For their final year project while studying transport design at Northumbria University in Newcastle, budding English designers Roy Norton and Tom Kasher wanted to create a bike that would borrow from the past while looking to the future. The result—an exceptionally sleek take on the classic Triumph Speed Twin,...

Ever since seeing "Altered States" back in the day, we've held off on trying sensory deprivation tanks. Watching Willam Hurt's character devolve into a primitive man through repeated psychedelic experiments seemed like a red flag for curious newcomers. A recent trip to Portland's Float On has changed all that....

When it came time for a concept to drive new design consortium Broached Commissions, rather than turn to exotic, far-flung influences, the firm looked to much more provincial sources—literally their backyard. Founded by Creative Director Lou Weis, the Melbourne-based collective includes three permanent designers, Trent Jansen, Adam Goodrum and...

In an age when medical marvels such as inhalable vaccines are becoming more widely available, it's only logical that this convenient medium converges with the global energy drink boom. While increasingly smaller forms span shot-like bottles (R.I.P. Nos) to dissolving strips, Aeroshot's inhalable caffeine has some notable advantages. This...

A standout in Beijing's underground rock scene (learn more about it from our story on five other bands) returns to the U.S. this month for a few shows in NYC before swinging through the South. Hedgehog, formed in 2005, is one of the most notorious and popular groups to...

Hand in hand with China's overall rapid growth and explosive urbanization, recent years have seen a wave of high-design architecture. The Office for Metropolitan Architecture's spectacular CCTV tower, opened in 2008 to house the nation's central television headquarters, is a fantastic example of forward-thinking architecture exploring contemporary concepts of...

Critter and Guitari, the same experimental audiophiles that came up with a Kaleidescope-inspired music device, recently added a new creation to their line-up of avant-tools. Ultra-portable, simple and versatile, don't let the clean lines of the Pocket Piano's aluminum and hardwood case fool you. This petite battery-powered synth's six...

Working out of an East Village apartment, Curie Choi and Beverly Liang meticulously craft their collection of "man enhancing" ties under the label C. Chauchat. The name, borrowed from German novel "The Magic Mountain" and its otherworldly temptress Madame Chauchat, also translates to "hot cat" in French. Much like...

Seattle gallery Ambach and Rice takes its gallery on the road, presenting "Cracks of Dawn" at art space Kunsthalle L.A. in Los Angeles' Chinatown. The exhibition features new drawings and sculptures by California artist Eric Yahnker, who "outwardly refutes moral and political decency in favor of comic rationality." Employing...

For backcountry trailblazers, Recon Instruments' new Transcend goggles introduce advanced technology for carving your own path while providing essential protection from sun and snow. The GPS-enabled goggles "require minimal interaction" yet boast an impressive amount of features, including a full-color micro LCD display, Google Maps overlay, real-time statistics (speed,...

On a farm bordering the Hudson River, just north of Woodstock, NY in the quaint historic area of Germantown, herbalist Lauren Giambrone creates unique ointments and tinctures for a variety of ailments using freshly picked herbs from her garden and peddles them under the label Good Fight Herb Co....

Montreal-based artist Jon Rafman pores over thousands of Google Maps Streetview images, amassing the most intriguing assortment of real life literally captured on the road. Publishing a book in 2009, Rafman continues to explore how—like an admissible Peeping Tom—the Internet changes the public's perception of personal space with his...

Roy McMakin's furniture designs aren't the first to take on conventional assumptions about the distinctions between art and objects. As a trained architect, it's not surprising that the interdisciplinary artist's skillful manipulation of details rivals that of a legend like Ettore Sottsass. But where Sottsass used his painstakingly deliberate...

In celebration of their famous 1940 win at the Indianapolis 500 known as the "Boyle Special," Maserati teamed up with cult Italian bike builder Cicli Montante to create a limited-edition bicycle resembling the victorious fixed head, eight-cylinder 8CTF race car. With driver Wilbur Shaw behind the wheel for the...

While brand collaborations range from unholy to made-in-heaven, it's rare to see two direct competitors join forces with pitch-perfect results like Fritz and Ken's Ale. The upshot of an alliance between two of Northern California's most respected brewers, Anchor Steam and Sierra Nevada, the partnership—while celebrating the latter's 30th...

Jun Takahashi's subtly clever line Undercover (along with his collaborations) rarely disappoints. From looks that satisfy my current preference for monotone dressing, like a khaki barn jacket paired with khakis, to striped backpacks, his Spring/Summer 2011 has plenty to covet. (We'll take the turquoise raincoat or army green v-neck...

After visiting friends in both New York and San Francisco, furniture maker Chris Brigham realized that there was very little effort going toward proper bike management and maintenance coast to coast. The resulting Bike Shelf by the one-man design team (whose graphic design background includes a stint at Google) joins...

An antidote to disco-worthy iPads and nerdy eReaders unfit for the beach, Monocle's recently published "Mediterraneo" newspaper, like their magazine, goes against the publishing grain for a glare-free summer read. The 64-page extension of the acclaimed glossy comes packed with sensible tips, progressive geopolitical thinking, and their reputable take...

Founded in 2006 around a conceptual branding approach "seeking to broaden the opinion of what design really means," Odeur uses "a unique scent and its molecular structure as a replacement for the traditional, word-based logotype." The upshot, clothes fragranced with an airy, light smell comparable to CK One and a...

Japanese designer and inveterate snowboarder Taro Tamai has been hand-shaping his eye-catching Gentemstick boards for over a decade. An answer to the homogenization of board shapes that happened as snowboarding gained mainstream appeal, Tamai's goal is no less than to "perfectly blend into the terrain miraculously made of snow...

Finding the perfect white button-down can prove as trying as the ladies' quest for the all-purpose little black dress. Fortunately, cycling clothier Outlier decided to "experiment in form," resulting in the pivot shirt—an elegant woven designed for flexibility. After wearing the classic look for a few months, I was...

Using high quality felted wool and hand dyed leather, Byrd and Belle recently released a smart looking laptop sleeve perfect for the Fall weather. The 1/8" thick Merino wool sleeve closes using a sturdy graphite snap to snugly fit your laptop. All leather used is hand-dyed in the Byrd...

Informally dubbed as the anti-jean, I've worn my Outlier Workwear Pants for four days straight, and tomorrow makes five. A simple, stripped-down pair that prioritizes functionality, it's durable, versatile and always maintains a clean look. Tailored in NYC, the pant is constructed using a double weave method featuring a...

Now on view as a part of "The Harder They Fall" exhibit at Moss Gallery in NYC, artist/designer Peter Marigold created a new series of works cleverly entitled The Palindrome Series. Using wood, acrylic, gypsum composite and fiberglass, Marigold plays with symmetry by creating pieces of furniture that are...

During a recent visit to the Shoreditch area of London, I had the chance to drop in on the five-year-old brand Pointer Footwear. Housed in a space with both Edwin and Carhartt, founder Gareth Skewis—a well-connected professional that started his career skating in the streets of Johannesburg—now helms the...

Branching out from denim and distressed fashion and looking to a different part of their Italian heritage, Diesel recently started to produce their own wine and olive oil under the Diesel Farm label. Diesel's premium offerings include a '99, '04 and '05 Chardonnay for €110, an '04 and '05...

Made famous by none other than Cinderella and brought to life by Maison Martin Margiela, the Brothers Grimm fantastical shoe concept now exists, albeit in limited quantities. While Margiela usually plays with reality by repurposing everyday objects (see his Currency Wallets, nail keyring and silver hospital bracelet) rather than...

We've seen a lot of these double-ring boots lately but our favorite thus far has to be this version by Yuketen. Featuring a sturdy cream-colored Vibram sole, you can be rest assured that it will eat up any type of terrain this fall. Sewn into the stable sole is...

Founded in 1901, Indian Motorcycles is traditionally known for producing big, loud bikes, but Bike Exif put us on to this skinnier model. A customized Indian, we love this bike for what it's not. Stripped off all superfluous parts we're drawn to the minimalist, lightweight look. The customization comes...

Famed street artist and respected illustrator Parra opens his first exhibition in Germany tomorrow, 27 August 2009, called "I like the tee shirt but I will get the painting." Presented by Arkitip, the Dutch image-maker's brightly colored typographic illustrations are showing at the Pool Gallery in Berlin, an achievement...

Tokyo-based clothing brand FAT (pronounced F.A.T) recently unveiled their upcoming Fall/Winter 2009 collection. We're liking the athletic and military influences combined with modern, borderline baggy cuts. Simple looks punctuated with saturated colors and clever logos make up the latest collection of shirts, pants, denim, cargos, sweats and cut-and-sew pieces....

Burton released another board in their exclusive Private Stock Collection today. Available in only 100 specialty shops worldwide, the 2010 edition features Fritz the Cat, cartoonist R. Crumb's infamous feline con artist. Fritz also starred in the first animated feature film to receive an X rating in the United...

The Sèvres Vase Clock, a prototype by Georgios Maridakis, indicates the hour with an audible knock. Just place the vase of your choice on the brass and wood stand and the hammer will strike the vase each hour. Each vase makes a different sound, but adding different amounts of...

Back in June Complex announced the Foothills collaboration between éS and our friends at famed footwear site Crooked Tongues. After years of planning and development, the pack which includes a skate shoe, hat, backpack and jacket finally goes on sale today at the Crooked Tongues store. The shoes come...

Lineaus Athletic Company, based out of the artist's enclave of Marfa, Texas, makes old world-style leather sporting equipment. Handmade by Lineaus himself using the best materials, his beautiful work will last a lifetime. To test their durability Lineaus puts his work up to the trials of prison life. For...

Justin Quinnell left his homemade pinhole camera open for six months to capture a time lapse of both the Summer and Winter solstices. The lowest streak is the Winter solstice on 22 December 2007 and the highest line represents the Summer solstice, captured on 20 June 2008 (image above)....

We're pleased to announce the recent launch of Cool Hunting Video's own channel on Babelgum. Combining the full-screen video quality of traditional television with the interactive capabilities of the Internet, Babelgum offers professionally produced, on-demand programming to a global audience. The channel adds to CHV's other outlets, iTunes, Zune...

Improving on basic surf bag design, Nicholas Martino dreamed up a way to make surfer's lives easier by adding inflatable chambers for more protection. Although it's still a prototype, we hope to see it pushed into production soon. The cover not only offers supreme defense from dings, but also...

Once again challenging the iPhone's reign as the touch screen device of choice for over two years, HTC's new model boasts industrial design and interface usability that makes us weigh our options carefully. For early-adopters looking to differentiate themselves from the iPhone-using masses, the Hero may be the answer....

French label Aprill 77 emphasizes high quality construction and fabrics and in their first year they have already made an impact on the denim scene. A standout from their upcoming Fall/Winter 2009 line is their Japanese selvedge stretch denim pant and jacket. It's the first we've heard of stretch...

A little over a week ago on 14 June 2009 one of my favorite magazines, The New York Times Magazine, quietly unveiled a new design and format in an effort to cut costs and waste (there were two artist designed covers for the 14 June issue, shown above). Announced...

Dropping today, Context recently teamed up with established gentleman's footwear authority Alden of New England to create the Tanker Boot. The sleek boot offers the expected durability of its namesake with an infusion of style and comfort resulting in a versatile shoe that can be worn with denim or...

Just down the hill from the hustle and bustle of Sunset Boulevard sits the Palihouse Holloway Hotel. I recently had the opportunity to stay at the quiet, NYC apartment-style hotel in the heart of West Hollywood and was expectedly pleased. Perfect for an extended stay, the tucked-away boutique spot...

Fiber & Fellow has been on our radar for some time now, but we are especially impressed with their upcoming Fall/Winter 09 collection which is due out late this Summer. Based out of Long Beach, California, Fiber & Fellow's latest menswear collection might fit better in the woods than...

Erik Schedin recently released another trio of products for his curated online shop, the highlight of which is the Danner Light Boot. Designed in 1979 it was the first ever boot to utilize Gore-Tex technology. Currently only made for the Japanese Market, the boots are now available in Europe...

The original Air Trainer (above left) debuted 20 years ago, but Nike finally unveiled the long-awaited update last week. Designed for the rigors of training and preparing for competition, the new Nike Trainer 1 (above right) is the lightest cross-trainer I've tried. Inspired by world-class athletes like Bo Jackson,...

One of the most well-respected pro skaters in the biz, Stefan Janoski finally got his own long-overdue shoe with Nike SB. In keeping with his relaxed, nonchalant skate style, the Zoom Janoski is a clean, comfortable and functional shoe. Nike's second signature model, it's a marked departure from their...

The space shuttle Atlantis blasted off from Florida yesterday afternoon carrying a seven-member crew to tune-up the Hubble Space Telescope for the last time. Like any job, proper tools are essential for working efficiently and effectively but this takes on a whole new meaning in space. The astronauts tasked...

A few weeks ago the CH team sadly took our last run down the slopes for the winter at the secluded mountain of Sugarbush Vermont. The fact that it was our last trip was only brightened by the experience of trying the new, all wood core, handmade Heidiskis from...

Kicking off this year's New York International Auto Show last week, we attended the U.S unveiling of the new Ferrarri 599XX and Maserati GranTurismo S Automatic at Ferrari's Park Ave showroom. Both were originally exhibited at the Geneva Auto Show a few weeks prior and are the focus of...