Ronnie Pirovino’s Massive KAWS Collection

Previewed back in May, here's a collection of photos from Pirovino's amazing Kaws collection...

"With the help of Brandon Shigeta, Ronnie Pirovino has documented a large portion of his KAWS collection, what is believed to be amongst the most complete in the world. We caught up with Ronnie to discuss why/how he’s come to build it over the years; what his future plans for it are, etc.

Have you always been a collector?
When I was around eight or nine, I started collecting stamps, as my father did around my age. From there, I moved to Garbage Pail Kids, then NFL player cards. From late high-school to post-college in the late 90’s, I didn’t collect anything. But I had studied art history, so my interest had been kindling. It was 2003 when I started collecting art. Seeing the Warhol retrospective at MOCA (LA) was pivotal. I was amazed to see so many of the pieces in the show belonged to private collectors. The notion of building a collection of art started to enter my mind and I came across KAWS’ work right around that time. I started collecting a lot of the artists that drew my attention, including Barry McGee, Andrew Schoultz, Marcel Dzama, etc..." - High Snobiety

via High Snobiety

Two Ex-Steve McQueen Cars to Be Auctioned Off in Monterey

Two classics from one of the original drivers on the silver screen...

"Cineastes and vintage car lovers alike will take particular interest in this bit of news: two cars formerly owned by Steve McQueen are set to hit the auction block. The first, a 1970 Porsche 911S, was delivered new to McQueen while he was on the set of Le Mans and went on to appear in several of the film’s opening scenes. Mostly in original condition, it has just 12,400 miles. The second vehicle is a 1953 Siata 208/S Spider, purchased by McQueen in 1956. Recently refurbished with period-correct components, including the 2.0-liter V8 engine rated at 115 horsepower. Start saving those pennies — both cars will be up for bid next month during Monterey Car Week. via: autoblog" - Freshness

via Freshness

UNDERCOVER for Uniqlo Annoucement

Excited and interested to see what they come up with for this collab...

"Mega-retailer Uniqlo, famous for their affordable and well-designed staple items as well as brief designer collections with the likes of Charlotte Ronson and Alexander Wang, has announced a collaboration with fellow Japanese brand UNDERCOVER. The partnership will be a long-term project set for launch in Spring 2012 at the Uniqlo Ginza location in Tokyo. It’s surely no coincidence that the UNDERCOVER collection comes directly on the heels of Jil Sander’s final J+ line for the brand. In addition to temporarily serving as Uniqlo’s creative director, Jil Sander also crafted a highly-acclaimed set of clothing and accessories for the retailer under her J+ label, so UNDERCOVER’s Jun Takahashi will have big shoes to fill when his brand releases their wares on Uniqlo’s shelves in the Spring.

Source: Jun Takahashi" - Hypebeast - Douglas Brundage


via Hypebeast

Ideas Not Airships

"Italy's heralded multidisciplinary creative agency Hangar Design Group (HDG) recently announced the upcoming release of their book, "As I told you before, Ideas not Airships," to celebrate 30 years of creativity. The lengthy book aims to reveal the intricate narrative between creatives and their unique design process through over 500 pages of inspiring imagery and thought provoking text..." - Cool Hunting - Graham Hiemstra

via Cool Hunting

Royal Salute's Tribute to Honour

Hopefully this is the taste of pure perfection as it hits your palette...

"A bottle of scotch so expensive you'll probably never taste it...

Crafted by Royal Salute as a liquid homage to the oldest crown jewels in the British Isles—The Honours of Scotland—Tribute to Honour is a blend of some of Chivas Brothers' oldest and finest whiskey in an over-the-top package.

To create the Tribute, Master Blender Colin Scott selected a few casks of very well-aged whisky, all at least 45 years old. Individually, they're probably among the best you'll ever enjoy; blended, they achieve an even higher intensity.

A liquid this rare deserves more than a plastic flask, so they commissioned Garrard, "the world's oldest jewelers," to craft a bottle made from black porcelain, adorned with 413 flawless black and white diamonds, as well as 22 carats of other gemstones, set in gold and silver. (Pictured above, L-R: Colin Scott, Royal Salute Master Blender and Stephen Webster, Creative Director of Garrard)
Alas, luxury this rare—only 21 numbered bottles were created—comes at a price. The bottles run $200,000 a piece. Contact Giaia [dot] Rener [at] pernot-ricard [dot] com for more information." - Cool Hunting - Evan Orensten

via Cool Hunting

Amazing Places To Experience Around The Globe (Part 1)

For the jet setter and globetrotter types...

Blue Caves - Zakynthos Island, Greece

Skaftafeli - Iceland

Four Seasons Hotel - Bora Bora

Capilano Suspension Bridge, Vancouver, British Columbia

Multnomah Falls, Oregon

Sky Lantern Festival - Taiwan.

Keukenhof Gardens - Netherlands.

via The Cool Hunter

Depth of Speed: JDM Legends Restored

The Nissan Skyline will always be one of my favorite "dream" cars...


HBTV: Depth of Speed - JDM Legends Restored from HBTV on Vimeo.

Depth of Speed was born from a desire of story, travel and a love of anything automotive related. Next year my wife and I will be taking to the streets to uncover and document the greatest stories from the automotive world. From coast-to-coast and from top to bottom, finding the best stories will take the highest priority. Every time I meet someone new or attend an event I’m amazed at the depth, passion and love that the automotive world brings. Depth of Speed is just that – an in-depth look at these stories. There is something about motors and machines, that to an outsider looking in, would make us seem plain crazy.
We have begun the process of outfitting our trusty Scamp trailer to traverse the entire country. Known affectionately as a fiberglass egg, our Scamp will be our home for one year of our lives. At only 13 feet long it will make for a cozy year.

"In our most captivating Depth of Speed episode to date, Josh Clason visits with JDM Legends’ Eric Bizek. The passion and love of Bizek towards vintage Japanese cars is all too apparent. He delves deep into the quality and craftsmanship of the cars as well as his own personal restoration process. While the contemporary iteration of the Skyline, the GT-R has gained massive praise for its engineering, let we not forget the past and where it all started." - Hypebeast

via Hypebeast

The Making of Leica Lenses

If you've ever wondered about the craftsmanship behind Leica...


Leica Lenses (English) from leica camera on Vimeo.


 "Every Leica lens is handcrafted and goes through meticulous manufacturing processes to uphold the quality and precision that Leica defines and customers have come to expect. In the age where technology almost inevitably means mass manufacturing, Leica products are still made with exacting precision by the hands of highly-trained technicians. This video gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the craftsmanship and making of Leica lenses in the production facilities of Leica Camera AG." - Hypebeast - L. Ruano

via Hypebeast

Supreme x OriginalFake T-Shirt

OriginalFake collaborates with another heavy hitter in the streetwear industry, Supreme...

"Supreme and OriginalFake enter the picture as two of streetwear’s most highly sought after brands. Both embodying respectability, the two heavyweights link up to create a new graphic print T-shirt. The design is along the lines of something that has become a popular aspect of OriginalFake’s artwork with the use of 3D bubbles. A release is slated for next week on Saturday, July, 16 at the OriginalFake store in Aoyama, Tokyo." - Hypebeast - Eugene Kan

via Hypebeast

ODO YAKUZA TOKYO by Anton Kusters

"ODO YAKUZA TOKYO is a personal visual account of the life inside an inaccessible subculture: a traditional Japanese crime family that controls the streets of Kabukicho, in the heart of Tokyo, Japan. Through many months of delicate preparations and negotiations by his brother Malik, their fixer Taka-san, and photographer Anton Kusters, the duo became the only westerners ever to be granted this kind of access to that closed world. With a mix of photography, film, writing and graphic design, Anton tries to share not only their extremely complex relationship to Japanese society, and also to show the personal struggle that each family member faces: being forced to live in two different worlds at the same time; worlds that often have conflicting morals and values… It turns out not to be a simple ‘black’ versus ‘white’ relationship, but most definitely one with many shades of grey. Further information on ODO YAKUZA TOKYO is available here." - Hypebeast

via Hypebeast

Bear Paw Meat Handler Forks

A dangerous weapon for a Bruce Lee villain or a meat claw for some weekend grilling? 

"Plan on grilling some meat that's larger than your typical grill prongs can handle? Step up to these Bear Paw Meat Handler Forks ($15). Made from hard plastic, these tools work as an extension of your own hand, letting you easily pick up large cuts of meat, securely hold it when carving, or just use the Paws themselves to shred the meat like a vicious wild animal." - Uncrate

via Uncrate

Star Wars: The Blueprints

Ooh, blueprints for the Millennium Falcon...

"Been dreaming of hiring a celestial crew to build your very own fully armed and operational battle station? You're going to need this. Star Wars: The Blueprints ($450) brings together for the first time more than 500 photographs and illustrations that show how the Star Wars galaxy was designed, from R2-D2 and the Cantina to the Millennium Falcon and the Death Star, accompanied by commentary by J. W. Rinzler and many of the original draftsmen who worked on the designs themselves. More than a simple book, this deluxe 15" x 18" tome weighs in at 35 pounds, and is limited to just 5,000 English-language copies, each of which will be hand-numbered. Technically, it's sorta like owning the MacGuffin from Episode IV." - Uncrate

via Uncrate

Shwood for BEAMS Canby Glasses

Quality materials here...

"Shwood has teamed up with Japanese retailer BEAMS on a limited run of Canby frames with clear, antireflective CR-39 Carl Zeiss lenses. Featuring a two-tone frame, the glasses are offered in Zebrawood/East Indian Rosewood and East Indian Rosewood/Maple wood combos. Also included is a wooden slider case, branded with a laser-engraved BEAMS logo. The collection is limited to 100 pairs of each colorway with a select few available through Shwood." - High Snobiety

via High Snobiety

Nathan Clark, Creator of the Desert Boot, Dead at 94

A sad day for footwear. Mr. Clark, I will appreciate my Desert Boots even more now, thank you for this timeless design. RIP...

"The iconic desert boot as we know it today, worn by everyone from Steve McQueen to the dude on the subway next to you this morning, wouldn't have existed without the passion of Nathan Clark, who died on June 23rd at the age of 94. Clark was the great-grandson of the founder of Clarks and he developed an admirable zeal for the lace-up ankle boots worn by desert fighters in Burma during World War II. The suede material and crepe sole of the boot wasn't an immediate hit with the Brits upon Clark's return from fighting, but the Americans loved them; most notably the, ahem, lack of maintenance and comfort factor.
Clark must have passed a satisfied soul, indeed, as the versatility of desert boots have been re-embraced in the recent heritage-happy menswear scene; being interpreted by the likes of J.Crew, Dior, Opening Ceremony and TOPMAN. So, next time you lace up those McAllisters (you know you have a pair) have a momentary vigil for Nathan Clark: a true footwear legend. The GQ Eye salutes you.

— Sean Hotchkiss 

photo: Guardian/UK" - GQ

 

via GQ 

New Balance Minimus Life Shoe

Curious about the comfort level of these, the weight is attractive, but what about support and cushioning?

"Despite its name, the New Balance Minimus Life Shoe ($100) isn't a sneaker designed for a lower than average lifespan. Instead, it's designed for wear with or without socks, inspired by Good Form Running, and built with a lightweight, flexible EVA midsole and outsole, a synthetic mesh upper, and a slip-on design that's great for those of us who think laces are for doilies." - Uncrate

via Uncrate

IMPOZ – Triumph Speed Racer | Modified Triumph Speed Triple

Bruce Wayne...Batman...they would both be proud...

"Not all custom motorcycles have their starts as Harley-Davidson. Stemmed from radical weight reduction for illegal street racing in Japan, these heavily modified motorcycles extenuated all aspects with exception of powerplant, transmission, fuel tank, and wheels. Manufacturers soon follow suite by creating a whole class of vehicles aptly called “naked bikes”. Often, however, purists see manufacturers’ modifications as “skin deep” only and take upon themselves to complete the alteration. French graphic designer Benjamin Blanchard did just that with his stock TRIUMPH Speed Triple. Already well known as TRIUMPH‘s most iconic model, Blanchard and his design studio IMPOZ, went about stripping the Speed Triple to its bare essentials. Then built it back up with a shorten chassis with the removal of front headlights completely. Blanchard installed a Cylon-like LED rear light and covered the end product in stealthy matte black paint. via: Awesomer" - Freshness

via Freshness

‘Everybody reads the same story differently’ - 07.01.11

The creativity driving this campaign is awesome. It feeds on the imaginations and thought processes of so many perspectives and even gets you to consider your highlighter usage...

"Oh, the art of highlighting! I love this ad campaign ‘Everybody reads the same story differently’ by Y&R Bogotá, Colombia. When i ran across it at Ads of the World tonight, it just made me smile, and then want to take a highlighter to everything. Too cute to see the various perspectives they play with on who highlights what… see them all up close on the next page: The Little Prince, Don Quixote, and Moby Dick!
Click any of the images to see them larger!" - notcot.com

via notcot.com

Stussy x JAM HOME MADE Carabiner Hook & Safety Pin

Love the colors and design from Jam Home Made on these, influenced by fashion blended with functionality...

"Japanese accessories brand JAM HOME MADE has branched out in a consistent manner over the past few seasons. With the ability to infiltrate and appeal to a wide demographic, the brand has engaged in collaborations of contrasting nature from more fashion-orientated works with George Cox, to pedestrian and street-minded collaborations including Stussy and adidas Originals. In a follow-up collection with Stussy, JAM HOME MADE create some of their iconic accessories in new colors. Consisting of carabiners and safety pins, they come in three different colors available as of June 28." - Hypebeast - L. Ruano

via Hypebeast

Entourage x Nike SB Dunk Low Premium – Lights Out...

No longer a really devoted Nike SB/Dunk fan, I will have to say that these look amazing. A fan of the show and the elements incorporated into the design of the shoe. Sad to see the show go and hope these will remain with the family and friends, rather than see them on eBay later on...

"With the final season of HBO’s hit comedy, Entourage finally underway. Los Angeles boutique HOT ROD is now able to reveal more aspect on the special Nike SB Dunk Low Premium – Lights Out Edition for the show’s casts and crews. A fan of Nike SB, Entourage‘s creator Doug Ellin wanted a farewell gift in the form of a Nike SB footwear to mark the end of the show. With help from HOT ROD, a shop he frequents on Westwood Blvd. of L.A., Ellin was able to turn his idea into fruition. Taking elements he loved on the Air Jordans and the Supreme x Nike SB collabs, Ellin worked with Nike Skateboarding design team to modeled all these aspects on the Lights Out edition. Most notable is the elephant skin pattern embossed on its leather overlay. Aptly referencing the series finale, Ellin asked for a tonal black colorwary, on a mix of leather and suede. A white midsole serves as contrast to the all black appearance. Unfortunately these were made only for the friends and family of Entourage.

HOT ROD
2243 Westwood Blvd. | Map
Los Angeles, CA 90064" - Freshness

via Freshness

Air Jordan III Black Cement – 2011 Retro

This is definitely good news for collectors who've missed out on the previous retros. Yes, many will argue the quality of the shoe compared to the previous versions, but I'm just happy to have an opportunity to add this to the collection as a retro...

"By now the legend has been discussed and dissected to the degree that Jordan diehards can, in their sleep, ably recite the pertinent facts with respect to the Air Jordan III —  how a former architect took over the design reigns for the third iteration of Michael Jordan’s signature shoe and ended up igniting a revolution. There is the risk that one can actually become bogged down by the weight of history, as the firsts are many and profound: the first appearance of the Jumpman logo, the first appearance of a visible air unit, the introduction of the famed elephant print. Meanwhile, as the player himself was coming into full command of his powers, Nike sponsored a coming out party that forever changed how athletes, and their shoes, are marketed.

And while the history is important, the Jordan diehard’s appreciation for the Air Jordan III can simply be captured by examining the following images. The Air Jordan III in the black/cement colorway is slated for a holiday 2011 release. For those who can’t wait, a full size run is available now at Marquee Sole." - Freshness

via Freshness