Would adding a little fun to our everyday actions change the way we act? That’s what the folks at Rolighetsteorin.se (thefuntheory.com) set out to do. To change the norm of people taking the escalator versus the stairs, the stairs were outfitted with pressure sensing plates that turned them into piano keys, like the famous FAO Schwartz scene in BIG. Enjoy, we couldn’t help but smile when watching it.
We’ve already seen Penfield drop western-style design onto a down coat, and now Rocky Mountain delivers a Gore-Tex rain jacket with a similar look. You know all about Gore-Tex’s weatherproof, breathable fabric. It’s been dominating that game for over 30 years now. Now, Rocky Mountain Featherbed has flipped it into high fashion. They’ve created a jacket with features like leather detailing over the yoke and shoulders, a high collar with a stow-away hood, hidden zippers, pearl buttons, and brass pressed studs, plus a flash royal blue colorway to go with a more standard camel look. Available here.
For those not already familiar with the work of artist Tom Sachs, there may be no better way to get acquainted with his work than his “Cameras” exhibition which wrapped up last month at The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum. Having long been fascinated with cameras, Sachs exhibition included replicas, functioning cameras, and others made from wood, steel, clay, bronze, foamcore and plastic that explored cameras as sculptures and functional objects. We loved the variety of the exhibition ranging from the artist’s earliest work, a clay replica of a Nikon SLR camera that Sachs made when he was eight years old as a gift to his father, to a fully functional “instant” camera that has been cobbled together out of (among other things) a Canon digital camera, a tiny HP inkjet printer, and a battery from a Makita cordless drill. The Tom Sachs Store, also has some really neat things to buy, check it out here.
Vice Magazine’s rise from Montreal-based zine to multinational publication and media franchise is nothing short of inspiring. They play a huge part in the shape of today’s leisure class, making all the right friends and burning all the right bridges along the way. Its founders make no secret of their humble Canadian roots, so it’s fitting that they’re celebrating their 15th Anniversary on three separate occasions across the Great White North this month. The Fred Perry-sponsored festivities kick off on the 15th in Vancouver, followed by events in Toronto and Montreal on the 22nd and 28th respectively. Entry is free but you must RSVP here. Good times are assured.
Who is killing it harder than White Mountaineering this season? We don’t just love the style, we love that heavy wool and tweed with Windstopper combination is built for late Fall and early Winter. With previous pieces from this seasons collection including GORE-TEX, we still admire the foresight to go with Windstopper for an added shield against the elements. Yosuke Aizawa, keep it coming. Please. See the hunting-inspired army green version after the jump. Oh, and their collaboration with Timberland is on the way! Available here.
Although we’ve been liking a lot of Fall offerings, it’s rare we come across something that slap us in the face like these ankle lace up boots from Zeha-Berlin. Like most brands with a long history in the fashion game that have since been reincarnated, Alexander Barré and Torsten Heine, have been pushing some great modern thinking while staying true to the heritage of this 112-year-old brand. Well known in some circles for their 20′s inspired Oxfords and Derbys, what we most love about Zeha-Berlin shoes and boots, are the fact they are all leather lined, something we’re finding harder and harder to find as of late. These ankle boots are hand made in Naples, with vegetable tanned leather, and leather replaceable soles so with the right care, these’ll last you forever. Available here.
What is it that makes so many of us fetishize retro technology? Most would probably say it’s something about trying to get back to an age of innocence and wonder. Amateur psychology aside, the Digital Harinezumi camera from SuperHeadz drops retro in spades. It means no more need for computer-faked filters or vignettes, because it delivers highly-realistic emulations of 110 film stills and 8mm video right out of the box. It has an LCD screen on the back, but it’s actually disabled while shooting, forcing you to use the plastic viewfinder to frame your shot (old school in both form and function). SuperHeadz do allow you the convenience of an SD Memory Card slot so you can transfer up to 4GB of those lo-fi, beautifully grainy pics and videos to your computer with relative ease. These have been a major cult hit in both Japan and North America. Your best bet is to pre-order here or here.
Video and picture samples after the jump.
While few of us can pull off anything from Henrik Vibskov with his crazy unpredictable Danish style and colorful patterns, these computer bags are strangely accessible and just downright neat. In the upper left, the Bolivia, made from a wool and silk blend with fabric lining. Then we have these amusing Rope computer bags in black and gray (available in two sizes). We like the idea of using these almost like a stand alone carryall for your laptop and all your peripherals without hiding it in another bag. It is Henrik Vibskov after all, get noticed! Available here.
Having long been fans of Common Projects for summer with a clean Achilles Low it’s comforting to know our brand loyalty won’t stray during winter. Featuring a high cut boot style, the side zips will make them easy to get in and out of, although few among us are grumbling with the decision to go with laces and a zipper. Sticking with what makes Common Projects so great, the uppers are all leather, still made in Italy and for a twist, a dirty rubber sole to bring the whole thing back down to earth. A touch on the pricier side, but by now, you should know you’re getting what you pay for. No word yet on how these’ll hold up in the salt though. Available here.
Morphosis Architects have just unveiled the FLOAT home specifically for the Make it Right Foundation whose purpose is to help New Orleans rebuild after Hurricane Katrina. The FLOAT home was revealed in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward and well, it’s basically a home that floats. The house can literally break away from it’s moorings and rise up to 12 feet. Two guide posts keep it in its spot until disaster strikes. There’s enough backup battery power to provide for a family for two days until help arrives. While homes are usually built on stilts in areas that have high risk of floods, the architects chose to design the homes so that they stay on the ground to be more accessible and help create a better a sense of community. Check out the Make it Right foundation’s website if you want to read more about their work to help hurricane Katrina victims.
If it weren’t for the title, we wouldn’t have known this was an adidas Originals by Originals, which is one of the reasons why we love it. The second being, it’s from Kazuki Kuraishi’s collection for O by O. The third being, it’s based off one of our favorite military-inspired jackets, the M-51 fishtail parka. For those that don’t know, fishtail comes from the fact that the coat is longer at the back than it is at the front. And it’s MOD because in the 60′s, this style of jacket became popular in UK mod subculture because of their practicality, quality and relative cheapness making them ideal for surviving UK weather on their scooters. Other features on this Mod Parka include: Diaplex Waterproof construction, taped seams, Kazuki bat print liner, peaked hood and leather toggle adjusters. With the M-51′s roots dating back to 1951 and outfitting the U.S. Army during the Korean War, this jacket is as fit for the elements as it is at war with New York cabbies. Available here.
Detailed pictures worth seeing after the jump.
Although admittedly, we’ve never been huge fans of Keith Haring art, we’ve always appreciated his artistic and social contributions to New York City street culture in the 80′s. After his work appeared on graphic t-shirts for Uniqlo, we were left wanting more Haring and now, well, there is more Haring! Not sure what our deal is, but we’ve really been ‘into’ patches as of late, if there’s even such a thing. A patch or even the right button can really set off an understated jacket or bag with a splash of color and personality. We see these Keith Haring fabric patches right at home on a Filson or Mismo bag, or even the back of your favorite flannel 5-pannel cap.
Launched as part of Tate Modern‘s Pop Art exhibition which showcases generations of pop artists that embraced their celebrity status and subsequent commercial benefits. Available here.
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