On the look out for a proper mug for a proper cup of tea? Check out this London Transport Canteens mug.
Made by W2, it’s a modern take on the 1940s and 1950s cup used in the London Transport Canteens, made of stoneware and available in both white and cream.
It’s also fairly cheap, available online for jusst £6.
Feeling nostalgic for Manchester’s most famous club? Well, you can get that bit closer to the Hacienda with these Adidas/Y-3 FAC 51 Hacienda trainers, created to celebrate the club’s 25th anniversary. Doesn’t that make you feel old?
Y-3 is an Adidas design offshoot, with these shoes being the work of Factory graphic designer Peter Saville, Hac interior designer Ben Kelly and New Order’s Peter Hook. They’re sold in a six-sided, maple-bottomed box (reflecting the Hacienda’s dancefloor) and wrapped in four sheets of tissue paper – two featuring Kevin Cummins’ photography of the club, one with original design sketches of the interior and a fourth featuring the building today. There’s also a DVD thrown in featuring anecdotes of the club from those involved.
As for the shoes? Well, you can judge for yourselves from the image above. Not cheap at £345, but there’s only 250 pairs available from Y-3 Manchester and Selfridges in London, so a collector’s scrum is guaranteed.
Another modern piece that looks like a period furnishing, this time from Tom Dixon (who we have featured before) and his Link Easy Chair.
Looking like some bold example of 60s outdoor furniture, the Link Easy Chair is made of welded steel, with a white powder coated finish and the addition of upholstery either fitted or removable.
Expect to pay from £950, which isn’t cheap, but should give you plenty of use over the years.
When was the last time you used a calculator, apart from the one on your computer? I can’t honestly remember. But if you have a job that requires advanced calculations, you might want to pick up the HP 35s calculator to do them.
It’s an anniversary model, celebrating 35 years since the company started producing scientific calculators – and this one has the look of the original model. But don’t think the technology is vintage, it can do just about anything required – and much more. In fact, the functions it offers are so complex, I don’t even understand them. Although thankfully, it can still type out rude words if you hold it upside down.
Available in the coming weeks, initially in the US and in its own custom carrying pouch, the HP 35s sells for $60 (around £30).
Following Live Earth last weekend, here is another environmentally-friendly product made from recycled materials. This time it is a Vintage Belt Floor Mat from British designer Inghua Ting.
Ting aims to make luxury products according to sustainable, ethical principles. Here, she has taken otherwise discarded belts and refashioned them in a mat, mounted onto a reconstituted leather backing for extra durability. Each stylish mat is handmade to order, so no two are the same.
Further details can be found on the USA-based Branch Home website, but for orders in the UK, contact Ting directly.
If the craft revival has so far passed you by, then this may be the product to get you started.
‘Let’s Stitch Frank’ by Egg Press provides hand-screen printed canvas and easy-to-follow instructions to allow you to make your very own sausage dog cushion. Simply cut out the pieces of canvas, sew together, and stuff with a material of your choice. Measuring 16" x 7.5" when finished, Frank features a dachshund image on one side and a wonderful bright polka dot pattern on the reverse, which is sure to complement many a retro lounge.
‘Let Stitch Frank’ is available to buy online from FredFlare.com priced $22 (approximately £11).
