Hasta La Ideas

A limited-edition backpack benefiting the Million Trees NYC initiative

With a solid repertoire of collaborations and accessories under his belt, designer Matt Singer is now using his creativity for good. For his latest venture, he has teamed up with the recently revived Rivendell Mountain Works on a limited-edition backpack benefitting the Million Trees NYC initiative.

Handmade at the foothills of the Washington Cascades, the durable Cordura nylon bag sports a custom Million Trees patch, and thoughtful features like an adjustable sternum strap and padded shoulder straps help it withstand any number of daily outings.

As an urban dweller, Singer was motivated by the impact of nature on the quality of a city’s atmosphere, and plans to donate a portion of the bag’s proceeds to support the non-profit organization’s citywide mission to plant and care for one million trees in all five boroughs. The backpack is now available in limited numbers exclusively through Matt Singer’s online shop for $225.

Artist Tofer Chin shrinks his trademark stalagmites for a set of rings befitting Bijules

Artist Tofer Chin‘s signature stalagmites have taken many forms over the years—as massive installations popping off gallery walls and planted in parks, and as the geometric force breaking up mathematically-derived Op Art patterns in mind-bending paintings. But the LA-based artist’s sharp expressions, on view in his current solo show “Totally“, are about to receive a fashionable change-up from Bijules‘ NYC-based jewelry designer Jules Kim.

For one night only, the collaborative duo will present “TC+ BJ = 23 Art Intervention“, shrinking Chin’s stalagmites to serve as stands for a limited-edition set of Bijules gold rings. The elegantly irreverent designer explains, “I am excited and honored to have a respected contemporary allow me into his sacred space and to trust my direction wholeheartedly.” Perpetually “collaborating in spirit and friendship” since meeting in Chin’s LA studio years ago, the pair pull off a seamless exchange between art and fashion.

Each of the 23 gold rings is signed and numbered by the two artists and comes with a Tofer Chin miniature stalagmite. Check them out at NYC’s Lu Magnus Gallery 10 February 2012, where they will be on view as part of Chin’s exhibition through 17 February 2012, or pick one up now from the Bijules web shop for $600. RSVP for the opening through Good People.

Photos courtesy of BHP

Last chance to submit redesigns of the iconic green bottle

Advertorial content:

The window is drawing to a close for designers to submit their proposals for the Heineken Limited Edition Design Challenge. Open until 31 January, the competition asks creatives to submit original work that reflects the way people will be connecting over the next 140 years. As an added twist, all redesigns must be submitted in pairs, with the Heineken Limited Edition Facebook page serving as a medium for artists to find like-minded partners. With thousands of people already connected, the challenge has pulled a substantial international and multicultural crowd with some exciting new looks at the classic green bottle.

Judges for the competition include CH co-founder and executive editor Evan Orensten alongside Mark Dytham, co-founder of design community leader PechaKucha, and Heineken’s head of global design Mark van Iterson. The top 100 will be forwarded to the judges, who will shortlist three designs to be refined for a final review. The winners will be announced in March, and their design will appear on Heineken’s 140th anniversary gift pack.

“The entries so far have shown there will always be magic in the chemistry that a team creates together, and technology is making it easier and easier for people all over the world to collaborate,” says Orensten. “I’m really excited to see what can be created as the gallery continues to fill.” Head over to the Facebook page to download the template and submit your design, and be sure to follow Twitter updates by searching for #yourfuturebottle.

Limited-edition clothing pared down in size only

Born in Moscow, Yana Gorbulsky relocated to New York as a child and after developing a love affair with sewing and design, started her signature clothing line Supayana. This year, after several successful seasons making adult apparel for a loyal international client base, she began adapting her collection for a slightly smaller set.

Strongly influenced by vintage style and fabrics, the junior clothing line is quirky and whimsical, with select pieces featuring digitally printed illustrations by artist Sara Guindon and Gorbulsky herself. Not only are all the garments currently made in limited runs to keep them unique and avoid over-saturation, but the designer makes a point to use recycled or eco-friendly materials for all of her locally and ethically made collections.

Pieces range from $22-$49 and can be found exclusively through the Supayana e-shop.

A new limited edition of rare recycled tarps by the Swiss bag maker

Favored by element-exposed bike messengers, Freitag’s sustainable products stand up to the rigors of rugged travel and look sleek in the process. The Swiss brand recently caught our eye when they turned their standard recycled-tarpaulin wares into fake snakeskin handbags, and they continue to reinvent themselves with the release of the Freitag Reference Limited Edition, a vibrant range of just 150 bags.

The new line features tarp colors hardly ever found on the Swiss transport trucks from which Freitag sources its materials, but after 18 years in operation, the company has managed to collect enough off-color tarps to make a small run of two classic styles—R103 Green and the R504 Clemens—in the rare shades, giving them appropriately quirky alliterative names like panic pink, blunt black, striking silver, brute brown and absolute anthracite. The collection will comprise just 15 pieces for each of the two styles, so fans of the brand should plan ahead for their launch on 22 November 2011.