Top 10 ultimate indoor gardens for hardcore plant lovers

Gardening is an extremely therapeutic activity, and though I may not engage in it all the time, the few times that I have, I found it really delightful and soothing. Growing, tending to, and being surrounded by plants is intensely satisfying, all your worries slowly fade away, and you are simply enthralled by nature. Indoor gardening is a modern solution that works perfectly in our modern homes. From LG’s latest indoor gardening appliance that is 3 feet tall to a plant sensor that will help you get information about your plant babies – we have a myriad range of options when it comes to growing plants within the comfort of your home! These unique, innovative, and thoughtful designs promise to take care of all your indoor gardening needs. And I don’t know about you, but I’m really considering trying one of them out, I wouldn’t mind adding indoor gardening to my daily routine!

1. Paradise

Designed to reduce domestic waste, Paradise is an automated plant cultivator and compost bin that uses integrated technology to prompt users when the compost or plants need tending. Conceptualized as a rolling cart, Paradise is comprised of modular pieces that work together to provide optimal conditions for growing plants. Starting from its top, Paradise features an LED strip that pours artificial sunlight over integrated planters located on top of Paradise’s first module.

Why is it noteworthy?

While spending more time at home has brought some much-needed rejuvenation to our interior design, it has also contributed to a global increase in domestic waste. Inspired to change that, designer Robin Akira created Paradise, a household plant cultivator with integrated compost bins and an odor-sealing lid to make use of and reduce our domestic waste.

What we like

  • Integrates greenery into our interior spaces
  • An odor-sealing lid

What we dislike

  • Could be messy to have such a design in our indoor living space

2. LG’s tiiun

Sure, a refrigerator can keep your veggies fresh… but LG’s tiiun can keep it fresher! Designed as a unique home appliance that lets you grow your own herbs and veggies the LG tiiun was announced in the run-up to CES 2022. The indoor gardening appliance is roughly the size of a dorm refrigerator, standing at approximately 3 feet tall, and features two shelves that can accommodate up to 6 all-in-one seed packages and various seed kits.

Why is it noteworthy?

The term tiiun comes from the Korean word meaning ‘to sprout’ and is LG’s way of indicating that this appliance is an all-in-one self-sufficient garden. The appliance creates a perfect microclimate and all the right conditions for the plants to grow, even mimicking light cycles so you could potentially keep your tiiun anywhere in a room without worrying about access to proper sunlight. LG’s Flexible Weather Control System creates the ideal situations for organic growth while also keeping pests at bay. An internal watering system also delivers water to the plants (8 times a day) to keep them hydrated. All you really have to do is install the tiiun and sit back while your plants grow on their own!

What we like

  • A foolproof way to grow your own veggies and herbs in the comfort of your home
  • Fun and simple even for those with no gardening experience

What we dislike

  • The form is a bit too bulky for homes with space constraints

3. The LUA

LUA Pet Plant Lighting Concept Image

LUA Pet Plant Lighting Concept Design

The LUA is one ideal solution for those with pet plants. But, of course, not many people will understand why you have such but don’t worry about what they think.

Why is it noteworthy?

For desk plants, you may consider getting this LUA. It’s a plant lighting solution that can further make your favorite plant stand out. We understand how it can be challenging to care for indoor plants because of insufficient lighting. But there are solutions like the LUA. Indoor plants help the surrounding by keeping the atmosphere fresh and clean. In addition, for some people, plants help in providing emotional stability. Just one look at your plants and you can already calm down and destress.

What we like

  • Boasts a clean, white tone for a simple and refreshing look
  • The design is very minimalist as no unnecessary wires are exposed

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

4. The Ocean Sun

Designed to be more than just your average USB-powered work light, the Ocean Sun Plant Light, as its name quite aptly suggests, features a calibrated set of LEDs that emit light similar to the light from the sun. Made primarily for indoor plants that don’t receive too much natural light, the Ocean Sun Plant Light provides them with the right spectrum of light to enable photosynthesis and foster growth… and unlike the sun, it can fit in your palm.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Ocean Sun sports a sleek, compact design with a precisely machined aluminum outer shell and a series of flicker-free LEDs that draw power from a USB-C port located on the back of the device. Each lamp comes along with its own adjustable USB-C stand cable that lets you position and angle the lamp however you want, although the Ocean Sun works with any third-party cable too, giving you the freedom to hook it up to your laptop, a power bank, or even a set of solar panels with a USB output!

What we like

  • Compact form that fits in your palm
  • High-end flicker-free LEDs

What we dislike

  • Not too sure how well plants would grow with this light

5. The Krado Plant Sensor

If something like the Krado Plant Sensor actually exists, then maybe my poor two plants had a better chance of survival. It’s the hardware component of the Leaflet Plant Care System, whose main purpose is to help people grow healthy plants. The sensor is something you put in the soil with your plants, and it will be able to transmit information to the mobile app so you will be able to adjust how you’re taking care of them.

Why is it noteworthy?

The plant sensor is able to monitor things like soil moisture, ambient temperature, humidity, and light. These are critical factors that will affect the health of your plants, and if you’re like me, that’s pretty clueless about these things, then it might give me helpful information. The app connected to it will also give you actionable guidance based on these factors like buying and shipping fertilizer, potting soil, pesticides, etc.

What we like

  • Different colored lights may indicate specific conditions that will alert you
  • 100% 3D printed

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

6. Plant Light Nº1

Drawing the fine line between a functional piece of plant-growing hardware and an elegant tabletop lighting accessory, Plant Light Nº1 turns your interior space into an ideal set of conditions for growing plants.

Why is it noteworthy?

The light comes with a neo-industrial design aesthetic, and sports a surface to rest your planter on. Above it sits a height-adjustable lamp that comes equipped with full-spectrum LEDs that mimic the light quality (color), light intensity (brightness), and photoperiod (duration) of the sun, allowing any plant to grow indoors.

What we like

  • Comes with a matrix of full-spectrum 90+ CRI LEDs that mimic the sun in a way that sets PL1 apart
  • A built-in timer allows PL1 to intuitively switch on or off, providing the right duration of light for your plants

What we dislike

  • It’s not available yet!

7. Jungle

Most commonly in homes across the world, indoor gardens are a form of biophilic design. Interpreting biophilia in a similar way, Jungle, designed by Poland-based KABO & PYDO design studio, is a planter that can hang from the ceiling and also function as a semi-flush mount light fixture.

Why is it noteworthy?

Comprised of only a few parts, the beauty of Jungle lies in the design’s simplicity. Defined by a bulbous, capsule-shaped centerpiece, Jungle is a half-planter and half-light fixture. The capsule-shaped planter emanates a warm, golden light that’s diffused with an opaque body. The opaque body softens the light and accentuates the plant life by offering an unassuming canvas for teeming greenery to drape across.

What we like

  • The simple form emphasises the beauty of the plants
  • The lamp emits a soft and soothing light

What we dislike

  • You need to stand on a stool or a little ladder to water the plants

8. Flora

Molded from jesmonite, Flora features specks of color for a modern take on terrazzo, a form of composite material originating in 16th-century Italy. Conceived as a passion project during the lockdown, the designers at Préssec Design first made Floria from concrete casting. Once they achieved their desired look for Flora, they turned it up a notch and gave jesmonite a try.

Why is it noteworthy?

Over recent years, designers have created multifunctional WFH appliances by integrating elements like hidden storage units and organizers into appliances like chairs and desks to make the workday at home feel just as efficient as it feels in the office. Today, designers from Sydney-based Préssec Design have developed Flora, a wall garden system that combines a cork pinboard with hanging planters.

What we like

  • Merges a work from home + wall garden design

What we dislike

  • Planters could break or crack easily

9. CURA

CURA is an all-encompassing plant-growth apparatus that takes care of the light and water requirements for any plant. Its automated systems can be programmed to suit the light requirements for flowering plants, air-purifying plants, herbaceous plants, or decorative plants, and when CURA’s halo-shaped lamp isn’t nourishing your plant, it can be turned into an ambient light that adds a pop of color to your space!

Why is it noteworthy?

Available in 3 sizes and across floor-standing, tabletop, and wall-mounted varieties, CURA is a halo-shaped horticultural light that’s designed to activate and promote plant growth. Powered by OSRAM LEDs, the lamp can output different wavelengths of light that help create the right growth conditions for different types of plants. CURA comes with presets for Herbs & Greens, Flowers & Fruits, Germination, Indoor Garden Plants, and more, while also handling different stages in a plant’s growth cycle, from germination to flower and fruit-bearing stages.

What we like

  • The lamp can either be programmed to work automatically or can be configured using CURA’s smartphone app, allowing you to effectively play horticulturist with your indoor plants
  • The lamp in Ambient Mode can also be configured to dynamically respond to music

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

10. The 4RESTPLANT

Rather aptly named the 4RESTPLANT (pronounced Forest Plant), this quirky little planter comes made from a porous clay, in the shape of a tree trunk – a design detail that makes immediate sense when you realize how the planter functions. Unlike traditional planters that act simply as vessels for soil and the plant, the 4RESTPLANT works quite like how nature does.

Why is it noteworthy?

Plants find their own surfaces to grow on, often clinging to a host plant like the root or stump of a tree for structure and support, while relying on the soil that’s already been aerated/loosened by the tree’s massive roots. The 4RESTPLANT works in a similar fashion – the tree-shaped planter comes with a hollow design that holds water on the inside (with a nano-silver coating to prevent the water from blooming) and features four ‘seed pads’ that are arranged on the outside, around the base of the planter. The planter’s porous design ends up wicking water outside to the seed pads, allowing them to grow by holding onto the trunk’s rough surface for structure. This basically recreates what happens in nature on a smaller scale, creating a planter that literally brings a slice of the beautiful outdoors into your home!

What we like

  • Grows microgreens and other small ferns and plants in your home with little to no effort
  • Basically recreates how plants grow in nature

What we dislike

  • There are similar designs on the market

The post Top 10 ultimate indoor gardens for hardcore plant lovers first appeared on Yanko Design.

Cowboy Side Table doubles as a bookmark

Cowboy Side Table Designer Deniz Aktay

It seems we can never escape Deniz Aktay and his designs. This German furniture designer has become prolific when it comes to creating concept furniture pieces, especially tables. Every table he designs gives us something to think about.

The latest creation is the Cowboy Sidetable Bookmark. It’s a side table and a bookmark in one that lets you keep things organized. If you’re a bookworm, you will want to have one and have your latest book to rest on such a table.

Designer: Deniz Aktay

Cowboy Side Table

The side table allows things to be at an easy reach. Usually situated beside a sofa or your favorite armchair, you can place your drink on the table for when you want a nightcap. Leave your smartphone on the tabletop, so you don’t miss any important call or message. And when you need to take a break from reading a book, just put the last page face down on the book rest.

Cowboy Sidetable

The Cowboy Sidetable is called such because the tip that protrudes appears like a saddle, especially when there is a book on top. The tabletop has an opening in the middle where cables can go through so the surface won’t look too cluttered. The wooden part that looks like an A supports the metal tabletop. The wooden portion is actually two separate pieces joined near the tip.

We see the surface with brushed metal finish enclosing the two wooden tips. The black and wood combination offers a casual look and feel, perfect for those into minimalist aesthetics. Deniz Aktay’s passion for designing furniture makes his creations ideal for those looking for simplicity and originality. His works often combine proper elements and detailing, making every piece challenging to create yet resulting in an exciting product.

Cowboy Side Table

Deniz Aktay has become a recent favorite here with all his unique designs. The Tie Stool is an oddly satisfying stool design that uses three interlocking strips of wood. The Unstable Table makes use of the center-of-gravity trick. That Wavelet Table’s curled side works as a handle similar to the Grab Side Table that lives up to the grab-and-go expectation.

That Tadashi Table comes with a stomach that may be perfect for storage or for your cat. The Plot Twist Bookshelf still carries the intrigue of your favorite mystery books. The bookshelf can complement the newly designed Cowboy Sidetable as it can serve as a bookmark for that title you’re currently reading. Definitely, the designer won’t stop with this creation so expect more will be introduced.

Cowboy Side Table Concept Design

Cowboy Side Table Design Details

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This cleverly designed cooling lid brings your hot Starbucks coffee to the perfect sipping temperature

Many a tongue has fallen victim to the deceptive travel mug lid. Mine too. KØLINGSIP™ hopes to change that.

Pronounced ‘Cooling Sip’, the KØLINGSIP™ is a travel mug with a remarkably simple and clever lid that radically cools down hot beverages to a sip-friendly temperature. Designed so that you don’t accidentally burn your tongue while drinking a beverage, and don’t have to wait for 20 minutes till it’s at the right drinking temperature, KØLINGSIP™’s unique patented lid helps rapidly cool down the beverage you’re sipping. It also cues up your next sip every time you tilt the mug over, so you can enjoy your hot tea or coffee at a temperature that’s just right. Goldilocks would approve.

Designer: Dr. Stig Peitersen, M.D.

Click Here to Buy Now: $34 $49 (30% off). Hurry, only 7 left!

The KØLINGSIP™’s user experience can be split into two distinct parts – the beverage-holding mug, and the innovative cooling lid. The KØLINGSIP™ mug is a handy 20oz stainless steel travel thermos that keeps your hot drinks hot for hours, so you’re never stuck with an insipid, room-temperature beverage. However, given that this hot drink isn’t necessarily safe for direct consumption, the KØLINGSIP™’s lid cools down small drinkable portions of liquid at a time, taking it from painfully hot to enjoyably hot.

Tip & Sip – The only lid that regulates the temperature of every sip.

KØLINGSIP™’s lid works differently from your usual sipper lid on your everyday Starbucks mug. Made from silicone and aluminum, the KØLINGSIP™’s lid contains and cools each sip. Think of it like drinking soup from a soup spoon – instead of directly drinking from your bowl, you take a small spoonful, cool it down, and sip it. This is pretty much how KØLINGSIP™ works. Tilting the KØLINGSIP™ away from you ‘loads’ a sip into its cooling reservoir, and tilting it towards you lets you drink it, one sip at a time. Each sip is perfectly cooled, and the tight lid ensures you don’t accidentally spill anything on yourself. What about when you’re just drinking something that’s at a normal drinkable temperature? Just twist the KØLINGSIP™ lid and it lets liquid flow freely through, enabling direct drinking (instead of that tilting rigmarole).

KØLINGSIP™’s patented design takes a simple approach to solving an unnecessary problem. It’s 2022, why are people still burning their faces drinking hot coffee, right?! By bringing the ‘soup-spoon’ method to drinking beverages, KØLINGSIP™’s designers ended up making a clever solution that just works. Tilt to cool and drink, twist to direct drink. Your hot beverage stays hot, and the silicone lid makes it easy to travel with your KØLINGSIP™.

KØLINGSIP™ is made from recycled materials and is designed to be reusable and dishwasher safe. The innovative cooling lid attaches to most standard 3.5-inch diameter travel mugs, although if you buy the KØLINGSIP™ through its crowdfunded campaign, you also get the bespoke 20oz insulated beverage tumbler to complete your set. You can use the KØLINGSIP™ with all traditionally hot beverages from teas and coffees to hot cocoa, mulled wine, or warm beer if you live in a country where that’s a socially acceptable thing. A thin soup even, if you’re Goldilocks.

Click Here to Buy Now: $34 $49 (30% off). Hurry, only 7 left!

The post This cleverly designed cooling lid brings your hot Starbucks coffee to the perfect sipping temperature first appeared on Yanko Design.

Bring the coveted Japanese paper to your desk with these minimal drawing pads

In an age of sophisticated apps and devices, the simplicity of paper can actually help remind us to think outside the box.

There are definitely many things that apps on our computers and mobile devices can do that would be nearly impossible in the physical world. They can turn back time to undo mistakes, make multiple copies of a project, and use a single stylus for both drawing in pencil and painting in color. Those conveniences, however, can sometimes turn into crutches, and these digital tools can sometimes bring more distractions and confusion to our consciousness. That’s why many creatives from different disciplines still have a love for paper, and this simple yet evocative drawing pad is the perfect break that your brain needs to get those ideas flowing.

Designer: Tenkei Project

Click Here to Buy Now: $24

There is something to be said of paper, both as a medium and as a metaphor for creativity. Despite physical limitations, the blank canvas invites the mind to wander and put your indelible mark on it. At the same time, the physicality and texture of paper also serve as a bit of anchor and distraction to some parts of our brain, leaving the creative side to work better. To some extent, it is one of the earliest forms of what would be categorized today as fidget toys.

When it comes to the different kinds of paper, Japanese paper is often held in high regard because of its smoothness, softness, and ironic toughness. It is often the paper of choice for calligraphy, drafting, and many other disciplines that require paper that can withstand the merciless stabbing and slicing of a sharp pen nib. It is also perfect for sketching art, creating designs, and any other creative pursuit, accepting your ideas and your mistakes with the serenity and openness of a blank page.

These are the thoughts and emotions that will welcome you whenever you take out these Drawing Pads mounted on a black base. The classic white paper invites a clean start, while the contrasting color of the black mount gives a foundation of stability, anchoring the infinite to the finite. The black paper, in comparison, intrigues and challenges the mind, blending seamlessly into its black base. It’s like the darkness at the infancy of the universe, the pause before a Bing Bang of creativity.

The Black Mount isn’t merely for show, of course. It holds the paper sheets together right at the perforated header, making it effortless to tear off pages, hopefully for filing. It is also made from recycled cardboard, making both paper and base a statement of sustainability as they are of creativity. Even when the end of their use comes, your conscience remains as clear as the paper this pad once held.

Whether it’s for professional work or for simply letting your creative juices splash, paper remains the perfect medium that will withstand even this age of apps and computers. Simple yet beautiful, bare yet full of potential, this Drawing Pad Black Mount lets you ponder, draw, and design with simplicity, a striking visual reminder that sometimes, the best designs and the best products are the simplest ones.

Click Here to Buy Now: $24

The post Bring the coveted Japanese paper to your desk with these minimal drawing pads first appeared on Yanko Design.

Sustainable products designed to help you fulfill your green living goals

Our unhealthy practices and way of living are truly harmful to the environment and have been slowly leading to its deterioration. And the world has been changing (for the worse) because of this. Hence, it is extremely important to live sustainably and consciously and to take care of the environment. Integrating sustainability into our day-to-day lives has become crucial! And we can do this in various ways. Designers and creators are coming up with sustainable alternatives for almost everything! Every product that is necessary and utilized by us in our everyday routine has an eco-friendly alternative to it. Replacing our usual mass-produced designs with these greener options will make a huge difference to the environment and Mother Earth! From a fish leather derived from salmon skins to sustainable eco plates – we’ve curated a whole collection of sustainable product designs to help you go green!

1. OpenBike

This bicycle made of plywood was created with the intent to get more people to focus on sustainability. The open-source design is called ‘Openbike’ and despite the obvious problems that come with a bike made from plywood, it is still an affordable and lightweight alternative for those who want to live on a budget but are also eco-conscious. You can download the files to build your own bike here!

Why is it noteworthy?

“This is not about bicycles! Open your eyes, this is about you, about your attitude towards the future. Do you think that the pollution of the cities will disappear by itself? Do you think traffic jams are caused by others?” reads the Openbike website which makes the mission statement of the design very clear – they’re not claiming to offer the durability or a thief-proof bike but rather shift your perspective on affordability and sustainability.

What we like

  • It’s a DIY design!
  • Reduces carbon emissions in cities by empowering people with technology

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

2. Plastplan

Plastplan Process

Plastplan Overview

The design studio based in Iceland aims to help make a sustainable planet by resolving society’s excessive use of plastic. It may not achieve the ultimate solution but every little effort matters when it comes to the planet’s future. With the idea that recycled plastic has potential, Plasplan combines the concepts of product designers Björn Steinar and Brynjólfur. With the latter’s background in mechanical engineering and computer science, the pair can work on a collection of household goods and furniture items made solely made from recycled plastic.

Why is it noteworthy?

Initially, Plastplan was formed as the founders wanted to start an educational platform where plastic is discussed. It’s not just about the proper use or disposal of plastic. It’s about making it go full circle, as per Björn Steinar. The circular economy of plastics starts with shredded plastic and then transforms into real objects. The series includes a wall shelf, chair, stool, mirror, coffee table, table lamp, and flower vases.

What we like

  • The studio also has developed its own industrial 3D printer that allows them to print large-scale items without spending on molds

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

3. Loop

Loop is a minimalist product that only uses a few “ingredients,” so to speak, to give you something that you can use when working and then later on when you’re relaxing. It is also made out of mostly sustainable materials so there’s the added bonus of using something that lessens your carbon footprint.

Why is it noteworthy?

The idea for Loop is that when you direct the light downwards, it serves as your workspace illumination. When you’ve finished working, you can just rotate it inwards and it becomes a mood light to help you relax as you read, journal, watch your favorite streaming service, or whatever it is that you do after you work or study. There’s no need to touch a lot of buttons or use any app to make this transition as you just need to swivel.

What we like

  • You don’t need to use two different lamps for two different purposes

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

4. The KNORK Eco line

Sustainable entertaining is slowly becoming a thing, at least, for those people who are eco-conscious and willing to care more for Mother Earth. The KNORK Eco line continues to deliver genius design and epic functionality with another useful product that goes well with the Knork eco cutlery introduced a few years ago. Sustainable living starts when you make sustainable choices no matter how small or trivial they might seem—and this KNORK Eco Party Plate is another step in that direction.

Why is it noteworthy?

The KNORK team can help by giving us “greener” choices. From the same company that delivered the bamboo-based KNORK Eco plastic cutlery, here comes the KNORK Eco Party Plate. The new product works with the KNORK Eco forks and the Knork stainless steel forks. As with the previous products, the eco plate offers more than just a cool design aesthetic.

What we like

  • Reusable and compostable
  • Made from bamboo and sugarcane offcuts

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

5. The Aspire Vero notebooks

Aspire Vero 14 Features

Aspire Vero 15 Laptop

Acer has just introduced a slew of new products from the Vero Series. The eco-conscious product portfolio includes two new Aspire Vero notebooks, the Veriton Vero all-in-one (AIO) desktop, new Vero monitors, a new Vero mouse and keyboard, and a Vero PD2325W projector. All of these products make use of post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic, as well as recyclable packaging.

Why is it noteworthy?

We’ll focus on the two Aspire Vero laptops as these have been sustainably designed. They both run on the 12th Gen Intel Core processors and come with 14- and 15-inch Full HD displays. The Aspire Vero notebooks result from the brand’s commitment to making a more sustainable future. The “green” computers are made from recycled plastic, starting with the chassis. The latter uses 30% PCR plastic, saving some 21% in CO2 emissions. It’s also paint-free to lower the negative impact of VOCs.

What we like

  • The Aspire Vero notebooks are also easy to disassemble, which makes them ideal for upgrades, repairs, and even recycling
  • It boasts an EPEAT Silver registration, so we know the products are really environment-friendly

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

6. Kenko

Kenko Store Gym Equipment

Kenko Store Gym Equipment

Over at the Maison & Objet fair, we saw a few brands and designers worthy of attention. One name that has stood out is Kenko —a company committed to developing sports equipment for use at home. The idea is to make minimalist versions of the standard fitness equipment using natural materials.

Why is it noteworthy?

Kenko is able to come up with regeneration items that don’t only help you with your health and fitness goals but also fit any home interior. Gym equipment usually looks bland, boring, or industrial, but not with Kenko. The Kenko sports equipment and products mainly boast simple designs and innovative functions. Materials are premium quality, starting with cork and wood, used for geometric shapes that have become the distinguishable trait of Kenko.

What we like

  • Look like sculptural pieces that may also function as home decors
  • A sustainable alternative to the typical gym equipment available in the market

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

7. Tower Blocks

One of our favorite games to play during casual dinner parties is Jenga or tower blocks if you want to be generic. It doesn’t take a lot of thinking or physical prowess, although the strategy is also important. What if you could have a version of this game that is more eco-friendly and can help reduce plastic waste? Of course, that would be better if you’re conscious of the carbon footprint that you leave behind with your purchases.

Why is it noteworthy?

Korean global manufacturer Intops wanted to lessen its global footprint even as they make products using various materials that, unfortunately, include plastic. So they came up with a “revive project” that will use all of these discarded materials and turn them into something useful. They used materials from discarded, defective items that they manufactured as well as creating composite materials from their production plant, specifically discarded plastic, wood, and leather.

What we like

  • Reduce CO2 consumption by 81%
  • A set of these blocks can be compared to recycling 44 disposable coffee cups or 135 disposable spoons

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

8. Bould Pack

This versatile hip and sling bag isn’t just sustainable; it could even improve the plant’s soil quality in the long run.

Why is it noteworthy?

Kodama’s solution has actually existed for millennia, but with some modern know-how and production techniques, Hemp can be turned into a miracle fabric that can solve most of the limitations of sustainable alternatives, as proven by this Bould Pack. The plant-based Hemp Canvas, for example, is proven to be four times more tear-resistant than cotton, surviving unscathed against a sharp knife. By fusing PU coating underneath the fabric, this hemp textile also becomes waterproof.

What we like

  • You can scrub off stubborn dirt and stains without damaging the back
  • No tears or rips!

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

9. Bruk

Bruk is a sustainable alternative to plastic-lined paper packaging built to separate the plastic lining from its paper covering like peeling a banana.

Why is it noteworthy?

Before the recycling process begins, the plastic and paper must be separated, which requires a special process that’s expensive and not readily available worldwide. In an effort to streamline the separation period, California-based designer Pushan Panda created Bruk, a sustainable packaging concept that makes separating the plastic from the paper as easy as peeling a banana. When users are finished with their beverage cartons, they can simply tear Bruk in half from its top, just like peeling a banana. Once the paper covering has been torn in half, the HDPE liner is revealed and can be recycled on its own.

What we like

  • Intuitive and inclusive, easy for everyone regardless of physical ability
  • Uses less plastic than a plastic carton

What we dislike

  • No complaints!

10. The Felsie Fish Leather

Felsie Fish Leather

Felsie Fish Leather

Sustainable fashion may be a challenge, but it can be done with efforts like this fish leather. This is the first time we’re hearing about this new kind of leather that can be used for different accessories. No, this isn’t exactly fishy, but Felsie knows what it is doing.

Why is it noteworthy?

The fish leather tannery and studio use bark tanning on rescued fish skins. These are those about to be thrown into the trash can but are instead transformed into fish leather. The processed fish leather is then used to make different accessories like a wallet or a cardholder. The Felsie Fish Leather is long-lasting and may even remind you of snakeskin leather at first glance. Many people are asking if it smells like fish. It doesn’t smell fishy but smells like any other genuine leather.

What we like

  • A completely new kind of leather
  • Long-lasting product
  • DOESNT smell like fish

What we dislike

  • The texture isn’t exactly smooth

The post Sustainable products designed to help you fulfill your green living goals first appeared on Yanko Design.

A beefy low-slung motorbike crafted for purists craving ‘Need for Speed’

James Qiu surprised us and the gearheads across the globe with his Akira Bike Concept, and yet another of his concept creations is all set to send the ripples to a great distance. Meet the R9T UE5 concept deserving of a real-life avatar, a chunk of screen time in a sci-fi movie, or a cameo in a gripping action series.

This beefy motorbike is an amalgam of a Cyberpunk world’s shining café racer, thumping cruiser, circuit racing beast and a mean machine destined to overshadow all that’s bad on the planet. A ride that’ll be the right kind of adversary to the god-level laurels of a crime-fighting protagonist. Those big fat wheels complementing the all-metal body of the bike – isn’t that totally badass?

Designer: James Qiu

Still, it is nimble enough to make sharp turns or accelerate at hair-raising speeds when being chased by a rampant gang of baddies. The low-slung wheelbase gives the bike a clawing dominating grip on the asphalt for supreme traction and peak acceleration from a standing position. The riding position is going to be more leaned forward courtesy of its racing characteristics, and for once a concept bike has a super comfortable saddle seat.

There’s an equally beefy engine protruding from the sides which is a clear indicator of its gasoline fuel-powered origins. The hydraulic forks connected to the humungous front wheel rim are something you’ll keep staring at without ever getting enough of it. Equally impressive and robust are the rear swingarm and the meticulously crafted exhausts. Headlights and the taillights have an ultra-boxy look which adds to the defiant persona of the concept bike.

Overall, the stellar build quality, balanced proportions, and the skin on the bike combine to make it a winning design that could one day make it to reality. I’m sure automotive designers and big brand will lay their eyes on the R9T UE5 and be impressed.

The post A beefy low-slung motorbike crafted for purists craving ‘Need for Speed’ first appeared on Yanko Design.

The James Brand’s vinyl record opening scalpel, 70s audiophile would have adored

The excitement of putting a new record on the turntable is something only purists can relate with. And when the vinyl record you’ve been after for ages is more precious than your priced possessions, opening the brand-new vinyl without even a semblance of damage is important. Reason enough for knife experts The James Brand and vinyl pros Vinyl Me, Please (VMP) to join forces to create a stylish EDC blade for immaculately opening vinyl record packaging.

Christened “The Abbey”, it’s a fixed-blade knife crafted out of highly corrosion-resistant stainless steel. The interesting part is, that the EDC has real vinyl LP inlay made from recycled VMP records. When not in use audiophiles can tuck it away in a top-grain leather sheath, by the side of the turntable for next time use. It goes without saying this utility knife is tailored for this specific purpose, and is too refined for people who don’t mind a usual pocketknife or box cutter to do the task.

Designers: The James Brand and VMP

The Portland, Oregon-based group has created this quirky yet useful EDC purely for audiophiles’ love for analog copies of their favorite music. In fact, James Brand themselves seem to be from this very camp as they said, “ You know that feeling when you finally get your hands on a new record that you’ve been coveting? The first thing you want to do is get it opened up and spinning on your turntable. We know that feeling, and we designed the Abbey for precisely that moment.”

Coming on to the exact specifications of the scalpel, it weighs just 0.6 ounces and has a thickness of 0.2-inch. It comes with a custom TJB x VMP-branded EDC lanyard bead and 3mm paracord too – justifying its EDC DNA. According to The James Brand and Vinyl Me, Please websites, The Abbey knife is going to be available for a price tag of $79 in a limited number which makes absolute sense!

The post The James Brand’s vinyl record opening scalpel, 70s audiophile would have adored first appeared on Yanko Design.

This detachable mouse + VR controller combo is what Metaverse applications demand

Virtual reality and augmented reality are seeping slowly into our lives, affecting the way we interact with our environment. This has changed the complexion of accessories we own, and again, the way we are used to interacting with them. Take for example the good old mouse – which comes in options including ones dedicated for gaming, editing, ambidextrous ones, or ones that come for dedicated left- or right-hand use.

Now, Metaverse adds another dimension to the already diverse VR applications. This is where the Mozer Mouse designed by Suosi Design comes into the picture with multiple-use freedom, both for computer applications as well as VR applications and gaming. The mouse is suited for any kind of scenario – be it creating content on PC or strolling in 3D virtual reality. Mozer is designed in a way to make the switch from one application to another contrasting application, virtually seamlessly.

Designer: Suosi Design

The design studio has cleverly crafted the shape of the peripheral to perform the VR function for 360 degrees of freedom, and back to a normal mouse use when working on your PC. The VR controller bit of the Mozer Mouse easily detaches from the main housing and easily pairs with compatible accessories. This is where the laser scanner of the mouse and the On/Off toggle button lies. So, when tethered to the base, it acts like any other mouse with the optical scanner and toggle buttons in the desired position.

The design has a very practical essence to it since it solves multiple purposes with a very simple clean innovation that doesn’t disrupt the inherent purpose of the peripheral in any way. Perhaps we are going to see more accessories evolve into such modular forms as the Metaverse craze catches the masses!

The post This detachable mouse + VR controller combo is what Metaverse applications demand first appeared on Yanko Design.

PATRON Tequila x John Geiger GF-01 Sneakers is one stylish and versatile pair

Patrón x John Geiger GF-01 Sneakers

Cinco de Mayo may be over, but we love interesting finds, especially if they are about our favorite things: alcohol and sneakers. Okay, so we’re not fans of alcohol, but we believe the market is so big that the world will and shall never run out of those special drinks.

Alcohol, specifically tequila and sneakers, may not be the best combination, but this special collab has become a success. Patrón Tequila has teamed up with designer John Geiger for a limited release of the GF-01 Sneakers. The pair’s design and color palette are based on the place where tequila production starts—Jalisco, Mexico.

Designer: John Geiger

Patrón x John Geiger GF-01 Sneakers Design Details

Patrón Tequila isn’t new when it comes to fashion collaborations. It released a streetwear line last year, and now, a new pair of special sneakers are ready. Well, they’re also sold out, but we doubt this will be the last of it from the brand and the designer.

The PATRÓN Tequila x John Geiger Limited Edition GF-01 Sneakers are made of rare materials with the designer’s creative principles in mind. Geiger was thinking about style, comfort, and versatility—and that’s what the sneakers offer. The shoes are versatile, like the PATRÓN tequila, so you are free to use the pair on the street or the court.

Patrón x John Geiger GF-01 Sneakers Collab

John Geiger’s signature street style and ‘g’ logo have been applied to the pair. The green and white colorway will remind you of the agave fields in Jalisco. The upper boasts a leather material with a white base and two shades of green. The white laces and outsole add to the calmness of the look. The brown collar then complements the white tongue. On the rear, we finally see Patrón’s bee logo. This is definitely one unique pair we know sneakerheads will dig.

Patrón x John Geiger GF-01 Sneaker

Patrón x John Geiger GF-01 Sneakers Design

Each pair was sold for $250 on the John Geiger web store. Patrón’s VP of marketing Chloe Lloyd-Jones shared, “Patrón has a captivating energy that brings like-minded partners together with us—these collaborators become part of our family.” She noted that Patrón is excited to be teaming up with John again.

Collab Patron x John Geiger GF-01 Sneakers

Sneaker collaborations are pretty standard, but this particular team-up between a tequila brand and a creative designer is perfect. It’s great for those who know great shoes and drinks. In the past decade alone, Vans, Nike, and Adidas have released numerous collabs and collections. Expect more collab deals will be signed, sealed, and delivered since this collaboration is a success.

Collab Patron x John Geiger GF-01 Sneaker Special Edition

The post PATRON Tequila x John Geiger GF-01 Sneakers is one stylish and versatile pair first appeared on Yanko Design.

Listen Up

Lush orchestral, retro-tinged pop, slinky R&B and more new music

Sky Ferreira: Don’t Forget

Alt-pop darling Sky Ferreira has returned with “Don’t Forget,” her highly anticipated first new track in three years. (2019’s “Downhill Lullaby” was also her first original new single since her 2013 debut, Night Time, My Time.) A glorious teaser for her upcoming second album, Masochism, the song incorporates everything Ferreira fans could hope for: it’s a dark, synth-laden tune about revenge. As she told Vulture in an interview, “It wasn’t supposed to be apocalyptic, but in some ways it is. I did see fire, and I also saw a place between heaven and hell, that sort of vibe. But not in a biblical sense. I felt very stifled for a long time, and I still do.”

Sudan Archives: Selfish Soul

Sudan Archives (aka Brittney Denise Parks) recently released “Selfish Soul,” a vibrant, joyful ode to Black women’s natural beauty—specifically their hair. It comes accompanied by an equally vivacious video—directed by Trey Lyons—wherein a bunch of women play in the mud, hula hoop and dance; and the LA-based artist plays her violin upside down. The singer-songwriter says in a statement, “I feel like there’s an American standard of what beautiful hair is, and I wanted to show in this video that’s not what all beauty is; to showcase different hairstyles and different types of women and their hair. I was inspired by India Arie’s ‘I Am Not My Hair,’ one of the first songs I heard about this subject. She talks about extensions and weaves and natural hair and nappy hair, and that she’s not her hair; she won’t conform to the comparisons that would come up if you had a weave or sew-in or natural hair or Afro—that doesn’t represent her.”

Gabríel Ólafs: The Lily (Orchestral Version)

Icelandic composer and multi-instrumentalist Gabríel Ólafs recently debuted three versions of his stirring new single, “The Lily,” including one solo piano composition and another lush orchestral iteration. All three represent different yet equally successful approaches to the same exquisite sonic journey. “‘The Lily’ is the most expressive piece I’ve composed,” Ólafs says in a statement. “The melody was born on the piano after I read a particularly beautiful poem [by Davíð Stefánsson] with themes of romance and nature.”

Katrina Ford: Go Deep

Lush, layered and easy to love for its retro-tinged pop style, “Go Deep” is the fourth single from singer-songwriter Katrina Ford’s forthcoming first-ever solo EP (out 24 June). Ford, a beloved indie-rock fixture since her debut as the front woman of the band Celebration, also created the track’s charming, collage-like music video. When asked about the song, Ford paints a detailed picture as a deeper explanation, “I had a dream about speeding down a cliff road in a borrowed yellow Lamborghini. Roaring to the shore, to visit a fortune teller on the pier. I was told she lies before I saw her. Confused, I left, walking past piles of riches, gold statues, jewels and cash dumped in the sand littering the beach. A family of beggars in black rags, approached me on the boardwalk. I had nothing, to give. My only valuable was to accept myself without outside influence. Everyone was trying to influence me but I was finding home within, and letting myself be rooted in my own self-belief, despite the cliff dwelling Lamborghini owner, despite the lying fortune teller, despite the beggars. I could hold on.”

Hercules & Love Affair + ANOHNI: One

“Anohni and I wrote this song with the hope of further empowering young trans, queer and feminine spirits,” Hercules & Love Affair founder Andy Butler says of their collaborative new single, “One.” In addition to Anohni’s transcendent vocals, the track and its emphatic beat include contributions by legendary Siouxsie and the Banshees’ drummer, Budgie. Butler’s beloved art-dance outfit, which features a revolving roster of collaborators, returns this June with In Amber, their first album in five years.

Ravyn Lenae feat. Smino: 3D

Chicago-based singer-songwriter Ravyn Lenae teams up with frequent collaborators—rapper Smino and producer Monte Booker—for “3D,” a track from her debut album, Hypnos. The hazy, languid tune is slinky and pleasantly slow-moving. Of the album (which also features Fousheé, Mereba and Steve Lacy), the artist says, “When you listen to the music, I hope you have a better understanding of me and even catch a better understanding of yourself… As artists, we make music as a pathway to help other people understand certain aspects of their lives. I’ve gone through the tunnels and seen the light on the other side. I’m finding my way. I’m clearer on who I am and my power through music and lyricism. I’m pouring more into me, friendships, family, and music. Through all of that, I’m fulfilled.”

M.I.A.: The One

From acclaimed recording artist M.I.A.’s highly anticipated sixth studio album, MATA, the brief and brilliant new track “The One” sets inquisitive lyrics within a bright beat produced by Rex Kudo and T-Minus. “I guess it is just about sticking to what you are and the truth,” M.I.A. says in an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1. “I think, at the end of the day, that is also what this record is about to me, is still trying to find truth. In a way, it’s kind of rebellious because everybody’s expecting me to put out that really havoc… Everyone’s expecting that, but it’s not, that’s not what it is.”

Listen Up is published every Sunday and rounds up the new music we found throughout the week. Hear the year so far on our Spotify channel. Hero image courtesy of Sudan Archives