MUJI's minimalist approach to design is highly prominent in a new release from the Japanese brand, a combination smartphone charging tray and speaker. Fusing two essential functions into a compact station, the charging tray plays hosts to two hidden USB ports and a Bluetooth A2DP-enabled speaker to conveniently bump desk or room tunes. To American dismay, the tray will be available exclusively at MUJI Japan's web shop, but at the nice price of approximately $60 USD, high demand should necessitate an import in the near future.
As previously reported, French luxury label Moncler and Japanese contemporary active brand White Mountaineering have teamed up for an exclusive collection. The "Moncler W" collection premiered to a Tokyo audience just recently, showcasing the label's penchant for sleek silhouettes suited for harsh weather conditions. The partnership has created several innovative patterns and designs, such as the 'neo-fairisle' color motif across the jackets, scarves, shoes, and gloves. Traditional quilting and hexagonal weaving are also presented here, though applied in minimalist ways to apendage-specific areas. Creative use of corduroy and cable-knit wool detail each piece, which is a successful take on utilitarian fashion. Expect the "Moncler W" collection to hit preferred stockists soon.
Taking inspiration from Los Angeles' Venice Beach, Nike Basketball has crafted a bold Stadium Grey/University Gold-Night Stadium edition of Kobe Bryant's signature Kobe 8 System. One of the more eye-catching editions of the Black Mamba's latest signature low-top, the kicks see a combination of blue, yellow, red, and grey across their Engineered Mesh upper while a duo of Lunarlon and Phylon handle the plush cushioning. Finished with an icy rubber outsole, the "Venice Beach" take on the Kobe 8 System is set to hit Nike Basketball retailers across the globe this Saturday, May 25 for $140 USD.
With a proclivity to indulge with marijuana, crowd surf and chatter rebellious slang, Flatbush Zombies shows are anything but tranquil. With that in mind, we headed down to their performance at Paid Dues Festival to experience first-hand a sonically engaging performance by the New York-based rap trio. While cohorts of loyal fans submerged themselves in droning offbeat anthems such as "Thug Waffle" and "MRAZ," we caught the group backstage where things were a little less chaotic. Here, we catch Meechy Darko, Zombie Juice and Erick Arc Elliott on a laid-back tip as they share with us the origins of the group, why they haven't settled on a major label, and how Rick Flare and Sean Michaels are likely comparisons with their music. Flatbush Zombies' forthcoming mixtape Better Off Dead is due to drop with an impending date this spring, in addition to Erick's solo release Been Here Before.
New York street artist Stephen Powers, or ESPO amongst peers, recently showcased a slew of pop-art inspired pieces at Brussels' Alice Gallery. Entitling the body of work as "Daily Metaltations," Powers pulls from the reflection of time, music and other daily occurrences as central motifs. While the installation pivots towards an undeniably whimsical stance, each illustration holds various metaphors, figurative to his everyday influences. Bold and powerful, "Visual Blues" is another momentous statement from the veteran street artist whose flamboyant style continues to turn heads on and off the streets. "Visual Blues" will be showing at Alice Gallery till June 22, so be sure to head over if you're in town.
Alice Gallery
4 Rue du Pays de Liège
1000 Brussels
Belgium
le coq sportif caps off some well-documented releases of late with its own retail concept in London. This latest reemergence of the classic French athletics brand has come on the back of some great archival drops and of course through the aforementioned collaborations that have included both Sneaker Freaker and London's very own Foot Patrol. The opening party that took place Thursday evening featured a well-attended affair which should continue the dialog for the brand and provided an ongoing energy as we anticipate much more going forward. The Covent Garden store is now open to public and can be visited at the address below.
le coq sportif London
23 Earlham Street
Seven Dials, Covent Garden
London, WC2H 9LL
United Kingdom
Los Angeles' Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) has always done well to curate relevant art from recent generations, creating a new legacy for the present crop of creative enthusiasts. Continuing on this legacy, MOCAtv unveils a new documentary series on punk music, entitled "The Art of Punk." The documentary seeks to cover logos of iconic punk bands such as Dead Kennedys, Crass, and Black Flag. With testimonial from figures such as Winston Smith, Dave King, and Keith Morris, "The Art of Punk" looks to add a design facet to the music. The first episode will premiere on June 11 on MOCAtv.
With summer camp just around the corner, Nike preps for yet another season as the on-field apparel provider for the NFL with the special QuickStrike release of three Air Trainer SC IIs dipped in team colorways. Currently available in Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings and Jacksonville Jaguars colors, each model is specifically designed to enable its wearer to reach peak athletic performance during workouts and training sessions, where results may dictate whether or not one plays or watches from home. Specifications start with a full-grain perforated leather upper for a premium fit, then move to a large stabilizing support strap at the lateral medial sides and a PU midsole for lightweight cushioning. Its sole incorporates an impact absorbing Air Max unit as well as a waffle outsole for traction on a variety of surfaces. Coinciding with brand new uniforms for all three squads, the trio of Air Trainer SC II drops is now available online for $110 USD each.
French automotive manufacturer Renault has officially revealed its much buzzed-about Twin'Run Concept vehicle. Although weighing in at just 2,094 lbs thanks to fiberglass and carbon fiber construction in conjunction with a tubular chassis, the tiny little two-seater packs a bunch under the hood in the form of a mid-mounted V6 3.5-liter engine - capable of 316 hp, 280 lb-ft of torque, a top speed of 155 mph, and acceleration from 0 mph to 62 mph in just 4.5 seconds. All of this sits atop 18-inch alloy wheels while the inside of the Twin'Run is home to a black and red suede interior, Sparco seats with racing harnesses, gear and handbrake levers near the steering wheel itself, and a 5.5-inch LCD instrument panel. Likely a preview of what the upcoming Renault 5 Turbo will have to offer, further info on the Twin'Run Concept can be found via Renault's website.
Having already crafted a 100% Bearbrick edition of Tony Stark's Mark XLII armor to go alongside its Iron Patriot and War Machine releases, Medicom Toy has once again teamed up with Iron Man 3 - this time to introduce 400% and 1000% ursine versions of the Marvel film's flagship armored suit. True to form, the predominately gold design comes complete with red accents throughout - as well as the toy's unmistakable bear features. The 400% and 1000% Bearbrick versions of Mark XLII will be available beginning June 22 for ¥7,350 JPY (approximately $73 USD) and ¥33,600 JPY (approximately $333 USD), respectively, as a part of Medicom Toy Exhibition 2013.
Ronnie Fieg and Sebago present the first drop from their collaborative Spring/Summer 2013 collection. Highlighted in the new release - the sixth seasonal collection for the designer and the American footwear label - is a brand new take on the moccasin-constructed Schooner. Replacing its typical Docksides sole with that of the Campsides variety, the design boasts a blotched camouflage leather upper while the design's extra quarter panel provides a bit of a different canvas than that of previous Fieg x Sebago works. Joining the Schooner is an oily coffee brown leather edition of the classic 1970s Docksides, complete with a contrasting white slip-resistant non-marking rubber outsole. The first drop from the Ronnie Fieg for Sebago Spring/Summer 2013 Collection is now available at KITH stores and online via Ronnie Fieg's own web shop.
Merging Edwardian dress sense with Japanese sensibility, Digawel presents the 2013 fall/winter collection with directional flair. Here, classic silhouettes are iterated into billowy but nonetheless well-groomed options, as double-breasted jackets and coats receive lengthy renditions, while stud embellishments adorn button-ups elsewhere. Cheerful hues and classic fabrications coexist amid pullovers, polo shirts and tapered trousers, harnessing the compatibility of dapper and casual motifs throughout. Showing elegant layering without looking overly cluttered, the strong sense of narrative plays its part when catering for a number of personalities. Enjoy the lookbook and keep an eye out for the 2013 fall/winter offerings to hit selected stocklists in later months.
Although the iPhone 5 lacks the shiny exterior its predecessor’s glass or aluminum backing offered, Incase develop the Chrome Slider Case for Apple enthusiasts missing the bygone aesthetics. Starting with the brand’s ubiquitous two-piece plastic casing system, this rendition features a stand for upright viewing and a fluorescent pop interior with a rubber guardrail for a secure fit that also protects against harsh impacts, shock and scratches. The high-gloss mirrored exterior however gives it the appearance that resembles a precious metal, once again reminding us of our smartphone’s importance. The design is now available through Incase’s web store in silver and gold for $29.95 USD.
Polish designer Kas Kryst presents her new collection for Fall/Winter 2013. Entitled "bunch-bunch," this offering is a dark range inspired by both longboarding and street culture. Here we find the young visionary executing long, draping forms across sweaters, varsity-inspired bombers, and shirts, mixing dark premium leathers, snakeskins, and ribbed wool within pieces to create a layered effect. Meanwhile, the selection of trousers and shorts presented here has a distinct fashion influence with a street edge, conveyed by the use of active stretch material in a harem style silhouettes. Enjoy photos of the looks.
A far cry from the building block sessions of youth, a brick squad of LEGO's Czech designers, engineers, builders, and mechanics has unveiled the largest LEGO Star Wars X-Wing Starfighter model to date. A whopping 42 times larger than its commercially-accessible building kit, this model is built with a steel skeleton and incorporates over 5 million bricks, bringing its total weight just north of 45,000 lbs. Notably, the life-size intergalactic shuttle is built with the same building blocks as are available to the public, albeit in a much greater quantity. The ship was recently unveiled at Times Square in New York.
James Blake recently finished off his US tour with a stop through Atlanta. Having seen many successes since the debut of his full length, Overgrown, the melodic and soulful singer/songwriter has been selling out his stops throughout North America. Now, as the artist readies an International extension of his tour, NPR has released a full 90-minute concert stream from Blake's performance at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. From start to finish, the footage captures Blake performing songs that were both old and new to a sold out show.
The strikingly admirable landscapes of Brazil's pristine beaches, bustling cities, and lush natural environments have rendered the country one of the most coveted travel destinations in the world. Nike is one such admirer, having created a collection of sneakers inspired by each of Brazil's most scenic locales. As sneakers can be used as a canvas for such inspire expression, Nike commissioned London-based graphic artist Fausto Fantinuoli to further develop this idea, the result being a series of mosaics that represent Brazilian landscapes through their respective footwear simulations. Here we find the sole, lacing, and bootstrap elements of three silhouettes – the Bomba, Air Max, Elastico, and Gato – used as jigsaw pieces to create bold and colorful landscapes. Enjoy the compositions above.
Italian kitchenware specialists Alessi has created a new take on one of the most under-appreciated accessories around, the lighter. Dubbed the Sushi lighter, this beautiful take on the humble lighter is designed to be equally at home in your pocket or in the kitchen. A mix of clean, sensual lines and fun, pastel colors, the Sushi exudes a warmth reminiscent of appliances from bygone eras. Offered in a selection of colors, the Alessi Sushi lighter is currently only available in Japan and Europe, with North American availability coming soon.
We showed you the Karimoku x Medicom Toy Walnut 1000% Bearbrick earlier, now we've got a look at its little brother, the Karimoku x Medicom Toy Hinoki Cypress 400% Bearbrick. The 400% Bearbrick is crafted from Hinoki Cypress and like its big brother, is handmade by one of Karimoku's skilled craftsmen. Due to the nature of the wood, this Bearbrick carries a light lemon scent but due to the wood's softness also scars easily. Like the walnut version, this one is made to order and is priced at ¥62,790 JPY (approximately $620 USD).
Mike and Sulley, the lovable duo from Monsters, Inc., are back in the upcoming flick Monsters University. Going back to the start, the upcoming film shows the two monsters as young students taking their first steps towards being professionals. Taking place within the rowdy atmosphere of Monsters University, the upcoming title looks like it should be even more fun than Monsters, Inc. Monsters University will hit theaters June 21.