We love Japan made accessories especially leather belt. These Garrison Belts from Warehouse Co. do the trick. “5mm Solid American cowhide leather Garrison Belts with custom made Steel buckle and prongs. Anchor mark stamped on underside of buckle. In Black and Tan.” Blue & Green has them.

More looks at the Warehouse Co. Spin Garrison Belts after the click.

Hamilton works a very clean 42mm face as part of their “Khkai Team” collection with Team Earth. “Harrison Ford and Hamilton create a new collection in support of Team Earth, a coalition addressing some of the most pressing environmental issues of our day… The Khaki Team Earth Collection is the second series of watches created in collaboration with the American actor to benefit the work of Conservation International. ” (tz)

Another look at the Hamilton for Team Earth Watch after the click.

01. Urban Insect Hotel

“Winning London’s recent Beyond The Hive competition, the “Insect Hotel” is a five-star refuge for bugs living in urban environments. Architecture firm Arup Associates designed individual compartments in a mathematically-derived pattern known as a Voronoi tessellation to house an array of species spanning spiders, beetles and moths.” (ch)

02. PaperMate Biodegradable Mechanical Pencil Review

“A biodegradable mechanical pencil? Like many industries, the writing instruments industry is trying to get greener these days, and this pencil is part of Paper Mates efforts. Much of the pencil, but by no means all of it, is moulded from Mirel, a biodegradable plastic made from plant derived sugar feedstock, which is currently primarily corn sugar. Now just in case you are worried, the pencil should not deteriorate from contact with skin, moisture, etc. It needs a high level microbial environment like that found in soil to degrade.” (dmp)

03. Bernhard Hopfengärtner: Hello World (a visual code for Google Earth)

“Hello, world! is a real installation for the virtual globe of the software Google Earth. A Semacode measuring 160×160 metres was mown into a wheat field near the town of Ilmenau in the Land Thuringia. The code consists of 18×18 bright and dark squares producing decoded the phrase “Hello, world!”. The ambition was to have an areal view of the code integrated in Google Earths’ regular database. The project was realised in May 2006 and photographs were taken of it during a picture flight in the following month.” (int)

04. Studio 804’s Real Estate Woes (above)

“Depressing news from Kansas City: USA Today reported on Friday that Dan Rockhill’s celebratedStudio 804 design-build program has been unable to find buyers for its last two houses. As we reported in a feature story last February, Studio 804’s previous houses had attracted waiting lists of potential buyers. Unfortunately, the program moved into more expensive cutting-edge sustainable design—its 2009 house (pictured) earned Platinum LEED certification, and its new passive house is expected to do the same—just as the housing market imploded.” (mpov)

As we mentioned a few days past, Akindofguise is a Munich based design house which shines with their collection of bags and accessories. The leather school bag shown above – “The Way too COOL for School” is a simple form and function unit that looks great. Two front pockets which push clasps work well against the beige strappings that house your shoulders as well as the top pouch closure.

Nick knows my slight obsession with noise and sound in general. It is around us at all times, from the hum of a fan to the turbine of an engine. In Garret Keizer’s The Unwanted Sound of Everything We Want: A Book About Noise, he explores sounds as a byproduct of human growth.

From the publisher, Perseus Books, “Noise is usually defined as unwanted sound: loud music from a neighbor, the honk of a taxicab, the roar of a supersonic jet. But as Garret Keizer illustrates in this probing examination, noise is as much about what we want as about what we seek to avoid. It has been a byproduct of human striving since ancient times even as it has become a significant cause of disease in our own. At heart, noise provides a key for understanding some of our most pressing issues, from social inequality to climate change.In a journey that leads us from the Tanzanian veldt to the streets of New York, Keizer deftly explores the political ramifications of noise, America’s central role in a loud world”

Available now from The Unwanted Sound of Everything We Want: A Book About Noise.

Ovadia and Sons is US based based from twins Shimon and Ariel Ovadia. “Our company is a mens designer collection which personifies cutting edge Americana with the most discriminating fabrics created by the most sought after and exclusive manufacturers in the industry.” Ovadia and Sons constructs all their garments in the New York area from sources throughout Europe. They should be landing in prominent doors shortly. We showcase some looks for Spring 2011 in our gallery.

More looks at the Ovadia and Sons Spring 2011 collection after the click.

Parabellum is catching the buyer’s eyes at some of the more high profile boutiques in the USA. The (free range) bison leather gives them a very distinct look – including on this iPad folio which also includes lambskin on the inner lining. The vertical two snap closure is a nice finish.

More looks at the Parabellum iPad Portfolio after the click.

R29 offers this profile from Steven Alan on his favorite  spots to check in The Hamptons. “With his plaid shirts, perfect cotton blazers, and a whole lot of pleated shorts, Alan’s our go-to guy when it comes to dressing for a BBQ in MTK or a clam-bake on Shelter Island. So, how psyched are you that Steven is sharing his insider secrets on all the Hamps’ spots—from a clandestine art gallery to a fisherman’s hangout, going out East may never be the same again.”

Get all of Steve Alan’s picks at Refinery29.

Yanko Design reports (and raves) about a new espresso machine by designer Shmuel Linkski. Espresso Solo finds Linkski housing the active devices of the machine in a two-part molded concrete body. The design is no fuss – incorporating only the necessaries for making long and short espresso – bean chamber, water outlet, etc.

Full looks after the jump.

This ecru shirt with navy stripes form the Levi’s Vintage collection for Autumn 2010 pulls directly form the deep archives of the Levi’s heritage. Expect to pay around $75 U.S. for this shirt. (detour)

More looks at the Levi’s Vintage 1930’s Bay Meadows shirt after the click.