Nixon Wood Collection

To surrealists, wood grain symbolized sexuality, so there’s some logic to giving something from Nixon’s new Wood Collection for Valentine’s Day. “Inspired by mid-century furniture, post-modern architecture, and the good old-fashioned grains of mother nature,” the wood inlay design behind the coveted Rotolog watch has been expanded into an entire Wood Collection. The real walnut and bamboo inlays are now featured on the Chalet (the women's version of the Rotolog), and the popular Player and Ticket watches. A line of accessories features leather, laser-etched with wood grain patterns. Laser etching leather, a relatively new process, is something I first saw on a super-limited Nike release. Since the pattern or design is actually etched into the leather, it gives 3-D texture and won't rub off like a print might.

Also on Cool Hunting: The Rotolog Watch.

by Andrew Potash

Update: Some items pictured won't be available until May. Check Nixon's site for details.

Added: February 2006

Welcome Squid Overlords

Take me to your leader.

Monday night I heard the most esteemed and funny neurologist Oliver Sacks speak at Columbia (he is a super naturalist: into ferns, squids, cuttlefish and stereopsis). It was a fascinating lecture, but his Welcome Squid Overlords shirt transfixed me. It was so strange, I had to find its meaning. Was it from an episode of Star Wars that I had missed? I need to sport one at all times.

With a little help from the internet, I found Mike Monteiro, the Creative Director of Mule Design and the creator of the overlord shirt. He is just trying to make squids a little more user-friendly.

He said that he and his son Henry were watching a Discovery Channel program about what animals might look like in the future and it theorized that cephalopods are best poised to be the next dominant species on the planet. Wow! Move over Cockroaches! Then he read that the squid biomass had surpassed the human biomass on Earth. That means that there are more squids than people. We have to make them feel comfortable. The only way to do that is to stop eating calamari and by wearing “Welcome Squid Overlords†clothing.

Get it for $20 from Mule Design.

Added: February 2006

Chocolate Vodka Shots

These clever little chocolates are filled with a vodka infused ganache center. They've been out in the U.K. for about a year, but are pretty new stateside. The tube comes with 4 packs of "shots," each pack contains individually wrapped chocolates with a different flavor vodka center: neat, orange, vanilla and raspberry. Elizabeth Shaw, a well-known English confectioner, created the treats, which are also available in Tequila and Schnapps flavors.

A can of Vodka Shots costs around $10. They are widely available in the U.K. Vodka Shots and Tequila and Schnapps Shots are available in the U.S. online. In New York City at Balducci's. Click here for additional retailers worldwide.

Added: January 2006

TETRAN

While wandering through Macworld (and after viewing a zillion iPod accessories later), I stumbled upon these little fellas, known as TETRAN, in the back corner of the exhibit hall. There's something vaguely satisfying about seeing that cute spikey thing all wrapped up in those white iPod headphone wires with the earbuds shoved in its mouth. Although the website claims that they're for storing your earbud headphones and as a by product of design, serve as a tool for stress relief, they're really just iPod consumerist criticism all wrapped up in yummy cute goodness. Perfect! They're about $13 each and come in Pink, Green, Yellow, and Orange. However, I did see a prototype for a glow in the dark one at the booth, so check their website for those in the future.

Added: January 2006

Cork Cuff

Wine-loving "cork dorks" need not worry about this cuff from Donna Piacenza of Chicago-based Studio 1a.m; made from recycled stoppers, they're no threat to the preferred method of plugging wine bottles. Using a single block of ground-up corks that have been formed using environmentally-friendly adhesives, Piacenza cuts the recylable, flexible, and water-repellant bracelet from the slab, which can be used to store the unconventional accessory. Or, with the cuff removed, the elegant C-shaped negative space makes a fetching display piece (pic after the jump).

Available for $48 from Studio 1a.m.

via Inhabitat

Added: January 2006

Low Tee Bathing Suits

Low Tee makes men's bathing suits from vintage t-shirts (props for recycling). The suits are fully lined in Lycra, and have elastic around the legs and waist, which also has a drawstring. Because the suits are made from vintage t-shirts they are all one-of-a-kind (which we also like). And if you ask nicely you could probably send in one of your own shirts to be converted into a suit. Suits are well-priced at $45 and available online.

Thanks, Rob.

Added: January 2006

Hanspree Televisions

One of the things that's struck our eye here at CES in Las Vegas are these fun and inexpensive television sets from Hanspree. They come in dozens of shapes and styles for kids, sports fans and design freaks and are well priced. While the occasional character or sports team set is not new, we like that Hanspree is producing a whole range of televisions that let consumers express themselves. Available in many styles and sizes online from $299+.

Added: January 2006

Furni

Named after 80s skater legend Mark "Gator" Anthony (who's currently serving time), designer Mike Giles, 28, (a skater himself) thought it'd be fitting to name this birch veneer digital clock (pictured) after the infamous figure. The piece, initially crafted from a thrift store clock and featuring a hard-to-find LED display, is the debut item in their new Montreal-based furniture line called Furni that he founded along with his pal, Devin Barrette, 27. Other accessories, also named after famous skaters, including a toothbrush holder, magazine rack, and a towel rack, (all pictured, after the jump), combine opaque white acrylic with birch veneer in modern, pleasing shapes that make for a set of refreshing, elegant designs. With prices starting at $24, even skaters can afford Furni.

Added: January 2006

Artist Chocolate Bars

Yoyamart and Chocolate Bar teamed up to create a gift box of chocolate bars wrapped in packaging created by the likes of Gary Baseman, Dalek, Tim Biskup, and Friends With You. Limited edition boxes come with 10 different chocolate bars including flavor combos like Dark Chocolate Pretzel and Milk Toffee Crunch, each with a different artist-designed label. A portion of the proceeds benefits The Third Street Music School.

$40 from Chocolate Bar.

Added: January 2006

Exclusive Cool Hunting Gifts

The clock is ticking, but you still have time to make this the best xmas ever by picking up some limited edition exclusives from Cool Hunting's Gift Guide. The three designs pictured here are patterns from our artist-designed gift wrap by emerging artists Seth Brau and Derek Aylward. Brau's black on white patterns adds pop psychedelia and Aylward's biting wit brings levity to gift-giving. Only 150 sets of these were made and you can only get them here. Also, be sure to check the All-Canvas Timbuk2 Artist Bags (only 15 exist in the world) and the imported Berlin architecture-themed gift wrap.

For US orders only through tomorrow, Tuesday, 20 December, items will be shipped Priority Mail to arrive before Christmas.

Added: December 2005

Pad No. 38

$18

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$18

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These extra-large notepads (16.5″x12.5″/A3) are classic and substantial with perforated sheets, a cardboard back and folding cover. Rhodia makes its own paper (exclusively from sustainable pulp) and is ecologically responsible. Plus the paper is recyclable and biodegradable.

Added: November 2005

This product is sold by Rhodia

CH Holiday 2005 Gift Guide

Last year we launched our first holiday gift guide. Those of you who have been with us for a while will remember that we asked you to pay for it. That was an interesting experiment, but we like free content so this year we decided not to charge you to get the guide. And this year it's even better!

We've got a few great exclusives. We've searched for the new and noteworthy. Added a few classics. And revisited some of our favorite gift ideas from the site. Almost everything is available online to make your holiday shopping as painless as possible. Check it out now and check back often as the guide will be updated daily.

Added: November 2005

Letter Opener

$175

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$175

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Hands down the chicest letter opener around. Designed by the master of French modernism in 1938 and reissued by Vitra with his family’s blessing.

Added: November 2005

This product is sold by Jean Prouvé