*notcot - 11.13.13 , 12:19 -

Aesop 2013 Holiday Packaging

*notcot - 11.07.13 , 20:55 -

Aether Apparel’s LA Outpost

*notcot - 09.23.13 , 23:31 -

Nike Studio Wrap 3 in 1

nike.jpg Experiment of the week, i’ve been trying out superposts that live over at NOTCOT.org! So click the pic to see the photos, details, and more!

*notcot - 09.04.13 , 20:13 -

Ignoble Rutledge + Sternwood Wallets

ignoble0.jpg A fun package arrived from the nice LA based guys at Ignoble. We’ve been quite a fan of their Cora Classic Rucksack for a few years now ~ the elegant simplicity with such nice modern details in all black gets me every time. Now, i think i’ve fallen for their new “wallets” even more! It doesn’t even seem fair to call them wallets, they are more like smart, simple little zippered pouches made of fully lined 400D nylon and closed with heavy YKK zippers, with their lovely signature leather zipper pulls. The larger Rutledge Travel Wallet happens to be perfectly passport/iphone sized, and the smaller Sternwood Card Wallet perfectly fits american bills/cards/etc. However nothing about the pouches dictates what you use them for, and as soon as i unboxed them, i easily found endless uses for them to ease the mess in my current monstrous wallet, purses, travel set ups and more! Also, it’s hard to resist how lovely their greytoned colorways look together, offered in white, silver, charcoal, and black. If i were to pick just one, the white with black zips are definitely the most striking solo, but if going for more than one, they all look fantastic together! Take a peek at the details of them on the next page… i kid you not that they are surprising in how useful they can be!

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*notcot - 08.21.13 , 20:59 -

Erin Loechner for Rivet & Sway

glasses0.jpg Loving these images that Erin Loechner (and her husband, Ken) of Design for Mankind created for Rivet & Sway. What a fun idea! There’s something so elegantly simple yet evocative with the personalities they’ve created for each glasses frame through hinting at the life that goes with them through the carefully curated objects… see all of the images on the next page!

p.s. How cute is the Rivet & Sway logo?

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*notcot - 08.17.13 , 01:10 -

SPY Optic Happy Lens

spy0.jpg SPY Optic and the Happy Lens! Thanks to the magical box of goodies that arrived from SPY today, get close up with Happy Lenses in the Helm in matte blue (designed with drift/rally driver, Ken Block), the Crosstown Haight in dessert tort, and the new Fold in matte black (created for professional surfer, John John Florence)! While i’ve been super curious to try out the magic of the Happy Lens, first things first, the packaging and awesome design details worked into their products are delightful!

If you’re ever unsure of whether your lens is happy… just look for the teeny tiny happy face in the top corner of your lens. Want to run out without a wallet, no worries, because the carrying case for the Fold glasses once folded up, also has a slot in the back ready for credit cards/id. The Crosstown case is quite a unique button sleeve that protects only the lens section of the glasses. Even the bright blue Happy Lens sleeves have a smiley face on the drawstring. And as for why the Happy Lens is so happy, “The SPY Happy Lens lets in the good rays that promote balance in the body, increase alertness, and have an uplifting effect on mood, while simultaneously blocking the bad rays. As an added bonus, it’s also a polarized and color contrast-enhacing lens, giving you the best visual experience possible.” Intriguing, right? I’m excited to try them out properly, but first, take a peek at all the awesome tiny design details on the next page, as well as the playfully animated SPY Happy Lens video!

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*notcot - 08.03.13 , 16:06 -

STR/KE MVMNT: United By Motion

strike0a.jpg Another Outdoor Retailer find ~ did a double take when we walked by the STR/KE MVMNT (Strike Movement) booth with brightly LED lit wooden boxes that opened up to showcase their sneakers and workout clothes. The most striking thing about their designs and display were the simplicity and thoughtfulness of their details, color palette, and photography. And it’s easy to see the influences - as the founder, Marc Morisset, says, “I always felt there was a need for an athletics brand that was relevant to where our demographic was coming from. We grew up in cities; skateboarding and going to punk rock and hip hop shows. It’s hard for us to relate to shoes that look like fishing lures.” Also, the detail of their “pleasure pocket” where you tuck your tied laces so they don’t come undone. They are also incredibly light… and the colors and designs are hard to ignore. Take a peek at the details and booth on the next page!

p.s. See more of our Outdoor Retailer Show adventures here!

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*notcot - 08.01.13 , 14:30 -

Butler Overboots for Kids

butler0.jpg Launching in September 2013, Butler Overboots are adorable, amazingly soft, pliable booties for kids that go right over their current shoes. In fact, grown up versions would probably be pretty fun even… Adorable branding and packaging (love that penguin logo!), made in the USA (in a military boot factory in TN!), and when i walked past their booth at OR, i had to touch them. While there currently isn’t much info on their website, you can get peeks into the progress at Facebook and Instagram. Whether puddle jumping, sloshing around in the snow, or just making a mess in the garden… these overboots look/feel incredible, and as soon as i started poking at them, i thought of my mom. These definitely fall under her “lucky you guys aren’t kids anymore” category of products that she would have surely bought us if they were around when my sister and i were little! Take a peek at the details, brochure, and more pics on the next page!

p.s. See more of our Outdoor Retailer Show adventures here!

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*notcot - 06.20.13 , 09:35 -

Imogene + Willie, Nashville

imogene0.jpg With 2 hours before we had to head to the airport in Nashville, i had to get a peek at Imogene + Willie having seen their store online for years! Unfortunately, armed only with my cell phone (no proper dslr this trip since it was supposed to be a music/vacation/non-NOTCOT trip!) i still couldn’t resist snapping pics of this stunning little store nestled away in an old gas station. From their beautiful denim line (with quite the history! see the touching video on the next page…) to their expansion to include home goods and accessories, many of which will feel familiar to you ~ from Baxter of California and Tanner Goods to Japanese charcoal, terrariums, and much more… it is definitely worth popping in when in Nashville, TN! Next time I have more time in Nashville, will definitely have to get a proper fitting… and they’ll even help cut you the perfect jean shorts! And on lovely gifts ~ they seem to have perfected the bandana! It is so soft, subtle contrast stitching, and a nice minimalist modern print… made in japan, packaged in a cloth bag stamped in Nashville. Take a peek inside the recently redone store (Matt told us that not so long ago, all the sewing machines were still in there!) on the next page!

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*notcot - 03.29.13 , 21:50 -

Coldsmoke Apparel

coldsmoke0.jpg Today i found myself in sunny Venice Beach, tucked away in house twenty six and a half on a walk street… playing with snow ready winter sportswear and exploring the studios of the freshly launched Coldsmoke Apparel - as they say, “Coldsmoke collaborates with some of the most advanced performance fabric mills along with highly regarded finishing companies to create collections that offer the best of both worlds. Our fashion is functional, performing at the highest level whether you’re on or off the mountain.”

It was great to get to explore the collection in person, and hear about the inspiration behind their inaugural collection by CCO, Imani Lanier (who is quite the seasoned designer). What struck me most was definitely the inuit symbols, design details (love the zippers and the subtle mountains stitched into pocket flaps, etc!), and the quality of the materials… also that all of the products were surrounded by quite the curation of vintage goods! The hats are displayed on stacked vintage cots… there are old skis, fishing poles, gas masks, shovels, and more strewn about the studio and they will all be for sale someday in the Coldsmoke Vintage Collection. Take a peek inside their studio and at some of the fun details of the upcoming collection, inspiration sketches, and their playful lookbook on the next page!

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*notcot - 02.26.13 , 13:43 -

Chrome Bags in 2013

chrome00.jpg Chrome Bags last just about forever. My oldest Chrome messenger is from around 2005, and it has been round and round the world with me, and i’m still using it… and it gets better every day as it keeps softening up. So, while i’ve loved following their evolution over the years, it has been hard to get ready to swap it for a new one! (Also they have a “365 to Life” warranty, where their footwear and apparel is covered 365 days, and the bags for life to be free of defects in materials and workmanship.) My favorite details have always been the seat belt buckles and straps, truck tarp liners, and of course, the secret pocket!

Well Chrome Bags have come a long way since their start in 1995… and it was a fun surprise when they sent over some of their latest goodies: Lieutenant Rolltop Messenger Bag, Niko Camera Pack, and Women’s Storm Pasha Jacket. The details are awesome, and the pictures on their website don’t do them justice, you have to feel them in real life! Lots of pics of details of each of them on the next page to hopefully give you a closer feel… the rolltop messenger is nice and sleek and simple, with an irresistible matte black seat belt buckle… the camera pack is - wow! quite the hardcore pack with waterproof zippers and velcro ready to hold skateboard/tripods/etc… and i love how minimalist and light their storm jacket is while still being “Bombproof. Waterproof. Built to work on the bike and in the bar”. See it all on the next page!

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*notcot - 02.19.13 , 22:30 -

Baxter of California x Topo x Vanity Fair

baxter0.jpg On fun collaborations, tonight we ended up at the Vanity Fair Campaign Hollywood 2013 party at the Baxter Finley Barber & Shop, and for the event they had a special collaboration with Baxter of California and Topo Designs. This black Topo Dopp Kit with a very Baxter blue lining with has a special patch celebrating the collaboration, and is filled with tons of Baxter of California men’s skincare/shaving goodies - from travel sizes to some full size products, to lots of samples… and mini haribo gummi bears! (My favorite mini packs when i was little… such adorable packaging and deliciousness.)

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*notcot - 01.21.13 , 18:30 -

Yankz + Reflective Elastic Shoe Laces

yankz0.jpg I had no idea that elastic laces were a thing - particularly in the running/triathlon world… We had lunch across from a triathlon store today and couldn’t help wandering through after… the variety of elastic laces intrigued me and i gave in to some reflective Yankz! (the packaging is a bit better than the website.) They all seem to boast varieties of benefits from never having to tie laces to being able to have a bit more give adding comfort and “personalization”. Some have plastic springy stopper locks (imagine the plastic stoppers on rain jackets, etc)… and the Yankz! have double plastic bits that allow you to adjust from both sides and easily. These particular ones are also reflective, which never hurts. Take a peek at the details on the next page…

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*notcot - 01.14.13 , 12:04 -

Inside Parabellum, Hollywood, CA

parabellum0.jpg Parabellum. Wow. I’ve been thinking about how to write this post and streamline the wealth of photos, since i showed you the breath logos on the Oliver Peoples for Parabellum collaboration end of last week… and i’ve finally realized, there’s too much good stuff. So get ready for a visual adventure through the amazing workshop of Parabellum on the next page!

Tucked away in a prefab super-workshop behind a house in Hollywood, you will find a buffalo head looking down upon piles of luscious colorful buffalo leather, ceramic buckles and buttons, ball and claw feet in the making, racks of bags, wallets, and belts, a beautifully fluffy chow, sewing machine with dexter on it, a peek into their adventures with buffalo out on the plains, inspiration walls, a belt unboxing (out of the stunning wooden box!), kevlar lined belt details (with window!), a peek at how the incredible leather wears over time, and so much more. PHEW It is incredible!

Ultimately, the more i went through it all, the more i realized that the only way you can fully understand the passion the Parabellum team has for the unique, beautiful, extremely intentional and particular products that they create is to take it all in much like I did. A truly inspirational, sensory overload - and to top it off, every time i see/touch Shawn’s Parabellum Card Wallet i find myself imaging where it was made (all here in LA), the buffalo it came from, the stories of how it all came to be, and the subtle, intentional details worked into every corner…

So if you’re ready, dive in with me on the next page!

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*notcot - 01.10.13 , 19:20 -

Breath Logo: Oliver Peoples for Parabellum

parabellum-glasses0.jpg Breath Logos! Why have we not seen more of these? For those that are confused - yes, you breathe on the lens and the logo appears! Remember the clawfooted purse i fell in love with from Parabellum? Well, I went by today to see their amazing workshop in Hollywood and experience the goods in person (the internet does not do it justice), and first thing i have to share with you is the mysterious Breath Logo in their sunglasses! Truly a detail you wouldn’t know to look for without being told… and i dare you to try to get your sunglasses back once your friends discover the hidden feature to play with. Much like leaving messages in the bathroom to appear when things get steamy… playing with these sunglasses will have you breathing on glass everywhere in hopes of a secret message. And of course, you can see through them perfectly when wearing them normally. It’s this type of secretive, thought out detail that you always get from Parabellum - everything they do is so intentional and precise… functional and beautiful. Throughout their pieces are hints at Masonic motifs, from symbolic imagery and numbers to latin phrases and acronyms hidden all around.

The sunglasses are a collaboration with Oliver Peoples. It is a version of the Linford Sunglasses frame in two limited edition colors: matte black with midnight express polarized glass lenses and custom matte black acetate details, and gold with java polarized lenses and custom sahara tortoise acetate detailing. Each is packaged in their signature soft bison leather, lined with lambskin and included with a custom cleaning cloth in a wooden box.

Take a peek at all the details and a video of Shawn breathing on the lenses on the next page!

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