Updated daily, the Buy section is a deep directory of stuff we love. From this collection we organize Gift Guides for the holiday season and special occasions all year long.
Paris-based running apparel brand Satisfy collaborated with Canadian brand norda to design a dynamic version of their 001, the world’s first trail-running shoes made with durable, bio-based Dyneema—one of lightest sustainable materials in existence. Their collaborative sneakers feature a Dyneema upper that is 15 times stronger than steel of the same weight, a Vibram SLE midsole that is 30% lighter than the standard and a Vibram MegaGrip outsole to tackle dry and wet terrain. Reflective details and a minty colorway express Satisfy’s punk-meets-optimistic ethos. Responsive enough for high-intensity sessions and breathable for comfort, these shoes were made for trail-running—and the environment.
Aamina Ahmad pays exacting attention to her characters’ psychological nuances in her debut novel, The Return of Faraz Ali. The neo-noir novel tells the tale of a Faraz Ali who was taken from his birthplace in Lahore (Pakistan’s second largest city) as a child only to be sent back years later by his powerful politician father, now as a police officer tasked with covering up a young girl’s murder. More than a gripping mystery, the novel is a deft reckoning with caste and gender in Pakistan.
Swedish eyewear brand Chimi (founded in 2016 by Charlie Lindström and Daniel Djurdjevic) is best known for accessibly priced sunglasses, but they also make swim masks, goggles and snorkels. Their swimming goggles feature mirrored UV-protective lenses framed by soft silicone, and a non-slip head-strap. Available in orange, green, white or black, they’re super-sleek and sporty.
Jenny Tinghui Zhang’s debut novel Four Treasures of the Sky is a surreal epic underpinned by Chinese folklore and American history. It follows the journey of heroine Daiyu who is kidnapped and smuggled from China to the US, where the Chinese Exclusion Act is taking hold. From a brothel in San Francisco to the mountains of Idaho, the story traces Daiyu’s journey to survive an unimaginably violent country, weaving a gripping tale of historical fiction into a prescient look at contemporary America.
Jan Andreu had been a fan of Laia Aguilar’s work at Bobo Choses, and was thrilled when the two collaborated on The Animal Observatory—a children’s apparel brand centered on play and curiosity. Their yellow bucket hat features a minimalist flower print and pink interior and evokes cheerful and bright days under the sun. Floral and endearing, the 100% cotton hat is available in sizes medium and large. Price is in Euros.
Emily St John Mandel’s sixth novel Sea of Tranquility playfully and indulgently bends time travel, metaphysics and grief. The science fiction novel juggles an ambitious amount: a young man in 1912 exiled to the Canadian forest, an author trapped in a pandemic-ravaged Earth, moon colonies, paranormal investigations, the 25th century and even references to Mandel’s previous works. Both meta and mind-bending, Sea of Tranquility examines the end of the world to uncover what matters in the end.
Founded by a group of artists in Tokyo, cult brand Have a Good Time has been making apparel and accessories since 2010. For their 100% cotton-canvas apron (with an adjustable rope tie strap), the team opts for utilitarian style and simple placement of their logo. Featuring three pockets, a pen-holder and a hook for a dish towel, the apron (available in white or black) will ensure all necessary cooking gadgets are in reach through streamlined design. Price is in yen.
What begins as a romantic and oftentimes comedic story of love turns into a deeper examination of class, politics and cultural difference in Monica Ali’s Love Marriage. Bengali protagonist Yasmin Ghorami is happily engaged to white, upper-class Joe Sangster, but during the days leading up to the wedding the differences between their backgrounds, secrets and a mother with an Oedipus complex threaten their union. The surprising and biting novel culminates in an astute portrait of relationships and race.
Full length and one-size-fits-all, the stone-washed French linen 02 Robe from Deiji Studios is a roomy, breezy piece that encapsulates the Australian bedding and loungewear brand’s focus on high comfort and humble beauty. The robes are available in a spectrum of colors, from vibrant yellow to pastel hues and earthy tones like brown tobacco. They feature a waist tie, wide sleeves and pockets.
Now available in a large size (16 by 14 inches), YIELD’s Spun Planter is made from a single sheet of aluminum. It features a perforated disc along its base that keeps out excess water, prevents root rot and allows water to evaporate back into the soil when it dries out.
From high design cannabis accessories brand Flora Nero—founded by Anna and Eli Peer—comes the Globe in Bronze, a chic implement that yields a smooth, luscious smoking experience. The Globe pairs an anodized aluminum base (featuring the brand’s signature texture) with smokey glass handblown by the artisans at Keep in Brooklyn. The set is completed by a hand-molded glass stopper with a matching anodized aluminum mouthpiece.
Rainkiss makes even the gloomiest of rainy days bright with its lilac, fuchsia, green and deep purple Digi Spring Camo poncho. Its lush digital pattern is abstractly floral and printed on recycled polyester (with a 7000mm waterproof column to ensure that it stays 100% waterproof). With a built-in storage pouch and adjustment panels on the side, the poncho is a sustainable and functional way to stay dry.
These tall flower candles from Anna + Nina contribute to a summery and even romantic atmosphere. Adorned with red florals and an array of green leaves, they are made of paraffin wax and are sold as a set of two. Price is in Euros.
Barcelona-based DOIY deals in surprising and thoughtful homewares, and their Acquedotto vase is no exception. Modeled after a Roman arch, the ceramic vessel blends architecture into a floral display. It’s available as either a single arch in pink or a double arch in purple with both featuring colorful marbled patterns.
Hailing from upstate New York, Sean Augustine March is an artist and designer whose work often creates striking optical effects using dichroic glass. His spectacular Rayleigh Desk Lamp is no different. Shining through numerous light refractions, colors and geometric shapes, it’s affixed to a wood base and features a five-watt LED with over 200,000 hours of lifespan. Illuminating and iridescent, the Rayleigh is a mesmerizing and sculptural lighting solution.
Sampa the Great (aka Sampa Tembo) will release her second full-length album, As Above, So Below, in September and Vinyl Me Please has it in an opaque peach colorway, available for pre-order now. The Zambia-born, Botswana-raised artist has spent time living in Australia and the US, but returned home in 2020 and made the album there in just a few weeks. With hip-hop underpinning the 11 tracks, there are many other genres at play from Zamrock and Kalindula, Kwaito to R&B and beyond. It’s a poignant, dynamic album full of self-exploration, power and joy.
