DESIGNER FOOTBALL GEAR OF THE WEEK
Guaranteed to get the reblogs stacking up on your Tumblr page, check out these styled-up footballs created by top designers as part of the (never-ending) World Cup celebrations. LUISAVIAROMA enlisted names like Dolce & Gabbana, Mary Katrantzou, and Missoni to revamp the 2014 FIFA ball with a fashionable new twist. My fave has to be Gareth Pugh’s design, where an all-black ball is mounted on a gold geometric base with a kinda future tribal vibe.
OLD SCHOOL SMARTWATCH OF THE WEEK
Flaunting the trend of high-tech watches is smart gadget brand Withings, who have gone back to basics with the design for their timepiece. Swapping clunky digital elements for an elegant analogue construction, the accessory is inspired by healthy lifestyles, and is able to track your steps, sleep patterns, and calories burned. The French calf leather strap and responsive glass face make for an ultra-slick finish.
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TECH-ENABLED TEXTILES OF THE WEEK
Taking us one step closer to the creation of a real-life invisibility cloak, scientists at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have developed an innovative type of textile that is able to conceal objects from touch. This ultra-light nanomaterial is constructed at a millimeter scale, consisting of polymer-based structures that can be shaped around an object. The fibres then diffuse pressure, so that a person’s touch can’t detect the form beneath. Pretty cool. While the project is only in research stage at this point, there are talks of the texture being applied to create comfortable camping gear—great news to everyone suffering at Glastonbury right now.
BRO’S NIGHT OUT ACCESSORY OF THE WEEK
Hey, bro. Going out tonight? With your other bros? Leave your wallet at home, this device has you covered. Created by Seattle-based design studio, wristband Artefact can connect to selected payment accounts like your savings, credit card and PayPal. Plus, it can transfer money via Wi-Fi at the press of a screen.
It’s pretty secure, too, combining a biometric like your thumb print with your personal PIN. It’s also able to tell you when you’re going over your budget with pre-set limits. However, it’s the action-based payment gesture that I like the most – simply fist-bump with another Token wearer to make a payment directly to them. #sobro
#MUSTHAVE ACCESSORY OF THE WEEK
Hot off the necks of the models at Milan men’s fashion week, Fendi’s new collab with Beats by Dre sets a new standard in the high-end accessories game. These color pop headphones have just made their debut on the Fendi catwalk, setting off the S/S15 garms in bold shades of blue, red, white or black. They’re textured in the same ultra-luxe Selleria leather used in Fendi handbags—along with a special black crocodile version for anti-PETA fans. If you fancy getting a piece of that designer action for yourself, they’re set to go on sale in January (as long as you have a spare $1,300 to splash).
FOOTBALL-INSPIRED SPORTS TECH OF THE WEEK
Whether you’re a total soccer head or wishing the World Cup would just END ALREADY, adidas have developed a fun new design to kick around. With a linked smartphone app, the adidas miCoach Smart Ball helps you up your game with an integrated sensor that provides super-quick feedback on your speed, strike point, trajectory and spin—giving you coaching tips to land the perfect goal every time. In other adidas miCoach news, images of the upcoming Fit Smart brand have been leaked ahead of its release. Set to rival the Nike FuelBand, adidas’ offering comes complete with a built-in heart rate monitor, Bluetooth 4.0 LE capabilities and an LED dot display.
