Cool Hunting has been around now for over 5 years, and is still one of the best sites on the net when it comes to staying up on, well, the coolest things around. Though not necessarily a fashion oriented blog, they do cover new brands from time to time, but only if the editors who write the content actually like the product. Marketers, designers, and consumers all turn to CoolHunting.com’s intersection of design, culture, and technology to stay ahead of the curve. We recently had the opportunity to speak with Tim Yu, who is one of the 4 editors of the site, to get the low down on what constitutes that ever elusive cool factor.

Q: Tell me a little bit about your experience at Cool Hunting.
A: I’ve been at CH for almost 2 years now. I’m always learning about new things but I enjoy the people I work with most. They are young, opinionated, super smart, and we all have different personalities that mesh well together as a team. We work hard to create original and engaging content but have fun doing it.

Q: For those that have never heard of Cool Hunting, how would you explain it to them?
A: Cool Hunting is an online publication with daily updates at the intersection of art, design technology and culture. Our editorial standard is very simple, “stuff we like.”

Q: I’ve always liked the sound of Cool Hunting because the word “cool” manages to remain, well, cool, while all other slang terms tend to wax and wane throughout each passing generation’s lexicon. How do you explain the amazing staying power of the word “cool”?
A: I think it’s partially because of the history of the word. What comes to mind for me is Miles Davis’ Birth of Cool and the beginning of the Cool Jazz genre. I also think the word itself just sounds and looks good too. It’s got great elements–hard and soft sounds and you can do funny things with the two o’s. But to be honest, I don’t know.

Q: How does your degree in Biology-Psychology come into play while hunting and blogging on the latest cool creations that are popping up in the world every day?
A: I don’t think my specific degree plays a roll but I believe in the scientific method and think that type of thought process helps with my job. I rely on my daily observations when looking for content and a lot of science is all about focused observations. Also, I oftentimes condense a lot of information into short paragraphs and this is something you do constantly writing scientific papers and abstracts.

Q: Cool is obviously a very relative term, what’s cool to one person may be considered uncool to another. How does one know what is cool and what is not? Does it always need to involve social context?
A: I hate to be cliche but cool is ultimately up to one’s opinion. That said, not all opinions are accurate, whatever the social context may be.

Q: Many people think that when things are relatively undiscovered, they are almost automatically considered cool, and once things go mass, they are no longer cool (unless you are Apple Computer). How much does obscurity factor into what you consider cool?
A: I think there is something to say when someone feels “in the know” or ownership of something, and that might make that thing a bit more coveted or cool. I think we all experience this.
When it comes the site, obscurity helps but is not a definitive factor of what we cover. We are really just concerned with “stuff we like” whether it’s obscure or not.

Q: As China’s middle class continues to expand at an alarming rate and along with it their demand for cars, fashion, and other luxury items, do you think that modern society from the West to now the East is becoming too obsessed with materialism? Are there any dangers of taking cool stuff too seriously?
A: I love to be cliche–moderation is key.

Q: In your opinion, what designers or brands are doing cool things in the men’s fashion world today?
A: I like plain stuff, so I tend to prefer more subdued brands like APC, Obedient Sons, Head Porter Plus and the like. On the other end, I think Jun Takashi of Undercover is extremely creative and presenting fashion in new ways along with Thom Browne who has a reputation for some of the craziest fashion shows.

Q: Is there a connection between Cool Hunting the blog and Cool Hunting People the fashion label?
A: No connection.

Q: Name the top 3 coolest things that you own.
A: Right now? My new Pilot Frixion erasable pen, a B&O turntable and my time machine

Q: Your bio says you like comfort food, especially on Sundays. Any favorite places to eat out, or do you prefer to cook?
A: I pretty much just eat my way through Sundays and it’s usually BBQ, Jewish, Greek, Middle Eastern or Korean foods. I always prefer to cook, but I’m not that good at it.
We are all very food centric at CH. We appreciate a tasty meal and it’s an important aspect of our team. In the office we have a family style lunch everyday.

Thank you Tim! You can read more about Tim’s background at http://coolhunting.com/authors/timyu.php

It was a typical mid-July Saturday in San Francisco: 62 degrees and mostly cloudy, but that didn’t stop our Fashion is Inclusive by Design event from being a huge success! After hauling in 10 heavy boxes full of previous season stock and samples, we were ready to channel Richard Pryor in the 80s movie Brewster’s Millions. At 11AM, the guys from Fred Finch Youth Center and Wardrobe for Success came by and had an absolute field day. After they cherry picked their favorite hoodies, jackets, Tshirts, and underwear, we opened up all the boxes to the general population and everyone went apickin’ with great aplomb. Man, you can’t beat free, especially in Union Square surrounded by the antithesis of pro bono: the ivory towers of Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s and Neiman Marcus provided a powerful juxtaposition to our all-inclusive event that asked nothing in return from the people who were lucky enough to stumble upon a free clothing giveaway. By 1PM, there was nothing but a few scraps of random fabric left, which one woman even took to wash her car with!

Overall, people were very excited, grateful, and even perplexed as to why we were giving away our product for free. I don’t know if and when Artificial Flavor will ever be able to do this again, but it was truly an amazing feeling to give away so much joy. Thanks to everyone from Fred Finch Youth Center and Wardrobe for Opportunity for coming out, we hope you will enjoy your new Artificial Flavor duds! Special thanks go out to Y’Anad from Fashion on the Square for allowing Artificial Flavor to hitch our wagon on at the last minute. And last but certainly not least, an extra special thank you goes out to my girl Vanae at Rock Your Awareness, who was directly responsible for getting Fred Finch and Wardrobe for Opportunity hooked up with the event. We hope to partner with Vanae and Rock Your Awareness on more events in the future. And thanks to everyone else who shared in the amazing experience as well; this is what San Francisco is all about. Enjoy the pics!

Leonard from Wardrobe for Opportunity scopes out some track pants

The fellas from Fred Finch Youth Center

We open it up to the general public. H&M hasn’t seen this type of frenzy!

“What size is this? I need a medium”

“Hmm, can I rock this color? Hells yeah”

Grab it while it’s hot!

These two are all set with their new green shirt-jackets

Who says Artificial Flavor shirt-jackets are only for men?!

For one day only, Artificial Flavor seeks to challenge the notion that fashion is exclusive by nature by allowing San Francisco’s disenfranchised and underprivileged to experience the joy of owning new fashion that was produced and sold right here in the great city we call home. We will be providing free Artificial Flavor apparel to the following groups from 11AM-1PM at Fashion on the Square (at Union Square in San Francisco) Arrive early as supply is limited!

Fred Finch
http://www.fredfinch.org/

Wardrobe for Opportunity
http://www.wardrobe.org/

Up From Darkness
http://upfromdarkness.org/

Street Soldiers
http://www.street-soldiers.org/

We look forward to seeing you soon! Thank you for your support.

Artificial Flavor
www.aflavor.com
www.fashiononthesquare.com

Founded in 1933, Esquire is one of the longest running men’s magazines still in print today. At one time, it featured contributions by Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald, and in the 60s, the magazine popularized New Journalism, which was an unconventional style embraced by Tom Wolfe, Truman Capote, and Hunter S. Thompson. Today, the magazine continues to thrive and is an excellent source of current men’s fashion news. We recently met with Jennifer Kim, who used to assist covering men’s fashion and grooming for Esquire but now assists covering jewelry at The New York Times Style Magazine. In addition to giving some background on her career, she also provides some valuable insight with regards to diamonds and pick up lines… read on!

Q:Tell us about how your career in journalism started.
A:My career in editorial started out with just a curiosity in magazines. I always loved flipping through the glossy pages and seeing all the various story montages. I applied for an internship at Esquire magazine my senior year of college at Parsons School of Art and Design. I was majoring in Fashion Design, and was interested in other areas of fashion that I might be able to pursue. I didn’t want to design under one aesthetic or style. I believed working for a magazine would be a great way to observe an array of aesthetics beyond clothing and accessories. I enjoy behind the scenes, deadlines, always thinking ahead, and the consistent problem solving on how to make the old, new and the new, acceptable or known.

Q: What did you like most about writing for Esquire?
A:I co-wrote the mens bi-monthly grooming column with a contributing stylist. This was a first for Esquire, and for myself.
I immensely enjoyed working on this column. It was always a challenge to address the reader in a neutral voice without sounding like a female was writing it. I must have smelled 10 different shaving creams on a weekly basis (exaggeration). I loved seeing what was new and how companies were coming up with solutions to solve the various problems.

Q: With the proliferation of both print magazines and of course the plethora of online ezines and blogs, how do longstanding magazines like Esquire acquire and retain readers?

A: The computer has now become one of the main household appliances. Readers have access to so much more information than ever. Despite the convenience, in my opinion there is something about the physical activity of holding, flipping through a magazine and the convenience of it, especially when you’re traveling. You can just pull out a magazine and read it and not have to worry about battery power. I think with older readers and readers with a long history of loyalty to a particular magazine probably still prefer a hardcopy verses reading it online.

Q: You used to cover men’s fashion, but now you are focused on women’s jewelry.
I have to ask, will diamonds ever stop being a girl’s best friend?
A: I assist on the jewelry market here at The New York Times. It is definitely a different animal compared to the mens market. After working on several shoots here, I have to say “ Diamonds will always be a girls best friend.” It’s a timeless element, be it simply adorned or ornately fashioned into something extravagant. Which every you go, it’s still the icing on the cake. Whether it’s fondant or butter-cream, deciding is the fun part.

Q: What did you like most about covering menswear?
A:When I worked at Esquire, I assisted with the mens market. I learned so much about menswear from just seeing all the collections, assisting on the shoots and writing the credits for them. I appreciate menswear because I feel its constraints create the challenges for designers and stylists to think outside of the box.

Q: What brands or designers do you think are doing the most for menswear today and why?
A: With people having so much access to information and resources, a lot of designers are doing great things. I don’t have a particular brand or designer in mind for menswear, but it’s always interesting to see the new comers and what they bring to the table.

Q: On Esquire’s blog, there is a section featuring 25 “Allegedly Clever Pick-Up Lines”. Do these ever work? In your opinion what is the best way for a guy to approach a woman at a bar?
A: I think if the pick up lines are really clever, then yes. It gives the woman something to think about and catches her off guard. I think those are usually the best. If that fails a nice smile would just fine.

Q: General question that is way outside the scope of this interview, but what do women really want? Do they even know?
A: Haha, good question! I think we’re all trying to figure it out (even men). If we knew, I think the world would be terribly boring. The battles are far more exciting as much as it drives us crazy.

Q: What are some of the traits or qualities that you find sexy in men?
A: Confidence, intellect and humor

Q: What are some of your favorite pastimes?
A: I love sitting outdoors with a great book, and intimate dinner with friends. I also enjoy painting, traveling, cooking, and I’m always making something, be it a gift for friends or personal projects. So it’s always either a book or art projects in hand.

I’m not sure how this always seems to happen, but out of sheer coincidence, Artificial Flavor is once again on trend with the runways for SS09. Witness this white mesh cardigan (top photo) by Kris Van Assche which was just shown on the Paris runways for his eponymous collection (thanks to DNR for this photo, from the July 7, 2008 issue). For those who don’t already know, Van Assche is the current creative director for Dior Homme, having succeeded Hedi Slimane a few months back. For SS09, Artificial Flavor also has a mesh cardigan, available in black, light grey, and charcoal as you can see in the accompanying picture. Now, we don’t kid ourselves… we’re not even close to being in the same league as this Belgian who is quickly becoming known as the next Tom Ford, but we do have to flatter ourselves when a design we conceived was also simultaneously created by one of the world’s top designers! Our “Sport Cardigan” will debut at Project NY taking place on July 21-23rd, along with the rest of Artificial Flavor’s SS09 collection.

Q: Tell us a little about your business, the region you cover, brands you carry, etc.
A: MOM agency started three and a half years ago with a showroom in central London on Piccadilly and two collections, Oliver Spencer and an Eco inspired Jeans line called Howies. The following season we began working with Margaret Howell and then began collaboration with Sunspel, a classic English underwear company who produce some of the finest cotton on the market. Two seasons ago MOM began selling the American line Nice Collective in the UK and we began to look for a new showroom. Having just moved Location in London to a bigger showroom we began to look for more brands to work with and after meeting with John in London last May we start our first season with Artificial Flavor.

Q: How did you get into fashion sales?
A: Fashion sales was never part of the plan to be honest. I studied clothing manufacture and textile technology at university in Nottingham in the middle of England. Nottingham also is the home city of the designer Paul Smith and the location of Paul Smith’s head office where I began my career in the Production department. A chance conversation whilst working there led to a move into wholesale. Nearly eight years later I left Paul Smith Ltd as the international Jeans division sales manager. I had a fantastic time there and got to visit some of the world’s best stores in key markets.

Q: What are you most excited about with the upcoming SS09 season?
A: SS09 whilst a little daunting due to the prevailing market conditions is exciting as we have new product to work with and a new showroom space which is a step closer to the overall vision for the agency and its presentation of collections.

Q: What trend are you tired of seeing?
A: When you asked about what I’m tired of seeing trend-wise the fist thing that springs to mind is the tyranny of the skinny jean. To most men over the age of 21 I say don’t do it! Trend it may be, but it’s not a good look for your average Joe.

Q: What is your favorite trade show and why?
A: A favorite trade show has to be Pitti Uomo in Florence Italy. There are two main reasons one is it’s the first of the season so great for trend spotting and secondly working in Florence is great! Having said that I have just visited the shows in Paris and Tranoi had a real buzz about it and a new show to Paris, from New York called Capsule was really interesting and very cool.

Q: Aside from writing orders, how else does a brand benefit from having a salesperson like yourself?
A: The benefits of having a salesperson like me would be (or so I’d like to think) are having a vision of where you can take a great casual wear collection to, in the UK market. Paul Smith gave me an invaluable insight into how to manage a brand that has great penetration in a mature market whilst along side that I got a feel for pioneering brands as I took Paul Smith Jeans into some new places where the brand history didn’t apply. The pioneering thing certainly holds a bigger challenge for me and in my opinion tests your salesmanship skills to a greater degree. I love to be instrumental in the success of breaking a new brand.

Q: What city represents ground zero for men’s premium contemporary today?
A: If I understand you right I’m about to piss a lot of people off so lets pick on somewhere foreign where diplomatic relations are bad already and say Moscow. In my experience all that is tasteless excess seems to emanate from there. To be truthful I have never visited but half of London’s population seems to be Muscovites right now and their questionable attire is on display daily.

Q: When not on the road or in the showroom pushing thenew collection, what do you do with your free time?
A: Free time is taken up with family stuff. I used to have a life as an individual; you know cultural stuff movies or bars and restaurants; generally adult pursuits. I have two kids and they dominate. I think we should return to Victorian Britain and get them working as soon as they can walk, chimney sweeping or mining? You know something to bring an income!! Kids have it too easy these days don’t you think?

Q: What’s your favorite vacation spot?
A: Cornwall in the South West corner of the UK is always a great vacation spot and not too far to travel. But Paris makes a
great City break and Italy has everything from great weather and beaches to the best food in the world so I think Italy has to be the favourite.

Q: Describe what you are wearing right now.
A: what I am wearing right now is a true reflection of my trade in that it is largely made up of samples for which I paid nothing!! The only purchased items are my adidas trainers (sneakers to you) I’m a big Adidas fan just old skool styles nothing too techno. Everything else is effectively stolen! I have some Oliver Spencer slim trousers in navy cotton. A white low V cotton T-shirt from Sunspel and a black fine gauge knit cardigan from a factory I recently visited in Prato Italy, whose collection I may start representing in the UK. In fact I was tempted to say I was wearing a backless scarlet sequined ball gown by John Galliano but I was afraid the joke might backfire.

On July 4th, Tony tied the knot with Karen up in beautiful Calistoga, CA at the Hahn Fahden Vineyard. The weather was sunny and 82 degress, a perfect summer day. Family and friends came from all over to celebrate their union. After the outdoor ceremony in the garden, cocktail hour commenced and then dinner was served in a wine cellar carved into the
mountain side! It was a great celebration and we wish Tony and Karen the best as husband and wife. Here are some pics:

The arbor/garden view

Tony and John waiting for Karen

Tony and Karen making their way from the ceremony as husband and wife

John making his dinner speech in the wine cellar

Artificial Flavor’s John, Lawrence, Marcus, Tony right before we lit up Cuban cigars

Recently John took a trip around the world to visit various distributors and retailers that are interested in representing Artificial Flavor. Lucky for us he documented his vagabond-ish business travels across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe with some fun snapshots. Here they are, enjoy!

Tokyo - the smallest self contained bathroom I have ever seen in my hotel room. The sink swings over the toilet when showering and then out when you need to use it. Oh yeah, Tokyo is a leg show!

Dubai - a winter wonderland in 105 degree desert of Dubai?

Greece - just another gorgeous Greek Island with the best baklava ever.

Dusseldorf Germany - a lot of Germans and great beer.

Copenhagen Denmark - very international city that puts a ton of butter on their steak.

Oslo, Norway-the King is in! I was told that the King is in court when their flag is up. I wanted to say hello but they screwed up my appointment. Very nice people living in a gem of a city. I’m 6′2″ and I am the average height there for the women - there are some tall people up there.

Barcelona, Spain - PIG-La Boqueria has some of the best food around. All the fruit and veggies are so fresh and good. I don’t have any pics of the fruits and veggies because I like meat more.

UK - Guinness here is way better than Guinness in the USA-what’s up with that?!

UK - The worlds tallest and steepest escalator underground in the UK train station.

We recently decided to clean out our messy sample room because it had reached a point of no return: stacks of samples, boxes of last season’s stock, and loads of junk that just needed to be taken to the dump. But in the back, we noticed that we had tons of new fabric just collecting dust that we would never end up using, so we figured that someone else could make better use of the countless bolts of cotton jersey and french terry we were stockpiling.

We were lucky enough to meet up with Nazarena Sadati, who is spearheading her own effort in the quest to eradicate breast cancer. She is organizing her own fundraiser in partnership with the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, with a goal of $5,000 that she is close to hitting. She is using our fabric to create scarves with inspirational quotes on them to promote the 39 mile walk, which is scheduled for July 12 and 13 here in San Francisco. She is also throwing a benefit party at Sugar Lounge Coffee Bar at 679 Sutter (between Mason and Taylor) on June 28th from 8PM-2AM… be sure to stop by for a good time while supporting a great cause.

In the meantime, please be sure to visit Nazarena’s site, and if you choose to make a small donation, even better!

http://info.avonfoundation.org/site/TR/Walk2008/SanFrancisco?px=3862290&pg=personal&fr_id=1480&s_tafId=271866

Antenna magazine has only been around for one year, but they have already made a huge impact in the men’s premium street/contemporary fashion magazine segment with their product-centric approach to photographing the latest must-have consumer goods on pure white backgrounds. They publish only 4 issues per year (one for each season) but that’s the only downside to this book. The sheer number of brands they feature is their strength, and the layout is logical: a dedicated page to denim, sweaters, sneakers and myriad other categories allow for the reader to hone in on their next purchase with the greatest of ease. They even started mixing in non-fashion items, such as power tools, rolling papers, and even golf putters! But the magazine isn’t just all about the merch, as there are always a few editorials featuring a new up and coming designer, brand, or artist who is creating something unique.

Artificial Flavor recently spoke with JenniLee, Antenna’s Fashion Editor who among other duties, is responsible for pulling together all of the clothing and accessories that end up on the matte white pages of Antenna’s latest issue.

Q: Antenna has always had interesting covers, always devoid of any models or celebrities. Who’s decision was it to slap a shiny green $12,000 John Deer X728 Ultimate Tractor on the cover of the Summer ‘08 issue?
A: We knew we were going to shoot the John Deer Ultimate Tractor for a page on the inside. Tony Gervino, the Editor had a few different ideas for the cover that really said “summer” to us. Then we saw how strong the image was and how completely ridiculous it was to feature a tractor on fashion & lifestyle magazine it made sense in our collective Antenna brain. Seeing the tractor makes me think of fields of grass and that makes me think of the smell of mowed lawns and to me that’s a smell of summer.

Q: Antenna’s product mix seems to straddle premium streetwear, premium contemporary, and even designer categories, so it appears that you are trying to reach a relatively broad audience. How would you describe the people who read Antenna?
A: I think the Antenna reader is a guy (and girls too) that appreciate products and fashion from all over the market place. I think half of our readers are the ones who love and can afford luxury designer items. Another half are a bit younger, edgier and street savvy who thrill at being the first to own something. And the 3rd half (yeah, I said 3rd half!) are the guys in the middle, the ones that can’t always afford the most expensive item but knows what he likes when he sees it and we include items in his price range as well. We just want to showcase what we believe are the best options out there for what ever that product may be.

Q: Do you think Antenna will ever switch to a bi-monthly or even monthly format?
A: No. We really like being a capsule of each season’s best of the best. We want to be a coffee table magazine. Something you save and go back to all season.

Q: Tell me little bit about your background and what a typical day is like at Antenna.
A: I have been working as a Fashion Stylist for the past 10 years in NYC & LA. I started out in film school in Miami and moved to NY in 96 to work in film. I ended up interning in the wardrobe department on an indie film and wardrobe just stuck. I exclusively worked on movies for a couple years then I started assisting a stylist in LA. She sent me on a world tour as a shopper and dresser for Lauryn Hill & her band in ‘99. When I came back to NYC I focussed on styling rock bands and doing fashion shoots. Last year I had the pleasure to get a call from Evan the creative director here at Antenna and met with him & Tony to see about doing a magazine that is a product and fashion guide for men. First of all, there are no typical days at Antenna. My day consists of doing email requests for product, sorting through the mountains of boxes that we receive and editing out what we will use, and delegating to my assistants what needs to get returned asap. Then we have shoot days where I am in the studio helping plan how the product will be shot.

Q: As a fashion editor and a human being, what inspires you?
A: I am inspired by the city, the kids on the subways, the music I listen to, the art I see, the books I read, overall, not to sound too hokey but life and love are really inspiring.

Q: How do you personally define fashion?
A: Fashion is how an individual decides to bring out his personality and sense of self in the very utilitarian act of wearing clothes for function and modesty.

Q: What are some of the key qualities you are looking for when brands submit their designs to you?
A: We do such a wide array of products that it really depends on the item. I am looking for different things when I am asking for a cashmere blazer compared to a graphic tee. I always appreciate fine craftsmanship, luxury textiles and clever & functional design elements.

Q: With the ongoing 80s and 90s aesthetic still apparent in sneaker culture and premium street fashion, where do you think these trends are headed? Are there any trends that have reached the end of their life cycle?
A: I think all over print hoodies may be on it’s last gasp. I just saw a guy wearing a tie dye T shirt un-ironically so I would have to say that most trends have never ending life cycles… they just hibernate for a while like a polar bear. No matter how great or awful a trend is it will come back. Overalls, check! Neon colors, check! Long maxi dresses, check! Platform shoes, check!

Q: Who do you see as the real trendsetters today? Are there any specific groups of people or countries that are at the forefront, and why?
A: All over the globe, the trendsetters are the kids. By kids, I mean teens & early 20’s. They are the ones who are discovering themselves and their tastes and are fearless at expressing themselves through fashion. By the time they hit early 20’s the most creative are usually putting a lot of thought into how they dress and the image they want to put forward.

Q: What are some undersaturated or under served areas in men’s premium street/contemporary that are that you would like to see brands focus more attention on?
A: Original ideas. I am getting tired of graphics that are just inspired by a logo, product, or film or artist from the past but appropriated with the brands’ identity.

Q: When you’re not rustling together next season’s shoot, what do you like to do with your free time?
A: I like to hang out with my friends and go see bands or hit a museum or gallery and the movies. Ride my bike to the park. Go to Coney Island. And watch a lot of TV. The usual.

Thanks JenniLee! You can pick up the latest Summer 08 issue of Antenna at your local newsstand, or you can subscribe by going to the “Subscribe” tab on the upper right corner of their website http://www.antennamag.com