Made For You, April 2018
In a world of fast food and one-size-fits-all sensibilities, how often does something feel made especially for you? The “Made for You” section celebrates those items that are created with such high quality of hand workmanship and degree of customization that they become individual to you. In each issue, our editors will endeavor to bring you special things from anywhere on the globe, choosing them solely on the basis of outstanding quality. Our goal is to give you guidance on the best of everything.
Flying Furniture—Motoart
In an age of stand-up desks and hanging chairs, the next rage is furniture that once actually took to the air. MotoArt furniture and art design salvages parts from retired airplanes and fashions wings, cowlings, fuselages, engine parts and ejection seats into desks, tables, beds, chairs, couches, even bars. The materials come from a parade of aviation history, including Beechcraft, Boeing, DC 6s and B-52s. Everything is customizable and you can even start small with a luggage tag cut from the skin of a 727. motoart.com and planetags.com
Where’s My Umbrella—Weatherman
When it comes to umbrellas you either buy quality for long-lasting protection or you go cheap on the theory you’ll lose it anyway. Meteorologist Rick Reichmuth didn’t want to compromise and created a sturdy umbrella with Bluetooth technology to track it when it’s mislaid. Made with glass fiber ribs and shoots, and Teflon fabric covering, the Weatherman resists winds up to 55 mph and sends weather alerts to your phone. Available as a collapsible ($59) or stick umbrella ($65). weathermanumbrella.com
Ingenious Jeans—34 Heritage
While high-fashion jeans complete any wardrobe, the choicest cuts of denim are normally intended for the slender, leaving larger men with pitifully few options. Founder Ardie Ulukaya realized this gap in men’s clothing and created 34 Heritage, a line of refined jeans that won’t discriminate against men with waistlines exceeding 32 inches. Every pair is comfortable and dignified, fitting at the waist without frump and breaking beautifully at the ankles. Finishes range from classic blues and indigos to more ambitious, creative color palettes, all imparting the buttery feel of cashmere or wool. 34heritage.com
Augmented Paper—Montblanc
Conundrum: You want to the digital age and take advantage of its many choices in communicating your thoughts, but you’re still enamored with the time-tested tradition of putting pen to paper. Solution: Montblanc, maker of high-quality writing instruments, has developed Augmented Paper, a notebook in which you write, sketch or draw with a Montblanc StarWalker pen onto actual paper, while a digitizer in the leather envelope transfers your scrawling to your mobile device, turning your handwriting into print text. montblanc.com
Buffing Up—Bellecore Babybelle
It’s hard to get buff when your muscles rebel with aches and pains after every workout. Professionals get regular massages. You can massage away the stress with Bellecore’s babyBelle body buffer, a handheld devise that uses random orbital oscillation to facilitate blood and lymphatic flow and speed up muscle recovery. It prevents delayed onset muscle soreness by flushing lactic acid build up. The babyBelle ($149) also helps for trigger point release, tendonitis and plantar fasciitis. bellecore.com
World Cup Cleats—Pantofola d’Oro
Just in time for this year’s World Cup tournament, Pantofola d’Oro, maker of soccer footwear, has opened a pop-up shop in New York’s SoHo district, offering its namesake “golden slipper” cleat. What’s that? Not expecting to play in the global sporting event? You can still choose from a selection of Italian-made athletic and casual footwear in ultrasoft leather. The signature Pantofola d’Oro golden slipper is also offered as a personalized shoe in a range of colors and leathers. pantofoladoro.com
