Indigo aficionados The Bandanna Almanac present Kapital’s Spring Summer 2012 lookbook. This is the 30th catalogue from one of Japan’s most celebrated labels, each one as inventive and patchwork heavy as the next. Surf Cowboys has all the elements you’d expect from these guys. The collections don’t vary wildly season to season but why mess with something so spot on. The perfect combination of traditional Japanese fabrics, old world American classics and eccentric layering. Take a look.

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Brainpickings serve up something special with this video from 1958. Mid century design as it happened. Interior fiends, this one is for you. “celebrating mid-century lifestyle design ranging from dinnerware to public art murals to lawnmowers.”

Berlin interior and furniture designer, Rainer Spehl works with UCON on a wooden laptop case which is sure to please. The video short gives a full rundown on the new box case. The frame of the case is made of solid oak. For the front and back we used veneered oak panel. Inside, you will find leather lining the full interior.

They call it a “limited edition” of three. We call it less than a handful. The new “Bullit” green AM3 watch from MARCH LA.B for Paris’, Studiohomme is a very short run watch that features “38 mm Cushion 316 L Stainless Steel Case, hands With Luminescent treatment” and much much more. FInd them at Studiohomme.

More look after the click.

Property Of… is ready for the holidays with a wide selection under the “Work Bag” name. Take a look through the collection which brings a variety of forms including the briefcase, messengers and others all delivered in waxed cotton variations. Find them at Property Of…

More look after the click.

What a better time than the Holiday season to dip in and re-discover the new BRAUN watch re-issues for 2011? One example, the simple and useful BRAUN Alarm Clock, is a no-brainer for the design fan in your life and is an even better educational tool for the kids and young adults in your world who are only starting to appreciate the work of Dieter Rams - its a nice introduction at $40; a rare well priced design gem. For an even wider prespecttive on BRAUN design, be sure to check out the Dieter Rams design book, also released this year.

More looks after the click.

Fans of the seminal Washington D.C. band, Fugazi have in the past been given access to purchase their “live shows” in CD format. This week they are taking it up a notch with the launch of their “Fugazi Live Series” online site which catalogs and offers for download live performances since 1987. Fugazi, who have been on an extended hiatus for some time now, recorded an incredible number of their live shows on cassette, DAT, and CD throughout their years. The new “Live Series” offers fans and music lovers a chance to step back to almost any moment in the band’s history.

The Fugazi Live Series offers complete downloads, including all on and off stage banter, on a sliding scale that begins at $5, the same about they charged to admission to their shows over the years, and ranges from $1 and up. $500 gives you all access to the archive.  This is an absolutely essential archive to the music and legacy of Fugazi.

Need a starting point? I highly recommend March 6, 1992 from St. Stephen’s Church Hall in Washington DC.

Fans of music and the underground era genius of Robert Crumb may well love the new R. Crumb: The Complete Record Cover Collection book that brings together more than 450 four-color illustrations of the man’s album cover artwork. It started with his first cover in 1968 for Janis Joplin’s “Cheap Thrills” album (no doubt familiar to you). Crumb then went on to interpret art covers for artists new and old with a particular focus on the blues. “So remarkable were Crumb’s artistic interpretations of these old 78 rpm singles that the art itself proved influential in their rediscovery in the 1960s and 1970s. Including such classics as Truckin’ My Blues Away, Harmonica Blues, and Please Warm My Weiner, Crumb’s opus also features more recent covers done for CDs.”

R. Crumb: The Complete Record Cover Collection will be a perfect gift for music loves as well as those interested in Crumb’s incredible contribution to art.

Available from Amazon.

More looks inside R. Crumb: The Complete Record Cover Collection after the click.

Classy? Yessir. The new Le Berlinois line from the minds behind the Berlin men’s shop, SOTO  brings forth their latest: an umbrella. A simple dark stripe patter on the hood with a delicate wrap on the handle make is a solid gift this season. Look for more from Le Bernilois coming soon. Available from SOTO Berlin.

More looks after the click.

Cool Hunting sits down with Karl Lagerfeld on his new holiday window for Printemps. Line of the interview: “My head is like Google. I have everything in my mind.”