“Brimming with images and insightful text, this unique book is the benchmark reference on what is arguably the most influential and important furniture brand of our time. It reveals in unparalleled detail how Charles and Ray Eames as well as a talented team of designers worked to create pieces that still top bestseller lists. The book describes the key role played by the Eames Office’s own development and perfection of production processes for its designs as well as the significance of its relationship with manufacturers. By documenting the creation and spread of these landmark furniture designs, this book also tells the story of how modernism became established in homes and offices throughout the world.”

- Gestalten

Mos Def is your favourite MC’s favourite MC. Ever since his guest spot on De La Soul’s Stakes is High back in ’96, the Mighty Mos has earned praise for not only being a gifted lyricist but also for having the tightest flow this side of Bed Stuy. And despite an unfortunate stretch of inconsistency and record label woes, his return to form in last year’s critically acclaimed The Ecstatic has put him back on the map. The folks over at Nah Right posted great footage of a recent Mos Def performance at the VooDoo Lounge in San Jose. Shot by Lyphelong, a Sacramento-based videographer who appears to be working on an ongoing series with VooDoo showcasing their best and brightest acts, including this great performance by rising star Curren$y. Both the sound and image are really crisp; it really accentuates the intimate appeal of the venue.

Without a history as prominent as Quoddy’s, relative new comer Heritage Research has emerged with a similar commitment to craftsmanship and authenticity – making this collaboration a pretty sound one. Almost entirely handmade – Quoddy’s shoes pass through the hands of as many as seventy people before leaving the factory floor in Maine – we’re particularly fond of the mix of Americana and British taste in the form of this full leather, deerskin bellowed, boot with hard Vibram soles.  Available here.

Last Thursday September 9th, marked the opening preview of “Artifacts” at the Surface to Air boutique in Paris. The event underlined a special collaboration effort between artist Steven Harrington, who provided a selection of new prints; designer Gesa Hansen, who showcased four custom made pieces of furniture for Surface to Air. Available September 1st.

“Artifacts” will be shown until October 8th 2010.

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Cole Haan’s ‘Inspired Life’ collaboration with Todd Selby continues for the brand’s Fall 2010 line. Much like his work for Nike 6.0, Selby has shot a series of interesting subjects – ranging from tennis star Maria Sharapova to Undefeated‘s James Bond – wearing the collection in various creative or personal spaces of their choosing. The setting and the intimate context really accentuate the boots’ ‘lived-in’ appeal. They’re building off the idea that we only keep things around the house that age well; these boots are meant to – and often do – fall into that category. For fashion photography, this is really stunning work and it’s a very appropriate way to present this collection. More pictures after the jump, courtesy of The Selby.

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Denham’s newest pieces are described as a ”strong stylistic nod to the golden era of the “gentleman spy” operating in hot-weather cultures of North Africa, India or Arabia,” though Denham’s emerging utility-tailoring approach in the form of this Subterfuge shirt may lead you to think otherwise. Denham has been experimenting more and more as of late with washes, resin’s and aging recipes while keeping their tailoring techniques classic. The integral part of the process involves using premium Swiss and Japanese weaves. The above for example, inspired by a 40’s era Big Buck workshirt, is rendered in premium chambray with extensive strategic selvedge placement.

Available here.

Though described as a “winter boot”, East Coaster’s probably won’t want to drag these Melton wool boots through the slush and salt. Given Sperry Topsider’s track record and history in performance on the water however, we’re tempted to give them a test drive to see how they fare versus our Canadian-made counterparts. In any case, for the time being, a reasonably priced fall option. Available here.

Apolis Activism has a nice little option for those that want to get behind the brand and cause – supporting textile cooperatives in the developing world in an effort to kick-start a self-sustaining industry – in an affordable package. Manufactured in Saidpur, Bangladesh from 100% natural golden jute fiver harvested locally, subtle touches like a waterproof lining and vegetable dyed leather straps with antique nickel rivets round out this practical piece. I picked up the bundle of 3 that I plan on leaving in the trunk of the car for impromptu trips to the shops. Available here.

When it comes to rain jackets, it doesn’t get any more classic than a straight army green. When it comes to reliability, it doesn’t get any better than putting your trust into Danish rainwear makers (since 1979) Elka. For whatever reason, finding this type of staple – outside of surplus shops – seem to be a bit tough going at the moment, but this piece holds very true with a classic cut, concealed buttons, welded seams and pop stud buttons. You may recall Norse Projects teamed with Elka previously on some rain gear in the middle of last winter in some brighter colours, but now that fall is in full swing, it’s great to see a more muted offering. Available here.

Young Replicant is an L.A. based production team on the rise. Members Alex Takacs, Joe Nankin and Adam Kauper first turned heads with their video of M83′s dreamy ‘We Own the Sky’, a sun-soaked whimsical affair that M83 himself praised for capturing “exactly what [he] had in mind when [he] wrote the song.” The trio’s portfolio is relatively small, with only three videos currently to their name, but the focus is clearly quality over quantity. Their 2009 video for Angela McKlusky’s ‘Handle With Grace’ could, or rather should be the benchmark for aspiring fashion videographers.

Their latest video for Baths’ ‘Lovely Bloodflow’ is their finest work to date, showcasing the trio’s uncanny ability to capture the spirit of the song through narrative and atmosphere. Baths falls in line with the Flying Lotus community, an extension of hip hop that sounds like a 1980s arcade game scored by J Dilla at 3am. ‘Lovely Bloodflow’ is a bass-heavy jam that broods and bounces over haunting falsetto vocals. Young Replicant’s interpretation of the song blends equal parts surrealism and Japanese mythology, telling the tale of a wounded Samurai visited by strange forest nymphs. As far as music videos go, it’s a truly unique narrative enhanced by stunning composition and understated post production. If this is any indication of things to come from this trio, the future looks bright for Young Replicant.

Monocle continues to deliver on its impressive streak of collaborative projects available exclusively in their shops – online and free-standing – this time teaming with Copenhagen’s Inoue Brothers. The end result is a classic, thermal jumper and limited edition travel blanket, each made from super-fine baby alpaca knitted by Bolivian craftswomen. While we’ve yet to get our hands on the first run, we can all rest assured they will no doubt live up to Satoru and Kiyoshi’s familiar high standards. The jumpers will retail for £160 (round-neck) and the travel blanket for £175. For those not already familiar with the Inoue Brothers, our previous interview should serve as a nice primer.

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SA Studios have put out an interesting series of viral videos to help promote the upcoming genre flick, Machete. The film stars Danny Trejo, a legendary character actor best described as the quintessential bad-ass. With classic bit parts in films like Desperado, Con Air and From Dusk ’till Dawn, it’s nice to see Trejo finally getting the spotlight. He’s always enjoyed a Boba Fett-like cult following, a character who steals the scene without saying a word. Like art imitating life, Trejo’s criminal past is the subject of much speculation. SA taps into that mythology with this series of stunning documentary shorts focusing on a humble Danny Trejo hanging out in East LA. Directed by Estevan Oriol, the videos are beautifully-shot and shed a softer light on the only man deserving of a nickname like Machete. I still wouldn’t spill my beer on him. The series is available here, including a short with artist David Choe.