Craig Richardson’s weblog, guestbook, database of music and collections of writings

Among felt molds, colorful ribbons and other bits of visual stimuli found at the Viennese workshop of Mühlbauer, the family-owned hat-makers that goes back three generations, I was particularly taken by the ad campaigns lining the halls. Spanning the decades with smart depictions of stylish women wearing hats, the colors, compositions and aesthetics of the vintage ads are like a walk through a history...

Josh Rubin: Coolhunting

With the automobile industry in crisis, it's refreshing to see steps in the right direction like Volkswagen's new Clean Diesel Technology. Their most recent model to incorporate such emission- and pollution-lowering technology is the lean and mean Touareg V6 TDI. Representing a new generation of economical and low emission SUVs, Volkswagon proves once again why they're leaders in the industry. The new Touareg, available...

Josh Rubin: Coolhunting

For an unconventional New Year's toast, we can't think of a better option than Marumoto Brewery's Hou Hou Shu, a sparkling unfiltered Junmaishu sake. Tim and I first sampled it when we visited NYC's tofu restaurant Kyotofu and loved the light, slightly sweet flavor and gentle, natural carbonation which makes for a drinking experience very similar to champagne. At only 6% alcohol, the fruity...

Josh Rubin: Coolhunting

With the ever-increasing popularity of fast fashion and the "one day it's in the next day it's out" attitude, it's refreshing to see that thoughtful boutiques bearing items of timeless design still exist. This is the premise behind Totokaelo, an e-commerce site that just finished their brick-and-mortar location in the historic Maritime building in downtown Seattle. Like its sister store Impulse, one of Seattle's...

Josh Rubin: Coolhunting

Helen Rödel is positively masterful at knitwear. The crocheted dresses made under her signature Rödel Latin America line are carefully constructed by hand, with no help or finishes done by a sewing machine whatsoever. This obvious dedication to quality that is only surpassed by the design of the dresses themselves is what makes her one of the most promising underground designers in Brazil I've...

Josh Rubin: Coolhunting

A new solo exhibition by James Clar in conjunction with the Festival of Light, "Portal" is an installation on display at the Roger Tator Galerie in Lyon, France. Portal consists of a diffuser screen that acts as an abstract doorway with lines of light that travel back and forth through it, bouncing around the room. As a doorway represents the transition from one space...

Josh Rubin: Coolhunting

Adding to the list of São Paulo's top 2008 success stories, the duo behind the Freakstyle street fashion blog and sought-after B.Luxo Vintage store have just opened another boutique, this time under a strictly conceptual guise. The idea is that they pick out only a handful of national apparel and accessories designers—like Rödel LA and Andre Lacerdo—who aren't selling in any other stores, as...

Josh Rubin: Coolhunting

It was such a thrill stumbling across the blog of U.K. illustrator Lisa Evans. I was in the Nordstrom department store with my mom over Thanksgiving, admiring the annual Christmas displays, as I do every year. Nordstrom has always had a fantastic tradition of using wonderful illustrators more often than not. And this year I was loving the cute bird theme that kept popping...

Josh Rubin: Coolhunting

As the holidays get closer and closer, online orders may no longer be an option—not to mention that the best way to support your local workers in our increasingly flagging is to shop local. Luckily there are plenty of options included in the 2008 Cool Hunting Gift Guide that are available nationally at Brick and Mortar Stores. American Apparel With tons of colorful basics...

Josh Rubin: Coolhunting

Of streetwear pioneer Alife's many 2008 accomplishments—which include fresh collaborations (see their Lacoste Polos and the Parra x Patta sneaker for a couple of our favorites) and stores opening in Tokyo and Los Angeles—what might be the most significant for the seven-year-old brand is the introduction of their new NYC retail location, the A.R.C. Sports Store. Opened Monday directly across the street from their...

Josh Rubin: Coolhunting