http://www.psfk.com Your Go-To Source For New Ideas And Inspiration Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:00:27 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.psfk.com/2009/05/teenagers-hug-more-often-prove-life-is-indeed-good.html Thu, 28 May 2009 03:43:22 +0000 An article in The New York Times today highlights the increasing tendency of teenagers to greet each other by hugging, to the bewilderment of their parents, who are more accustomed to handshakes. Not just limited to family, good friends, and lovers, hugging has become a standard way to say hi in high school hallways. There are even distinct varieties of hug: There is the basic friend hug, probably the most popular, and the bear hug, of course. But now there is also the bear claw, when a boy embraces a girl awkwardly with his elbows poking out. There is theRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/05/zaha-hadid-lacoste.html Mon, 11 May 2009 12:00:44 +0000 The anticipated collaboration between architect Zaha Hadid and sportswear brand Lacoste has finally taken shape, and it doesn’t disappoint. The shoes, rubberized structures that wrap around the leg (angle high for men and calf high for women) are as conceptual and beautiful as Hadid’s architectural creations themselves. [via WWD - subscription req'd]]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/05/how-to-make-cooking-fun.html Wed, 06 May 2009 03:10:06 +0000 It’s hard to get kids to see the joy in cooking when they could just drive through McDonald’s and get a happy meal with a toy for no effort whatsoever. In Japan, there are whole lines of entertaining cooking tools that are great for even big people taking on the skillet. CScout Japan profiles several of them, including a sushi roller, a mini sandwich maker, and one fun contraption that looks like a game of Mouse Trap: Somen (thin noodles eaten chilled during the summer months), when served nagashi-style, are sent down a bamboo chute. During the course of theRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/05/where-the-wild-things-are-figurines.html Tue, 05 May 2009 02:43:10 +0000 There is a ton of anticipation over Spike Jonze’s upcoming reimagining of the classic children’s book Where the Wild Things Are, and now enthusiasts can own a little piece of the magic. Medicom has produced a set of Where the Wild Things Are figurines, including a range of wild things creatures as well as the hero Max himself. The vinyl toys will be available in Fall 2009 – just in time for the movie release. [via Hypebeast]]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/05/32514.html Fri, 01 May 2009 20:04:51 +0000 Muji art director Kenya Hara, who says he doesn’t design things, but rather happiness, talks about the concept of emptiness. [via Influx Insights]]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/04/wine-that-wants-to-be-judged-by-its-label.html Fri, 01 May 2009 03:04:37 +0000 The fashion designer who brought “trucker chic” to the mainstream is now producing wine – and sources say it might actually be quite good. Ed Hardy is known mainly for loud, graffitied t-shirts, trucker hats, and jeans worn by the likes of Britney Spears (and her kids), but designer Christian Audigier is now betting that his very recognizable brand will help push bottles too. [via Luxist]]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/04/payless-puts-one-green-foot-forward.html Wed, 15 Apr 2009 03:24:58 +0000 The newest mainstream company to put on its green thumb is Payless, which has just brought organic shoe line zoe&zac to shelves. Following its string of extremely successful designer collaborations over the past few years, hopefully this will be one more step toward mainstreaming ethically sound consumerism. [via Racked via Fashion Herald]]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/04/kidrobot-summer-09-is-nouveau-punk.html Wed, 08 Apr 2009 01:25:37 +0000 Sure it looks a lot like BAPE or a Kanye West album cover, but that’s what the kids want this summer. And we actually like how wearable and unpretentious Kidrobot‘s new “KidPunk” line is, even if they do describe it as “combining 80′s punk edginess with KidRobot fun.” [via STREEThing]]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/03/vice-mag-my-citys-hotter-than-your-city.html Tue, 31 Mar 2009 02:25:50 +0000 As we mentioned, the Vice Magazine fashion issue (pig and all) has hit the streets and as always, it’s a great read. In their city-vs.-city matchup, the magazine makes some bold claims about what’s in and what’s out across the globe. In a nutshell, it boils down to this: Girls in NYC are sluts; boys are rockabilly In Stokholm the boys are Xanax incarnate; girls don’t care In Barcelona boys are dressing like girls and girls are dressing like boys Melbourne boys are dressing up in a retro kind of way, and the girls are just copying years’ old trendsRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/03/vice-fashion-issue.html Thu, 26 Mar 2009 02:26:13 +0000 There is so much serious, snooty editorial about fashion, we always appreciate when Vice comes out with its Fashion issue. Their most recent is no different. From the interview which hails Kai Kühne as a renegade fashion star before getting him to admit that he doesn’t understand fashion, to the article which claims in all seriousness that epaulettes (those ornament-like shoulder accessories on army uniforms) are the future of fashion, to the amazing cover featuring a wild pig (see above), the whole thing is a breath of fresh air. Vice Magazine: The Fashion Issue 2009]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/03/stella-mccartney-boot-tights.html Tue, 24 Mar 2009 01:42:54 +0000 In this economy, some women may be looking for ways to feel more powerful when they get dressed in the morning. These boots by Stella McCartney are a sure bet.]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/03/feel-the-movies-like-when-jackie-chan-kicks-you-in-the-chest.html Tue, 24 Mar 2009 01:39:19 +0000 The movies aren’t usually considered a sensory experience, despite several historical attempts at scented cinema dating back to 1916. But soon you may be able to actually feel what’s going on in the movies – perhaps a Michael Bay explosion or an Angelina Jolie drop kick…or even better, to experience a real emotional reaction based not just on what you’re seeing in a movie, but on on actual physical stimulus. Researchers at Phillips Electronics just debuted a jacket lined with 64 vibration motors at the 2009 World Haptics Conference. As described by Paul Lemmens, a Philips senior scientist, the jacketRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/03/bulletproof-handkerchief-for-paranoid-gangsters.html Thu, 12 Mar 2009 02:59:15 +0000 Or for anyone else who wants to look sharp without compromising their safety, really. The maker of the cool man’s Snuggie, the Blankoat, has now come out with a bulletproof handkerchief dubbed The Damned, made from “lemon Military Grade Ballistic Strength Aramid Fibre – to protect the hearts of men.” Sruli Recht]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/03/buy-designer-do-good-at-new-paris-store.html Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:58:25 +0000 If you still have the disposable income to buy Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and Stella McCartney, you might also want to buy a plane ticket to Paris and visit a new store in the Marais called Merci. The shop is the brainchild of high-end childrenswear designers Bonpoint, who decided to use their fashion industry muscles to do a little good in the world. They’ve stocked their store with custom pieces by some of the world’s most coveted designers, donating 100% of the profit to a children’s cause in Madagascar (does anyone know which one? Would love a link). We loveRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/03/toms-shoes-blake-mycoskie-talks-to-psfk.html Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:42:09 +0000 The one-for-one model isn’t working so well for OLPC, but it’s doing wonders for a small company called TOMS Shoes, which donates one pair of shoes for every pair sold. The shoes have a distinctly traditional look to them (they’re modeled after the traditional Argentinian alpargata, a simple slip-on canvas shoe), but they’ve certainly crossed over into the mainstream. As TOMS preps to launch its most recent design collaboration with Element Skateboards, PSFK talks to founder Blake Mycoskie about where the company came from, and where it’s going. What was your original inspiration for TOMS and how did you turnRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/03/minnetonka-moccasins-are-back.html Wed, 04 Mar 2009 03:04:11 +0000 Just in time for summer (or at least in time to long for summer as the snow continues to fall) the old 80′s staple Minnetonka Moccasins are back. Possibly to replace the ubiquitous ballet slippers of the past several years. Tobi]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/02/creativity-to-trump-finance-in-uk-marketplace.html Wed, 25 Feb 2009 04:41:32 +0000 According to the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA), creative professions will soon outstrip the financial sector in the UK. The organization’s research indicates that by 2013, the creative industry, which includes film, music, fashion, TV and video games production, will employ 1.3 million people – or 100,000 more people than the financial industry – growing at an average of 4% annually, more than double that of the national economy. [via Dexigner and Brand Republic] [image via Vizrt]]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/02/ny-fashion-week-mens-roundup.html Tue, 24 Feb 2009 12:24:55 +0000 Valet Mag has a nice visual spread of the best men’s collections from the recently wrapped up New York Fashion Week. Most notable trend seems to be the lack of consistency between one show and the next, with style trends hardly discernable. Marc Jacobs played it retro with quirky additions and something of a hip hop vibe. Rag and Bone went simple and clean in shades of black and grey. And Ducky Brown seemed uncharacteristically deconstructed, more like something you’d see from Comme des Garcons. Valet Mag: The Fashion Week Spectrum]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/02/amidst-recession-diesel-goes-big-on-5th-ave.html Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:30:17 +0000 Diesel has just opened its largest store ever on Fifth Avenue in NYC, an event obviously several years in the making, but which comes at a time when brands are canceling their runway shows and store closures are a dime a dozen. Diesel’s new store boasts “over 700 different denim styles and washes on every floor” and it makes you think if this store is going to be able to move all that merchandise, or if it’s just a brand play that will have residual effects on worldwide sales. Maybe even more interesting, the window displays at Diesel Planet, asRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/02/the-snuggie-goes-avant-garde-the-blankoat.html Tue, 03 Feb 2009 04:04:23 +0000 The Snuggie is a simple fleece blanket with arm holes, perfect for reading, easy remote control handling, or dog petting without catching a draft.  Launched nationally in October, the Snuggie has already sold over 4 million units (in the middle of the worst economy since The Great Depression) according to Ad Age. Clever and comfortable in design as it is, the Snuggie is not for everyone. Aesthetics aside (although aesthetics are sure to turn off many), the Snuggie is made of “super soft, luxurious fleece” – probably not the most sustainable material, nor the highest quality. Enter the Blankoat, aRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/01/spoonflower-a-new-service-for-crafty-types.html Thu, 22 Jan 2009 08:53:52 +0000 Spoonflower is a newish company that let’s you design your own custom fabric and order by the yard (swatches available for just $5, too), allowing anyone to create objects using textiles they design on their own. Seems like a no brainer for the crafting community, and provides an exciting new option for anyone who simply wants a new set of curtains and can’t find exactly the right pattern to match their home’s decor. The site even offers rudimentary community elements like a Flickr pool and a featured fabric of the week, a bit of inspiration for those just looking toRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/01/jurors-as-artists-web-as-art-gallery.html Thu, 08 Jan 2009 01:29:39 +0000 The American Gallery of Juror Art is a ramshackle website that features a kind of art you’re not likely to see anywhere else. Flip through the many pages of doodles made by bored jurors while some trial lawyer was attempting to prove probable cause, and you’ll soon be fascinated not only by the beautiful art, but by the moments they capture. What would cause one man to sketch portraits of his fellow jurors, and describe their personalities and life stories in intricate detail? [A]s I completed my first jury experience, I wanted to document what I considered to be theRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2009/01/more-designers-opting-out-of-runway-shows.html Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:26:36 +0000 As we reported back in September, there’s suddenly a whole new world out there to fashion designers who may not have the cash or the desire to stage an expensive runway show. The pervasiveness of the web and accessibility of high quality multimedia equipment/tools have made it possible for designers to reach a much wider audience at a lower cost, both to the environment and to their bank accounts. For a while, this practice of shunning the catwalk was limited to underground, avant garde designers constrained by small budgets. But by the end of 2008, more and more mainstream fashionRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/12/fashions-low-risk-strategy-in-2008.html Tue, 30 Dec 2008 05:02:27 +0000 Eric Wilson writes an interesting piece in last week’s New York Times, “Change? It Wasn’t in Fashion” pointing out how in 2008, compared to the topsy turvy year in the American political arena, the fashion industry was decidedly more cautious (or in his words, stubborn). Marc Jacobs revived designs from earlier collaborations with Murakami and Steven Sprouse, even marketing them with tried and true imagery. Models from the 1990s are making a comeback. Trends which have been around for way too long (they are trends after all, meaning they’re supposed to shift and morph with significant timeliness) just won’t goRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/12/diy-projects-for-wearable-technology.html Tue, 16 Dec 2008 03:13:08 +0000 Craft:, the project-based magazine which helps regular people accomplish both simple and daring feats of DIY, has just published a book that brings the do-it-yourself spirit to fashion technology. A quickly growing field, fashion technology can range anywhere from solar powered jackets to skirts laced with location-sensitive LED lights to rings that display your Google rank. The book, Fashioning Technology: A DIY Intro to Smart Crafting, is written by artist, roboticist, and teacher Syuzi Pakhchyan, and apparently the projects are easy enough (and the instructions clear enough) that there’s no need for any prior tech or electronics knowledge. Here areRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/12/entermodal-pop-up-factory.html Wed, 10 Dec 2008 03:56:18 +0000 Chic leather goods brand Entermodal is bringing a new kind of pop-up shop to NYC this holiday season. The company is shipping designers, production team, and workstation from Portland to the ODIN New York store in Soho for a three day event during which you can see the team at work, buy original items, and get a look at the first release of Entermodal’s Spring 2009 collection. If you’re in the area, check it out at ODIN, 199 Lafayette Street, from December 12-14.]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/12/jeff-staple-for-payless.html Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:09:53 +0000 The collaborations never seem to end – but that’s ok, most of the time they add a bit of interest to an otherwise all too boring retail industry. Especially this time. Friend of PSFK Jeff Staple has just announced that he will be designing an exclusive Airwalk collection for Payless. The affordable shoe store has been experimenting successfully with designer collabs in recent years, including putting out twelve original street and skate styles for Airwalk per season. Staples’ line will launch at about 400 Payless stores in Fall ’09, and will retail at $50. via Racked]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/12/wear-lyrics-on-your-tee-with-identitee.html Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:54:32 +0000 Monday saw the launch of i/denti/tee, a new line of t-shirts that allows music lovers to express their passion for music by wearing their favorite lyrics on their chest. Partnerships with Apple iTunes and Edun Live (the environmentally responsible clothing line founded by Bono and his wife Ali Hewson) cover legal issues from the music side and sourcing issues from the product side. Tees are supplied by Edun, which employs a “grow-to-sew” model: from the cotton to the spinning process to the sewing, all is done in sub-Saharan Africa. Lyrics are “supplied,” so to speak, by iTunes. All lyrics haveRead more...]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/12/the-hundreds-x-disney.html Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:25:13 +0000 Upstart streetwear brands have been coopting the likenesses of animated characters, specifically Disney characters, for decades. So it’s really interesting to hear that The Hundreds will be collaborating with The Walt Disney Company on a limited run collection. The LA and SF shops have already been made over with the Disney collection – anyone in the area who’s been to the stores, let us know what you find. via STREEThing The Hundreds blog]]> http://www.psfk.com/2008/11/obey-launches-website-and-e-commerce.html Tue, 25 Nov 2008 03:54:47 +0000 The clothing company founded by renowned street artist Shepard Fairey has just launched a new website and online store. And they’re not just selling stylized Obama t-shirts (a good thing since it seems nearly everyone already has one already). OBEY Clothing features smart bomber jackets, jeans, scarves, windbreakers, accessories, etc. The website offers much more – something of a window into the life of the artist, featuring photos, images, info about the causes he supports, places on his radar (like the campy Clifton’s Cafeteria), bios of likeminded artists and designers, and, of course, a blog. via URB Magazine]]>