Month: June 2012

SkateBacks for iPhone 4 and 4s

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Each week, enough waste material is thrown away from one skateboard factory to fill a city bus. To help find another use for the leftovers from a Costa Mesa, California-based skateboard factory, the Portland, Oregon-based iPhone and iPad accessories maker Grove collaborated with designer Lindsay Holmes of MapleXO to create a 100% post-industrial product for the iPhone 4 and 4S. While there are three general colorways to choose from, no two SkateBacks are identical — making them more desirable for those of us that don’t want to have exactly what everyone else does. The 1/16”-thick back protector easily attaches to the back of your phone with a peel-and-stick 3M adhesive that Grove claims is removable without residue. While you’d probably want something tougher to protect your phone if you are actually skateboarding, this will do just fine for those of us that gave up that pastime longer ago than we’d like to remember (mine was black and white — what color was yours?) $49.00 U.S. Ships in 2-4 weeks from Portland. All photos ©GroveMade

Kaikado Canisters

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Kyoto-based Kaikado has been producing airtight canisters for tea and other items since 1875. Made through a manufacturing process that involves as many as 140 steps, the tea caddies, or chazutsu, have been handmade virtually the same way since the company was founded. A double-walled construction protects the leaves from humidity while helping them maintain their scent. As the joints of the lid and body are lined up, the lid descends in a smooth, silent motion while expelling air from the container. Depending on the metal you choose, the color will change over time — copper in 1-2 years, brass in 3-5 years, and tin in 30-40 years. I love how the manufacturer describes the unique patination process that happens through handling the canisters. “Gently caressing the entire body of chazutsu day after day brings out a mysteriously elegant sheen and gleam to its years. Chazutsu provides utility and pleasure as it ages gracefully with ownership.” Wow, that’s some sexy stuff. Stay tuned for a novel starring the containers called Fifty Shades of Earl Grey. Available in …