and features a bamboo handle.

The Eco Chef is currently available in one size (26cm) and comes with a three-year warranty on its non-stick coating. You can buy one for $50 on the Starfrit website.

Suite 88 Chocolatier: Les Shooters

by Doug Black

When the world's most desirable confection meets some of the finest spirits, it's bound to be a successful combination. Case in point, Les Shooters from Montreal's first chocolate lounge and boutique, Suite 88. The shooters, which appear to be average, conical truffles are actually chocolate containers filled with an assortment of 12 different liquors.

To take the shooter, first bite the tip off before drinking it like a tiny flask. The remaining chocolate serves as a sweet chaser that both contrasts and compliments the strategically paired liquor.

Interesting combinations include Abosult Mandarin vodka in a dark chocolate casing or Greek anise-flavored liquor Ouzo, combined with a white chocolate and blue cocoa butter shell. Other liquors used include Malibu, Hypnotiq, Apple Martini, Raspberry Daiquiri, Sake, Grand Marnier, Litchi, Kahlua and Jack Daniel's.

You can by Les Shooters for $24 at Suite 88.

Also on Cool Hunting: Chocolate Vodka Shots