This year’s red carpet for the Cannes Film Festival might as well turn green. In a collaboration with the Alliance for Responsible Mining, the sculptor of Cannes’ iconic and prestigious Golden Palm trophy, Chopard, will present a line of sustainable and ethical gold jewelry. Celebutantes all dolled up for the festival can have piece of mind sporting Chopard’s jewels, which sources gold from small, environmentally sound mines in Colombia and Ecuador.

Read the rest of Livia Firth, Chopard Unveil Ethical Jewelry Collaboration at Cannes

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Extruded plastic baubles not your thing? Rapid-prototype firm Hot Pop Factory just unveiled the world’s first three-dimensionally printed wooden necklaces. Named after the northern forest, the limited-edition “Boreal” collection, uses recycled cherrywood filaments instead of the typical powdered nylon. Mixed with a binding polymer, the material even emanates the “slightest scent of charred wood” during the 42-minute printing process, according to founders Matt Compeau and Bi-Ying Miao, who use a Makerbot Replicator for their fabrications. The resulting curvature and heat-induced striations, much like fingerprints or the rings of a tree, are unique to each individual piece.

ORGANIC TECHNOLOGY

Their texture may be more plywood than hardwood, but the organic nature of the necklaces is no less compelling. “These pieces take advantage of cutting-edge technology while maintaining a subtle and sophisticated aesthetic,” the duo tells Ecouterre.

The sinuous planks boast an uneven “grain” that belies their industrial origin.

Strung up on either gold-filled or sterling silver chains, sinuous planks even boast an uneven “grain” that belies their industrial origin. Hot Pop Factory isn’t kidding about the exclusiveness of each item, either. Once a particular design is sold, it’s gone forever.

+ Boreal Necklace $132-$157

+ Hot Pop Factory ]]> http://www.ecouterre.com/hot-pop-factory-debuts-worlds-first-3d-printed-wooden-jewelry/feed/ 0 http://www.ecouterre.com/buy-one-of-activysts-l-a-made-gym-bags-help-a-girl-play-sports/ http://www.ecouterre.com/buy-one-of-activysts-l-a-made-gym-bags-help-a-girl-play-sports/#comments Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:00:40 +0000 Kirin Rinehart http://www.ecouterre.com/?p=79801
Read the rest of Buy One of Activyst’s L.A.-Made Gym Bags, Help a Girl Play Sports © Ecouterre, 2013. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us]]>

Read the rest of Buy One of Activyst’s L.A.-Made Gym Bags, Help a Girl Play Sports

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Actress and fashion icon Halle Berry has teamed up with star designer Michael Kors in a battle against world hunger. The duo have designed a pair of watches for Kors’ campaign “Watch Hunger Stop.” Proceeds from each big-faced watch will provide 100 meals for children through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).

Much like Lauren Bush Lauren’s popular FEED campaign, Watch Hunger Stop helps consumers equate luxury goods with actual meals. This transparency helps consumers feel at ease when supporting a charitable cause, by giving hard facts on what their contribution purchase will bring to a person in need.

The WFP is focused on providing meals to specifically women and children in developing countries, providing the building blocks for families and communities to thrive. To promote their collaboration, Kors and Berry will also help raise additional funds through a series of events to bring awareness to the cause.

Kors only joined up with WFP in January of this year, and has already shown his commitment to making a difference with his designs and influence. Although the two Watch Hunger Stop designs by Berry and Kors won’t be revealed until later this Spring, fans can sign up to pre-order the time pieces on Kors’ website. For every watch sold, Kors will donate $25 to WFP.

+ Watch Hunger Stop

+ UN World Food Programme

[Via Associated Press]

Photo by cinemafestival/Shutterstock

Uber-activist Angelina Jolie plans to open another girls school in Afghanistan, funded by a new jewelry line that will be available this week. Called “Style of Jolie,” Angelina herself had a hand in designing the wares, along with jewelry designer Robert Procop. Sales from the anticipated line will help educate the 200-300 Afghani girls that are enrolled in the school that opened last November, with plans to open more schools in the near future.

PREVIOUSLY ON ECOUTERRE: Angelina Jolie’s Conflict-Free Diamond Ring Not So Conflict-Free After All?

Photo by Featureflash/Shutterstock

Jolie partnered up with Procop after meeting him when he designed the engagement ring given to her by Brad Pitt last April. Together, the two have designed a line of jewelry partially inspired by jewels that the actress has worn herself, including a black and gold necklace she donned at the premier of “Salt.” Style of Jolie will also include other fine jewelry such as a cushion cut black necklace, an oversized pear shaped citrine necklace and other rings, earrings and bracelets and will kick off sales on April 4^th.

Profits from the collaboration will benefit Education Partnership for Children in Conflict, a charity founded by Jolie in 2010. Jolie, a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, has already opened two schools for girls in Afghanistan, in areas with high refugee populations.

Jolie and Procop’s altruistic and elegant line will be available first at Kansas City retailer, Tivol, starting this Thursday.

+ Style of Jolie

+ Robert Procop

[Via Reuters]

Google will be manufacturing its “Glass” eyewear in Silicon Valley, a move that the Financial Times hails as a “high-profile example of the return of electronics manufacturing to the U.S.” The technology giant will be working with Hon Hai Precision Industry, the Taiwanese firm better known as Foxconn, to assemble the futuristic eyewear at a facility in Santa Clara in California. Tim Bradshaw reports that only a few thousand of the devices will roll off the factory line in the coming weeks, compared with the millions of Apple products Foxconn typically cranks out in China.

PREVIOUSLY ON ECOUTERRE: Google is Recruiting “Glass Explorers” to Test-Drive Its Headset

CALIFORNIA-MADE

“Manufacturing locally will allow Google’s engineers to be closely involved with the production process and provide more opportunities for last-minute fixes and for personal customization,” Bradshaw writes. “Such moves may also blaze a trail for Silicon Valley’s resurgent community of hardware start-ups, which remain largely reliant on cheaper offshore manufacturing.”

Google announced on Wednesday that it has selected the 8,000 people who will be allowed to buy a test version of Glass.

Google announced on Wednesday that it has selected the 8,000 people who will be allowed to preorder a test version of Glass for $1,500 apiece. The company began notifying the winners on Tuesday.

[Via the Financial Times]

Photos by Steve De Neef

Would you be surprised to find jewelry designers living off a city dump?  Well, meet the women of Lumago Designs, a jewelry company that turns trash to treasure, puts the profit in the right pockets, and is run by a group of women who live off the Dumaguete City dumpsite in the Philippines.Not only do the women of Lumago Designs create bold pieces that any stylish eco-girl would love; they do it with the best of intentions. They buy their upcycled materials from the locals who scavenge the dumpsite, sell their jewelry for reasonable prices, and return the collective profits to the community.

Its current jewelry line is made from polished pull-tabs from cans, patterned fabric from discarded clothes, soft leather from old purses, recycled bamboo, and torn out magazine pages.

Lumago Designs is the co-creation of the Lumago Ladies, a self-run women’s co-operative, and Whitney Fleming, who runs the business end of Lumago. Ecouterre spoke to Whitney Fleming on her the importance of community control in making development programs like this one a sustainable force.

Fleming told us that the purpose of Lumago Designs was not initially to make fabulous jewelry, but to find ways to create more funding for the dumpsite community. After starting a community-run soup kitchen for school children there (ASK), Whitney began brainstorming with its participants.

At first they decided she would sell paper-bead necklaces to a nearby resort. “I was so humbled by their drive, determination and creative talents,” says Whitney. “One day I showed up to buy ten necklaces and there were one hundred to choose from. I started to cry, knowing how much they wanted this, and I knew at that moment that we could build something amazing together.”

As a result of their collaboration, Lumago Designs now ships its pieces around the world, and the Lumago Ladies see the profits. In a community where most people live off the dump and the average income is $45 a month, the profits from their jewelry go a long way.  Whitney explains, “The Lumago Ladies Co-operative holds shares in Lumago Designs, and these profits are voted on within the co-op and dispersed to one of the following categories: health care, education or entrepreneurial ventures. We all meet weekly to discuss any problems that may arise, and everything is done with voting and open forum. With as much hardship as the community faces, they fight back with a sense of happiness and joy for life that captured my heart.”

Whitney can’t contain her excitement at providing a flourishing example of a community driven, for-profit business model, which she believes is the best way to create a sustained impact in an impoverished community.  “These women are capable, productive and creative.   What they lack is opportunity. They never came to me and asked me for handouts– they were searching for what we all often are, a hand up. Offering that hand up does not have to mean sacrificing your own opportunities.”

“The business world is starting to see a triple bottom line: people, planet, and profit, and Lumago Designs is damn proud to be a part of the movement.”

+ Lumago Designs

Photos by Gosia Janik y Fernando Ocaña

Like something out a Terry Gilliam film, FEEAS jewelry by Remedios Vincent creates jewelry from antique medical instruments, porcelain figures, and prosthetics. Drawn to objects that have to do with the human body and its improvement, he chooses each piece for its beauty, longevity, and ability to make a statement about he current state of planned obsolescence in fashion. With his motto, “made to dislike”, Vincent’s work stirs feelings of morbid fascination through eyelash encrusted glasses, false eye rings, and broaches spangled with teeth. More than just a way to repurpose aging, outdated medical technology and discarded toys, FEEAS jewelry uses historical context and craft to comment on the lack of quality and skill we find in current industry-driven style.

Read the rest of Artist Upcycles Vintage Teeth, Prosthetic Eyes Into Macabre Accessories

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Photos by Fabrice Ziegler

With their often extravagant forms, perfume bottles are collectors’ pieces in their own right. So why throw them away when their aromatic cargo runs dry? Luis Teixeira didn’t. The Portuguese designer gave hundreds of perfume-bottle tops a new lease on life by recycling them into an eclectic array of rings. Comprising 360 different designs, each one representing a “degree of a circle meaning the complete turn of the recycling,” Teixeira’s “Lust” collection includes only a single ring base. Thanks to a system of magnets, the wearer is able to swap tops at will, creating what Teixeira describes as a “change-and-go facility.”

Read the rest of Luis Teixeira Recycles Perfume Bottle Caps Into Interchangeable Rings

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GUCCI’S BETTER LEATHER

Thanks to the involvement of the National Wildlife Federation, which verified the collection’s extensive chain of custody, the bags are the world’s first leather products to earn the moniker “deforestation-free.”

The Gucci for the Green Carpet Challenge leather handbags are the world’s first to earn the moniker “deforestation-free.”

“This is a breakthrough moment for sustainable style,” Firth says. “Once again, our collaboration with Gucci spotlights this fashion house as a genuine leader. Working together to utilize on-the-ground research by the NWF means that we have created a chain of custody that brings real change to the fashion industry.”

The leather used in Gucci’s GCC collaboration hails from Fazendas São Marcelo, a group of four ranches in the Mato Grosso state in western Brazil that in 2012 became the first in the world to meet the Rainforest Alliance’s standards for sustainable cattle production, including humane treatment of livestock, conservation of natural resources and wildlife habitats, and promoting the rights and well-being of workers.

CONSERVATION IN ACTION

“This new line of Gucci for the Green Carpet Challenge bags connects consumers with rainforest conservation and best practices of cattle production in Brazil,” says Mauricio Voivodic, manager of agricultural certification at Imaflora, a partner organization in Brazil that conducted the ranch audit. “This is a very important step and demonstrates that a responsible value chain is possible for the cattle sector.”

The bags, says Firth, represent a “critical point” in our consumption of luxury.

The bags, says Firth, represent a “critical point” in our consumption of luxury. “I’ve long maintained that too many of us who love fashion are forced to consume pieces of uncertain provenance,” she says. “When it came to leather that was potentially driving the destruction of one of our most critical ecosystems, the Amazon, we didn’t see why luxury and fashion lovers needed take that chance. Together we’ve produced a range that marries ethics and glamour in the most authentic way. The GCC brand mark is a guarantor of those exacting sustainable standards.”

The collection represents a milestone for Gucci, as well. “Today more than ever before customers want to be associated with brands that are thoughtful and responsible,” says Frida Giannini, the company’s creative director. “Through our sustainability, humanitarian and philanthropic actions we would like Gucci to not just be synonymous with ‘Made in Italy,’ but also made with integrity. This project with the Green Carpet Challenge was conceived to show how we can be pro-active on environmental issues, by raising awareness and demonstrating action on the subject of deforestation.”

Now if only Gucci would provide more leather-free options.

+ Gucci for the Green Carpet Challenge

PET PROJECT

Fetch calls itself a small company with a big vision, with a full 100 percent of its corporate proceeds benefiting the Pixie Project. The frames themselves were designed with that same spirit. Nearly all of them comprise high-end cellulose acetate, a hypoallergenic, plant-based plastic that serves as a renewable counterpoint to petroleum-based eyewear.

Each frame is also backed with a lifetime warranty that covers free replacements or repairs.

Fetch prides itself on offering an array of hand-finished styles at prices stripped clean of superfluous external costs and licensing fees. (Prices start at $85 for optical frames, reading glasses, and sunglasses, and $125 for prescription ones.)

“We believe that buying eyewear should make you look good, feel good, and do good, and part of that is not overpaying for frames,” Kristen Flemington, Fetch’s designer and creative director, tells Ecouterre. “Because Fetch does not function within the traditional optical market which is largely controlled by mega-corporations who charge obscene markups to their customers and control many optical outlets, we’re able to pass savings on directly to our customers.”

To eliminate the guesswork of buying frames online, customers can use Fetch’s “at home” service to try six different frames for seven days at no extra charge. Another perk? Each frame is backed with a lifetime warranty that covers free replacements or repairs.

Flemington describes the company’s business model as a “win, win, win.” “Fetch Eyewear offers a fairly priced high-quality product to our customers while benefiting a good cause,” she adds.

+ Fetch Eyewear

No need to wonder about the provenance of the materials found in this tufted-wool tote. Stella McCartney obtained her fibers from a source close to home: the organically—a no doubt ethically—raised sheep that graze at her Cotswolds farm in England. In fact, the bag is named after two of them: Itsy and Bitsy. Now if that doesn’t give you the warm fuzzies, nothing will.

+ Itsy Bitsy Falabella Tote $1,990

+ Stella McCartney

Looks like Mila Kunis isn’t ready to exit the Emerald City just yet. The Oz the Great and Powerful star has landed a new deal as global brand ambassador for Gemfields, a London-based colored-gemstone producer that specializes in ethically mined emeralds. The partnership is a stroke of marketing kismet. The Ukrainian-born American actress is due to appear alongside James Franco and Michelle Williams as the young witch Theodora, rumored to be a pre-Dorothy—and pre-green skin—version of the Wicked Witch of the West.

GREEN WITH ENVY

Photographed by renowned Italian fashion photographer Mario Sorrenti, the advertising campaign features Kunis wearing one-of-a-kind ruby-and-emerald pieces by Gemfields’ designer partners including Alexandra Mor, Amrapali, and Dominic Jones, as well as Russian luxury brand Fabergé, which was acquired by Gemfields earlier this year.

Kunis recently toured Gemfields’ Zambian mine, which produces approximately 20 percent of the world’s emeralds.

Kunis recently toured Gemfields’ Zambian mine, Kagem, which produces approximately 20 percent of the world’s emeralds. She also visited a number of Gemfields-backed community projects, including schools and a farming cooperative. “I truly believe in Gemfields’ mission of ethical mining, and I absolutely have fallen in love with the rarity, beauty, and history of emeralds,” Kunis said.

Gemfields has a few extra surprises up its sleeve. In addition to a revamped website, the company is set to unveil a collaboration with 37 international designers for an exclusive collection of colored gemstone jewelry on March 14 in London.

+ Gemfields

[Via the Telegraph]

Google is reportedly working with Warby Parker, a popular eyeglass company that sells its trendy wares online, to design “more-fashionable frames” for its “Glass” headset, according to anonymous sources who spoke with the New York Times on Thursday. Founded a mite two years ago, Warby Parker made its mark not only by selling its spectacles—prescription lenses and shipping included—for a then-unheard of $95, but also for its TOMS-like “one for one” business model. (To wit, for every pair of frames purchased, Warby Parker donates another to someone in need.) Google is obviously gunning to make Glass a status accessory. The device made its New York Fashion Week debut in September when models wore colored versions at Diane von Furstenberg’s runway show.

PREVIOUSLY ON ECOUTERRE: Google is Recruiting “Glass Explorers” to Test-Drive Its Headset

+ Google Glass

+ Warby Parker

Wish you could change your look as easily as you change your mind? Brian Garret’s three-dimensionally printed rings are the accessory you need. Each themed edition—choose from “Evil,” “Posh,” or “Shrunk”—consists of a single band that snaps to one of three included “icons” using gold-plated, rare-earth magnets. “Jewelry is often so dull and static,” Garret told MocoLoco in September. “I wanted to change that.” Mission accomplished.

+ Icon Snap Rings $49.99 at Cubify

+ Brian Garret

[Via Freedom of Creation]

Fallen in love with the jewelry Kimberly Ovitz feted at New York Fashion Week on Thursday? You don’t have to be a fashion insider to snag them straight off the runway. The Manhattan-based designer used three-dimensional printing to create the accessories, which she made available for purchase immediately after the show. A collaboration with rapid-prototyping marketplace Shapeways, the pieces include a necklace, a bracelet, and two styles of earring in either nylon or stainless steel. All of the pieces are designed to cleave to the wearer’s body like armornor a second skin. “The future of fashion is now,” says Ovitz of the print-on-demand baubles, which cost between $35 and $495. How’s that for fast fashion?

+ Kimberly Ovitz at Shapeways

+ Kimberly Ovitz

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]]> http://www.ecouterre.com/get-kimberly-ovitzs-3d-printed-jewelry-straight-off-the-runway/feed/ 0 http://www.ecouterre.com/made-in-the-dark-scented-jewelry-helps-blind-artisans-earn-a-living/ http://www.ecouterre.com/made-in-the-dark-scented-jewelry-helps-blind-artisans-earn-a-living/#comments Wed, 06 Feb 2013 20:00:07 +0000 Lori Zimmer http://www.ecouterre.com/?p=77103
Read the rest of “Made in the Dark” Scented Jewelry Helps Blind Artisans Earn a Living © Ecouterre, 2013. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us]]>

SMELL OF SUCESS

The Made in the Dark team worked with the nonprofit Andh Kanya Prakash Group School and the Blind People’s Association in Ahmedabad to develop a unique “color-scent language” that associates individual colors of beads with specific aromas, say lime for bright green or sandalwood for burgundy.

Using the art of “scent-beading,” blind artisans are able to manipulate the products they create.

Using this new art of “scent-beading,” blind artisans, particularly those with prior skills, are able to manipulate the products they create to communicate both visually and olfactorily.

“By combining different aromas with colored beads, a relationship between color and scent can be developed which gives craftspeople the opportunity to discover and control color in their work,” write Jon Fraser, Hal Watts, and Ruby Steel in their project report. “By initializing the craft in local NGOs, we hope to develop an artform that will be free to grow and evolve throughout the blind community.”

The impact of the brand, once established, could have far-reaching consequences. Growing demand for products would not only encourage veterans of the craft to train other blind people, but also create a sense of community and camaraderie. “The blind craftsmen would pick up new materials and drop of their latest designs on a set day so that they maintain social contacts with other blind people if they are working from home,” they add.

Made in the Dark also sees itself as a voice for promoting awareness about preventable blindness. A sunglass chain that encourages people to wear sunglasses, for instance, could help reduce cases of cataracts or macular degeneration that frequently result in vision loss.

“Our team is currently in discussions with a major ethical Indian retailer, which could secure a wide release for Made in the Dark jewelry,” Fraser, Watts, and Steel say. “This would allow production to be greatly expanded and provide a sustainable income to more blind craftspeople. Hopefully this will allow the craft to grow organically and for more blind people to benefit, both in Ahmedabad and in the rest of India.”

+ Made in the Dark

[Via Springwise]

]]> http://www.ecouterre.com/made-in-the-dark-scented-jewelry-helps-blind-artisans-earn-a-living/feed/ 1 http://www.ecouterre.com/billy-wolfs-eco-friendly-dog-jackets-are-handmade-in-nyc/ http://www.ecouterre.com/billy-wolfs-eco-friendly-dog-jackets-are-handmade-in-nyc/#comments Mon, 04 Feb 2013 21:00:38 +0000 Amanda Coen http://www.ecouterre.com/?p=76925
Read the rest of Billy Wolf’s Eco-Friendly Dog Jackets, Bandanas Are Handmade in NYC © Ecouterre, 2013. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us]]>

DOGGONE IT

Billy Wolf stemmed from Drago’s fruitless search for a stylish coat for Cujo, her Chihuahua. Taking to her sewing machine, Drago transformed an old tartan jacket into a jaunty pooch-sized number. Before long, strangers were stopping her on the street and making requests. A business was born.

Drago hunts for deadstock fabrics through channels such as thrift stores and estate sales.

From the beginning, Drago set out to cultivate a heritage appeal that distinguished itself from the sea of pink tutus and punk looks that dominate the pet-apparel industry. “I designed men’s knits at Ralph Lauren and Timberland,” she tells Ecouterre. “I set out to create something from scratch that fit my own style.”

Drago also takes pains to keep her product local. When sourcing for fabrics, she hunts for deadstock through channels such as thrift stores, antique dealers, and estate sales.”There’s no need to produce new fabric because there is already so much wasted material out there,” she tells Ecouterre. “Ninety percent of the fabric I find in the Garment District in New York is deadstock.”

The advantage of Billy Wolf’s discernment is two-fold. “By buying local, vintage, and deadstock I hope to contribute to reducing our carbon footprint,” Drago says. “[And] I love when I can provide something very unique.”

Drago has since expanded her line to include bandanas and collars. In addition, Billy Wolf donates 10 percent of its proceeds to Funny for Fido, a nonprofit that uses standup comedy to raise awareness and funds for homeless animals.

+ Billy Wolf

]]> http://www.ecouterre.com/billy-wolfs-eco-friendly-dog-jackets-are-handmade-in-nyc/feed/ 0 http://www.ecouterre.com/carrie-parry-kahina-giving-beauty-design-fair-trade-pouf-necklace/ http://www.ecouterre.com/carrie-parry-kahina-giving-beauty-design-fair-trade-pouf-necklace/#comments Wed, 30 Jan 2013 22:00:42 +0000 Jasmin Malik Chua http://www.ecouterre.com/?p=76806
Carrie Parry and Kahina Giving Beauty are doubling your pleasure with a collaboration that benefits education for girls in need. The Brooklyn-based designer and the organic skincare firm have joined forces to create the “Pouf” necklace, a limited-edition accessory fairly handcrafted by female artisans in Morocco. Made with embroidered-wool and glass beads, each one-of-a-kind necklace [...]]]>

Carrie Parry and Kahina Giving Beauty are doubling your pleasure with a collaboration that benefits education for girls in need. The Brooklyn-based designer and the organic skincare firm have joined forces to create the “Pouf” necklace, a limited-edition accessory fairly handcrafted by female artisans in Morocco. Made with embroidered-wool and glass beads, each one-of-a-kind necklace features blues-busting hues such as orange, magenta, red, and yellow. A portion of the proceeds will go to Education for All, a Moroccan nonprofit that helps girls in rural communities continue their studies past primary school. Another plus? For every necklace you purchase, a tree is planted through Trees for the Future.

+ Pouf Necklace $98

+ Carrie Parry

]]> http://www.ecouterre.com/carrie-parry-kahina-giving-beauty-design-fair-trade-pouf-necklace/feed/ 0 http://www.ecouterre.com/sruli-recht-makes-a-creepy-ring-with-a-strip-of-his-own-flesh/ http://www.ecouterre.com/sruli-recht-makes-a-creepy-ring-with-a-strip-of-his-own-flesh/#comments Wed, 30 Jan 2013 19:00:34 +0000 Bridgette Meinhold http://www.ecouterre.com/?p=76458
Sruli Recht’s Autumn/Winter 2013 menswear collection has plenty to delight and astonish: polygonal militia jackets derived from walnut wood, sweaters composed of unwound lambswool skeins, and even Trojan Horse-like veneer boots with hinged openings. No item is more surprising, however, than the Icelandic designer’s “Forget Me Knot” ring, a one-of-a-kind bauble made with a swath [...]]]>

Sruli Recht’s Autumn/Winter 2013 menswear collection has plenty to delight and astonish: polygonal militia jackets derived from walnut wood, sweaters composed of unwound lambswool skeins, and even Trojan Horse-like veneer boots with hinged openings. No item is more surprising, however, than the Icelandic designer’s “Forget Me Knot” ring, a one-of-a-kind bauble made with a swath of flesh from Recht’s own abdomen. (Click below the fold for a video of the operation if you have the stomach for it.)

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

HUMAN LEATHER

Recht’s own digestive tract must be lined with steel. Following its removal, the designer stripped the 110-by-10-millimeter piece of skin of subcutaneous tissue and fat, salted and tanned it with alum solution, then mounted the resulting leather onto a 24-karat gold band, wiry belly hairs intact. For obvious reasons, this will be the sole edition of Recht’s design.

For obvious reasons, this will be the sole edition of Recht’s design.

If you have €350,000 ($474,740) to spare, it can even be yours. The ring comes with a DNA certificate and a DVD “making of” documentary, complete with the surgical procedure and interviews with everyone involved.

Despite its obvious sensationalism, Recht’s stunt raises at least one question: If wearing human skin is so reprehensible, why should animal leather be regarded any differently?

Chew on that.

+ Sruli Recht

[Via Dezeen]

]]> http://www.ecouterre.com/sruli-recht-makes-a-creepy-ring-with-a-strip-of-his-own-flesh/feed/ 0 http://www.ecouterre.com/two-guys-craft-bow-ties-from-reclaimed-wood-fabric/ http://www.ecouterre.com/two-guys-craft-bow-ties-from-reclaimed-wood-fabric/#comments Fri, 25 Jan 2013 22:00:37 +0000 Morgana Matus http://www.ecouterre.com/?p=76345
Read the rest of “Two Guys” Craft Bow Ties From Reclaimed Wood, Fabric © Ecouterre, 2013. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us]]>

Read the rest of “Two Guys” Craft Bow Ties From Reclaimed Wood, Fabric

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]]> http://www.ecouterre.com/two-guys-craft-bow-ties-from-reclaimed-wood-fabric/feed/ 0 http://www.ecouterre.com/bloons-picnic-basket-multitasks-as-bicycle-pannier-dining-table/ http://www.ecouterre.com/bloons-picnic-basket-multitasks-as-bicycle-pannier-dining-table/#comments Wed, 09 Jan 2013 20:00:32 +0000 Lori Zimmer http://www.ecouterre.com/?p=75742
Read the rest of Bloon’s Picnic Basket Multitasks as Bicycle Pannier, Dining Table © Ecouterre, 2013. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us]]>

TRIPLE THREAT

The Springtime is brainchild of Bloon founder Jeriël Bobbe, a Dutch designer whose passion for “pure and honest materials and the magic of simplicity” manifests itself in the basket’s clean and uncluttered appearance. At first glance, the Springtime resembles a bento-like container with sectioned-off compartments for your gear and grub. Slide the two halves apart, however, and the basket morphs into a balanced carry-on for your bike.

Popping off the top reveals a wooden tabletop and a pair of expansion leaves, with the two sections doubling as chairs.

And forget spreading out on a blanket and eating uncomfortably on the ground. Popping off the top reveals a wooden tabletop and a pair of expansion leaves. The basket handle flips down to create the table leg, while the two sections double as chairs.

Although the Springtime isn’t available for sale just yet, Bloon expects to have the product for sale in May—just in time for a summer’s worth of picnics.

+ Springtime Picnic Basket

+ Bloon

[Via Springwise]

]]> http://www.ecouterre.com/bloons-picnic-basket-multitasks-as-bicycle-pannier-dining-table/feed/ 1 http://www.ecouterre.com/the-harbinger-co-crafts-intricate-bamboo-jewelry-in-san-francisco/ http://www.ecouterre.com/the-harbinger-co-crafts-intricate-bamboo-jewelry-in-san-francisco/#comments Fri, 04 Jan 2013 13:00:13 +0000 Morgana Matus http://www.ecouterre.com/?p=74725
We are already familiar with bamboo as a building material, clothing textile, and food. Versatile and attractive, the grain and texture of the plant makes for beautiful jewelry with a natural feel. The Harbinger Co. uses bamboo for their special and sustainable line of accessories. Crafted by laser cutter, the earrings, necklaces, and pendants are [...]]]>

We are already familiar with bamboo as a building material, clothing textile, and food. Versatile and attractive, the grain and texture of the plant makes for beautiful jewelry with a natural feel. The Harbinger Co. uses bamboo for their special and sustainable line of accessories. Crafted by laser cutter, the earrings, necklaces, and pendants are all inspired by the shapes of flower petals, honeycombs, and crystals.

The Harbinger Co. is a business committed to environmental and social responsibility. All of their products are made and packaged in Southern California with eco-friendly materials. “We strive to recreate everyday objects into classic treasures- pieces that fell good to the hands, nice to the eyes, and friendly to the environment.” says co-founder Sonia Hung. Designed by sister Yvonne Hung, their bamboo jewelry takes advantage of one of the strongest, lightest, and fastest growing plants on earth. Shaped with a laser cutter, the intricate patterns are take their composition from natural forms.

Yvonne Hung began experimenting with a laser cutter while working on architectural models in design school. After becoming enamored with the tool, she started to make jewelry intended not only looked flattering, but emphasized the production method. The success of her work lead to the founding of the Harbinger Co. Although she has since left the business, her sister still maintains the collection and runs their website. Marrying the high tech with the simple and timeless beauty of bamboo, the Harbinger Co. proves that being sustainable is always in style.

+ The Harbinger Co.

]]> http://www.ecouterre.com/the-harbinger-co-crafts-intricate-bamboo-jewelry-in-san-francisco/feed/ 0 http://www.ecouterre.com/buy-a-pair-of-charles-mark-sons-socks-donate-a-pair-to-the-homeless/ http://www.ecouterre.com/buy-a-pair-of-charles-mark-sons-socks-donate-a-pair-to-the-homeless/#comments Mon, 31 Dec 2012 17:00:23 +0000 Morgana Matus http://www.ecouterre.com/?p=75288
Not everyone is disappointed by socks on Christmas. For homeless people living on the streets, a fresh pair of socks can mean all the difference between healthy feet and infections, blisters, or frostbite. Charles Mark & Sons, for one, wants the oft-maligned coverup to be the gift that keeps on giving. Fresh off a successful [...]]]>

Not everyone is disappointed by socks on Christmas. For homeless people living on the streets, a fresh pair of socks can mean all the difference between healthy feet and infections, blisters, or frostbite. Charles Mark & Sons, for one, wants the oft-maligned coverup to be the gift that keeps on giving. Fresh off a successful crowd-funding campaign, the Texas startup aims to create high-quality, stylish men’s socks that benefit those in need. Cribbing a page from TOMS’ playbook, for every pair of socks you buy, Charles Mark & Sons will donate another to The Joy of Sox, a charity that distributes clean socks to homeless shelters across the country.

SOXUAL HEALING

John McClellan, Eliot Cotton, and Josh Pollick, the company’s founders, didn’t have to look far to find namesakes for their new business. Their fathers—Charles, Charles, and Mark—were the obvious choice. “Each of these men has made a positive impact on our lives and has instilled in us a drive towards philanthropy,” the founders say. “Our vision is to establish a brand that is worthy of their names: creating great products and helping those less fortunate.”

The company is named after the founders’ fathers: Charles, Charles, and Mark.

Charles Mark & Sons, they say, seeks to create “bold, classic, and versatile” designs that are at once clean and modern. The company’s first line certainly lives up to that promise, featuring blue “tips” (cuffs, heels, and toes), plus stripes or polka dots in a variety of color combinations.

After spending countless hours experimenting with different fabric blends and sock structures, the trio settled on a mix of mercerized cotton, polyester, and spandex, which they describe as the “perfect balance” between durability and comfort. “Our socks extend above the calf, ensuring a snug fit, and are reinforced at the toe and heel for added support and improved longevity,” they add.

+ Charles Mark & Sons on IndieGoGo

+ Charles Mark & Sons

]]> http://www.ecouterre.com/buy-a-pair-of-charles-mark-sons-socks-donate-a-pair-to-the-homeless/feed/ 0 http://www.ecouterre.com/scrubbas-pocket-size-laundry-bag-is-worlds-smallest-washing-machine/ http://www.ecouterre.com/scrubbas-pocket-size-laundry-bag-is-worlds-smallest-washing-machine/#comments Fri, 21 Dec 2012 13:00:56 +0000 Morgana Matus http://www.ecouterre.com/?p=75018
Whether you are traveling with dirty clothes or living in an area without access to electricity, laundry can go from being a chore to a monumental task. Perfect for small loads, the Scrubba is a portable bag that requires minimal amounts of water and can be folded down to fit into almost any suitcase. Large [...]]]>

Whether you are traveling with dirty clothes or living in an area without access to electricity, laundry can go from being a chore to a monumental task. Perfect for small loads, the Scrubba is a portable bag that requires minimal amounts of water and can be folded down to fit into almost any suitcase. Large enough for several items at a time, the Scrubba takes only a couple liters of water, soap, and the energy of the user to agitate and clean the pieces inside. The inside of the bag contains small nodules that help with scrubbing, needing only 20-30 seconds to get everything nice and sudsy. Once the water is drained, clothes can be rinsed and then hung to dry.

From the GiraDora to the Laundry Pod, electricity-free washing devices are becoming more and more popular. The Scrubba wash bag is essentially a flexible wash bag that is able to hold several pieces of clothing, soap, and a couple liters of water. Perfect for those with limited space and resources, it can be packed down into a five ounce pocket. The Scrubba is available in red, black, and blue for $59.95 AUD and can be ordered through the Scrubba website.

+ Scrubba Wash Bag $59.95

[Via Springwise]

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