You may already be aware of Zurich based innovators, Freitag, and their brilliant range of recycled bags and accessories made from “well-travelled truck tarpaulins, unravelled seat belts, bicycle inner tubes beyond repair and recycled airbags”. You may have also seen their brilliant Zurich flagship store – that we visited on our Swiss design trip earlier this year – that follows the company’s ethos, being constructed entirely from rusty, recycled freight-containers – stacked 86ft high. Something you won’t see until early August are these beautiful iPad sleeves, complete with a ‘one-pull’ strap system for easy access, a ‘velvety’ inner lining, and their iconic recycled tarpaulin outers. Interested? Be first in line by writing to bagmypad@freitag.ch……
Bags, cases, eyewear, jewellery, stationery, watches…. all cutting-edge, inspirational and defining ‘cool’.
Stylish, elegant and decidedly cool… not words that are usually associated with a paper bag, but then not many paper bags debut at Fashion Week in Paris. Ultra lightweight, super strong and water-resistant, the Papier collection – a collaboration between award-winning, high-end jewellery designer Saskia Diez and her equally creative husband, industrial and product designer Stefan Diez. Produced using Tyvek®, a ridiculously hard wearing, tear-proof synthetic paper, offering all the standard requirements of a travel bag whilst of course being fully recyclable… should, of course, you ever fall out with the beautifully simplistic design of this ‘German Designpreis 2010′ award winning collection….
Vík Prjónsdóttir Blankets
elegant wool blankets from Icelandic design collective...
February 18th, 2010
With blankets dedicated to Sea Eagles, hidden worlds and Michael Jackson, you know that Icelandic design collective Vík Prjónsdóttir have a propensity for the absurd, especially given their famed ‘Beardcap‘. Captivated by nature and with a fervor for local culture and materials, Vík Prjónsdóttir showcased their latest collection at the recent Stockholm Design Week, a range of beautifully diverse blankets made from 100% Icelandic wool, and each telling a tale of folklore and emotion.
A chance incident in which Alternative Oyster founder, and fan of the “steam punk” aesthetic, Matt Longstaff, used his Oyster card – London’s standard prepayed travel card – successfully whilst acting as a bookmark in a hardback led him to the conclusion that the card’s RFID chip would pass through a farily thick substance…. and so then, Alternative Oyster was born…. a unique vision to set your card apart from the 10 million plus in circulation through “use of classical materials and sentiments that reflect the locomotive pioneers of yesteryear.”
Stylish and sophisticated, Uniform Wares is a new London based ‘Objects & Apparel’ brand whose products are “intended for everyday use by individuals with an eye for meticulous design details”, their first foray into the fashion world is a ridiculously minimal wrist watch simply entitled, Wrist Watch 001. Limited quantities and colours hints that this is the beginning of an expanding range from this fledgling designer, and if this rather seductive little number is anything to go by, then that’s a very good thing….
Born in Jerusalem, yet a self proclaimed ‘Nomad’ who has lived in South Africa, Australia, Europe and Iceland, the rather talented design Sruli Recht has a passion for “making ugly things beautiful”. Having produced a beautiful range of footwear, accessories such as wallets and handbags and sculptural objects, Sruli has also worked as head designer and consultant for fashion labels in Iceland and Australia whilst also finding time to work as a pattern cutter and show-piece maker for Alexander McQueen…. needless to say, this boy has all the necessary skills to pay the bills! His latest gift to the world of fashion and design is this beautiful piece of statement jewellery, his uncut rough diamond ring. The 10carat white gold Möbius band allows for the interchange of three uncut rough diamonds, set individually into screw-in claws and is housed in a wonderfully distressed cardboard box that elegantly authenticates the rough, uncut proposition of this truly unique offering.
If you haven’t been living under a rock for the last 18 months or so, you’ll have no doubt noticed that the world’s most popular toy has been going from strength to strength. It’s not that the 77 year old Danish company had ever really dropped off the radar, but in recent months we’ve seen James May building a Lego house, the Lego digital camera, Lego iPod docks and even the quite fabulous Lego kitchen. It’s no great surprise then to see the trend continue and with Christmas just around the corner, what better idea for the Lego lover in your life than a cute, retro, Lego wallet?
And here was us thinking axes were just for those who got their hands dirty for a living, or serial killers. Looks like we were wrong however, or at least that’s what designer and author Peter Buchanan-Smith, and outdoorsman and environmental entrepreneur Graeme Cameron of Best Made Co. tell us, but then they would, because it’s their wonderfully stylish (did we just say that about an axe?) axes that we’re talking about. All made to order, with hand painted, varnished and polished Tennessee Hickory handles, Best Made Co.’s tools mean serious business and if you’re tool collection is in need of a luxe upgrade then they’re certainly a good start.
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from The Import
We caught up with New York based artist Devin McGrath who, in his beautifully crafted, unique style, bashes out darkly inspirational artworks with an enviable ease……
Clean and crisp, thoughtful illustration is a strong presence in the delightful portfolio of Welsh, Manchester based graduate Gareth Hughes.....
They love fellow Bristolian Banksy – in no small part due to making them a lot of money – but rate Tracy Emin as “nonsensical shit”. Here's our studio spotlight on Taxi Studio.....
The Dead Photos is an inspiring collection of macabre, touching, humorous and enlightening images that offer a delicate insight into the fragility of human life.
Half English half Japanese, London-based Jiro Bevis knocks out record covers, club flyers and editorial pieces with a ridiculously cool, 1980s retro vibe to them....
It’s great to see a company have a strong visual identity running throughout their brand – and that’s just what Stockholm based Bedow Creative have achieved for Sweden’s largest organic grocery store, Eat! Ekoaffären.
Founded by the rather talented duo of Mark Tappin and Simon Gofton, Tappin Gofton is a London-based studio that knock out some wonderfully distinctive work
We asked the Portland studio some questions, which they blindly ignored – instead providing us with a delightful insight into their wonderfully twisted minds. Enjoy…..
Decidedly Brazilian, thanks to it’s colour and vibrancy, Rubens LP’s style is the perfect accompaniment to summer – and anyone who uses bulldogs in their work is sure to receive high precedence with us…..
Rolling out across Europe in coming weeks is this, rather difficult to watch, advert for Sony’s new range of 3D TVs – courtesy of Sexy Beast director Jonathan Glazer....
Devin McGrath
Gareth Hughes
Taxi Studio
The Dead Photos
Jiro Bevis
Eat! Brand Identity
Tappin Gofton
The Official Manufacturing Company
Rubens LP
Sony 3D TV Advert
