The ascent of NBA MVP & Milwaukee’s top Buck, Giannis Antetokounmpo from poverty in Athens, Greece to super-stardom in America is an extraordinary story. Written by award-winning basketball reporter and feature writer at The Ringer Mirin Fader, it touches universal themes of family, immigration, hard work, and dreaming big.
Anordain is a little different from the many value-focused microbrand watchmakers out there: the Scottish company specializes in in-house-produced enamel dials. That’s why fans of the brand might be surprised by new models with non-enamel dials, which instead offering three new variations with galvanized precious metal finishes that still carry the brand’s DNA in a simplified but striking form.
Enamel dial fans needn’t fret, though, as anOrdain hasn’t changed tack — rather, the brand has an interesting story behind these watches’ creation: When the 2020 pandemic disrupted their ability to make enamel dials, they started working with a German manufacturer on precious metal-coated dials with the basic design of the brand’s Model 1. These were set aside when enamel production became possible again, until watch enthusiast website Worn & Wound stepped in to help bring them to their WindUp Watch Shop.
As dial execution was always anOrdain’s focus, these models still feel on-brand and maintain their unique, minimalist design. In addition to the dial materials, the other difference is that these models feature a rehaut around the dial that slopes to give an overall convex impression, as well as to shrink the dial’s visual impact.
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The dial colors and finishes, however, are still the stars of the show. They come in black rhodium, white gold and red gold — the latter of which you could easily call a “salmon dial,” a currently popular trend in watches. The dial’s sandblasted finish (in contrast to the rehaut’s brushed finish) gives an interesting and dynamic visual effect, but it’s also excellent for legibility, as are the contrasting colors of the hands and indices on each version.
Apart from the dials, this limited series features the same 38mm steel case (don’t be confused by the Precious Metal Series name) and ETA 2824-2 Swiss automatic movement as the previous Model 1 edition. They’re available now from the WindUp Watch Shop for $1,250, and each variation is limited to 50 examples.
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The Porsche 928 was intended to replace the iconic 911. Well, that never happened, but that doesn’t mean the bug-eyed 928 isn’t worthy. This one, in particular, was used in the filming of the 1979…
The post Tom Cruise’s ‘Risky Business’ 1979 Porsche 928 first appeared on Cool Material.
Think the pandemic is over? Think again. The CDC is again urging people to wear masks in schools and public indoor spaces in sections of the US where there’s still high or substantial coronavirus transmission.
The shift comes in response to the fact that mutations of the virus are stronger and sneakier. The Delta variant is around twice as transmissible as earlier strains and making its way through undervaccinated areas of the country and globe.
There’s a lot more to this story — National Geographic does a great job explaining the CDC’s reasoning as well as where and when masks are most needed here. But the big takeaway is, with just 49 percent of the nation vaccinated, and rare cases of vaccinated people contracting and transmitting the virus, we won’t be fully ditching masks anytime soon.
Of course, you are going to have a better time sticking to the latest scientific advice if you have masks you love. To ensure that’s the case, we have compiled the following roundup of our favorite masks, the result of countless hours of testing by our team over the past several months.
Here you’ll find masks for all sorts of purposes — just what you need to ride this unholy beast of a pandemic out safely.
— Tanner Bowden contributed to this guide.
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While brands have continued to innovate new ways to cover your mug, one of the originals is still among the best. The Sportsmask boasts a number of cool features, but the most notable is comfort. The structure, wire nose bridge and soft fabric combine to make it feel as seamless as Flanders’ ski suit. When working out, the polyurethane open-cell foam is both breathable and protective, while the stretchy ear loops make it easy to don and doff when necessary. For both training and daily use, the Sportsmask is a champ. Want more coverage? Under Armour recently launched a Fleece Gaiter, a ½ Gaiter, and even a mask-integrating shirt.
Price: $25 $10
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We admit to being skeptical of a $60 mask, but this one is different: it’s an extended screen-like mask body designed to accept both reusable and disposable filters. That shape is framed by medical-grade silicone, highlighted by an aluminum bar embedded in a gasket at the nose area, plus adjustable straps for the kind of tight fit the CDC endorses. The result is a little pocket of air to safely breathe in and — fittingly for an eyewear brand — the most fog-free shades situation we’ve ever experienced. The MSK3 also makes you look a bit like Tom Hardy’s Bane, which could be a pro or a con, depending which way your comic book movie loyalties lean.
Price: $60
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“So cheap for three, and it has three layers with a built-in filter,” our tester explains. “Plus, instead of clinging to your face, it’s more like cupping your face, which makes it easier to breathe.” The inner layer is Uniqlo’s moisture-wicking Airism material, which the brand also uses to make T-shirts and undies comfy. The second layer is the integrated filter and the third layer blocks UV rays. The only downside is that it can be tricky to find the right size for you among four options (S, for kids, through XL). “But when you do find a size that fits,” raves our tester, “it’s glorious.”
Price: $15/3
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Introduced last fall, the Asics Runners Mask aims to remedy all the annoying aspects of exercising with a mask. It’s made of a fast-drying, water-repellent fabric that cools the air as it passes through its fibers; it offers more interior space to prevent claustrophobia; its fastening system includes multiple adjustment points for a comfortable fit; vents below the jaw increase airflow without spreading disease-carrying droplets. Those features add up to quite a thoughtful take on what a performance-oriented cover can be.
Price: $40
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“Of all the face masks I’ve tested — fitted face masks, face masks for running — Outdoor Research’s is my favorite,” our tester reports. “My main reason is comfort; its polyester fabric is lightweight and easy on the skin. That goes for the ear loops too, which are adjustable but won’t slip around on their own. It’s one of the few face masks that doesn’t drop beneath my nose when I’m talking (or otherwise trying to operate my face as I normally would).”
Price: $20 $10
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The first edition of this mask cracked the Wellness category of last year’s GP100, and this new three-layer version is even better. Adjustable elastic straps, a metal nose strip and a hypoallergenic merino wool blend inner surface max out the comfort and fit, while a second layer of polyamide nylon and a third of polyester spandex — with an antimicrobial Polygiene ViralOff finish — ramp up the protection levels. Even so, the final product looks clean and uncomplicated, in seven different colorways to boot.
Price: $26.95
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Kitsbow’s craftspeople cut and sew its masks in the shape of an actual face for optimal comfort, while an internal bridge-of-nose wire provides a secure fit. There are two layers of cotton for high-exertion, low-threat situations. Want a little more protection? Drop in one of the two included filters (a replacement three-pack costs $10). Not unlike 686’s mask, this option offers a lot of protection and performance in a streamlined, unassuming form — and seven stylish colors as well.
Price: $24.95
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Don’t let this mask’s superlative lead you to believe it’s lacking in protection. You get five layers, including a 3-ply nanofiber membrane filter, lab-tested to provide 99.9 percent filtration of viruses, bacteria, pollen and other pollutants. Even so, its slim profile and simple, adjustable earloops make it easy to throw on when you’re taking care of business around town. Our tester also shares perhaps the best comfort endorsement ever: “We got them for my 3-year-old to wear all day at school, no complaints.”
Price: $24
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Think of this clever offering as a permanently tied bandana that’s actually big enough to fit around your face, no knot necessary. Elastic in the neck area ensures a tight but comfortable fit, while the comfy fleece lining provides plenty of warmth. While the Snowdana is not specifically designed for the pandemic — it’s been around for years — its thickness is uniquely suited for it, and we’ve been loving its fuller coverage as New York City temperatures dip into the teens. It comes in literally dozens of colors too.
Price: $19.99
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We would be remiss not to note the ingenuity of this mask’s approach, which is rivaled only by the keychain at the end of this guide. RYST is essentially a slim band that attaches to your wrist via magnets, then unzips to reveal a fully functional mask that loops over your ears. Made in Portugal out of high-thread-count Italian fabric, it’s rather thin but more comfortable than you might think — and just so damn clever we couldn’t leave it out.
Price: $19.99
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These feel-good masks are made of deadstock fabric — a blend of hemp, organic cotton, recycled polyester and Tencel — that would otherwise go unused. And for every three-pack sold, UBB donates a mask to Chosen 300, which distributes them to Philadelphia residents experiencing homelessness. But are they any good? “The masks are double-layered and even have a pocket for filter insertion,” our tester reveals. “They’re comfy and about as non-intrusive as masks can get.”
Price: $20 $3.99
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Like the Snowdana, The Hood Balaclava was not specifically made to combat the pandemic. But its two-layer construction — a nylon/elastene blend on the outside and polyester on the inside — provides protection from wind, snow and airborne viruses. The hinged design slips easily over the head and comfortably under a helmet. We just rocked it in the mountains this past weekend — and it’s great for long winter motorcycle rides too.
Price: $34.99
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Yes, it has just a single (thick) layer, but one of the first face covering options we tested remains among our favorites. Made of comfy, odor-fighting merino wool, the Everyday Gaiter features integrated ear loops and a drop-neck cut (short in back, long in front). That makes it easy to wear on your neck and pull up over your nose when necessary. But we’re burying the lead: the generous drape of the front makes it perfect for the more hirsute among us.
Price: $35
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Stashed in a silicone case not much bigger than a thumb drive, this clever mask is always ready in a pinch. Soft and comfy with adjustable ear loops, it’s easy to pull out and re-pack. That said, it’s rather thin and small and needs periodic adjusting during extended wear. As our tester notes: “Not ideal as an everyday mask, but a solid option for oh shit I forgot my mask, good thing I always keep one on my keychain.”
Price: $14.99, $24.99/2
Any article of clothing that claims to be “perfect for travel” has an agenda. Like the word “natural” appearing on packaged food, a phrase like “travel-ready” is a vague and enticing smokescreen that can signify any number of qualities at the heart of which lies the question: What makes this thing better for wearing in places other than the place where I live?
Pose the inquiry to any given brand, and the response might mention a tech-y fabric or maybe a modular feature (or nothing unique whatsoever). The riddle is particularly true of pants. What makes a good pair of travel pants? Is it comfort? Durability? The number of pockets? All those elements matter, yes, provided they add up to a blend of form and function that lets you step off a plane and onto all sorts of adventures. In their own ways, the following options each fit the bill.
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Backcountry’s house brand has been stepping up its game of late, and these pants are the latest example. Though intended for weekend projects, they’re perfect for camping and travel as well. The cotton/synthetic blend fabric is tough like canvas but more breathable and stretchy, with articulated knees adding to the ease of movement. In addition to hand and back pockets, there’s plenty of storage for travel items: a discrete zippered pocket and sleeve on the right, plus a slim cargo pocket with an added zippered pocket on the left. All that plus understated style and a price tag under $100 make this pair a winner.
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Our former Outdoors & Fitness staff writer was kind of obsessed with the original Brise pants, and their successors are even better. Stretchy, moisture-wicking Schoeller fabric and a DWR finish keep them dry, while a stretch waistband and cuff, knee articulation and a crotch gusset keep them comfortable, whether you’re hanging on a rock face or standing in a security line. The zippered thigh pocket, which Foehn made to provide access to items while wearing a climbing harness, is ideal for stashing a passport. The looks pass muster as an everyday work pant, whether your office is indoors or out.
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Some of the simplest and lightest pants on this list also happen to be some of the more quietly technical ones. REI made these Sahara Path pants with a stretchy but tough, nylon/spandex blend fabric that repels water, wicks moisture and dries quickly, so they’re ideal for any trips that include outdoor activities like hiking and climbing. Activity-friendly features include a crotch gusset, articulated knees, an adjustable drawcord waist and a zippered thigh pocket for travel or trail essentials. It all adds up to a heck of a lot of value for less than seventy bucks.
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The Global Pants, like much of what Topo Designs produces, are a blend of outdoor lifestyle and performance. It’s hard to say which of the two takes a larger share, though. They’re fully capable before, during and after mountain adventures with a durable, comfortable cotton/nylon/spandex blend fabric. There are plenty of smartly placed pockets, including two zippered ones, plus internal cords you can use to cinch the ankle cuffs for climbing, hiking or biking. They come in three colors and, like many of the others on this list, are stylish enough to wear in any cities you might visit.
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Roark’s entire brand is travel; each of the company’s seasonal collections emerges from trips to places like Jamaica, the Falkland Islands and Hong Kong. Inspired by Morocco, the Layover 2.0 Travel Pant is made of a blended nylon and cotton fabric that’s stretchy and fastens with a drawstring instead of a button for a slightly adjustable fit. Its front pockets have oversized, zip openings to accommodate larger essentials like travel documents or sunglasses, while the back pockets button shut, leaving you with plenty of reliabl, secure storage options when you’re on the go.
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These unassuming Patagonia pants are sneakily packed with features that boost both comfort and functionality. The organic cotton/polyester blend fabric is light and moisture-wicking, with a 3xdry finish that rides out the raindrops. A drawstring waistband and jogger-esque ankle cuffs add to a relaxed fit suitable for everything from a plane ride to a journey through the jungle — concrete or otherwise. Meanwhile, four traditional pockets plus a zippered thigh pocket keep the things you need, like wallet, keys and phone, within easy reach.
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“Cargo pant” might have you thinking about thigh-mounted square pockets with flapping lids, but for these pants, all it means is that they have room to carry a lot of stuff. There are the two front pockets, a card pocket, pen pocket, zippered leg pockets, phone pocket, belt loop stash pocket and, oh yeah, two back pockets. Even with all that storage though, the Anything Multi Cargo Pants don’t appear bulky. They’re made of a stretchy, water-resistant fabric that’s fine to hike in but doesn’t look overtly technical.
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Yes, these pants are really, really, really ridiculously good-looking. A slim fit and Arc’teryx’s trademark knack for cool, clean aesthetics will do that. But with a lightweight, breathable, stretchy cotton/nylon/elastene blend fabric and a pull-on elastic waist with a concealed adjuster, they’re super comfortable too. Meanwhile, hand pockets, a rear pocket that slanted for easy access and a super low-pro thigh zip pocket provide just enough handy storage for strolls in the woods and sashays down plane, train and bus aisles.
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We’ve been fans of Colorado-based Western Rise’s versatile everyday pant for some time now. “I own — and constantly wear — two pairs of these suckers,” one of our staffers once wrote. “The fit is excellent, like modern chinos or jeans. The colors are just unique enough to stand out. But what I like most is how tough they are.” Stretch nylon and air-texturized fibers make them feel like regular pants while repelling water, drying quickly… and leaning strongly into a style appropriate for modern workplaces, making them perfect for stepping off a plane and into, say, your company’s Amsterdam office.
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Damascus steel renders not just a beautiful aesthetic but also a sharp edge. Thus, it makes a far better option to use on knives than just iron. The Victorinox Swiss Champ Damast Limited Edition 2021, for one, boasts these fine qualities and more, making it a great addition to your everyday carry.
This pocketknife features a resilient Damast steel blade wrapped in sleek black forged carbon scales. Damast steel, known for its wavy patterns, gives a stunning “Bjorkmans Twist” finish to the large blade. It not only makes the knife look aesthetically pleasing but also modern and stylish.
The Victorinox Swiss Champ Damast Limited Edition 2021 is basically an upscale version of the smaller Swiss Champ. It is darker and features multiple shades of gray in the handle instead of red thermoplastic. But it retains the tools found in its predecessor and there are an amazing 29 tools to work with.
This keychain multi-tool has a small blade and a can and bottle opener. It even has tools for small and quick fixes including screwdrivers (2.5 mm, mini, 3mm, 6mm, Phillips 1/2), a wire stripper, pliers, a wire cutter, and a wire crimping tool. There are also a couple of rulers in centimeters and inches, scissors, a wood saw, a metal saw and metal file, and a 4mm chisel.
The Victorinox Swiss Champ Damast Limited Edition 2021 is even handy for anglers with the added fish scaler, hook disgorger, and a multipurpose hook, thus making it a great survival tool. It also comes with a reamer, punch and sewing awl, a magnifying glass, nail file, nail cleaner, and a corkscrew. Meanwhile, a keyring makes it convenient to carry around, complementing its portable weight and height of 6.5 ounces and 1.3 inches, respectively.
Images courtesy of Victorinox
“The human being is a curious animal. A nomad of land and thoughts, capable of amplifying its consciousness and connecting with nature,” Mexican brand Mucha Carne‘s about page, which moonlights as a poetic research paper, reads. “Life is a trip: changes of outlook, twisted perspectives, disruption of the establishment, intentioned experience, exploration of the whole that we are part of, and going down the road. Always walking.”
While you’re reading, “a lil (c)arne for your ears,” as they call it, twinkles from your speakers. It’s ambient, but there’s something to it — a distant transmission from afar, or inside you. It’s hard to tell. “Our epiphany was the instant we realized we are nature,” the about page continues. “We recognized that we are connected to something bigger and that we can understand it. Comfortable clothes — those that feel like an extension of our skin— are necessary to awake, to grow, and to evolve.”
Mucha Carne
Is all of this jargon just a metaphorical (metaphysical?) sales pitch? A way to trick your brain into thinking you need outwear even when you wouldn’t be caught dead camping or hiking? Not sure. Probably neither. But stay on the site long enough — with the “(c)arne for your ears playing on loop — and you’ll end up with a full cart. The clothing’s inspiring; an ensemble for an endeavor yet to be outlined — and on a path yet to be paved. (Trippy, right?)
The entirety of Mucha Carne’s collection is handcrafted in Mexico City, the brand’s home base. The hats are hand-sewn by Raul and Alexa, a couple that founded an independent hat manufactory in 2019. “They love music, walking their pets and supporting each other,” the indiscernible designer behind the brand writes on the shop’s front page. The shirts and pants are stitched by expert sewer, Rebecca Angel, “the heart and soul of mucha(c)arne.” It’s a tight-knit operation with an enlightened outlook on their end goals. After all, every tag is made from seed paper, tethering the wearer to the Earth.
But it doesn’t stop there: each item is assigned a name that references a person pertinent to psychedelics: a foldable trucker hat cut from water-resistant nylon that’s named after María Sabina, a Mazatec sabia who introduced Westerners to Mexican ceremonies involving Psilocybin mushrooms; a micro water-resistant ripstop pant (with a fidlock buckle and Japanese buttons) named after Terrence McKenna, an author, lecturer, and notable proponent of psychedelic substances; a not-so-subtle pair of bottoms with hidden pockets and embedded stretch called Psylocibin; a heavyweight belt with a magnetic buckle that name drops The Doors of Perception, a book about mescaline trips, author Aldous Huxley; and a Kangaroo pocket-equipped shirt that honors LSD creator and magic mushroom pioneer Albert Hofmann.
But don’t panic. The consumption of substances with mystical powers is not required — just clearly encouraged. “Whatever your trip is, we have the clothes and accessories that travel with you,” they say.
Mucha Carne
Mucha Carne
Mucha Carne
Mucha Carne
Mucha Carne
Mucha Carne
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There is no worse feeling than realizing your favorite sunglasses have run their course, but now with Tajima Direct, you can make your old favorites feel brand new again. California-based Tajima Direct provides premium polarized replacement lenses for a large collection of popular frames at a fraction of the cost of a new pair, so you don’t have to throw glasses away or buy a new pair when they get beat up. Each set of Tajima’s patented urethane replacement lenses are shatter- and impact-resistant, lightweight and offer high-quality optics, making them the ideal lens for all your outdoor adventures — whether you’re hiking, running, fishing or simply enjoying a walk on the beach. And if you have a pair of prescription frames that have seen better days, Tajima has a solution for that, too. The brand offers premium prescription lens replacements with its digital prescription lens technology, which are fabricated in its lab in southern California — each makes use of its polarized Tajima Urethane lens technology. But if you need other types of prescription lenses, Tajima Direct also offers Rx Clear and Transitions lenses. For a sustainable option that doesn’t sacrifice on performance, Tajima Direct’s replacement lenses are worth a shop.
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EcoFlow’s Delta Pro is a high-output 6000W portable home battery that gives you not just plenty of power but security & independence, too. It can power your home appliances, charge your EV, & offers fast-charging for all AC powered devices. The system is also expandable to link multiple units for more power & optional solar panels enable off-grid generation. A funded Kickstarter.
Fjorden is a tool that makes the most of your iPhone’s camera. It’s a comfy camera grip that not only feels right, it offers DSLR-like controls so you never miss the shot. Unlike the phone’s internal controls, Fjorden responds like a real camera. It features a 2-stage shutter button, custom control dial, multi-function button, and a zoom lever. All together, they give you unrivaled creative control. A funded Kickstarter.
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With fall coming, it’s time to start thinking about your upcoming wardrobe shift. While there are plenty of versatile options for layering weather, there is no denying that the classic style of the barn coat is suitable for the farm but is also a handsome sartorial choice, as adept in the city as it is toiling in the barn. Made from hardy canvas and lined with warm, soft flannel, the barn coat typically sits at mid-thigh length with deep pockets and a corduroy collar. Simply put, it’s a silhouette that will never go out of style.
Right now at Lands’ End, you can find one of these workwear icons for just $65 — 57 percent off the regular price. To get the deal, you just need the code FIREFLY. Along with the hard-wearing cotton canvas and warm flannel lining, you get the expected soft corduroy collar that keeps your neck comfortable and polyester-lined sleeves that make it easy to slip the coat on and off. Plus, you get pockets galore, ready to hold whatever you need to carry with you, whether tools for the day’s work or just your phone and wallet.
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You can never guess exactly what New York-based microbrand Brew‘s next watch will look like, but you can bet it’ll be original, well designed, retr0 in style, affordable and somehow linked to coffee culture. Sure enough the brand’s newest watch, called the Metric, is all of those things: a ’70s-inspired quartz chronograph with a unique look and accessible price of just $395. It’s about as hip a watch as you can get for the money.
Brew doesn’t really do traditionally round watches, and the Metric’s squarish case, bracelet style and asymmetric dial clearly reference a funky ’70s aesthetic. The Metric’s concept and functionality, however, draw more on the 1930s: specifically, watches that were designed to help you remember to add a coin when using a pay phone (remember those?). They did so with a chronograph (stopwatch) feature and markers on the dial at three minutes when your time would run out.
Because this is a 21st century watch, however — and the idea of putting a public payphone to your face sounds pretty gross — Brew has updated the concept to be relevant for modern, coffee-drinking urbanites. As with previous Brew watches, the telephone timer has been reimagined as an espresso timer with chronograph markings between 25 and 35 seconds — the exact length of the pull (depending on the individual barista and espresso machine). It also happens to offer a nicely symmetrical aesthetic.
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In addition to a vintage watch enthusiast’s eye for design and detail, Brew tends to offer the moderate case sizes that feel closer to watches of past decade as well on trend at the moment. (To be fair, Brew was early to the trend.) The Metric’s case is 36mm, with contrasting finishing that continues through to the bracelet, and it runs on a Seiko VK68 Meca-Quartz movement. Sapphire crystal and details like applied indices contribute to a higher-end feel despite its price.
The Brew Metric comes in two dial variations of white with blue highlights and a more colorful and ’70s-feeling black-dial version. Brew watches tend to sell out, so act soon if you want one. They’re available for order now on the brand’s website for $395, with shipping in late August 2021.
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This collaboration between Filson & Danner brings together a pair of iconic American brands for a pair of badass boots. The Trail 2650 is a mid-high hiker with the waterproof breathability of a Gore-Tex liner, OrthoLite insoles for comfort, and rugged upper for marathon mountain treks. Collab logos & branding looks solid while staying understated.
Welcome to Window Shopping, a weekly exercise in lusting over home products we want in our homes right the hell now. This week: machine-washable rugs, affordable furniture from Amazon and more.
Houseplant
Seth Rogen’s weed brand, Houseplant, refuses to stop making cool weed-adjacent products. Following up its art-like gravity bong, Houseplant made the Pocket Case for all your weed EDC needs. It’s shaped like a notebook, and it includes an integrated lighter for a convenient way to spark up. The Pocket Case also doubles as a cardholder so you can carry your cash and cards with you, too.
Price: $185
Revival
How often do you clean your rug? I’d bet it’s not very often. Revival, one of our favorite places to buy rugs online, just released its first collection of fully machine-washable rugs, and you wouldn’t guess it from looking at them. The 100-percent cotton rugs are light weight and durable, and while they can be thrown in the wash, they shouldn’t be put in the dryer. The Recess collection is available in 12 styles with sizes ranging from runners to area rugs.
Price: $129+
Amazon
Budget shoppers looking for decent furniture should check out Amazon, which has a shockingly decent selection of good-looking and affordable furniture. The latest addition to Amazon’s in-house brand of furniture is Harmati, which is sort of like a mishmash of mid-century designs with Scandinavian hygge. The new Atelier collection leans more boho chic, comprising a coffee table and side table. The pieces combine rounded wooden edges with rattan shelving, making for furniture that is as nice as they are functional.
Price: $70+
West Elm
Minted is an online marketplace that connects shoppers with independent artists, who lend their work to a number of products from prints to home decor. The website is bringing its art sensibilities to West Elm, with the two brands working on a collection that bring artist-designed textiles to West Elm’s furniture (with prints also available as wall art). Furniture ranges from ottomans to headboards and armchairs to room dividers.
Price: $48+
The Container Store
If you haven’t heard, organizational tools are hot right now, and there’s no better place to shop for storage solutions than The Container Store. The retailer has been working with high-profile organizational gurus — like Marie Kondo and The Home Edit — the latter of whom is back with a new collection for The Container Store by way of the brand iDesign. The collection comprises a bunch of wood-centric organizational tools from lazy Susans to drawer organizers. If your home’s looking a bit cluttered at the moment, the line is probably for you.
Price: $6+
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Naturally dyed garments are increasingly commonplace for fledgling and established brands alike. Older Brother uses kelp and algae from the coasts of Ireland and Argentina to make a pastel green button-up. Wellen dyes their T-shirts with pomegranate skins. Lululemon makes basic tees in colors created by plant waste from the agricultural and herbal industries. All of these are interesting, and dedicated, attempts at weaning their brands, and thus their customers, off petroleum-based dyes.
According to The World Bank, 20-percent of the world’s water pollution problem can be traced back to the textiles industry, which cites over 8,000 different chemicals in its dyeing processes. Seeing bigger brands take stabs at switching from less eco-conscious dyes to ones derived from plants, food, insects or roots and woods is a step. Each release is further proof that natural dye processes work. But vloggers, bloggers, and social media personalities, each eager to show how natural dyes work, are downplaying not only how hard it is to make them but use them, too.
Waxflower Dyeworks
Hannah Cornish Edelstein, a natural dyer, textile artist, and owner of Waxflower Dye Works, feels the art of natural dyeing faces ongoing misinformation issues. “There is a big problem in the natural dye world of folks being mislead into thinking they can easily make a permanent dye from their kitchen waste, and without proper fabric prep. Scouring and mordanting is essential,” she says. “Then, when their projects fail or fade very, very quickly, they assume that all natural dyes are like that — when they aren’t.”
Scouring: cleaning or preparing textiles with an abrasive tool or detergent
Colorfastness: how well a dye color holds up to repeated washing (wash-fastness) and exposure to natural light (lightfastness)
Mordanting: the process of soaking fibers in a metal salt in order to increase colorfastness and allow for dye molecules to form a permanent bond with the fiber.
Fugitive: dyes that are quickly degraded by everything from water, washing, and sunlight to just plain exposure to the air
WOF (Weight of Fiber): expressed as a percentage. Ex: Use yellow onion skins at 100% WOF means that if your fiber weighs 200g, you need to use 200g of onion skins
Natural dyeing a white cotton T-shirt isn’t as easy as boiling red onions, black beans, matcha powder, beets or blueberries in a vat of water, letting the mixture cool, dipping the T-shirt in, and letting it dry. In fact, there are far more steps — and only a shortlist of ingredients you should really use. Edelstein uses Madder Root to make red; Marigold for yellow; invasive insect Cochineal for a pinkish purple; and avocado pits for a pale pink. It’s the insects, plants, flowers, and foraged roots that work best, she says.
Waxflower Dyeworks
“To be honest, food and food waste are really poor sources of natural dyes. Chemistry is at the core of this craft, and it dictates which dyestuffs (sources of dye: plants, insects, etc) are and are not suitable for use in textiles,” Edelstein says. “The important thing to remember is that just because a food produces color doesn’t mean that color can be used as a dye. The colors you get from pretty much all foods and most flowers — those pretty blues/greens, purples, and reds/pinks from red cabbage, beets, black beans, and berries — are notoriously fugitive, meaning they don’t stick around. Fugitive colors are really not even dyes. They are stains, and they are temporary.”
Got that? No food or food waste (except for avocado pits). I know. That YouTube video on natural dye you just watched tricked you into thinking this whole experience would last about an hour. Wrong! Let Edelstein answer some of the questions I know you’re dying (get it?) to ask.
“The primary pigments in those foods are Anthocyanins. Most fruits, veggies, and flowers that are some shades of red, blue, or purple/black owe their color to Anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are not colorfast. They will fade or completely disappear very rapidly no matter what preparation you do to your fibers.
Natural dyers spend years researching chemistry, performing our own tests of colorfastness, and experimenting with preparation. We care about giving our craft a future, and we don’t recommend dyeing with kitchen waste unless you are looking for a temporary color — like a craft with kids where it doesn’t matter that the color disappears rapidly.”
Waxflower Dyeworks
“Anthocyanins are great for coloring food and can be used to dye things like Easter eggs, where longevity isn’t required… You can’t use rotten food, because the phytopigments have already begun to decay, so the results will be even more muddy and short-lived if any results are achieved at all.”
“If you are dead set on dyeing with food, you can get some nice shades of yellow, gold, or beige from things like yellow or brown onions and turmeric. Both of those are still relatively fugitive, but not nearly as bad as anthocyanin-based foods. Boiling 100 percent WOF (weight of fiber) of yellow or brown onion skins can create a vibrant yellow-gold color that can last anywhere from a few weeks or months to a year or more depending on the amount of washing and light exposure it gets. Turmeric is less stable and will fade with washing and exposure to air and light. But, both of these yellows will fade into paler yellows, which is the goal. You want a natural dye that fades into a paler, lighter shade of the original color — not something that goes grey.
Yellow/brown onion skins can contain, among other chemical compounds, Quercetin and Luteolin, which give [off] yellows and are more colorfast than anthocyanins. The same compounds are found in traditional dyestuffs like Weld and Oak.”
“It depends on what kind of fiber you are working with. Natural dyes can only be used on natural fibers: protein fibers like silk or wool or cellulosic (plant) fibers like cotton or hemp, or bast fibers like linen. Protein fibers are much easier to dye than cellulose fibers and require less prep. Silk, assuming it is already degummed to remove sericin, can be scoured using Orvus Paste Soap, or a very small amount of pH-neutral detergent like Synthrapol. Some say that degummed silk does not need to be scoured, but I always do it anyway to remove dirt and manufacturing residues.”
Waxflower Dyeworks
“Cotton always needs to be scoured to remove dirt, waxes, residues, etc. Cotton should be scoured in boiling water with 5-percent WOF (weight of fiber) Soda Ash and 1-2-percent pH neutral detergent (synthrapol). It should then be rinsed thoroughly, and repeated if the scour water was at all yellow or brown. Sometimes this must be done several times. If you don’t scour properly, it is like painting on a canvas covered in olive oil — nothing is going to stick to it.
After scouring, you need to mordant. Mordanting is the process of soaking fibers in a metal salt in order to increase colorfastness and allow for dye molecules to form a permanent bond with the fiber. Aluminum is the most common and most safe of all the metal mordants. Protein fibers are mordanted with Alum (Potassium Aluminum Sulfate, or pickling alum) at a rate of 15-percent WOF. Cotton is first soaked in a tannin bath, and then in Aluminum Acetate (AA). Using AA alone on cotton is okay, but the tannin step is recommended to help the AA bind to the cotton fibers. Tannin has a natural affinity for cellulosic fibers, and aids in creating the strong molecular bond we are after.”
“Natural fibers are the only kind that will even accept natural dyes. Synthetics like nylon or polyester are not dyeable with natural dyes. It just won’t color at all. The exception is Viscose (rayon), which is a semi-synthetic fiber manufactured with regenerated cellulose (wood pulp, etc). So while it is technically man-made, it is done so with cellulosic (plant-based) materials and can be dyed using a cellulose method. Same with bast fibers like flax.”
Waxflower Dyeworks
“Protein fibers (from animals) like wool and silk are the easiest to dye, and what most natural dyers work with. They are easier because dye molecules have a greater affinity for protein fibers — they molecularly bond better — than they have for cellulosic fibers. Silk and wool present their own challenges when it comes to being more delicate to handle, more susceptible to damage from high temperatures or temperature shock, and with wool [especially], you have to be super careful not to agitate it when wet or it will felt (why sweaters shrink in the washer/dryer).”
“The most common mistake is trying to take shortcuts. Natural dyeing has been documented and practiced for thousands of years. If there were any shortcuts, we would have found them by now. That’s why synthetic dyes were invented — scalability and speed.
Natural dyeing is not fast, and it isn’t really a rainy day activity. The simplified versions of natural dyeing aren’t really dyeing. It is basically just staining, in which case you are better off just pouring red wine on your shirt and saving yourself the hassle of extracting the same color from a food. Natural dyeing done properly takes many many hours of preparation and a lot of research — and trial and error. There aren’t any shortcuts.”
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Everything you need to know about the most popular bourbon whiskey on shelves today. This time: Eagle Rare, Buffalo Trace’s ultimate gateway bourbon.
Eagle Rare is a low-rye, low-proof bourbon made at Buffalo Trace’s Frankfort, Kentucky distillery. It’s aged for 10 years before bottling, and belongs to the Mashbill #1 family of bourbons at Buffalo Trace; which includes the likes of E.H. Taylor Small Batch, Stagg Jr., the distillery’s namesake bourbon and others. The whiskey has won numerous awards, and remains one of the most popular premium American whiskeys in the world. Because of the mechanized single barrel bottling process, it’s neither a vatted small batch bourbon nor a single barrel product, technically speaking. It’s also the foundation to collector favorites Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old and Double Eagle Very Rare.
Sazerac, Buffalo Trace’s parent company, has owned the brand since 1989 and, apart from a short period of sourcing whiskey for the label after its initial purchase, has been producing Eagle Rare from its Frankfort, Kentucky distillery since (known as the George T. Stagg distillery, later renamed Buffalo Trace Distillery).
Before 1989, it was made by Seagram’s at the Spanish Mission-style Lawrenceville, Kentucky distillery of Four Roses. Created by Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame inductee Charles L. Beam in 1975, it was one of the last new, premium bourbon brands introduced before the market for less premium spirits forced many bourbon makers to change tack.
Eagle Rare is distributed to all 50 states, but it, like all Buffalo Trace-made bourbons, is available on allocation only. This means that stores only receive a certain number of cases of Eagle Rare, rather than have their stocks replenished on demand or when supplies are low. To find a bottle, our advice is to become a consistent patron at a local spirits shop and build a relationship with the staff. Knowing when bottles might show up is half the battle.
A combination of factors. First, it is an allocated spirit, meaning Eagle Rare will never reach equilibrium. It’s also a premium bourbon produced by Buffalo Trace Distillery, which, even if the whiskey inside the bottle were average, adds a layer of shine for bourbon drinkers. Above all, though, Eagle Rare is exceptional whiskey and fills out the scorecard like few others can: affordable, well-aged, low-proof, award-winning. Its low-rye mash keeps the whiskey on the softer side, and the drinkable 90 bottling proof and 10 years spent in a barrel make it a crowd pleaser.
Speaking about whiskey price in terms of a bottle’s suggested retail price is naive at this point, but, unlike some of the obscene gaps between real-world bottle value and MSRP (looking at you, Weller) Eagle Rare’s $30 SRP and roughly $50 shelf price isn’t too bad.
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Too much of the time, underwear is an overlooked part of the wardrobe. Relegated to the backs of dark dresser drawers and thoughtlessly shuffled on every morning, it suffers from neglect: maybe you’re stuck in a rut, busy with life or spending money elsewhere. It happens. But, refreshing your underwear is as important as buying a new toothbrush. What’s more, the new set provides comfortability and looks quite good (especially compared to those you’ve owned for the better part of a decade). Switching them out will make you feel better, too. I promise.
Here’s an important tip, by the way. Just because you’re swapping out old pairs doesn’t mean you need to replace them with the same style from the same brand. There are numerous styles and countless options available in fabrics like cotton, merino wool and high-performance synthetics out there, from brands both new and old. But, before you begin comparing things like stretchiness, softness, and shape, learn the basic styles first, because it’s easy to call one pair one thing when it’s really something else: aka when you broadly call a style boxers when they’re actually boxer briefs.
Briefs might be considered the most practical underwear due to their supportive fit, non-creeping tendencies, breathable cotton fabric and no-nonsense waistband. And there’s nothing inherently wrong with white cotton, but there’s a range of colors and patterns available depending on your taste. Other options are made with odor-fighting merino wool, cooling bamboo fibers and breathable synthetics — all worth a look.
In the mid-’90s, John Varvatos — then the head of menswear design at Calvin Klein — invented the boxer brief. This brilliant melding of boxer shorts and traditional briefs boasts the support of briefs while providing additional length in the leg for more coverage. The hybrid style is both comfortable, supportive and flattering.
Trunk briefs toe the line between traditional briefs and boxer briefs. Longer than the former and shorter than the latter, they essentially have the same cut as Sean Connery’s swim trunks in Goldfinger, hence the name. Again, because they’re a bit longer than the traditional brief, they appear more modern than traditional briefs. Definitely geared more for the athletically focused, they’re supportive without feeling restrictive in the upper leg.
Boxer shorts were designed to provide the same freedom of movement as shorts worn by boxers. Typically made of materials like cotton and silk, the only restrictive part of this underwear is the elastic waistband — the rest of the boxers are designed to fit loosely. They’re an incredibly comfortable option that’s become one of the staples.
Long underwear doesn’t just come in waffle-knit cotton. In fact, newer styles are made with a host of new fabrics suited for everyday wear and athletic endeavors. Appropriate for the coldest months, long underwear is a necessary base layer to keep you comfortable — styles are available from both performance and heritage brands.
Easy, right? Right. Truly a breeze to remember, but it’s also important to remind yourself that there are other brands out there, too, not just shapes. It might be hard to kick your Champion, Fruit of the Loom, Ethika, or Hanes habit, but you can do it. Ditch the scratchy cotton in favor of softer, moisture-wicking alternatives. It’s worth it!
Here are the brands — from acceptable classics like Calvin Klein to sustainable upstarts like Sir Cadian — making the best men’s underwear.
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For fans of extreme off-road action, the LEGO Technic 4×4 Mercedes-Benz Zetros Trial Truck is not just a mean RC machine, it’s a big build. With 2110 pieces, builders get 4 functioning doors and hood, independent 4-wheel suspension and other real-deal features. Once built, connect 6 AA batteries and use the LEGO Technic app & bluetooth control to drive this dirt-blasting Benz!
