One of the interviews was w. Jake Bronstein from the American menswear company, Flint And Tinder. They recently launched a project on Kickstarter that broke all records on funding for clothing. In 2 months the company became the top funding fashion project ever on Kickstarter with their very simple brand formula – Clothes locally made with a lasting value promise!

“Over time, every stitch tells a story. As the years go on, this sweatshirt will become more and more unique, comfortable, recognizable and your own! Built for life and backed with a guarantee like none other”

The project was to create and craft a humble hoodie that will last a lifetime, a sweater of such great quality that it even comes with free mending… Instead of buying a piece of clothing and getting tired of it. This piece of clothing comes with a quality label and value promise of update when it’s needed whether for fixing or aesthetic purposes.

“It’s not that it’s so cheap that we can replace it; It’s so well made that we’ll mend it free of charge.”

 

Their point isn’t that manufacturing must be made locally to secure quality, but that quality should be prioritized and it creates jobs in a stressed economy! …and why not go to the extend where the company takes responsibility and wants to stay involved with it’s customers while the use their premium product.

They even go to the same extend with their underwear!

Since the three-stone method is a tradition since thousand of years a new stove must allow the user to keep their way of life intact to be successful. Swedish design company Claesson Koivisto Rune worked in collaboration with Top Third Ventures on a solution to make a stove that burns wood, but as efficient as possible.

The result os a cookstove made of recycled aluminium and with a trapezoid folding that correspond to weight, heat transmission and sturdiness. They studied local methods of cooking, tools and containers to get inspiration and to gain cultural insight. As a result the final shape of the Baker Cookstove as well as its strong colours are reminiscent of traditional African cookware.

The cookstove is manufactured in Kenya.

The design approach has really been the same as with any design project. Design is about solutions – function, usability, unification – and about adding an immaterial – humane, aesthetic, iconic – dimension, says Mårten Claesson from Claesson Koivisto Rune.

The somewhat eye-opening obvious is that we all have an emotional relationship with our objects. The psychology is no different if you have less or have it all; if you relate to a basic cookstove in Africa or a high performance car in the streets of Europe. To hand out functioning – but crude and cheap – cooking tools to “the poor” is commendable but condescending, says Eero Koivisto from Claesson Koivisto Rune.

Would I myself really appreciate a cheap and ugly tool offered to me because it “works and improves my life”? Maybe that’s not good enough. As designers we need to put the same effort into an African stove as were we designing an Italian sports car, says Ola Rune from Claesson Koivisto Rune.

What was originally meant to be 40 storeys became only 26. The South Tower on Södermalm in central Stockholm was completed in 1997, but the architect Henning Larsen had then dropped out of the mission after having lost control over the design of the tower.

Belatchew Architects want to give South tower its original proportions and at the same time explore new technologies to create the future of urban wind farming. By using the so-called Piezoelectric technology a large number of thin ribs produce electricity only through the small movements generated by the wind. The result opens up possibilities for how buildings can produce energy in the future. Surfaces on both existing and new buildings can suddenly be converted into energy producing units.

Furthermore, an additional aspect is revealed when the constant movement of the straws creates an undulating landscape on the facades. What is usually considered to be the most static of all things, the building, suddenly comes alive and the construction gives the impression of a body that is breathing, says Rahel Belatchew Lerdell, founder of Belatchew Architects.

Buster + Punch is a London based company that creates daring and evocative design objects that celebrate custom living and being individual. The brand has nothing to do with uniformity and everything to do with standing out from the crowd according to the founders.

It all started in a small garage in East London, where we discovered a passion for customising the things we love. From light fittings to motorcycles, furniture to leather jackets, we expressed our personality the only way we knew how – by elevating the ordinary into the extraordinary, says Massimo Buster Minale – MD of Buster + Punch.

Buster + Punch started off by making certain one-off pieces for clients that included musicians, tattoo artists, rockstars, actors etc. This original work grew into their first ‘mass-market’ collection called HOOKED. They have a workshop in London where the majority of the collection are made. Clients are invited into the workshop to see the products being made, and they have a chance to personalise them as well.

Drawn from a world of custom motorcycles and rockstar lifestyle, our first collection Hooked explores the darker side of life. The burnt rubber of a Harley, knurled grip of the volume knob and sensual touch of quilted silk, have inspired solid brass light fittings, whiskey bars, wingback chairs and even a limited edition motorcycle, continues Massimo Buster Minale.

Photography by Anthony Hill.

The new Reykjavik Concert Hall and Conference Centre Harpa, wins the 2013 European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award. The building is designed by Henning Larsen Architects, Batteríið Architects and Studio Olafur Eliasson in collaboration. The building has helped to transform and revitalise Reykjavik harbour and brought the city and harbour district closer together.

Harpa’s iconic and transparent porous quasi brick appears as an ever-changing play of coloured light, promoting a dialogue between the city and the building’s interior life. By giving an identity to a society long known for its sagas, through an interdisciplinary collaboration between Henning Larsen Architects and artist Olafur Eliasson, this project is an important message to the world and to the Icelandic people, fulfilling their long expected dream, says Wiel Arets, Chair of the Jury.

: function, aesthetics, and affordability

SwedeSIGN [Swedish design]* scene is more vibrant than ever despite the size of economy. Traveling the world over, but heart and soul remain in motherland. Diversity is a significant keyword that describes their creativity, and the drive to combine functionality with beauty and efficiency is pervaded by many other aspects of Swedish culture. Emotional values are now reckoned to be as important as function in Swedish craftsmanship and design in general. Everything is tested and retested: both aesthetic norms as well as traditional ways of working. Swedish crafts have seldom displayed the vitality or range of expression they display today. You can find everything from traditional crafts, with glass and semi-handicrafts, to designers working with modern designs and materials.

Sweden’s penchant for practical innovation stems in part from geography; it is kind of a necessity when resources and materials are limited. SwedeSIGN: textiles, furniture, household objects and glassware – you will find the same practical, democratic, aesthetic, natural and increasingly sustainable approach to design. In Sweden, design is synonymous to lifestyle: discreet, understated, functional and cool. Consequently, SwedeSIGN is often described as simple, minimalistic and functional. The main influence is said to be the poor living conditions and poverty of Swedish society in the 19th century. The era was defined by values of simplicity, humanity and democracy, which set a new direction for the Scandinavian countries. Another crucial point in common is “design for affordability”. SwedeSIGN provides high quality design and craftsmanship that is truly affordable.

Design reflects the societies’ value and attitude. Swedes believe in a well-meaning ideology underlying the slogan “more beautiful things for everyday use” with form dictated by function. Resulting in a new kind of democratic design, inspired by feminism and postmodernism, they pursue for designs that are able to tell people using them something of the historical and material culture in which we live. Sweden is very different from capitalism societies; elitism attracts strong criticism. They often express themselves in modest terms. The high concept design culture is rooted in the country’s socialist ideology. Swedes have an overarching belief in equality with deep sympathy for the underdog. This is a core element if we think about social design, or design for the bottom of the pyramid. This is a good design attitude to have as well as how swedes have been expressing their unique identity. There is a sense of humbleness, authenticity and modesty, and the Swedish “lagomhet”, which is appraisal of modesty, and humbleness. Swedes are believed to stand for: honest, functional, good value like Ikea or H&M. Minimalism and practicality are virtues, and there is no shame in having the same couch as everyone else on the block, which can be a big cultural difference from others. The Swedish word lagom, which means “not too much, not too little.” and describes the notion that something has to last for everyone. It is what Swedes strive for, the yin and yang ( 阴阳 ) of design.

The chair November* is a crafted chair made entirely out of wood. A unique, high quality stackable wood chair is described as beautiful, comfortable and sustainable. A great ergonomic shape retains all of its sculptural look and feel, which sum up Scandinavian design and Nordic tradition. / Peter Ejvinsson, Industrial designer at Veryday.

Stockholm cutlery* combines streamlined matt-polished steel with smooth black handles. The functional aspects of ergonomics and production find the right balance and weight. Artistic expression: strong visual, emotional and tactile qualities create a collection of everyday jewelry. / Jesper Ståhl with Design House Stockholm.

A solitary shelf can be combined with additional LIBRI* shelves alongside against the wall, back to back. Free standing or several shelves in a row out from the wall creates a room divider. / Michael Bihain with SWEDESE.

Button* uses the textile parts: SWEDISH FABRICS in a true patch-work spirit. The parts meets in the center where a large button keeps everything in place. / Form Us With Love with Mitab.

The hair care and styling products by Salon SACHAJUAN* are made in Sweden. The simplicity and function in perfect harmony with high quality and innovation make the brand experience unique and interesting.

The true tastes of Vodka : ABSOLUT VODKA*, produced near Åhus, Skåne, in southern Sweden. The 18th century medicine flask found in an antique store in Stockholm provided inspiration to the iconic ABSOLUT VODKA bottle.

This is a post by David Report contributor Jaeuk Jung.

There are numerous events in the watchmaking calendar each year but none are as eagerly anticipated and prestigious as the one kicking off today in Switzerland – I am, of course, referring to BaselWorld.

This exceptional and luxury-packed event lets all the big-hitters from the watchmaking world – the likes of Rolex, Breitling, Montblanc and Hublot – to come out and show exactly what they’ve been working on and what they’ve got in store for us over the next few months.

BaselWorld is the event that defines the watchmaking industry and anybody who’s anybody is in attendance. The world’s biggest brands see it as the perfect opportunity to show off the watches that they plan to release onto the market over the next twelve months or so and it is the type of event that celebrities typically flock to in their droves and courtesy of The Watch Gallery, we have exclusive images from the event. One of the biggest names to emerge on the first day of BaselWorld was that of Felix Baumgartner, the Austrian daredevil.

You can see the actual watch worn by Baumgartner during his descent from space below:

The Swiss watchmaker, Hublot, has also wasted no time in wowing the assembled masses and has already showcased a couple of impressive timepieces – most notably, perhaps, the stunning Hublot / Ferrari collaboration, seen below:

Here you can see Ferrari president Luca Di Montezemolo wearing the Hublot Ferrari timepiece pictured above.

Hublot holding a press conference to discuss their latest releases and what they have in store this year.

This is just the shape of things to come – keep your eyes peeled here on David Report for more updates from BaselWorld which begins today and lasts until the 2nd of May. The likes of Rolex and Breitling will certainly be wowing the crowds with their timepieces and you can see these watches here first with David Report. You can also keep up to date with latest happenings from the event by following The Watch Gallery’s BaselWorld Coverage.

This is the first in a series of articles from BaselWorld 2013 by David Report contributor Leo Parker.

We know we are a bit late. But now you can finally share images with us at Pinterest as well. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Ice from Torne älv in northern Sweden.

The three images above from the Lexus Design Award.

Experience room at the Lexus show.

Excelsior department store by Jean Nouvel.

Lamps in different colours

Water project with floating frogs in Naviglio.

Outdoor dancing with headphones in Naviglio.

Sleeping man.

No Early Bird at Design Junction.

Fornasetti box from their mono brand store.

From the Swedish Design Goes Milan show.

Outdoor installation in Tortona.