bltd

Do you know what a katyusha is? Wikipedia says it’s a Russian wartime song, a rocket launcher (named after the song), and also a Russian pro cycling team. What wikipedia doesn’t say is that it’s also the frilly headband that maids wear, which makes a heck of a lot more sense as inspiration for these Hairglasses. Still confused? It’s a headband that looks like sunglasses. See more photos at Sam Hecht’s Industrial Facility website.

flexible polypropylene material
Designed by Sam Hecht (Industrial Facility) for iiii

No need for those cardboard sleeves with these colorful handles. Of course, you’d have to carry it around with you, but hey, who said being eco-conscious was easy? And maybe having an actual handle will help you get a better grip to avoid mishaps/spillage.

Yes, an umbrella made from cork. Really. Cork is naturally water-resistant and eco-friendly (as it is a sustainable resource), so it’ll keep you dry and happy.

Designer: Sandra Correia
Made in Portugal.
Cork with cotton lining, a metal frame, and a wooden handle.

Cute. While Green Boy does a great job of organizing that jangling mess of keys you have, to me, it seems like he’s being quite assertive and telling me to remember to keep work and home life separate. Funny how a piece of green plastic could have so much emotion.

Designer: Vadim Kibardi

The Vapur Bottle is a collapsible water bottle that folds flat when emptied. Perfect for traveling and commuting, reasonably priced too. I’m curious to see how durable it is and how well it stands up on its own.� It’s dishwasher safe, comes with a carabiner for carrying, freezable, and has a writable text area for personalization.

Capacity: 16 oz (473 ml)
Material: Ultra-durable BPA-Free polymer
Colors: green, pink, blue, smoke, purple.

There’s a lot to like about this compass. It’s made with sustainable wood and fair trade labor, beautiful, and quite inexpensive. We’ve previously written about his incredible Wooden Radio before, which uses similar materials and socially responsible labor.

Hand-crafted in an Indonesian farming village, the Singgih Kartono compass follows the best sustainable practices in terms of materials and production. Kartono’s use of T-shape joints insures strength and adds a beautiful design detail.

Designer: Singgih Kartono
Materials: Naturally harvested mahogany and sonokeling wood
Dimensions: 1” W x 2” H x 2IA” D

Fix it! Hack it!

Sugru is a new silicone material that lets consumers “hack” products themselves to make them more comfortable and useful for a longer time. It can be moulded by hand or with simple tools. It sticks to things and cures at room temperature to a tough and durable yet soft-touch silicone. Available in a wide range of colours, Sugru is waterproof, flexible and dishwasher-safe once it’s cured; it’s also temperature resistant between -60 and 180 degrees C.

I’m a firm believer in open-source, so products that are open ended and empower consumers like this really quite inspire me. I just hope this stuff works as good as it sounds.

[via Springwise]

Just for fun, and, just in case you want to be like Tobias Wong except without the permanence. (If I had the guts, I would ask Tobias to write the same thing on my own arm and then have that tattooed. I’m serious, if I had the guts…)
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On dreary rain-drenched days, watch this black and white umbrella change to colorful splatters.

The paint splatter pattern on this umbrella’s exterior changes from white to bright shades of green, yellow, blue, pink, and orange when wet, creating a vibrant rainbow on a rainy day.

Size: 37″ span

You know those pointy ends of umbrellas that poke you in the face or that you poke other people in the face with? Well, no more. Enter in the Blunt Umbrella, with rounded corners that will keep you from injuring others and possibly also from injuring yourself. Plus, it’s got a few fancy reinforcements (radial tensioning system and double struts) to keep the structure intact when strong winds strike.

Available in three different sizes for individuals, couples or golfing.
Colors: Black, blue or silver.

[via designboom]

I cannot think of a rational reason of why I want this, I just know I do. The Logo Branding Iron is a customized, 3d printed attachment that goes on top of a lighter. A few seconds under the flame and your iron is hot enough to brand into the material of your choice (I suggest wood or anything that will not ignite easily). For only $20, I’ve yet to come across a better little gift this year.

Good and bad news, guys. One of our long time supporters, Ecsotype, is taking a sabbatical and selling off all their remaining stock. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. Sold out, kaput, no longer available. That’s the bad news.

The good news is that they are offering 25% off on all products for BLTD readers. The discount code is BLTD-NOV09. So, forward that to anyone who might be interested in edgy/interesting bags, or consider it for yourself (or someone you like very, very much) as an early Christmas present.

Shown above:
School Duffel, reg. $230.00, with 25% off: $172.50
Presse bi-fold wallet, reg. $80.00, with 25% off: $60.00
Static belt, reg. $40.00, with 25% off: $30.00
Presse utility bag, reg. $215.00, with 25% off: $161.25
Flag collapsible utility bag, reg. $125.00, with 25% off: $93.75

From the same company that brought you the “I Am Not A Paper Cup” comes the Eco Cup. It’s the same sort of idea except it’s a single-walled (non-thermal) porcelain cup with silicone lid and sleeve to keep your fingers safe.

Stop using disposable cups for your coffee! Great for the whole office, our Eco-Cup is a porcelain cup with silicone lid and heat-protective sleeve.
The silcone lid can withstand temperatures of up to 230 degrees celsius (446 F) and helps keep hot beverages hot and cold beverages cold.
The porcelain Eco Cup holds approximately 450ml of your favourite beverage and the silicone sleeve will ensure your fingers don’t get burnt whilst enjoying your drink.

Colour: white porcelain cup with white or brown sleeve (sleeve colour is random)
Care: microwave and dishwasher safe

$9.95, Buy it here.

£9.99, Buy it here.

Ah, how great is this? This temporary tattoo signifies those fleeting 15 minutes of fame (whether it be in the past or your personal future).
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You’ll no longer forget which key goes where with these custom keys. Choose from a few animals, a couple of chess pieces, a handful of icons, and if none of those float your boat, the company will make a key from your own design.

Take note that these keys fit Kwikset locks only (to see pic go to statkeycompany site).

$11.00, Buy it here.

[via Cool Material]