Cut Brooklyn: Knifemaker Joel Bukiewicz

by Ami Kealoha

In a small studio in Brooklyn, novelist-turned-knifemaker Joel Bukiewicz crafts knives of the highest quality under the label Cut Brooklyn. Our video visits Joel in his studio and watches the exceedingly rare craft of cutting and sanding steel to perfection.

Doshi Levien Exhibition at Moroso USA

by Brian Fichtner

For their first large-scale exhibition in the U.S., Doshi Levien have taken over the first floor of Moroso's New York showroom. If the images in the slide show below are any indication, expect to see much more from this London-based duo in the coming years.

Just over a year ago, Jonathan Levien and Nipa Doshi (the husband and wife team behind Doshi Levien) surged onto the international design scene with their first creations for the Italian manufacturer Moroso. Though founded in 2000, they had worked in relative obscurity until producing Charpoy, a series of daybeds that serve as a florid celebration of globalization, combining the skilled textile work of Indian seamstresses with the technical production capabilities of Italian industry.

At the Salone del Mobile earlier this year, Doshi Levien followed up this initial success with "My Beautiful Backside" (top image), yet another collection that draws upon Indian culture (in this case "a miniature painting of a Maharani sitting on the floor of her palace, surrounded and supported by multiples of pebble shaped cushions"). Not surprisingly, the refreshing collection was a resounding hit.

Doshi Levien Exhibition at Moroso USA
2 October-18 October 2008
146 Greene Street
New York, NY 10012 map
tel. +1 212 334 7222

Radio Silence Photography Exhibit and Giveaway

by Josh Teixeira

A couple months back we had the privilege to get a sneak peek at "Radio Silence: A Selected Visual History of American Hardcore Music." The book, out now, spans the history of hardcore in the states from inception up until about 1994. At the time, we focused on their arrangement of hardcore album covers in the back of the book, but by no means did we lose sight of the amazing collection of memorabilia that the book represents.

Anthony Pappalardo (of seminal Boston straightedge band In My Eyes) and Nathan Nedorostek have worked tirelessly for the last four years unearthing a truly unprecedented collection of artifacts documenting a unique and often overlooked subculture. "Hardcore has its place in the framework of music, but it's bigger as the sum of the whole than its parts. The goal of Radio Silence was to assemble as many of these parts as possible and have them build off each other to establish a complete picture," said Pappalardo. (Images are installation shots, click above for detail.)Above

Now that the book is out, some of the amazing original photography is being displayed at Riveira Gallery in Brooklyn. Pappalardo filled us in on what it was like hanging the show. "There was Porcell's 'Beat Harvard' shirt front and center, creased Air Jordans, Gavin Van Vlack rushing the Rathskeller stage continuing the Boston/New York rivalry. For a moment I saw the bolts of lightning behind HR's eyes as if I was screaming along in 1982, every vein in his neck flaring out with a new clarity and intensity than anything I had seen before. The Bad Brains are in the corner of CBGB watching Springa launch himself across a stage covered with scrawled band names from 'Sonic Youth' to 'The Undead.' The Boston Crew looked like they were fucking freezing, the California dudes were swimming in a sea of Stussy and perfect tans and it was even more amazing that the guy diving in the Negative Approach photo lived seeing it perfectly printed and scaled up. Even Ian Svenonius' hickey appeared a little sketchier and sleazier."

Cool Hunting is lucky enough to have a copy signed by some of the contributors to give away. Just follow the contact link at the bottom of the page, select "Radio Silence Giveaway" from the drop-down menu and tell us about your most important hardcore moment by Tuesday, 7 October 2008, 11:59 pm EST. We'll pick our favorite and get you a copy.

If you'd rather not take you chances, you can buy the book from PowerHouse or from Amazon.

Radio Silence Selected Photography
4 October-31 October 2008
Riveira Gallery
37 Main Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201 map
tel. +1 718 666 3049

Timberland Abington Collection

by Tim Yu

With the winter season just around the corner, last night's debut of Timberland's new line of boots aptly named the Abington Collection — Timberland was originally named The Abington Shoe Company — at Alife Rivington Club comes just in time. The three new models are all cut from the famous leathers of Horween Leather Company out of Chicago, who've been in business for more than 100 years.

The Abington Hiker (top), Roll-Top (middle) and Cupsole (below) all meet the standards set by the original Timberland Waterproof boot using only exceptional and durable leathers along with the trusted Vibram outsole for traction and ruggedness. The Hiker is a classic hiking boot silhouette with hinged lace holes, a thick sole and high ankle support ($180). The Roll-top ($160) is a versatile boot with a twist. The fold down upper serves as a medium high-top but can be flipped up for added stability and support. I also like the aggressive look of the toothy sole. The most urban-friendly of the bunch has to be the Cupsole, a smooth looking boot incorporating both leather and suede with two tone laces ($100).

Designed by Timberland but available exclusively at the Rivington Club beginning this Saturday, 4 October 2008, you'll have to move quick. The Abington collection will also be available at premium retailers elsewhere beginning 11 October 2008.

Cheeky Monkey Eco-Jewelry

by Ami Kealoha

by Ariston Anderson

We've all heard about conflict-free diamonds but what about the other hazards of making jewelry? Cheeky Monkey Jewelry takes the ethical production of jewelry a step further by using recycled materials. Taking into consideration that the average wedding band requires moving an estimated 20 tons of earth to mine enough gold for the small band and that the world currently only has enough gold and silver to handle worldwide demand for the next 40 years, there's no need to mine for more, according to designer Simon Cardwell. His goal is to create "beautiful jewelry that doesn't cost the earth."

Back when Cardwell, a former high-end jewelry designer, started the eco-jewelry line three years ago, he was one of only a few companies who offered designs made of recycled silver and gold or fair-trade gems. Now there are around 50 green jewelry companies today and Cardwell loves the competition. "This is a great thing," Cardwell tells CH, as it shows that wholesale and retail stores believe enough in our new green culture to not only change their own attitudes but more importantly, to show consumers the importance of living a greener life."

The lovely pendants are a favorite of the Hollywood crowd including Drew Barrymore and Nelly Furtado. And Cardwell's incorporated several concepts from his high-end line into this affordable line, such as an adjustable chain that can dangle down the back. Choose a piece from the endangered collection or the nature collection: a wild mountain cat, gold shark, African elephant, king cobra, or white seal, just to name a few.

The gold, funny enough, is recycled from computer circuit boards. With 70% of the waste thrown into landfills in America being from electrical goods, it's an apt use of discarded product. Turns out there's a nice way to wear your old electronics with pride.

Prices range from $40 for a small silver pendant to $350 for a large 10K gold necklace and can be purchased from Cheeky Monkey.

MINI Motoring Graphics

by Ami Kealoha

MINI Motoring Graphics is MINI's partnership announced today with Original Wraps, Inc. that allows MINI owners to add a little flair to their exteriors and interiors. From full-on custom jobs to small round badges, the program presents over 5,000,000 options enabling drivers to stand out from the masses on the road.

Designs include national flags, camo, abstract designs and a donut pattern to name a few and they're printed on high-quality vinyl. For those who choose to design themselves, they can either upload photos or graphics to have them printed on panels or they can download templates and create their own unique graphics. Original Wraps will then use their proprietary printing process to ensure good images show up.

From a marketing perspective, we like that MINI's taking the customization that their already known for even further. Prices start at $10 and max out at $350 and most are better off installed professionally.

Volkswagen Jetta TDI

by Tim Yu

Last weekend we were invited out to San Francisco, CA to try out the new 2009 Volskwagen Jetta TDI Clean Diesel and were pleasantly surprised in more ways than one. It had enough torque and power to zip through downtown San Francisco, across the Golden Gate Bridge through Sausalito, and was smooth and quiet on the winding roads up through Napa. Even better, almost 200 miles later back at the airport in San Fran, we had only used about 1/2 tank of gas for the whole tour. More efficient than most hybrids, the Jetta TDI is the first gas burning clean diesel engine compliant and available in all 50 U.S. states.

Already the preference in most of Europe, diesel burning engines today are drastically different than the ones of the past but they have a persistently bad stigma here in the States. In fact, new oil refining and combustion technologies arguably make them the most efficient automobile today. You won't see the stereotypical dirty diesel smoke containing harmful and smelly sulfur particulates — a result of unburned or partially burned fuel. This new type of diesel engine offers a full combustion of the more refined fuel resulting in less carbon dioxide emissions. Diesel fuel is also higher in the amount of hydrocarbons which gives the automobile a bit more oomph. In other words, there is more energy in diesel fuel offering more power and gas milage per gallon. The EPA recently conducted a research study that concluded if diesel powered 1/3 of all light duty vehicles in the U.S., the shift would save approximately 1.4 million barrels of oil a day — an amount that's equal to the daily shipment from Saudi Arabia to the U.S.

The only downside is that these new diesel engines cannot be converted into biodiesel burning engines. We asked.

Although not a luxury vehicle, the interior of the TDI is surprisingly roomy for a compact sedan and the trunk is huge, allowing us to stuff it with all our baggage. It comes standard with most bells and whistles including a premium stereo system, Electronic Stabilization Control, single zone climate control and an eight-way adjustable front seats to name a few. And for a long picturesque ride through wine country, music is a priority so lucky for us the vehicle comes with an iPod adaptor. VW also tests all their vehicles at five miles above the standard speed when testing for safety and they were still a top pick, so we felt safe in taking turns a bit too fast — it handled great.

We'd ultimately like to see a zero emission battery powered car but the fact is that sort of technology is still a ways off. Averaging 38 city/44 highway miles per gallon, an immediate and efficient solution is the Jetta TDI. The TDI even holds the Guinness World Record for the lowest fuel consumption at 58.83 miles per gallon, accomplished by professional driving duo John and Helen Taylor.

Boasting a four-cylinder turbocharged, 2.0L, 140hp engine with 236 lbs-ft of torque, the TDI is available in both Sedan and SportWagen models and starts at a very affordable $22,000 — and you get a $1,300 tax credit. If you don't want to give up power but do want to leave a smaller carbon footprint we think it's a no-brainer.