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.
Written by one of Houston’s most acclaimed chefs, James Beard Award-winning Chris Shepherd, Cook Like a Local: Flavors That Can Change How You Cook and See the World transforms the commonly held perception that local food must be rooted in centuries-long preparation. For Shepherd, locality is quantified by proximity: “The last census showed that there is no longer a ‘majority’ in Houston. It’s a city of minorities. So for me, thinking about what it means to cook locally in Houston means going out into the different neighborhoods of my city and taking a census of my own: one of flavors, and of culinary traditions,” he writes in the book’s introduction. The book offers recipes from a variety of local chefs from an even more varied range of cultures—all with true-to-the-dish ingredients, which are indexed at the back of the book, and explanations on how to make key ones (like toppings, bases, sauces). The book is available for pre-order and will ship 3 September.
Naturally dyed using pomegranate, eucalyptus and tea, Buffy’s sheets eschew cotton for a eucalyptus fiber fabric. Not only are the sheets soft and cool to the touch, they’re also kinder to the planet as the dying process uses much less water and energy than traditional methods (and zero chemicals or binding agents). Eucalyptus fibers also repel mold, mildew, dust mites, and other microbes, and are even more breathable than cotton. Available in four colorways—white, pink, light gray and dark gray—each set comes with a fitted sheet, flat sheet and two pillowcases in Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King and California King sizes.
Designed by Lund London, this playful 500ml reusable flask is made from recycled metal and available in five colors. The double-walled interior (crafted from high-grade stainless steel) keeps liquids warm for 12 hours or cold for 24 hours, and it’s all closed with a vacuum-sealed lid. The playful colors—from bubblegum blue to retro-inspired pastels—add to the vessel’s charm. Price is in Pounds.
From CH favorite the Standards Manual (founded by Jesse Reed and Hamish Smyth), comes From Pictures to Words: Persuasion and the National Parks—a glorious exploration of branding, design, illustration and type over some 100 years. This is the imprint’s second project with photographer Brian Kelley, and the tome includes everything from brochures to maps and other National Park-related ephemera—including examples of Massimo Vignelli’s Unigrid System, which was designed for the National Park Service in 1977. With visual assistance from Order (also run by Reed and Smyth), the book provides readers with some 384 pages of design delights.
In celebration of Gap’s 50th anniversary (the store started as a denim and records retailer on Ocean Avenue in San Francisco, California), the brand is reviving iconic designs from their history and refreshing them for a 2019 release dubbed the 1969 Premium Collection. This western suede jacket boasts an iconic silhouette and is made from 100% premium suede leather. The unlined garment is a straight, relaxed fit and is adorned with a brief brand history on the inside.
An all-natural air purifier, the Laurentii Snake Plant absorbs toxins through its leaves and produces pure oxygen—perfect for keeping the air in your room clean and crisp. When ordered from The Sill it will arrive at just under eight inches, but can grow even taller in the correct conditions: medium indirect light and watered every two weeks. This plant also comes in an eight-inch-tall earthenware pot with pre-existing drainage holes.
Founded back in 1989, XL Recordings originally planned to release dance music, but has since expanded significantly—with the likes of Låpsley, KAYTRANADA, Frank Ocean, Ratatat and Radiohead among their ranks. You can rep the label, and collaborator Maharishi, with this Italian crushed nylon flight jacket in bright sunset yellow. The fabric features metallic-finished fibers, giving it an iridescent quality, and the jacket fastens with a Swiss Riri double-way zip.
Made from 100% recycled paper, Who Gives A Crap’s toilet paper is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional, big brand versions. Their iteration is three-ply, made without inks, dyes or scents and boast 400 sheets per roll. For $30, you receive a box of 24 rolls. Additionally, the brand gives 50% of its profits to WaterAid—an initiative that helps provide access to clean water and toilets, as well as education regarding sanitation and hygiene.
With both Spilanthes extract (aka the “toothache” plant, which is a detoxifying agent) and CBD, Pure Kana’s toothpicks offer almost an hour of oral CBD release—or 25mg per pick. There’s also a citrusy flavor that invokes the salivary glands and increases absorption. Whether they act as part of a garnish for an elegant cannabis cocktail or are used on their own, these toothpicks deliver a calming experience that should be felt within 20 minutes.
Vegan and handmade, Avocado’s non-toxic pillows are crafted from multiple layers of materials approved by the Global Organic Latex Standard and Global Organic Textile Standard. Certified organic latex provides structure while Kapok fill offers comfort and a cotton cover wraps it all up. These pillows also keep cool and feel smooth to the touch.
From Mesa Verde and the Great Sand Dunes to the Great Smoky Mountains and the Grand Canyon, Scott Reinhard’s three-dimensional, collage-like depictions of National Parks captivate. The designer places a digitally rendered 3D elevation map on top of a United States Geological Survey map to create pieces that toy with the eye. Each is a chromogenic print that uses traditional color photography development on lustre photographic paper—and the result is quite stunning.
New Paltz, New York’s Coppersea Distillery is a founding member of the Empire Rye consortium—a coalition that designates whiskies and distilleries as being of and interested in elevating a given appellation and area. This rye malt whisky, named after a peak overlooking their farm, is the distillery’s first Empire Rye expression. It’s made from 100% Hudson Valley rye, “sourced directly from its own and neighboring farms in the Valley,” and boasts notes of cinnamon, nutmeg and pepper.
Published by the London School of Architecture, Citizen is a quarterly publication for “everybody engaged with the challenge of designing innovative proposals to bring about real improvements to the city” and aims to bring together readers from all spheres from academics to professionals and beyond. Their first issue—which tackles the aesthetics of city life—seeks to explore design as a “transformative force” rather than a discipline simply focused on aesthetics. Price is in Pounds.
From perhaps the most transparent coffee purveyor on market, Coffee Manufactory, comes a seasonal release: 100% Peru Roger Chilcon Flores. Full bodied and packed with rich notes of plum, blackberry, clove and dark chocolate, these beans will consistently deliver a delicious cup—and you can trace them back to the very farm from which they were sourced.
Born from her grandmother’s legacy of pressing oils and making tonics in Greece’s Cyclades, Athena Hewett’s skincare brand Monastery is focused on natural ingredients of the highest quality. The new Lapiz Matte Body Oil is a lightweight potion that doesn’t feel greasy on the skin, despite it being a water-free moisturizer. While many of the oils included are nourishing, pink peppercorn offers stimulation that perks and firms skin. With subtle scents of gingergrass and grapefruit, there are notes of citrus too—all combining for a delightfully fresh fragrance.
Crafted by mysterious independent Italian brand GR10K, this fleece jacket, in “Dolphin Grey,” references military styles—a point emphasized by the fact that they source recycled Polartec from that sector. With streetwear nods and an eco-friendly conscience, it distances itself from the style popularized by outdoor industry veterans like The North Face.