Hasta La Ideas

A fantastical mobile library with a conceptual twist

No offense to bookmobiles, but Numabookface—part installation, part bookstore—ups the ante on mobile libraries. A collaboration between design collective Nam and specialty publisher Numabooks, the whimsical pop-up shop launched earlier this year as part of Nam’s “A Fantasy in Life” solo exhibition at Public/Image 3D in Toyko.

Made of 3,500 used books that fall under the keyword “fantasy,” the face-shaped bookshelf took one day to build. “We’d love to make this small, fantastic shop like a touring project, visiting various places and being observed as a graphic artwork as well as considered as a place to meet unexpected books,” says Takayuki Nakazawa, co-founder of Nam. “This is a little presentation against the severe situation the publishing business is facing.”

The artfully-arranged stacks are not intended for browsing and page-flipping, but none of that’s necessary. In a surprise for readers, Shintaro Uchinuma of Numabooks choses titles for each individual customer based on how he or she answers the question, “Please tell me about yourself.” Available in sets of five for ¥1,800 ($22) or 50 for ¥9,800 ($122), purchases will be delivered after the installation’s run. “I love this rather surrealistic method of selling, as this seems to provide the customer with a chance to meet with new books that they cannot imagine,” says Nakazawa.

Numabookface is open through 31 July 2011 at the Ikejiri Institute of Design in Toyko (closed on Mondays).

Singapore’s newest concept shop showcases Southeast Asia’s emerging designers and more

Taking a cue from their select inventory of conceptual young designers, Singaporean boutique Black Market’s newly formed sister shop Black Market No. 2 toes the line between fashion and art by extending their involvement with clothing into other areas, such as film and in-store installations from a range of Southeast Asian designers.

Black Market’s intermingling among the creative arts is a natural progression. Run by Filipino video artist Quincy Teofisto and motion graphics designer Jasmine Tuan—who is also a driving force behind fashion label FrüFrü & Tigerlily—the duo’s eye for catching good talent early on is all part of Black Market’s bigger plan as a major force in the Singaporean fashion scene.

Inside No. 2 is a shack-like wooden structure called Black Box, that serves as a pop-up space and focal point for various projects. Currently installed through 14 June 2011 is the Mixte Vol. 6 collection of all-black clothing pieces by designer Nina Nikicio. SBTG took over the area last April, where the label transformed old Levi’s, Dickies and other classic brands into new items and used the space to display and sell these.

Designed by Teofisto and Tuan, No. 2 is a cavernous space with raw wood everywhere. Upon entrance, a huge multi-level shelf against one wall immediately draws you in, a design inspired by the way Chinese doctors store medicine and functioning as the shop’s integrated stockroom.

“Singaporean designers are quiet observers, they have subliminal approach on current trends in the market,” said Teofisto. “By comparison to other Asian counties, Singaporean designers are detached from the usual traditional style of their neighboring countries, perhaps the country is young and still looking for its own identity.”

Most recently Black Market was involved in Thread on Frame, a festival in which they picked international moviemakers, photographers and artists to turn labels carried by the store—like Max Tan, Proudrace and Normallyanomaly—into fashion films. In addition to operating as a concept shop, Teofisto and Tuan plan to offer clothing production for designers as well as create its own signature line. Keep tabs on what both locations are up to through the Black Market blog.

Nice Collective opens a transportable military-inspired store in San Francisco

Quietly shaking up fashion with their utopian approach, San Francisco, CA-based label Nice Collective recently applied their forward-thinking ethos to a transportable storefront they call Mobile Supply Unit #1 or MSU. Together with Brand Director Riley Johndonnel, co-founders Joe Haller and Ian Hannula created an environment that encompasses everything from their quantum gravity theories to functional fashion and optimism—a place that feels as comfortable as it does foreign.

Completed in just eight weeks, MSU borrows heavily from military mobilization platforms that make it easy to “re-contextualize for a better use.” Nice Collective hopes their temporary home will strike a chord with customers and other designers alike, serving as a communication tool for progressive projects and events as it travels to each new destination.

Haller explains, “The intent was to transform the the core elements of Nice Collective’s soul into physical destinations where people could shop, experience and participate. The concept also required the units be quick and easy to assemble, adaptable to a multitude of geographical locations and most importantly, equipped with an efficient system for dismantling, transport, and installation in ever-changing new locations.”

The science theme falls in line with their Fall 2011 collection, which is a translation of their feelings on “the splitting of time and space, as well as ideas on how all known forces of the universe work together.” MSU will stock this line (for men and women later on) as well as pieces designed exclusively for the shop, experimental prototypes and a new lifestyle collection that will include pillows and home storage solutions.

The Nice Collection Mobile Supply Unit will remain in San Francisco until 10 September 2011, where it will then migrate on a mission to “facilitate social change” and create a sense of community wherever it goes.

MSU #1 is open daily from 12-9 pm, and through midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Tel: +1 415-824-6426

Last-minute gifts at these eight temporary holiday shops in eight cities around the world

With contributions by Karen Day, Victor Reznik and Bailee Wolfson

Toronto: Bicyclette

Canadian clothing store Bicyclette transformed an already beautiful space into a winter wonderland for the last two weeks of December. Featured designers include Lauren Elan, Biko Jewellery, ScarfParty and Hart Boutique, among others. The shop is at 972 Queens Street and is open Tuesday through Sunday through 31 December 2010.

Paris: Darkroom

Focused on bringing the beauty of Africa to the wintry season, London’s Darkroom boutique takes its goods to Paris for a colorful temporary shop. Located inside the renowned Le Bon Marché department store (24 Rue de Sèvres), Darkroom Paris is open Monday through Saturday, 9am-6pm through 31 December 2010.

New York City: Cool Hunting for Gap

For the 2010 holiday season we proudly introduced a pop up store that brings together products from independent companies based in the New York region. Set in Gap’s project space on 5th Avenue, the store is a Cool Hunting production from top to bottom with all items carefully selected by our editorial team. The CH for Gap pop up is located on 680 fifth avenue is open daily through 2 January 2011.

Milan: Ferrero

Ferrero (makers of Nutella, Rocher and other delectables) installed a store that offers a selection of treats along with personalised versions of the assortments—from the most classical to the newest and most exclusive and according to personal taste and preferences, the choice makes a unique, inimitable gift. The pop-up “boutique” will be serving daily delicious confections for the romantics at 59 di corso Garibaldi through 6 January 2010.

Portland: Flurry

Flurry, a design collective in Portland, OR, endeavors to celebrate the city’s independent designers during the holiday season with items like Real McCoy purses, Looptworks laptop sleeves, O’Pearl jewelry and trinkets galore. Flurry is at 750 S.W. Yamhill Street and is open daily from 9am-9pm through 31 December 2010.

Amsterdam: 100 Days

Perpetually experimental Danish designer Henrik Vibskov recently launched a traveling pop up shop at Sprspace in Amsterdam, where it will remain for 100 days before touring Europe. The conceptual store will feature Vibskov’s full S/S 2011 collection, one-off pieces and exclusive products, making it a not-to-miss for the fashion-forward. “100 Days” is at Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 262 and runs 9 December 2010 through the next 100 days, open Monday-Saturday.

Minneapolis: Russian Museum of Art

Find true holiday spirit in Minneapolis’ Russian Museum of Art pop up store. The museum’s popular Izba gift shop’s new location peddles hand-carved Russian ornaments, tea sets and more. The Izba pop up is located within the Mall of America and is open through 31 December 2010.

Los Angeles: OK Store

L.A.’s OK Store opened an additional outpost in nearby Silverlake last spring for a one-year stint. During the holidays OK packed it with pre-wrapped stocking stuffers, porcelain vases and straw gift boxes, in addition to their usual assortment of unique items. OK is at 724 1/2 Silverlake Boulevard and is open daily from April 2010 to April 2011.

Sixpoints beer, a Jambox giveaway and DJs Chances With Wolves at our NYC event

Regularly unearthing rare tracks to play on NYC’s beloved indie station East Village Radio, the three-person DJ outfit Chances With Wolves treats listeners to an earful of cleverly-themed playlists and underground sounds every week. From Nina Simone to artists more unknown, their musical ingenuity has made them a Cool Hunting favorite and the subject of an upcoming Cool Hunting Video, shot by the talented Greg Mitnick.

Those in NYC can check out the boys and their musical style in person at our Jambox DJ Shopping Night tomorrow, 14 December 2010 (from 7-9pm), at our holiday pop up with the Gap. Chances With Wolves will supply the tunes, you can chug some Sixpoint beer, and Jambox is giving away one our collaborative limited-edition speakers in Cool Hunting Green.