Cool Hunting

18 October 2009 - 24 October 2009 week before | next week view all from this month
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Content 09
by Adrienne So Installed in the rooms of Portland, OR's Ace Hotel, the first Content brought the brightest talent in the city's fashion, music and art scene together into a multi-media exhibition last weekend. Eschewing traditional runways both by choice (Portland's fashion set chose the city over NYC for a reason) and because upfront costs make them prohibitive for smaller designers, Content provides an untraditional...
Holiday Shores: Columbus'd The Whim
Likely due to their home state, name and penchant for upbeat chord progressions, Florida's Holiday Shores draw comparisons to a slew of feel-good bands like Wavves, Beach Fossils and the Beach Boys, to name a few. But writing them off as surfer-dude tunes misses the mark. The band wisely tempers sunny melodies with a healthy dissonant sheen, such that each carefully-crafted pop melody comes...
1000º C: Deyrolle
by Zeva Bellel In the wee morning hours of 1 February 2008, a four-alarm fire ravaged Deyrolle, Paris' most beloved taxidermy shop. Photographer Laurent Bochet's forthcoming book 1000º C: Deyrolle documents the aftermath with hauntingly beautiful images of the shop. “The scene had a Pompeii feeling to it, almost like an archeological dig,” recalls Bochet of the charred and ransacked insides of the nearly two-hundred-year-old...
Diesel Flash for Fun Denim
Looking back to the club scene of the late '80s and early '90s, Diesel's new Flash for Fun collection uses a bright mix of specially coated denim designed to dazzle under black lights. The party pants look completely normal during daylight hours, making the transition to late nights a cinch. Created for both guys and girls, the full collection not only includes denim but...
Andrew and Peter Sutherland: Amateur Hour
Brothers, artists and Colorado natives Andrew and Peter Sutherland are having their first ever show together, called "Amateur Hour" and opening tonight at NYC's ATM gallery. The title of the show celebrates the time we live in now and the line between professionals and amateurs. The thought comes from the duo who are psyched that people are doing it themselves—making music on their computers...
Bruar Falls CMJ BBQ Spectacular
Kids sporting laminates on NYC subways signals CMJ's descent on the city once again. Friends of CH, The Roulettes—a band accepted into the music showcase on their first try—put together an awesome lineup that we're sponsoring this Saturday. Other bands performing include Red Wire Black Wire, Renminbi, Sini Anderson, The Fancy and Beluga and we're stoked to be on board with co-sponsors Etsy (who...
Blamo Toys
by Julie Wolfson From monsters with solid brass mouths to three headed shark-man-bunny creatures, the handmade creations of Blamo mix elements of designer toys, art and craft. San Francisco-based designer Spencer Hansen, forms Blamo toys from cast solid brass, leather, hand carved solid sugar wood and hand-painted resin. In October and November, several new characters will make their Blamoville debut. Hansen made only twelve of...
The Frozen Fountain Boutique
Opened by Cok de Rooy and Dick Dankers in 1992, Amsterdam boutique The Frozen Fountain showcases both Dutch and international talents. Interspersed among classic design pieces from well-known design companies such as Vitra and Foscarini, the store features pieces produced specifically for the store by locals and up-and-coming designers alike. (Click on images for enlarged view.) The space hosts exhibitions of new talents twice...
Maine Kayak Source
Now under one roof, Lincoln Canoe & Kayak—the half-century-old outfit based in Freeport, Maine—recently teamed up with the three Canadian paddling brands BoréalDesign, Maelstromkayak and Beluga Outdoor Sports Equipment to create Maine Kayak Source. (Click on kayaks for enlarged views.) The well-matched union allows each of the quality-focused brands to band together in forming a hub of high-end goods spanning sea kayaks, canoes, clothing...
Cool Hunting Video Presents: Pre-view/Test Drive
by Gregory Mitnick and Evan LaMagnaIn this video, we visit artist Seth Kinmont as he readies his wooden electric car for its NYC debut at Project No. 8. Kinmont explains his conceptual approach and takes us on a joyride through the city....
Noörsea Industries Weekend Bags
The Reise weekend bags from Nörsea Industries take their inspiration from the rugged North England coastline from where the label hails. Reworking traditional fabrics from the remote region, they feature hand-trimmed leather handles and use authentic silversmithing techniques. Ideal for travel during the impending holiday season, the roomy bags hold an array of essentials without the unnecessary weight of traditional carry-on suitcases. Available in...
Hästens Beds: Hands-On Review
Few of us can boast that we sleep in the bed of Scandinavian royalty but a new offering from Hästens—supplier of beds to the King and Queen of Sweden—gives you some idea. The 157-year-old company's state-of-the-art layered mattress take luxurious slumbering to a whole new level. I recently had the opportunity to try a couple of these palatial beds at the Peninsula Chicago courtesy...
Fuzzy Culture Children's Clothing
by Passa Chattra Fuzzy Culture, an independent U.K.-based children's label, mixes natural wools with an urban attitude for a line of colorful tops and beanie hats. Their merino wool comes from sustainable sheep ranches in New Zealand, who take animal welfare seriously. Strong on color and fit too, their designs make for the ultimate in versatility and longevity. The Fuzzy Culture collection won't show signs...
Freestyle Magazine
I discovered the unusually frisbee-shaped Freestyle Magazine in my favorite bookshop, Athenaeum Boekhandel, on a recent trip to Amsterdam. Focused on fashion, design, art, architecture, lifestyle and frisbees, Berlin-based fashion photographer Jason McGlade created Freestyle for those who share his uninhibited spirit. In a world of rectangular publications, not only does Freestyle Magazine's circular shape set it apart, but so does its package design....
Volkswagen Golf TDI
As "green" lifestyles become the norm, conspicuous environmentalism will hopefully give way to unpretentious examples like the new 2010 Volkswagen Golf TDI, which subtly makes an eco-conscious statement by making their high-tech, cleaner-burning engine available in a compact car. Car enthusiasts or climate crisis know-it-alls will already be familiar with the TDI concept, but for the rest of you, it's Volkswagen's branding for their...
Polly Borland: Bunny Nose
Australian portrait photographer Polly Borland collaborated with English actress Gwendoline Christie for more than three years on a project that led to Bunny Nose, a surreal visual portrait and celebration of Gwen's imposing stature in the form of a book. At 6' 3" tall, Christie's height immediately attracted Borland, but the resulting images more describe their resulting friendship than examine Christie's freakishly tall frame....
Type as Object Exhibit and Pop Up Shop
Indubitable masters of font and design House Industries has long taken their art not only beyond simple curves but out of 2-D confines, coaxing them to jump off the page and into beautifully tangible objects. In the Type as Object show opening today at NYC's Type Directors Club, fans will have an opportunity to not only see these objects but buy them in a...
Buckyballs Giveaway
With almost as many ways to play with them as there are magnetic balls in the package, Buckyballs makes for an addictive and intelligent game that now comes in a clear square cube showing off their capabilities. Designed to relieve stress or provide unlimited hours of fun, the 216 rare earth magnets snap together, pull apart and align into geometric configurations. Check out their...
Photographer Tim Mantoani
by Alison Zavos for Feature Shoot Tim Mantoani remembers the moment he first held a 35mm camera in his hand and raised it to his eye to take a photograph of his high school counselor. His love of image-making drew him to Brooks Institute of Photography, where he specialized in advertising photography. These days, when Mantoani's not shooting on assignment, he's documenting venerable lensmen who...
Pendleton x Property Of Bags
A collaboration between two brands focused on quality, Property Of designed these bags using Pendleton Woolen Mills' premium fabrics. (Click on images for enlarged view.) Adding a softer side to their shoulder bags that they typically make out of waxed cotton, coated denim or heavy nylon, the limited edition Pendleton x Property Of bags will come in five different colorways comprised of Pendleton's legendary...
Made for Skate
While skateboarding's history has been well-documented, we've yet to see a published dedication to the sport's most essential piece of apparel, the skate shoe. "Made for Skate," a hefty archive of skateboard footwear, changes that with nearly 400 lavishly illustrated pages. The joint product of Fauxami and The Skateboard Museum of Stuttgart, Germany, "Made for Skate" features articles from the museum's extensive collection, along...
Dirty Donny Halloween Watch
by Jeremy Brautman The artwork of Canadian "Dirty" Donny Gillies has graced a range of objects from skateboards to statues, but most notably Metallica album covers. Now his punk rock tenor can be found on an exclusive limited edition Halloween watch from Vannen. Built with a Japanese Quartz movement, the water resistant watch not only looks great, boasting his signature monster art, but is built...
BonFire Jewelry
Conceived while building a health center on a reservation in Nova Scotia, Rachel Hawkes Cameron's line of laser-cut acrylic jewelry—aptly called BonFire—features playful pendants of tepees, feathers and more on hand-beaded strings. Playful but assiduously designed, the clean form of each piece speaks to Cameron's architectural background, maintaining a subtlety perfect for everyday wear. Adored by Robert Verdi, the BonFire collection became a fashion...
Freehands Fall/Winter 2009 Collection
Back and better than ever, Freehands—gloves designed specifically to keep fingers warm while using a handheld device—are available in new styles for the 2009 winter season. Knits, microfleece, soft shell and liner versions update the existing line of the beloved versatile gloves. Born out of a collaboration between CH founder Josh Rubin and his father, a glove manufacturer, Freehands feature fold-back thumb and index...
October 18, 2009 - October 24, 2009 week before | next week view all from this month
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