In an age of technology during which eye vision can be corrected in 10 minutes, prosthetic limbs are breaking ground in sensory feedback and computers can be controlled by brains, we’re surprisingly lacking in the orthotics department—an area that’s in high demand but…
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Generally held on a horological pedestal, Rolex is often associated with being the best of the best. But what happens when your Roley just isn’t unique enough and you’re not ready to experiment with an MB&F? You turn to Bamford Watch Department, customizer of fine time pieces. Their latest…
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After dropping Stateside just over a year ago, the UK’s Charge Bikes has continued to impress with a full range of titanium mountain bikes, urban commuters and freestyle fixed gears, not to mention a comprehensive range of components. Today, Charge launches a new online customization platform for their award-winning…
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Customize a classic with Hermès’ new scarf embroidery service
Hermès, already known for their timeless silk scarves, launched their new Custom Silk Corner today, making the iconic accessory even more of an heirloom.
Perfect for Mother’s Day or to commemorate any special event, the service allows customers to choose one of 17 scarf designs to personalize with any of 30 different colors of silk yarn and two styles of typography. You can also choose different types of scarves (from the giant 90-centimeter scarf to a “Twilly” silk ribbon), and various occasions—birthdays, marriage, etc.—to celebrate. Once you select your moment and your message, whether simple initials or more detailed sentiments (prices start at $15 per letter), a local Hermès-approved embroiderer keeps turnaround time within one to two weeks.
The service is part of their recently-expanded Madison Avenue flagship store—a 2,100-square-foot space designed by Rena Dumas’ Paris-based architecture firm RDAI that comes fresh on the heels of another RDAI-designed Hermès project. A collaboration with Enzo Mari, Antonio Citterio and Dumas’ son (who’s also Hermès artistic director) Pierre-Alexis Dumas, the collaboration consisted of a pavilion cleverly constructed out of cardboard for their recent furniture collection showing at Milan.
Scarf prices vary depending on style, to see some of their classic patterns check out Hermès’ online boutique.
Also on Cool Hunting: The Hermès Scarf: History & Mystique
New York City’s minimalist custom bicycle builder
Finding inspiration in vintage track racing catalogs and archival images, Francesco Bertelli builds gorgeously minimal bicycles in his NYC workshop Biciclette Assemblate. The Italian transplant’s one-of-a-kind creations combine new, dead stock and vintage components found at flea markets, collectors, trusted suppliers, and of course, eBay. This scavenger style of sourcing parts allows Bertelli to stockpile choice components and later pick and choose the perfect parts for each individual build.
Central to the design process are Bertelli’s strict guidelines; he only uses classically lugged steel frames with track geometry, quill stems, chrome forks, and vintage cranksets—all accented with leather and wood when appropriate. Hand assembled, finished, and fine-tuned, the bikes are emblem- and sticker-free, in keeping with the builder’s extremely pared-down style.
Bertelli teamed up with Norwegian track frame manufacturers Viking (also an exciting new upstart) to produce his own frame variation in custom anthracite colorway. These framesets are available through Biciclette Assemblate for the admirers of the craft who wish to build their own, which Bertelli encourages. His site even includes a “how to build a bike” section, an online diary of Bertelli’s own build experiences and advice, plus piece-by-piece component descriptions.
To commission your own unique bicycle build, cop one of Viking’s Bertelli framesets, or to simply drool over previous builds, contact Bertelli through his site.
Additional reporting by Graham Hiemstra
Custom web shout-outs from the creator of Big Ass Message
A follow-up to Björn Johansson’s web-based “shout-out” generator, Big Ass Message, his latest work-distracting website, aptly titled Big Ass Picture, launched today. The Internet destination adds to the original text-customizer with the option to create a unique website using any image (with or without text), enabling you to then send the link to a friend for hilarity to ensue.
If you run out of picture ideas, Johansson has also added the functionality of linking to animated gif files, like this entertaining example.
In the creators own words, “I just figured that just like in Hollywood when they get a big hit on their hands, a sequel is more or less mandatory even if it’s almost never as good as the original.” Head over to Big Ass Picture where you can be the judge.
Supreme custom fits for the extreme skier
In a former gas station, now powered entirely by wind and sun, Pete Wagner and his team create custom skis one pair at a time. Located just outside Telluride, CO, Wagner has been quietly carving out a name for themselves among enthusiasts and professionals alike with their Skier DNA application, a survey ensuring a complete custom fit geared for your ski style and body shape.
To guarantee even greater accuracy, Wagner recently recruited the technology experts at Advanced Racing Computers, a Park City, UT-based firm that created the vLink—a performance measurement tool for ski racers. When attached to a pair of Wagner skis, the vLinks serve as tiny computers recording 6,500 frames per second along X, Y and Z axes, analyzing every aspect of a skier’s form. Storing up to 99 runs of in-depth data, that information is then transmitted wirelessly or downloaded later for Wagner to assess. Combined with the Skier DNA survey, this meticulous evaluation allows Wagner to craft an utterly personal pair of skis adjusted down to details like tail shapes and flex pattern.
Backed by a wide selection of colors, veneers, artist-designed top graphics or the ability to design your own, Wagner is both a brand dedicated to customization and also stands on its own as an expert ski-maker. Currently the Wagner skis kitted with vLinks sell from the Surefoot store in Deer Valley, Colorado. Prices vary.
via EXP
Rapha partners with renowned bike-makers to produce a limited run of four classic models
As purveyors of some of today’s top cycling gear and accessories, it’s completely logical that Rapha would foray into the world of bike building. What makes the move interesting is how they chose to do it. Like all their products, diehard cyclists helped conceive the newly-launched bicycle collection, and they partnered “with four masters of framebuilding to offer four distinct, hand-made bicycles.” While each of the models have been made by their respective brands before, this limited edition run of customizable, Rapha-approved bikes will only be available for the next two years.
The commuter of the bunch, dreamed up by Cycle Works Oregon and built by the legendary Chris King, is the highly-functional Beloved Every Day bike. Modeled after bicycles built during the 1930s by French constructeurs (artisans who handbuilt bikes for specific purposes from start to finish), the nod to history makes for beautifully clean lines that have a slight Deco feel. Specs on the Rapha edition include a Sturmey-Archer five-speed internal rear hub with downtube shifters, Nitto aluminum “Priest” handlebars, Berthoud fenders and more. Made in Portland, OR, the bike will take eight weeks for completion and sells for $5,195.
Even more exclusive than the others, the XCR Criterium Racer is a bike so strong it’s limited to only 30 frames/fork per year due to scarcity of materials. It’s also the joint work of two Milan-based powerhouses, Cinelli (founded in 1948 and known for progressively-designed professional road racers) and Columbus Steel, who acquired Cinelli in ’78. For Rapha, they designed a bike for the “aggressive racer,” which takes four months to complete and starts at €3,500.
Independent Fabrication blends carbon fiber and titanium to make their XS frame, designed to go the distance and provide greater comfort with upright positioning. Two-time winner of Bicycle Magazine’s “Best Dream Road Bicycle” award, the version for Rapha, the IF XS comes with a choice of either Campagnolo Super Record, SRAM Red, Shimano DuraAce or internally routed Di2 packages, as well as wheel set options from Enve Composites and Mavic. The bikes will take eight to ten weeks for completion and start at $6,795.
To build the Continental frame, Tony Pereira and Ira Ryan hand-selected two types of tubing from Columbus Steel, which they combined using both the lugged technique, as well as the less common and more labor-intensive fillet-brazed method. The resulting all-terrain bike features parts carefully picked by the two Rapha team members, whose insider bike knowledge shows with components like a SRAM Force drivetrain, DT Swiss wheels with Chris King hubs (and headset), Tektro long-reach brakes and topped off with handlebars, a seatpost and stem from Full Speed Ahead. The Continental will be produced twice a year in two batches of 50, sells for $5,000 each and takes four months for completion.
Have a bleak holiday with the dark humor of these photo greetings
An exhausted, pajama-clad shopper sprawled on a snow-covered lake may seem like an exaggeration, but it’s arguably not far off on the lengths many go to during the holiday frenzy that seems to begin a bit earlier each year. This card, along with one boasting a soon-to-be holiday dinner turkey come from cinema-scapist photographer Aaron Hobson, whose dark and complex works have caught our attention before.
This is dark holiday humor at is best, taking on a slightly cynical attitude during an otherwise saccharine time of year. To order, use the online form courtesy of the 7444 Gallery, which has put the whole thing together.
The cards sell for $10 each, but for an additional $5 they’ll include a personalized message with hand calligraphy from graphic artist Gail Brill. They’re taking orders now, but you’ll will have to hurry if you want it to get out in time.
Our dizzying new bathroom by NYC’s premiere specialty painters
When Annemarie Flynn and Andrea Patterson of Evolving Image stopped in on a friend’s recommendation to show us their portfolio of detailed murals and wall treatments, they saw the dismal white walls
of the small bathroom in the Cool Hunting office and got inspired. After presenting us with a few ideas, we gave some feedback and the duo tapped the third in their partnership, artist and colleague Jeremy Stanger, to implement the geometric pattern of his design.
The aqua-and-gray pattern now lines our entire bathroom, creating one cohesive, slightly psychedelic experience from floor to ceiling and elongating the narrow room. Along with a the revamped space, we can now count ourselves in the same company as other Evolving Image clients like the Metropolitan Opera House, Versace and The Plaza Hotel.
From big to small, the custom painters tailor every design (commercial or residential) to each space, drawing on their consummate skills with color, proportion, graphics and interiors to create gorgeous, inventive spaces. Styles range from wallpaper-like patterning to fanciful trompe l’oeils and subtle textures, but all add character to a room and, like in our case, can solve size or other structural issues. After we suggested the service to our friends at the food-focused boutique PR firm YC Media, Evolving Image painted a massive artichoke over a striped pattern (created with a squeegee) on their office wall.
In addition to eco-friendly paints, a variety of finishes including glazes, faux fabrics and plaster are available. The trio’s impeccable execution combined with seemingly endless capability turns any room into an open canvas for impressive decor.
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
