The Eigen Coat Stand. Stunning In Its Simplicity and Formidable In Its Functionality.

This elegant Eigen Coat Stand by designer Leonhard Pfeifer (shown above with his creation) was just awarded a 2012 Design Guild Mark from the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers in London which recognises excellence in design, use of materials, manufacture and function.



As functional as it is beautiful, the wood coat stand looks great empty or laden with coats, hats, umbrellas or canes.




Leonhard describes his Eigen Coat Stand:

While many “designer” coat stands are available to the contract market, there is a limited selection of affordable contemporary coat stands for the domestic market. I was drawn to the geometrical strength of the design and to the practicality of the vertical elements with horizontal joining members, both of which act functionally to provide areas to hang coats, scarves, bags and the like, but which also form strong design elements. The proportions minimise the footprint for compact entry halls, while ensuring a sufficient base to maintain stability.

The brief required a wooden coat stand with a sculptural appearance made from wood - the finger jointed solid oak is certified FSC and is sourced from sustainably managed forestry resources. The Eigen Coat Stand has already launched with John Lewis in the UK and will be available shortly in France, Switzerland and Italy. The home assembly aspects of the coat stand are an important consideration and we have clear step-by-step instructions. The design also flat-packs very economically, producing a compact package that can be carried home by car or public transport.

The Eigen Coat Stand is manufactured by European furniture brand Woodman. Designer Leonhard Pfeifer was born in New Zealand and established his studio in London in 2003 from where he works with furniture manufacturers internationally.

See more of Leonhard's work at his site.

Huggalos Offer The Comfort Of A Parents' Presence In Cute Cozy Characters.

There's no better way to ease your child's anxiety than to let them carry you around with them wherever they go. But chances are you're a busy parent who, sadly, cannot fit into their pocket. However, you can fit a photo of yourself and any loved one into an adorable plush character called a Huggalo.




Available in nine lovable styles, these cozy fleece dolls are outfitted with a protective pocket into which you can place a photo of your choice (or a drawing or love letter), giving your child the comfort of your presence without actually being there.



Created in the likenesses of Ballerinas, Superheroes, Monkeys, Mermaids, Pirates, Ninjas, DIY dolls (for autographs and doodles), even male and female War Heroes, Huggalos will undoubtedly become your child's best friend.

Huggsley (front and back):

Huggabelle (front and back):

Camo Joe (front and back):

close-up of Camo Joe:


Camo Flo (front and back):

High Seas Harry (front and back):

Mermaid (front and back):

Monkey (front and back):

Ninja (front and back):

The Autograph (or Doodle Doll) allows you to customize it:



Huggalos Give Back!


Want to donate a Huggalo? When you donate a Doodle Doll to Children's Hospital Los Angeles, you are giving a patient undergoing treatment their very own therapeutic doll. Doodle Dolls help patients keep a photo of their family close by. Kids can draw doodles and make connections with their doctors and visitors by collecting signatures and good wishes on their very own doll.



Purchasing a Huggalo doll also supports our soldiers. REDORB has been supporting the Soldier’s Project since its founding. For every Brave Little Trooper you buy REDORB will donate 20% to the Soldiers Project.

Who's behind Huggalo?



The keepsake from RedOrb Concepts was invented by Donna Broder (shown above) to help her son, Noah, who was less than thrilled at the idea of pre-school. After what should have been first day jitters extended to weeks, Donna knew she had to get creative. Donna was inspired to create a product that would help Noah through this transition and help her leave the pre-school yard without both of them in tears. Donna gave Noah a photo to take with him to school, but the photo was soon torn. She thought, why not create something soft and huggable that you can take along to school or a play date? Thus the first Huggalo was born! Donna told Noah, missing someone you love is hard, but a Huggalo makes it a little softer.


Buy or donate a Huggalo here.

Kenzo and Vans Present Their First Collaboration. A Peek At The Sneaks.

Kenzo and Vans have collaborated for the first time: from May to July, three capsule collections of Vans shoes will be available. First up is the Era skate shoe, revisited by Kenzo’s designers in seven different colours, and available mid-May in both men's and women's models, with prices starting at €90 ($119).




“We grew up in the suburbs of Los Angeles and we’ve been fans of Vans since we were very young: we have so many pairs of their shoes that it would be impossible to count them”, explained Humberto Leon and Carol Lim, Artistic Directors of Kenzo since July 2011 and also founders of the American label Opening Ceremony.




The three collections will be on sale in Kenzo’s boutiques, on Vans’s website and at a selection of retailers such as Colette, Harvey Nichols, Bosco Milan and Lane Crawford.

Kenzo
Vans

The Fiat 500 by Gucci Promoted With These Four Short Films By Various Directors.

About a year ago, I gave my readers a good look at the Fiat 500 by Gucci (and the chic matching accessories).

Now, Gucci's Creative Director, Frida Giannini, and Fiat invited Jefferson Hack (Editor in Chief of Dazed & Confused and AnOther Magazine), NOWNESS, Olivier Zahm (Editor in Chief of Purple Fashion magazine), Franca Sozzani (Editor in Chief of Vogue Italy), and Alexi Tan (Film Director) to produce a short film with FIAT's 500 by Gucci as the inspiration.

The results are the following four short films of varying lengths starring the 500 by Gucci seen through the eyes of some of the most visionary creatives in the world today.

Vogue presents "Reverse to Perfection" for Fiat 500 by Gucci Reverse to Perfection, a film by Francesco Carrozzini where luxury recaptures its place:


Purple presents "Polaroid Papillon" for Fiat 500 by Gucci, a film by Olivier Zahm featuring Betony Vernon at the Museo Casa Mollino, Torino:


"The Race", a short film by Will Davidson. The Fiat 500 by Gucci, an exhilarating embodiment of Italian spirit stars in The Race - a short film exclusive to Dazed directed by Will Davidson:


"Assembly line", a short film by Chris Sweeney. Chris Sweeney's film for the 500 by Gucci fuses two power houses of Italian design with a playful twist that brings the 500 to life in a completely unexpected way:



Get a good look at the Fiat 500 by Gucci and some matching accessories.

500 by Gucci

The QLOCKTWO W. Biegert & Funk's Beautiful Wall Clock Is Now A Wristwatch.

above composite image © If It's Hip, It's Here



I blogged about Biegert & Funk's QLOCKTWO wall clock some years back. A beautiful wall clock that literally spells out the time in words in several different available languages and colors. Since launching the QLOCKTWO, Biegert & Funk turned it into a tabletop alarm clock version and now, a wristwatch.



above: the original QLOCKTWO wall clock and QLOCKTWO Touch Me tabletop alarm clock by Biegert&Funk.


The new QLOCKTWO W:


In a square there is a grid of 110 letters. When the stainless steel button or black button on the bezel is pressed, words light up in unexpected places which describe the time.



The high-quality brushed stainless steel case (or black) measures 35 x 35 mm. The watch is available with a 24 mm rubber or leather strap. QLOCKTWO W shows next to the time also the calendar date or even the seconds.

QLOCKTWO W is available from autumn 2012 in the versions polished, brushed or black stainless steel respectively in the languages German, English and French.






the press release:
Biegert & Funk presents the world‘s first wristwatch in words at Baselworld

For the first time, Biegert & Funk is exhibiting a completely new kind of wristwatch, the QLOCKTWO W, at Baselworld. QLOCKTWO W does not show the time with hands or digits. Time is indicated on this purist watch as readable text, turning it into a statement: “It is half past nine”. The square watch face has a uniform grid of 110 letters. When the stainless steel button is pressed, words light up in unexpected places which describe the time. The initially random order of the characters lends this wristwatch a mysterious aesthetic. “QLOCKTWO W makes you aware of the moment. Showing the time becomes an interesting experience for the owner,” explains Andreas Funk from the design duo Biegert & Funk.

The basic shape of the QLOCKTWO W is, like all QLOCKTWO® variations, a square. The design is minimalist and precision crafted, its form reduced to the essentials. The high quality brushed stainless steel casing measures 35 x 35 mm. The watch comes with either a rubber or leather strap.

Together with the time, QLOCKTWO W also displays the calendar day or seconds. “It is operated by a single push button and could not be more simple: one push to display the time, two for the calendar day and three for the seconds,” says designer Marco Biegert. QLOCKTWO W will be available from autumn 2012 in two variants, natural stainless steel or black, at a cost of approx. 550 euros.

You can purchase QLOCKTWO wall and alarm clocks here.

Don't forget to check out Biegert & Funk's original QlockTwo and other beautiful wall clocks.

The CUBEBOT Robot Lounge by David Weeks, Quinze & Milan and AREAWARE.

Cubebot (2012), qm foam, 250 x 160 x 180 cm

David Weeks, the award-wining American-based designer, Quinze & Milan, the innovative Belgian design company and AREAWARE, the New York City based producer of unusual design objects, have joined forces for MOST.




At twenty times his original size, the lounging Cubebot sculpture in QM FOAM will put a smile on your face and provide a comfortable spot to take a break.






David Weeks' sustainably harvested wood Cubebots for AREAWARE:



MOST SALONE BY TOM DIXON
MOST is a new destination instigated by Tom Dixon which will turn the National Museum of Science and Technology in Milan into an ambitious environment for innovation and culture. MOST delivers a diverse group of leading global brands and young designers who will be located in the extraordinary historic spaces of the museum. This collision of technology, culture and design is set to be one of Milan's highlights during Salone del Mobile 2012.