----- NYC Thirteen -----

This year's New York trip marked my first return to the city when it wasn't covered in snow or requiring me to put my winter gear on, and boy it surely was nice; however rain did shower us generously. Nothing is more synonymous with the Big Apple than shopping, walking and eating. I walked till I limped on my second day; not sure if I really shopped, just really bought; went to the ones on my list, pop into spontaneous ones and called it a day. From staying in the Upper East Side to exploring the tip of Brooklyn to checking out street fairs, this trip was cool and relaxing as a cucumber on your eye. The picture below marks the most interesting purchases (sigh I spent so much).

1. Uniqlo always carry good graphic tee shirts, just not for women, in my opinion. I shopped at the Men Section and purchased the Jean Michel Basquiat Tee.
2. Pikolinos Pop Up store in Meat Packing District, where they lured me in for a free bracelet and mysteriously I came out with a pair of sandals. Pikolinos: The Maasai Collection is a sustainable project where the Maasai tribal women in Kenya hand embroider the designs then shipped back to the HQ. All proceeds go back to the tribe to sustain their culture and lifestyle. Pikolinos is environmentally and socially conscious brand of comfort shoes.
3. Chelsea Market: The Filling Station, is exactly that. You fill up your reusable bottle with their olive oils or vinegar and salt.
4. Stumptown Roasters Brooklyn: i once stayed in the same building as the cafe and really liked their coffee.
5. Mint M&Ms. Bring. Them. Up North.
6. Walked by a Myers of Keswick selling UK products: Walkers Crisps! 
7. Sigh I swear i thought I would stay away from Time Sq. but followed cousin to M&M store where I made an overprice purchase of personalized M&Ms.
8. Trader's Joe: Preserve toothbrush, finish and mail back (with paid postage) to the company.
9. M&Ms in cool colors.
10. Footsie, finally found those socks that make you look barefoot.
11. Brooklyn, Wisconsin.

Check:

http://maasai.pikolinos.com/project/

http://www.thefillingstationnyc.com/

http://stumptowncoffee.com/

http://www.preserveproducts.com/

------ Muv Box -----

Our cities are regularly filled with so many new and undiscovered gems that we don't either have time or motivation to visit all of them and Muv Box's Resto Lobster Box was one of them in mine. Located slightly off the heart of the Old Montreal district serves lobster—obviously— from the unique, innovating design inspired by using cargo shipment boxes since 2009. It possesses environmentally friendly objectives: solar panels, recyclable and biodegradable materials, local produce.  The idea spawn during a visit to the Venice Biennale when founder, Daniel Noiseaux, saw the Push Button House sponsored by Illy Cafe (definitely check it out).

Imagine the limitless possibilities? Pop-up stores selling retail items, farmer's markets in the metropolitan, coffee shops, tourist information center, better looking port-a-potties—see it's infinite! I'd like one in my backyard as my studio; I would order the 20 feet one which gives 512 sqf of space!

I have a passion for design ideas that reuses obsolete objects and giving them a second life because there are so much more of them sitting on earth's soil, not even rotting away. 

Source

----- "Out of Sight, Out of Mind" -----

alarming. it starts with educating the young.

-----  H2-OH!  -----

Good + Levis has teamed up to campaign for an environmental cause, a sentimental, detrimental one: water. I'm very much behind this cause because, well, i'm very supportive in fighting against global warming and waste. Most of the things they suggest to do to save water consumption are basic habits we can adapt, I have already a long time ago: my showers take at most 5 minutes; I wash my hair every second day; I wash my clothes every 2-3 weeks, longer if I've only worn the item once/twice; and it's true, if it's yellow, let it mellow!—not ashamed, not ashamed! This interactive infographics is nicely designed to get you to the facts and nothing else. Simple and understood. Good for Levis for bringing this campaign into their brand and starting at line of clothing for using less water; my only cynical call is i hope they are seriously genuine and not just some marketing gimmick like (RED) and other charitable brands, drawing "good" as to increase sales + attention.

Try it at the Source

There is nothing particular or interesting about this business card. It wasn't the layout or graphics or typography that intrigued me, rather it was the description that went with it. The small explanation made me laugh. Looking for some business cards for inspiration, I went on to AIGA Archives (the greatest place). It says:

Green City Business Card

Sagmeister Inc., New York, New York, 1996

Description

This is a business card for a gardener specializing in roof terraces in New York City. It prints one color on recycled stock — as simple and cheap as it gets.

The logo design is a fairly cheap trick as well, just combining two clichés (tree = green, Empire State Building = New York).

I was surprised that such a distinguished panel of judges picked this card for inclusion in the annual. I now think that our solution was fairly trite. The really eco-sensitive solution would have been no business card at all — does a gardener really need one?

Of course, from the firm of Sagmeister, kind of fitting. I love the self-deprecating, unpretentious pretentiousness.

By a filmmaker named Johnny Kelly

----- The Keep Cup has the Keepable Power -----

Doesn't it seem like the trend of being green, as in Eco, have become counterproductive? We so desirably want to reduce waste and eliminate junk for the sanity of the planet that due to the largely popular demand of reusable bags (more formally known as eco bags) and reusable bottles, rather than eliminating plastic, we are producing more of those mentioned. I remember going to Hong Kong, every store offered me an eco bag. I mean I only need one or two to carry everything I had or will have in my lifetime. The point being, this is a great trend that I support, however, looking at my stack of eco bags, some unused, I feel like I am at the same stance as looking at my stack of plastic bags, which at least can be used for my tiny garbage bins. The bizarre thing, I do not notice a majority following the trend of using a reusable bottle (I, for one, is obsessed with my current mate, the Vapur foldable water bottle). I go to Starbucks, there are stacks of obvious and varied choices of coffee cups. Is there really that much in demand to have that much in stock? Anyway...............................................................this is not the point of this blog entry! Sidetracking...

THE KEEP CUP! A reusable coffee cup that looks like a coffee cup. Unlike the familiar ceramic versions, this one feels safe to drop on the floor. It even has a built-in cup sleeve! And the lid has a swivelmajig, so you can sip it, but not spill it after. The reason I like this over the other million coffee cups is the simplicity and non clumsy factor. Available in many sizes—standard to fit car cup holders, barristers' espresso makers.

This is a design used to bring change to well-being of society.

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